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"Swish Swish" is a song from Katy Perry's fifth studio album, Witness. Perry confirmed the song title during an exclusive with Entertainment Weekly.[1] The track features the rapper Nicki Minaj and was released along with the pre-order of the album on May 19, 2017. The song replaced the former single, "Bon Appétit", for unknown reasons, thus focusing on promoting this song to Pop radio.[2]

This is the first female collaboration released by Perry. The song is a house-inspired song and samples "Star 69" by Fatboy Slim. She stated the song is about "liberation from all the negative and the people that try and keep you down" and as a "great anthem for people to use when someone's trying to hold you down or bully you".[3] Brazilian singer Gretchen stars in the official lyric video. Nicki Minaj references the song in her single "Rich Sex".

Background[]

During the world premiere of "Chained to the Rhythm" on February 14, 2017, Perry announced the song. On May 18, 2017, Perry announced on Instagram that the track would be released at midnight Eastern time. The song became available as a digital download along with the preorder of Witness. Soon after the song was released, critics wrote how the track appeared to be a diss track in response to Taylor Swift's 2014 song, "Bad Blood".

When asked if the song was directed at anyone in particular on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Perry simply replied that the song is an anti-bullying anthem. Additionally, Nicki Minaj's verse contains the line, "Silly rap beefs just get me more checks," which addresses Minaj's own purported "beef" with rapper Remy Ma. On May 22, while appearing on Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show with James Corden, after singing to "Swish Swish", Corden asked Perry about a 2013 feud between her and Taylor Swift. "There's a situation," Perry said. "Honestly, it's really like she started it, and it's time for her to finish it." During the Witness World Wide live stream, Perry was asked repeatedly about her feud with Swift, to which she answered she doesn't hold anything against her. Live performances of the song now include the line "God bless you on your journey girl".

Perry performed "Swish Swish" solo on the Saturday Night Live season finale on May 20, 2017. The performance quickly went viral, with much of the attention coming towards 15-year-old Russell Horning, dubbed the "Backpack Kid", due to his dance move called "the floss".

Critical reception[]

Anna Gaca of Spin notes it is "another single that makes little sense", and "a random grab bag of Perry's vocals, obnoxious voice-altering effects, and piano flourishes, all laid over a house-inflected beat". Raisa Bruner of Time calls the song, "A tune about getting over the haters" and "a feisty hip-hop track that lets both artists show off their respective areas of expertise". Nylon writer Sydney Gore says, "Minaj is absolutely ruthless when she comes in toward the end."

Composition[]

The track runs for 4 minutes and 2 seconds. The song is performed in the key of E♭ major with a tempo of 120 beats per minute in common time. The song follows a chord progression of Cm7–A♭maj7–Gm7–Cm7–A♭maj7–Fm7, and Perry's vocals span from E♭3 to A♭4.

Music video[]

A lyric video for the song was released on YouTube on July 3 and features Brazilian singer and reality television personality, Gretchen. Two days later, Perry announced a contest titled the "#SwishSwishChallenge" for dancers to appear in the song's official music video, where candidates submit videos of themselves dancing, and she would select her favorite dancer. After applicants posted their entries by the end of July 12, the video was scheduled to be filmed later in the month. Filming for the music video began July 18 in Los Angeles.

The official music video for the single was directed by Dave Meyers and released on August 24, 2017. It includes appearances from Russell "Backpack Kid" Horning, who made an appearance during Perry's Saturday Night Live performance, Gaten Matarazzo, Jenna Ushkowitz, Christine Sydelko, Rob Gronkowski, Molly Shannon, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rich Eisen, Terry Crews, and Basketball player Bill Walton. In the video, Perry plays "Kobe Perry" the captain of the basketball team "The Tigers" whose opponents are known as "The Sheep", and Minaj performs during the game's halftime show. The video also features the brief reappearance of the character Kathy Beth Terry from the music video for "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" as well as a brief segment featuring the Bag Raiders song, "Shooting Stars".

Prior to the official video release, a short clip of the video was featured in the Now That's What I Call Music Vol. 63 commercial spot. A teaser for the official video was posted on August 21 on Perry's personal YouTube account. The official music video for the single was released at midnight on August 24, 2017.


Lyrics[]

(Fatboy Slim)
They know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just strut
What the fuck?

(Katy Perry)
A tiger
Don't lose no sleep
Don't need opinions
From a shellfish or a sheep
Don't you come for me
No, not today

You're calculated
I got your number
'Cause you're a joker
And I'm a courtside killer queen
And you will kiss the ring
You best believe

So keep calm, honey I'ma stick around
For more than a minute, get used to it
Funny my name keeps comin' outcho mouth
'Cause I stay winning
Lay 'em up like

Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket
Can't touch this
Another one in the casket

Your game is tired
You should retire
You're 'bout as cute as
An old coupon expired
And karma's not a liar
She keeps receipts

So keep calm, honey I'ma stick around
For more than a minute, get used to it
Funny my name keeps comin' outcho mouth
'Cause I stay winning
Lay 'em up like

Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket
Can't touch this
Another one in the casket
Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket
Can't touch this
Another one in the casket

(Fatboy Slim)
They know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just, know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just, know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just strut
What the fuck?

(Nicki Minaj)
Pink Ferragamo sliders on deck
Silly rap beefs just get me more checks
My life is a movie, I'm never off set
Me and my amigos, no, not Offset
Swish swish, aw, I got them upset
But my shooters'll make 'em dance like dubstep
Swish, swish, aw, my haters is obsessed
'Cause I make M's, they get much less
Don't be tryna double back, I already despise you (Yeah)
All that fake love you showin' couldn't even disguise you
Yo, yo
Ran? When? Nicki gettin' tan
Mirror, mirror, who's the fairest bitch in all the land?
Damn, man, this bitch is a Stan
The generous queen'll kiss a fan
Ass goodbye, I'ma be ridin' by
I'ma tell my **** Biggz, yeah, that's the guy
A star's a star, da ha da ha
They never thought the swish god would take it this far
Get my pimp cup, this is pimp shit, baby
I only rock with Queens, so I'm makin' hits with Katy

(Katy Perry)
Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket (And another one, and another one)
Can't touch this (Can't touch this)
Another one in the casket (And another one, and another one)

(Fatboy Slim & Katy Perry)
They know what is what (Do they know?)
But they don't know what is what
They just, know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just, know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just strut
What the

Digital release[]

Worldwide[]

Official remix[]

SSCC
LABEL Capitol
RELEASED Jun 30, 2017
FORMAT Digital
Cover photo by
'


Design by
'

     Made in Digital

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Swish Swish (Cheat Codes Remix) [feat. Nicki Minaj] 3:01
SSVK
LABEL Capitol
RELEASED June 30, 2017
FORMAT Digital
Cover photo by
'


Design by
'

     Made in Digital

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Swish Swish (Valentino Khan Remix) [feat. Nicki Minaj] 3:20
SSB
LABEL Capitol
RELEASED August 25, 2017
FORMAT Digital
Cover photo by
'


Design by
'

     Made in Digital

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Swish Swish (Blonde Remix) 4:06

References[]

  • Witness Booklet
Witness-Logo
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