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"Part of Me" is a song written by Katy Perry, Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin. According to MTV.com the song was rumored to have been a leftover cut from her Teenage Dream recording sessions. However, fans speculated that the track would be included in a re-release of the Grammy-nominated LP."[1] On February 9, 2012, it was confirmed that the song would serve as the first single off the re-package of the album entitled, Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection.[2] The song was released on February 13, 2012 and reached number 1 on iTunes the day of it's release in several countries, including the U.S. and Canada. On February 22, 2012, "Part of Me" debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming the 20th song to do so.

Writing and recording

Perry and McKee had been casual friends before Perry called her because she wanted help on a song called “Part of Me". According to Rolling Stone magazine, McKee stayed up all night writing lyrics. By the time Perry heard the third line, she shouted, “We’re buying you a car!”.[3] In an interview with Alexz Kazemi, McKee talked about the song, "The other one I wrote on, “Part of Me” I heard is gonna be on a bonus version or something. That one is beautiful. Katy sings with so much emotion and when I heard the chorus for the first time it gave me chills. It is a very real, raw song."[4] The song "Firework" is referenced in the bridge of the song."

According to MTV.com the song surfaced on the internet on Wednesday, December 29, 2010. [5] In 2012, the song received an official release as the lead single from the album's re-release. Billboard.com then issued that the song would be available for digital download from iTunes on February 13, 2012. On February 11, the day before its premiere, the final reworked version with new lines and structure leaked onto the internet. The official released version features minor lyric changes in the bridge. The new lyrics are in response to Perry's recent divorce from Russell Brand and replaces the line "You can keep the dog for me, I never liked him anyway" with "So you can keep the diamond ring, it meant nothing anyway." The lyrics were initially addressed to ex-boyfriend Travis McCoy. Perry denied the rumors that the new version was directed towards Brand stating:

I wrote it two years ago, which is funny because everybody is like 'God, it sounds so current' ,and some people that I work with were like 'You should just say you wrote it a couple of weeks ago.' I'm like 'I'm not a d---, I'm going to tell the truth.' I wrote it two years ago when I was writing and recording Teenage Dream,[but] it didn't feel right on the record. I would've had to take out one of my other songs that [made the album] a nice, complete package.

—Katy Perry

Composition

MTV.com suggested the songs was produced "by pop mastermind Dr. Luke". MTV.com also commented on the song: "the pop star appears strong, bold and just a tad resentful after a breakup on the previously unheard pop-rock song "Part of Me." It went on saying: "the song has Perry declaring herself unbreakable after an ugly breakup, singing, "Days like this I want to drive away/ Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade/ 'Cause you chewed me up and spit me out/ Like I was poison in your mouth/ You took my light, you drink me down/ That was then and this is now, now look at me." MTV.com likened the song to Perry's previous hit, California Gurls saying: "the tune's steady beat amplifies as the chorus opens. "This is the part of me/ That you're never gonna ever take away from me/ Throw your sticks in the stones/ Throw your palms in your clothes/ But you're not gonna break my soul/ This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me," she sings"[6] Chris Ryan also of MTV speculated that the song is directed to Perry's ex-boyfriend Travie McCoy, while New York magazine journalist Amanda Dobbis considered it as "another break-up anthem". However, Perry later reworked the lyrics, which was speculated that it was directed towards ex-husband Russel Brand.

Chart performance

In the United States, "Part of Me" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, for the issue dated March 3rd, 2012, as well as becoming Perry's sixth number one single for Teenage Dream era. "Part of Me", becoming the 20th song to debut atop on the chart, Perry's seventh number-one song there and her sixth in the 2010s, tying her with Rihanna as the artist with most number one singles during the 2010s so far. The song debuted at number one on the U.S. Hot Digital Songs chart with 411,000 copies sold its first week, the best sales week for a single female artist after Lady Gaga's "Born This Way". The song debuted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart, becoming Perry's first number-one debut there and her seventh single to reach the top of the chart. She tied Mariah Carey for the record of seven number-one singles in the country. "Part of Me" entered at number one on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming Perry's second song to debut at number-one (the first being "California Gurls") and her seventh single to reach the top of that chart, making Perry the artist with the most number one hits (after Madonna who has 25 number one hits) and the artist with most number one debuts in that chart's history.

Lyrics

Days like this I want to drive away
Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade
You chewed me up and spit me out
Like I was poison in your mouth
You took my light, you drain me down
That was then and this is now
Now look at me

This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

I just wanna throw my phone away
Find out who is really there for me
You ripped me off, your love was cheap
Was always tearing at the seams
I fell deep, you let me down
But that was then and this is now
Now look at me

This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Now look at me I'm sparkling
A firework, a dancing flame
You won't never put me out again
I'm glowing oh whoa
So you can keep the diamond ring
It don't mean nothing anyway
In fact you can keep everything
Yeah yeah, except for me

This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no (away from me)
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

This is the part of me (no)
(away from me) This is the part of me
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Days like this I want to drive away
Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade
'Cause you chewed me up and spit me out
Like I was poison in your mouth
You took my light, you drain me down
That was then and this is now
Now look at me

This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

I just want to throw my phone away
Find out who is really there for me
'Cause you ripped me off, your love was cheap
Was always tearing at the seams
I fell deep and you let me down
But that was then and this is now
Now look at me

This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Now look at me I'm sparkling
A firework, a dancing flame
You won't never put me out again
I'm glowing oh whoa
You can keep the dog for me
I never liked him anyway
In fact you can keep everything
Yeah yeah, except for me

This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Music video

Background and synopsis

Promotional poster

For The Sims 3: Showtime, Perry shot a 30 second video where she sang Part of Me, which premiered on The Sims YouTube page. Perry began filming the official music video for "Part of Me" on February 16, 2012. It took place at the USMC's Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. To promote the video, posters advertising the video were placed around cities with a screen shot of the video as the picture. The video was directed by Ben Mor. The music video premiered on March 21, 2012 during the program MTV First: Katy Perry. Perry stated that she wanted the shoot to be all about girl power.

As she sits in her car gazing at her necklace Katy notices her boyfriend cheating on her. She confronts him in his office and they break up. As the titular track begins she drives to a gas station and buys a can of tea inside the shop. After paying she notices a moto-sticker on the bulletin board; the sticker reads "All women are created equal, then some become Marines".

Increasingly emotional, Perry gathers her possessions and enters a nearby restroom to begin to change her identity. She cuts her hair and changes into a hoodie and jeans. Perry enlists in the United States Marine Corps and, after a brief scene in recruit training, Perry reports to the School of Infantry for the Marine Corps' rigorous basic combat instruction course. Elements of these scenes are inaccurate, as female Marines do not train on the west coast where the video was filmed, but rather at Recruit Depot Paris Island and SOI East in Camp Lejeune, NC. Marines are also inaccurately depicted as going through certain elements of Basic Underwater Demolition/Seals (BUD/S) indoc and training, such as the infamous surf-torture, underwater combat training and IBS (Inflatable Boat, Small) drills. Perry eventually finds herself reminiscing over her experiences with her ex-boyfriend, yet remains spiteful towards him, burning a love note and venting frustration through MCMAP, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. throughout the remainder of the video Perry is shown in training as well as dancing beneath a large garrison flag. The video ends with the final transformation into a basically trained warrior, clad in MARPAT camouflage utilities, body armor and camouflage face paint.

Critical reception

The video garnered mixed to generally positive reviews. Ethan Sacks from New York Daily News said "Singer dons combat fatigues and aims some barbed lyrics, perhaps at Russell Brand [...] Katy Perry has traded her whipped cream-spewing brassiere for military-issue combat fatigues for her new video. Judging by the way Perry handles a bayonet in the "Part of Me" video, Brand may want to consider staying half a planet away." Bruno Nessif from E! Online wrote "After channeling some Demi Moore in G.I. Jane and chopping off her hair, Perry enlists and trades in her handbag and cell phone for some camo gear and boots. Hey, she makes it look good."

Ray Rahman from Entertainment Weekly gave the video a positive review: "It’s less G.I. Jane and more In the Army Now, but Katy Perry’s new pop-military video for “Part of Me” is still an intense ride." Jenna Busch gave the video a positive review, commending it's girl power, writing "Instead of showing traditional break up visuals like burning some guys clothes, fights with now sound, punching walls, etc., "Part of Me" has Perry joining the Marines. It's actually far more dramatic to see her, post break up, hacking off her hair in a bathroom than it would be to see her crying in the rain or something." The Prophet Blog said "“Part Of Me” is a pretty solid video, and it’s nice to see this side of Katy again. I’d never shun the Teenage Dream era because it brought us some seriously amazing singles and visuals, but it’s at the point now where she needed to start channeling One Of The Boys again, and she’s done that. This current image will certainly suffice until we get bored again, and then start complaining that we want her to start lactating liquorice and shooting fireworks out of her vagina."

Commercial release

The song was released to some iTunes stores worldwide following Perry's performance at the Grammys on February 13, 2012. The singer said that all profits raised from the sale of the single will be donated to MusiCares; She tweeted: "After paying she notices a moto-sticker on the bulletin board; the sticker reads "All women are created equal, then some become Marines" The photo of the cover of single was photographed by Mary Ellen Matthews for photographic assay of the program Saturday Night Live, where Perry participated of episode 710 of 37ª season in December 10, 2011.

Digital release

Worldwide

PartOfMeOfficialCover
LABEL Capitol, Virgin, EMI
RELEASED February 13, 2012
FORMAT Digital
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in iTunes, Amazon

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me 3:35

Official remix

A snippet of the 'Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix' had been used for several live performances of the song.

PartOfMeThinWhiteDuke
LABEL Capitol, Virgin, EMI
RELEASED March 16, 2012
FORMAT Digital
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in iTunes, Amazon

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) 6:02

UK Remix EP

PartOfMeOfficialCover
LABEL Capitol, Virgin, EMI
RELEASED March 16, 2012
FORMAT Digital
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in iTunes, Amazon

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me 3:35
2. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) 6:02
3. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Radio Edit) 3:47
4. Part of Me (Instrumental) 3:35

Spain

PartOfMeORemixes
LABEL Capitol, Virgin, EMI
RELEASED April, 16, 2012
FORMAT Digital, Promo
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in Digital

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me (Freemasons Radio Edit) 3:57
2. Part of Me (Freemasons Mixshow Edit) 5:48
3. Part of Me (Freemasons Dub) 7:58
4. Part of Me (Freemasons Club Mix) 8:18
PartOfMeThinWhiteDuke
LABEL Capitol, Virgin, EMI
RELEASED February 20, 2012
FORMAT Digital, promo
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in Spain

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mixshow) 5:59
2. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Radio Edit) 3:47

Physical release

Europe

PartOfMeCD
LABEL EMI
RELEASED 2012
FORMAT CDr, promo
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in E.U.

POMEUCD-BC
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me 3:36
2. Part of Me (Instrumental) 3:35

Finland & Netherlands

PartOfMeCDr
LABEL EMI
RELEASED February 13, 2012
FORMAT CDr, promo
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in E.U.

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me 3:36

United Kingdom

PartOfMeCDUK
LABEL EMI
RELEASED March 25, 2012
FORMAT CD
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in E.U.

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me 3:35
2. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) 6:02
PartOfMeCDUK
LABEL EMI
RELEASED March 26, 2012
FORMAT CDr, Maxi, promo
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in E.U.

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me (DJ Skeet Skeet Radio Edit) 3:50
2. Part of Me (DJ Skeet Skeet Mixshow) 4:37
3. Part of Me (DJ Skeet Skeet Club Mix) 7:09
4. Part of Me (DJ Skeet Skeet Dub) 7:11
5. Part of Me (Freemasons Radio Edit) 3:57
6. Part of Me (Freemasons Mixshow) 5:48
7. Part of Me (Freemasons Club Mix) 8:18
8. Part of Me (Freemasons Dub) 7:58
9. Part of Me (LA Riots Radio Edit) 3:13
10. Part of Me (LA Riots Mixshow) 4:10
11. Part of Me (LA Riots Club Mix) 6:38
12. Part of Me (LA Riots Dub) 6:38
13. Part of Me (RAC Radio Edit) 4:02
14. Part of Me (RAC Extended Mix) 4:09
PartOfMeCDUK
LABEL EMI
RELEASED 2012
FORMAT CDr, promo
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in E.U.

NoBarcode
TRACK LIST LENGTH
1. Part of Me (Freemasons Club Mix) 8:21

Record Store Day (2012)

Limited edition pink 12" vinyls were released for Record Store Day. Only about 3,000 copies were distributed. The vinyls between the US edition and the European edition feature different shades of pink.

United States

PartOfMeThinWhiteDukeVinyl
LABEL Capitol, EMI
RELEASED April 21, 2012
FORMAT 12" Pink vinyl in a cardboard sleeve
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in US

POM-VinylUSCode
TRACK LIST (SIDE A) LENGTH
1. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) 6:00
TRACK LIST (SIDE B) LENGTH
1. Tommie Sunshine's Megasix Smash-Up 7:03

Europe

PartOfMeThinWhiteDukeVinyl
LABEL Capitol, EMI
RELEASED April 21, 2012
FORMAT 12" Pink vinyl in a cardboard sleeve
Cover photo by
Mary Ellen Matthews


Design by
Gavin Taylor

     Made in E.U.

TRACK LIST (SIDE A) LENGTH
1. Part of Me (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) 6:00
TRACK LIST (SIDE B) LENGTH
1. Tommie Sunshine's Megasix Smash-Up 7:03

References

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