E.T.

"E.T." by Katy Perry is a song that uses the grand metaphor of an alien encounter to describe the overwhelming and transformative experience of falling in love with someone who feels completely different and foreign. Perry herself stated the song is about "falling in love with a foreigner." Initially, this was interpreted by some as a reference to her then-husband, Russell Brand. The lyrics portray a lover who is so unique, with a 'different DNA,' that they seem to be from another dimension. This 'otherness' is not a source of fear but of intense fascination and desire.

The core of the song's meaning lies in the idea of complete surrender to an intoxicating, almost dangerous love. Phrases like "Infect me with your lovin', fill me with your poison" and "Wanna be your victim, ready for abduction" express a desire to be completely consumed by this new passion. It's about being so captivated by someone that you are willing to be taken over by their world and their essence, no matter how alien it may seem. The song explores themes of love, fantasy, and the allure of the unknown.

The popular single version, featuring Kanye West, adds a more explicit and carnal layer to this metaphor. West's verses about "alien sex" and his intent to "disrobe" and "probe" shift the song from a metaphorical love song to a more direct exploration of intense, otherworldly sexual connection. This version turns the abstract feeling of foreign love into a tangible, sci-fi-infused narrative of seduction and fantasy.

The narrative begins from the perspective of someone utterly captivated by a new lover who seems entirely different from anyone encountered before. This person is described as hypnotic and magnetic, possessing a quality that is both angelic and devilish. Their touch is so powerful it makes the narrator feel as if they are floating, their body glowing from the contact. Despite warnings and the inherent fear of the unknown, the attraction is irresistible. This lover is a 'futuristic lover' with 'different DNA,' someone the conventional world cannot comprehend.

This individual is perceived as being from another world, a different dimension entirely. Their presence has opened the narrator's eyes to new possibilities, and there is a readiness to follow them into the light, a metaphor for embracing this new, transformative experience. The chorus is a plea for total immersion and surrender. The narrator asks to be kissed, to be 'infected' with this person's love, and filled with their 'poison.' This dangerous-sounding language highlights the intensity of the desire and the willingness to be completely consumed by this passion. The narrator wants to be a 'victim,' ready for 'abduction,' fully submitting to the power of this alien lover whose touch is described as foreign, supernatural, and extraterrestrial.

The second verse continues to build on this theme of the lover's extraordinary power. They are 'supersonic,' and the narrator yearns to feel their 'powers' and be stunned by their 'lasers.' Every kiss is 'cosmic,' and every movement is 'magic,' reinforcing the idea that this is no ordinary love affair. The experience transcends the physical, reaching a 'transcendental' level. The lover is a 'lucky star,' and the narrator desires to align with their 'wavelength' and 'vibrate' in harmony with them, willing to risk everything for this connection.

The remix version adds another layer with a male perspective, who embraces the 'alien' identity. He speaks of having a 'dirty mind' and 'filthy ways,' using celestial and sci-fi imagery to describe his sexual desires, such as wanting to 'bathe my ape in your Milky Way.' He acknowledges being called an 'alien' and a 'big-headed astronaut.' He positions himself as a dominant figure, one who has 'abducted' his partner and now dictates the terms of their encounter, explicitly mentioning 'alien sex' and his intention to 'disrobe' and 'probe' her. This verse transforms the song's metaphor into a more literal and sexually charged narrative of an extraterrestrial encounter, amplifying the themes of danger, fantasy, and otherworldly passion.

"E.T." was written by Katy Perry, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, Max Martin, and Joshua "Ammo" Coleman for Perry's third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). The song's creation began when its beat was accidentally played during a recording session. The instrumental track was originally created by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Ammo with the hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia in mind. However, upon hearing the beat, Perry was immediately inspired. She felt it was the perfect sound for a "futuristic, alienistic song" she had always wanted to write. She convinced the producers that she could create something perfect for the track, and they proceeded to develop the song together.

Perry explained that her interest in futurism and outer space was a key inspiration. She fantasized about what it would be like to meet a lover from another planet, a "super lover" who was out of this world. This concept became the central theme of the song.

For its release as the fourth single from the album, a new version was created featuring American rapper Kanye West. This remix, which included new verses written and performed by West, was released on February 16, 2011. The decision to add West was intended to give the track another layer and enhance its urban feel. This version became the definitive single and was included on the album's reissue, Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection.

"E.T." employs a strong, driving rhythmic foundation that is one of its most defining characteristics. The beat has been widely compared to the "stomp-stomp-clap" pattern of Queen's "We Will Rock You," which gives the song a powerful, anthemic, and marching feel. This is layered with elements from electronic genres like dubstep and techno, creating a complex, textured rhythm that feels both heavy and futuristic. The tempo is a slow 76 beats per minute, which contributes to the song's dramatic and deliberate pace, allowing the weight of the beat to land with impact.

The rhyme scheme is generally simple and effective, often using couplets (AABB) or alternating rhymes to maintain a pop structure. For example, in the first verse, "angel" rhymes with "glowing" (a slant rhyme) and "others" with "lover." The pre-chorus uses a simple rhyme of "eyes" and "light." The chorus is built on repetition and internal rhymes ("Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me"), which makes it incredibly catchy and memorable. The lyrical rhythm often features a staccato, almost percussive delivery from Perry, especially in the chorus, which syncs perfectly with the pulsating electronic beat. This interplay between the vocal rhythm and the underlying instrumental track is crucial to the song's intense and forceful atmosphere.

Musically, "E.T." is a departure from the more straightforward pop of other Teenage Dream singles. It's an electronic and hip-hop ballad that incorporates elements of dubstep, techno, and drum and bass. The production features a hard-hitting, "stomp-stomp-clap" beat reminiscent of Queen's "We Will Rock You," combined with a soundscape of bleeps, blips, and synthesized textures. The song is in the key of F minor with a slow tempo of 76 beats per minute, creating a dark, dramatic, and intense atmosphere.

Katy Perry's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element. She employs a powerful, almost aggressive tone, especially in the chorus. Her use of a stuttering effect on the lines "Ki-ki-kiss me" and "Ta-ta-take me" adds to the song's quirky, futuristic, and slightly frantic feel, a technique that drew comparisons to Rihanna's work.

Lyrically, the song relies heavily on extended metaphor, as discussed in the symbolism section. It uses vivid, sensory language ("hypnotizing," "magnetizing," "glowing") to create an immersive experience. The narrative voice is one of complete captivation and surrender. Kanye West's rap verses introduce a different stylistic flavor, employing braggadocio, pop culture references ("Pockets on Shrek"), and explicit double entendres that contrast with Perry's more metaphorical lyrics, yet complement the song's overall theme of an otherworldly encounter.

"E.T." was a massive commercial success and a significant cultural moment in the early 2010s. The single, featuring Kanye West, became Katy Perry's fourth number-one single from the album Teenage Dream, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for five non-consecutive weeks. This achievement made Teenage Dream only the ninth album in history to produce four #1 singles. The song was the fourth best-selling song of 2011 in the US and has sold over 6 million digital copies in the country, earning a Diamond certification.

The song's dark, electronic, and hip-hop-influenced sound was a notable departure from Perry's previous pop-rock and disco-pop singles, showcasing her artistic versatility and helping to popularize dubstep elements in mainstream pop music. Its music video, directed by Floria Sigismondi, was a high-concept sci-fi spectacle that further cemented the song's futuristic identity. In the video, Perry appears as an alien who lands on an abandoned Earth and revives a human, played by albino model Shaun Ross. The video's elaborate makeup and special effects were widely discussed.

"E.T." solidified Perry's status as a dominant force in pop music, making her the first artist to have four songs sell over 5 million digital units. The song remains one of her signature tracks and is remembered for its bold thematic concept and genre-blending production.

The central and most dominant metaphor in "E.T." is the comparison of a lover to an extraterrestrial being. This isn't about a literal alien but is a way to express the feeling of meeting someone so unique and captivating that they seem to be from another world. Katy Perry herself described it as a metaphor for finding someone "not from this world because how could they love me like this?"

Key symbolic and metaphorical elements include:

• Alien/Extraterrestrial: Symbolizes a lover who is profoundly different from anyone the narrator has ever known—a 'futuristic lover' with 'different DNA'. This 'otherness' is the source of their intense appeal.
• Abduction/Infection: The lyrics "Take me... ready for abduction" and "Infect me with your lovin'" are metaphors for complete surrender. They symbolize a desire to be completely consumed and transformed by this powerful love, even if it feels dangerous or overwhelming, like being taken by a UFO or infected with a virus.
• Poison: This word, typically negative, is used here to represent something intoxicating and irresistible. The narrator wants to be filled with the lover's 'poison,' indicating a willingness to embrace the potentially perilous aspects of such an intense passion.
• Light/Lasers/Cosmic: The imagery of light, lasers, and cosmic phenomena ("stun me with your lasers," "your kiss is cosmic") reinforces the futuristic, sci-fi theme. It elevates the love affair beyond the mundane, framing it as a magical, supernatural experience.

The most significant recurring motif in "E.T." is the concept of the lover as an otherworldly being. This is established immediately and reinforced throughout the song with a constellation of related words and phrases.

• Lyrical Motifs: The words "alien," "extraterrestrial," "futuristic," "supernatural," and "different dimension" are repeated to consistently build the central metaphor. The phrase "Boy, you're an alien, your touch so foreign" acts as the song's primary hook and summary of its theme.
• Thematic Motifs: The idea of willing submission and capture is a recurring theme, expressed through the phrases "Wanna be your victim, ready for abduction" and "Take me, ta-ta-take me." This highlights the overpowering nature of the attraction. Similarly, the motif of love as a powerful, transforming substance appears in "Infect me with your lovin', fill me with your poison."
• Musical Motifs: The song's primary musical motif is the heavy, stomping beat that drives the track from the beginning. This rhythmic pattern is relentless and memorable, forming the song's backbone. Another recurring musical element is the stuttering vocal hook ("Ki-ki-kiss me"), which serves as a catchy and distinctive signature for the chorus.