Ten years ago this week, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry did the unthinkable when they both kicked off new musical eras within days of each other.
After the chart-shattering success of her Teenage Dream era, Katy introduced fans to her third album Prism with the unveiling of “Roar.” She followed up an impressive run on the Billboard Hot 100 with another singalong anthem that would go on to become a enduring hit.
Meanwhile, Gaga was chasing the breakaway success of 2011′s Born This Way when she unleashed “Applause” on the world. It kicked off her experimental third album Artpop. The pop star had already proven that she was fearless and impossible to pin down, and she continued to leave fans guessing with an equally catchy bop.
The superstars were two of the biggest names on the planet at the time, and they inadvertently put themselves in direct competition. It was the musical equivalent of 2023′s Barbenheimer – the box office showdown between Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Interestingly, the pop titans’ response to the headline-generating drama mirrored the response we just saw from the cast of the two hit movies.
2013 was the peak of stan wars on Twitter. Diehard fans took to the social media platform to praise their fav over anyone else. Chart success was the best weapon, and people were fearless in how they used it to make a point.
Considering the time, “Roar” and “Applause” facing off on the charts was almost unthinkable. It set the scene for an even more heated battle, which played out in in the media and online.
Fans might remember that it even inspired an episode of Glee, with opposing members of New Directions identifying with Katy or Gaga.
While some fans argued and threw up stats about the situation, Katy and Gaga handled it with grace. They proved that there is room for everyone on the charts.
“It’s all about the music and I really agree with her message,” Katy said of her pop peer in an interview with AMP Radio. “I’ve always been a fan of hers and I like to see her evolution.”
She added that it was “nice” to be releasing in tandem. “It really keeps us both on our toes,” she explained. “It’s not that we feel competition, it’s that we keep each other on each other’s toes and it’s a healthy thing.”
Gaga was equally generous on Twitter. She hopped online to engage with Katy after “Applause” leaked ahead of schedule. “Wanna grab some shovels and f-ck up some hacker,” she jokingly wrote.
Again, Katy shared the love in her response. “Claws out, paws up,” she tweeted in reply. “Looking forward to puttin my hands up & making them touch too!”
The pop stars celebrated one another’s success, and both had more than enough of it. “Roar” wound up topping the Billboard Hot 100, while “Applause” landed within the top five at No. 4.
Years later, they’re both massive pop hits, and Katy and Gaga continue to exist side-by-side in the industry. In fact, Katy even listed her one-time competitor as a dream duet partner.
As you’ll recall, the same thing happened with Barbenheimer this year, and we wound up with two summer blockbusters and an incredible season at the theater!
