In a recent interview with NPR, pop star Katy Perry discussed her new album "Prism," a musical departure from her sophomore album "Teenage Dream" that has so far received mostly positive reviews, and her role as being an inspiration to young girls.
She also may have taken a subtle shot at her friend Miley Cyrus, at or least Cyrus's new adult image, though she singer said that she wasn't going after anyone in particular.
"I do see myself becoming this inspiration out of default right now because cause it's such a strange world. Like females in pop - everybody's getting naked. I mean, I've been naked before but I don't feel like I have to always get naked to be noticed. But it's interesting to see," Perry told her interviewer. "I'm talking about all of them. I mean, it's like everybody's so naked. It's like, 'put it away!' We know you've got it. I got it too. I've taken it off for - I've taken it out here and there. And I'm not necessarily judging. I'm just saying sometimes it's nice to play that card but also it's nice to play other cards. And I know I have that sexy card in my deck but I don't always have to use that card."
Some fans suspect Perry was subtly referencing Cyrus, a pop star who has been getting naked quite often lately, from her infamous "Wrecking Ball" music video to her "Protect the Skin You're In" skin cancer campaign t-shirt in which the star wore nothing but her birthday suit, as well as her racy photoshoot with shock photographer Terry Richardson.
As for her current "card," Perry seems to be toning it down for this musical era, her latest album tinged with Christian pop influences mixed in with her signature radio friendly style of catchy choruses and sing-a-long melodies. Despite its overall upbeat sound, the album has its darker elements, including a track in which the singer reveals thoughts of suicide after her break-up with ex-husband Russell Brand.
"I think that I sing - well, yeah, I mean, in some terms 'cause I was raised in a super-sheltered atmosphere where, you know, we didn't watch anything besides Trinity Broadcasting Network, which is called TBN, and/or Fox News channel," she told NPR. "I was never allowed to called deviled eggs deviled eggs. I called them angel eggs. So, to answer your question, I think that parents have an idea of what they want their kids to be like and then their kids grow up and be people of themselves, of their own."
As for Cyrus, the "We Can't Stop" singer recently revealed her thankfulness of having the overall support of stars like Perry and rapper Kanye West, whom she recently recorded a remix of "Black Skinhead" with.
"The support of other artists is important because there are not many people who can relate to what I'm going through right now. Kanye West is one of those people, and even Katy Perry has been so cool," Cyrus said in an interview with Cosmopolitan.
Click here to read the full transcript from Katy Perry's recent interview with NPR.
