Katy Perry’s 'Teenage Dream' Was Pop Perfection From Start to Finish — So Why Can’t She Replicate It?

Fifteen years ago, on August 24, 2010, Katy Perry released Teenage Dream — a chart-topping pop album that solidified her status in the music industry. While One of the Boys remains a standout in its own right, Perry’s third studio album marked her true ascent to global stardom, transforming her from an emerging artist into a worldwide sensation. Teenage Dream remains her defining achievement, carrying a legacy perhaps bigger than the pop star herself. At a time when the genre was undergoing a shift, with more and more female artists rising to prominence, she defied all odds and went on to release career-defining hits like "I Kissed a Girl," "Waking Up in Vegas," "Thinking of You," and "Hot n Cold." But that was just the beginning of what would become a flourishing music career. Upon its release, Teenage Dream quickly became a massive success. This was partly thanks to her campy persona, but songs like "Teenage Dream," "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," "California Gurls," "E.T.," "The One That Got Away," and "Firework" are what truly cemented her place as a pop culture icon.