Waking Up in Vegas

Background and release

According to A&R Chris Anokute, "Waking Up in Vegas" played a significant role in initiating Perry's pivotal move to Capitol Records. Having been recorded while still under contract with Columbia Records for an album that was then shelved, Anokute later heard the track on a three-song demo and tried to convince his employers at Capitol to sign Perry, claiming it was a number-one single and its singer a star talent. In an interview with HitQuarters, one of the songwriters of the song, Andreas Carlsson, claimed that he worked together with Perry and Desmond Child to write "Waking Up in Vegas". Carlsson remarked that they "really wanted to tell the story that described that moment when everybody's checking out on Vegas after they've had their fun. And Katy is the perfect artist to tell such a story – she has humour, and she knows how to deliver it." Carlsson also said that two of the first aspects of the song to be composed were the main guitar riff – which he already had pre-prepared – and the phrase "put your money where your mouth is," which they were very keen to use and which for a time was almost used as the song's title.

In an interview for Pop Eater, Perry revealed the inspiration behind the track:

"Waking Up in Vegas" was eventually picked as the album's fourth and final single, being sent to US radio stations on April 21, 2009. On the single's artwork, Perry is seen with two dice behind her, giving more emphasis to the song's lyrical content of being in Vegas. A digital extended play containing the radio edit, Calvin Harris remix, Jason Nevins remixes and Manhattan Clique remixes was released on June 5, 2009. Later in June, the CD single featuring the radio edit version of the song and the Calvin Harris remix edit was released in United Kingdom and Germany.

Composition and lyrics

"Waking Up in Vegas" was produced by Greg Wells, who is also responsible for all instruments in the track, as well as for recording the track at the Rocket Carousel Studio, in Los Angeles, California. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, by Alfred Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of F major, and moves at a tempo of 126 beats per minute. Perry's vocals span from the low note of A3 to the high note of C5. Musically, the song has been described as a pop rock song. Lyrically, according to Plugged In (publication), "Waking Up in Vegas" talks about an underage couple get[ting] drunk and blow[ing] their money before [literally] 'waking up in Vegas'." Perry added that the song is not about apologizing, "[It's] basically a song about getting into trouble with your best friend or your boyfriend or your girlfriend – or whoever you're with – and not having any 'I'm sorry for what I did'."

Critical reception

Billboard writer Michael Menachem gave a positive review, finding it "fun" and calling Perry's voice "infectious". He also said it was "her most radio-friendly song yet." Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave "Waking Up in Vegas" 3 out of 5 stars, calling the song "a giddy pop-rock romp featuring an ace sing-along chorus."

Commercial performance

Following the lower chart position of her previous single "Thinking of You", "Waking Up In Vegas" saw Perry return to the top ten as it peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her third top-ten single. "Waking Up in Vegas" also went on to become Perry's second number one hit on Mainstream Top 40, matching the airplay success of "Hot n Cold". In Canada, the song peaked at number two. On the Irish Singles Chart, it peaked at number eight. The song also peaked at number nine in New Zealand and is certified Gold. "Waking Up In Vegas" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 107, following her performance on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, and peaked at number 19.

"Waking Up in Vegas" helped One of the Boys return to the top 50 of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was the 33rd most purchased song on iTunes in the US during 2009. As of January 2015, the song has sold 2.3 million copies in the U.S.

Music video

The music video was directed by Joseph Kahn, and was shot in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 26, 2009. It was released on April 28, 2009, on the Australian, UK, and U.S. iTunes Store.

The video begins with Perry holding hands with her love interest, played by Joel David Moore. They are in a laundromat, standing in front of a slot machine. It is the morning after the night before, setting the theme of the song's lyric, "That's what you get for waking up in Vegas". Moore drops one coin into the slot machine and pulls the handle. Three "blazing 7" symbols land on the payline, and the machine delivers a jackpot in quarters. Moore and Perry look at each other in astonishment.

The next scene shows them winning at roulette the night before. They then head to the hotel room, where they kick out Penn and Teller. Subsequent scenes show the couple playing various casino games and parlaying their winnings into millions, defeating poker legend Daniel Negreanu, and being welcomed into the Palms Hotel by owners Gavin and George J. Maloof Jr. As the winning streak continues, Perry and Moore enjoy a lavish lifestyle, racing through the streets of Las Vegas in his-and-hers Lamborghini Murciélagos. At the height of the streak, they are dressed in show costumes while riding in chariots down Fremont Street, accompanied by a fire-breather and an elephant. They end by feasting at a Roman-style banquet, with visuals that recall the Last Supper.

Perry and Moore kiss in a money booth. After the kiss, the couple's luck changes. They begin to argue. They lose all their winnings except a single quarter and are ejected from their hotel suite (which Penn and Teller reclaim, even performing a card trick before slamming the door on the couple). Perry steals food from a room service tray.

The video ends in the laundromat where it began. The couple is broke; Moore places their single remaining coin in the slot machine and pulls the handle. Three "blazing 7" symbols land on the payline, and the machine delivers a jackpot in quarters. Moore and Perry look at each other in astonishment as the screen goes black.

Live performances

Perry performed "Waking Up in Vegas" on Later... with Jools Holland in September 2008. She was also a guest on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway in March 2009 where she performed "Waking Up in Vegas" instead of her then-current single, "Thinking of You", which had been released that month. She performed on a Las Vegas-themed stage with her backing band dressed as Elvis Presley. The single was released to Australian radio on March 23, where it became the fourth most added song in its release week. Perry performed the song on American Idol on May 13, 2009. During the performance, she was dressed in an Elvis-themed outfit and a cape emblazoned with Adam Lambert's name on it.

Perry performed the song on July 24, 2009, on NBC's Today show in New York's Rockefeller Plaza. The song was a part of the Perry's set list on Warped Tour and her opening act for No Doubt's Summer Tour 2009. It was the main set closer for the Hello Katy Tour and ending the first segment of California Dreams Tour, which Perry danced with Elvis impersonators and Vegas showgirls, before chasing a slot-machine offstage. During the Vegas stop of Witness: The Tour, Perry sang an acoustic snippet of the song for fans, before performing "Thinking of You". During her Las Vegas residency Play, Perry sang a jazz version.

Track listing

; Digital extended play

1. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Radio Edit) – 3:24
2. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Calvin Harris Extended Remix) – 3:44
3. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Jason Nevins Electrotec Club Remix) – 6:41
4. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Jason Nevins Electrotec Dub) – 6:02
5. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Manhattan Clique Bellagio Remix) – 6:18
6. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Manhattan Clique Luxor Dub) – 6:06 ; German and UK CD Single
7. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Radio Edit) – 3:22
8. "Waking Up in Vegas" (Calvin Harris Radio Edit) – 3:43

Remixes

; Calvin Harris Mixes

• "Waking Up in Vegas" (Calvin Harris Extended Mix) – 5:41
• "Waking Up in Vegas" (Calvin Harris Radio Edit) – 3:43 ; Jason Nevins Mixes
• "Waking Up in Vegas" (Jason Nevins Electrotec Club Mix) – 6:40
• "Waking Up in Vegas" (Jason Nevins Electrotec Dub) – 6:04
• "Waking Up In Vegas" (Jason Nevins Electrotec Edit) – 3:23 ; Manhattan Clique Mixes
• "Waking Up in Vegas" (Manhattan Clique Bellagio Remix) – 6:22
• "Waking Up in Vegas" (Manhattan Clique Luxor Dub) – 6:08
• "Waking Up In Vegas" (Manhattan Clique Radio Edit) – 3:50

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from CD single liner notes and Tidal.

Publishing and recording locations

• Published by When I'm Rich You'll Be My Bitch/Desmando Music/Andreas Carlsson Publishing AR/WB Music Corp
• Recorded at Rocket Carousel Studio, Los Angeles, California
• Mixed at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Mastered at Bornie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California

Personnel

• Katy Perry – vocals, songwriting, production
• Desmond Child – songwriting
• Andreas Carlsson – songwriting
• Greg Wells – production, recording assistant
• Serban Ghenea – mixing
• John Hanes – mixing engineering
• Joe Zook – mixing engineering
• Tim Roberts – mixing engineering assistant
• Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Release history

Notes

References

References

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