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Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) is a song written by Katy Perry, Bonnie McKee, Max Martin, and Dr. Luke, who both also produced the track. The song is the fifth single to be released from the album, Teenage Dream. After the release of the album, the song first charted on Billboard Hot 100 due to strong digital downloads the first two weeks of release in the United States. A remix featuring Missy Elliot was made where she contributed on a new opening verse and bridge being released digitally August 8, 2011. On August 17, 2011, the song went #1 thus causing Perry to become the second artist overall, and first female artist in history, to achieve five #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from one album.

Background

Katy Perry commented on the song during an interview for TheDirt.com:

"Last Friday Night" is a bonafide party song. It's almost like my "Waking Up in Vegas 2"...it's just kinda about those moments where you swear to god you're never going to mix Yager and lemon drop shots ever again 'cause you feel like crap and then you do it all over again the next week. I think it will go over well with college kids because they're always learning by default-by hangover...but they somehow can never stop, you know? and I think it's one of those fun, "Thank Goodness It's Friday", like "T.G.I.F.", "Last Friday Night"...I think we all relate to that at some point in our life.

—Katy Perry

Perry has revealed that she was inspired to write the track after running naked through a park with her friends. According to Music Rooms, Perry claims that after a wild night of partying and streaking, she wrote the song about her antics and what she remembered the next day. Perry revealed: “There’s nothing better than an impromptu dance party with my friends. My track 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)' is a song about debauchery because I had one of those nights in Santa Barbara. We went out to this place called Wildcat and got crazy,” Perry admitted: “We had a couple of beers and danced until we died, then brought the party back to the hotel room.” She added: “Most of that song is actual truth, apart from the ménage à trois… unfortunately! But, yes, streaking in the park, that’s what we did, so we had to write a song about it the next day!” Bonnie McKee, the co-writer of the song stated "TGIF is pretty much a word for word description of our trip to Santa Barbara [with Perry], so I love that one. It’s really kitschy and fun and makes me nostalgic."

Artwork

Remixes single cover.
Remix single cover featuring Missy Elliot.

Perry first revealed the official single artwork for the song's remix EP through a message on her Facebook page, "Recognize that face? Katy reveals her official album artwork for the 'Last Friday Night (TGIF)' Remixes!". The photo features Katy in nerdy gear, including mouth guard and glasses, and was taken when she hosted the Teen Choice Awards in summer 2010. The image is surrounded by '80s-style neon colors and swirly graphics.

A second single artwork was revealed for the individual song release, it features the same 80's theme as the remixes cover, except this time one side contains the same nerdy look as before along side a new glammed out look.

A third single cover was made for the official remix featuring Missy Elliot. The artwork conists of a screenshot of Perry from the music video and continues the 80's theme of the previous artwork making it look like a classic cover.

Critical Reception

The song has mixed reception from music critics. All music picked it among the top tracks on the album, and said that Perry "salutes fellow attention-whore Ke$ha on “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”. Rolling Stone said that "Perry likes her songs chatty; in the kegger romp "Last Friday Night," she chirps, "Think I need a ginger ale/That was such an epic fail". Slant Magazine said that ""Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" is a lifeless roller-rink jam with a "T! G! I! F!" shout-along that will no doubt provide the soundtrack to any number of trashy sorority parties this semester". Spin Magazine said that "Last Friday Night recounts an evening of nonstop naughtiness -- think streaking, skinny-dipping, and ménage à trois-ing". Drowned in Sound said that "Teenage Dream, Last Friday Night, Hummingbird Heartbeat, are all as good (or bad) as ‘California Gurls’, and will all probably be released as singles".

Now Magazine said that "The singer recently said that the catchy Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) is her version of I Gotta Feelin’. With lyrics about photos ending up online after a debauched evening, it’s also reminiscent of Lady Gaga singing about drunkenly losing her keys and phone on Just Dance. Derivative, sure, but the song strikes a perfect equilibrium between Perry’s sex appeal and goofy, self-effacing charm". The Hartford Courant said that Perry "glorifies getting wasted and misbehaving on Last Friday Night (TGIF)". Pop Matters said that " “Last Friday Night (TGIF)” is catchy enough, and features the cheesiest sax solo ever played on a keyboard (Edit: Not true, it is played by musical director from SNL Lenny Pickett), but the verses are hammered down into a monotone catalog of girls gone wild cliches. Last Friday night, we maxed out our credit cards, got kicked out of the bar, had a menage a trois—you know, the usual. By the end of the song, the girls are chanting “TGIF!!” It’s the kind of song that’s mildly smirk-worthy on the first listen, tolerably infectious on the second, and forever annoying thereafter". The A.V. Club said that "assuming that everything here is based on real life also means we have to accept that she’s had a ménage à trois on the indie-rock-meets-American Idol cut Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)". The Washington Post said that "And while innocence-crushing party fantasies are central to the persona Perry so desperately tries to espouse, they feel flimsy and irksome during "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)." Over strummy guitars and zigzagging keyboards, Perry recounts an evening of debauchery with no repercussions, her innocent transgressions (streaking, skinny-dipping) mentioned in the same breath as more serious trouble (mysterious bruises, a blackout), but concerned parents of young Katy Perry fans, don't fret -- this woman might have more in common with you than with your kids. When it's time for Perry to reflect on her 3 a.m. follies, she stiffly sings, "That was such an epic fail." It sounds like a clueless parent's attempt to speak teenager. (And the song only gets stranger with a rally chant of "T-G-I-F," as if she were trying to raise the ghost of Steve Urkel). Billboard Magazine included it in their "Five Potential Pop Hits for 2011" list.

Release

Physical Releases

The physical CD will be released on August 21, 2011 in the UK including the album version of the song with an Instrumental.

TGIFSC
LABEL Capitol
RELEASED August 27, 2011
FORMAT Slimcase
Cover photo by
'


Design by
'

     Made in UK


# Track list LENGTH
1. "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" (Album Version) 3:52
2. "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" (Instrumental) 3:48
The Katy Perry Wiki


Music Video

Background and development

In an interview with MTV, director Marc Klasfeld said that the video's storyline was inspired by Sixteen Candles and other works of John Hughes, as well as "all those great '80s high school movies."[18] Including a long series of outtakes during the ending credits was influenced by a similar idea in The Cannonball Run.[18]

The music video for "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" was filmed around May 3–6, 2011. It was directed by Marc Klasfeld, and co-directed by Danny Lockwood. Perry tweeted, "I told someone about my new music video I just filmed & they responded with 'wow, that's gonna break the internet.' ... Should I knock on wood?"

Promotion and release

The teaser of the video was released on Perry's YouTube profile on June 7, 2011. Prior to the video's premiere, Perry created Facebook and

LFN Set

Twitter profiles for her alter-ego of a nerdy thirteen year old, Kathy Beth Terry. Starting from June 8, a series of short video clips was uploaded on the Facebook profile, YouTube and Perry's official website, presenting Terry and other characters who would later appear in the video. Before to the planned June 14 release date, the video was leaked onto the internet June 12. The full 8-minute-long final version premiered later on the same day on Funny or Die. On July 11, after crossing the half-million "likes" mark, Perry released an interview in character as Terry on DigitalSpy.

Cast and characters

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F

Kathy Beth Terry and Rebecca Black

  • Katy Perry as Kathy Beth Terry
  • Darren Criss as Aaron Christopherson
  • Rebecca Black as herself
  • Kevin McHale as Everett McDonald
  • Isaac, Taylor, & Zac Hanson as Hanson
  • Kenny G as Uncle Kenny
  • Corey Feldman as Kirk Terry
  • Debbie Gibson as Tiffany Terry

Synopsis

Kathy Beth Terry (Perry), a nerdy teenager with braces, headgear, and oversized glasses, has just woken up the morning after a house party, surrounded by passed-out partygoers. A male guest, Aaron Christopherson (Glee actor Darren Criss) opens the door to her bedroom and congratulates her on having the "best party ever." Puzzled as to what happened, she goes online, only to find pictures of herself in various compromising positions, including one picture of her licking the stomach of the man in bed next to her. The video then goes into a flashback of the events that occurred the night before. While doing a Sudoku puzzle, Kathy hears loud music from the house next door, and goes over to complain. She is greeted by Rebecca Black (who appears in an homage to Black's viral video "Friday"), who invites her in. A nerdy seventh-grader, Everett McDonald (Glee star Kevin McHale), ogles Terry from afar and fantasizes about being with her. Kathy, however is more interested in Steve Johnson (model Richie Nuzzolese), an attractive football player, who turns her down because of her appearance. To cheer her up, Black gives Kathy a makeover, ripping off her headgear with pliers, waxing her upper lip, dressing her in tight-fitting neon clothes, and teasing her hair out. Steve becomes enamored with her, and everyone starts dancing. Kathy and Rebecca are also seen playing Just Dance 2 (a game that notably features Perry). Musician Kenny G plays a saxophone solo on the roof while Hanson act as the house band. The entire party ends up moving to Kathy's house, where Everett punches Steve for trying

Nerdy Smile

to fondle Kathy's bottom. At the end of the night, Kathy finally passes out next to Steve. The video shifts back to the next morning, where she looks at the photos with regret, but is also ecstatic to have a naked Steve passed out in her bed. The film ends with former teen idols Corey Feldman and Debbie Gibson making a cameo as Kathy's parents, Kirk and Tiffany Terry; Feldman makes several references to The Lost Boys, a film in which he starred. The video's end credits feature various deleted lines, bloopers, and extra scenes from the party, as well as Everett making breakfast in bed for Kathy.

The video was filmed inside John Schneider's house. Several Webkinz make appearances in the video, most notably a Fantail Goldfish, a Ribbon Lion, Fishy clown.

Controversy

In some countries, the single had been censored on radio stations, specifically for the lyrics "then had a menage a trois", meaning "had a threesome", although it may also make a reference to the wine of the same name. Oddly enough, some other inappropriate lyrics such as "we went streaking in the park" had been left unedited. Most U.S. radio stations did not censor the song.

Live performances

Live performances

2010
June 14 Us Teenage Dream Preview Microphone-icon

Tours

Teenage Dream Tour (2011- All Dates)
California Dreams Tour (2011- All Dates)

Lyrics

There's a stranger in my bed,
There's a pounding my head
Glitter all over the room
Pink flamingos in the pool
I smell like a minibar
DJ's passed out in the yard
Barbie's on the barbecue

This a hickey or a bruise?
Pictures of last night
Ended up online
I'm screwed
Oh well
It's a blacked out blur
But I'm pretty sure it ruled, damn

Last Friday night
Yeah we danced on tabletops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot

Last Friday night
Yeah we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bar
So we hit the boulevard

Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping in the dark
Then had a menage a trois
Last Friday night
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we're gonna stop-op
Whoa-oh-oah

This Friday night
Do it all again
This Friday night
Do it all again

Trying to connect the dots
Don't know what to tell my boss
Think the city towed my car
Chandelier is on the floor
Ripped my favorite party dress
Warrants out for my arrest
Think I need a ginger ale
That was such an epic fail

Pictures of last night
Ended up online
I'm screwed
Oh well
It's a blacked out blur
But I'm pretty sure it ruled
Damn

Last Friday night
Yeah we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot

Last Friday night
Yeah we maxed our credits card
And got kicked out of the bars
So we hit the boulevards

Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping in the dark
Then had a menage a trois
Last Friday night
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we're gonna stop-op
Oh whoa

This Friday night
Do it all again
This Friday night
Do it all again
This Friday night

T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.

Last Friday night
Yeah we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot

Last Friday night
Yeah we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bar
So we hit the boulevard

Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping in the dark
Then had a menage a trois

Last Friday night
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we're gonna stop-op
Whoa-oh
This Friday night
Do it all again

Download the ringtone and see more at Lyrics Wiki!

References

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