Allusion #2 Katy Perry "Wide Awake"

Katy Perry has always been somewhat of a fascination to me ever since she started off her career with “I Kissed a Girl.” I tried very hard not to like her, but her message is powerful. She fights for the underdog, the nerds, and everyone matters. Her dad is a preacher and has been her whole life. She  tried to start her career off in Christian music, but just couldn’t become a break out star. She has a Jesus tattoo on her wrist, she says to remind her where she comes from. I do not think she gets the credit she deserves because of her outlandish costumes and lyrics.  

My allusion comes from her song “Wide Awake.” I think the title is speaking about when Jesus healed the blind man in Mark 8. Mark 8:23-25, it states: “And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.” In the first couple of stanza she says: “Yeah, I was in the dark I was falling hard with an open heart I’m wide awake.” With Katy’s background having grown up in the Christian Faith, it is not hard to see that she would draw from Biblical events.

I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake
Yeah, I was in the dark
I was falling hard
With an open heart
I'm wide awake
How did I read the stars so wrong

I'm wide awake
And now it's clear to me
That everything you see
Ain't always what it seems
I'm wide awake
Yeah, I was dreaming for so long

After the chorus, Katy Perry is referring to Daniel and the Lion’s den. Daniel 6-16:24. She says “Outta the lion’s den I don’t have to pretend And it’s too late The story’s over now, the end.” I think she is trying to illustrate that after Daniel is pulled from the lion’s den that is the end of the story. Most people don’t remember what happened to Daniel’s accusers because humans are overjoyed with the miracle of God saving Daniel from the lions. I think it is her intention to say that we should focus on the positives in live rather than the negative.

 
I'm wide awake
Not losing any sleep
Picked up every piece
And landed on my feet
I'm wide awake
Need nothing to complete myself - nooohooo

I'm wide awake
Yeah, I am born again
Outta the lion's den
I don't have to pretend
And it's too late
The story's over now, the end


Thunder rumbling
Castles crumbling
I am trying to hold on
God knows that I tried
Seeing the bright side
But I'm not blind anymore...
I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake

Katy Perry Wide Awake lyrics found on http://www.directlyrics.com/katy-perry-wide-awake-lyrics.html

Also in the video she eats from the tree of knowledge like Eve in Genesis. She is trapped by her sin but know she can see. By the end of the video she has returned to the Garden of Eden. Most of these Allusions the basic Christian could pick up on. These are stories that most people have grown up hearing their whole lives. I think Katy uses her lyrics to portray a message in every song. The basic message I get from her is everyone matters and it’s never too late to start over. Several of her songs indicate this same theme. This too speaks to her Christian background of Jesus’ salvation and our redemption. Katy Perry seems like the least likely Christian spokes person, but I think that is way she is so affective in reaching a new audience. She will be the first to admit she is not perfect but I truly believe she has an underlining message for all.