“Small Talk” by Katy Perry

In “Small Talk”, singer Katy Perry is addressing an ex-boyfriend. And more specifically, she is noticing how their relationship has changed from when they were lovers to the present day.

For instance, there was a time which, as she makes known via very-intimate language, they were intimately involved. Moreover it would have appeared to have been true love, as they shared their life’s plan with each other on top of other deep conversation. But now when they meet, it’s more like a casual “hey”. And if they actually do engage in dialogue, it’s about something as watery as “the weather”.  Simply put, their discussions have now been reduced to “small talk”, thus the title of this song.

Initially the lyrics are relatively emotionless, as in the singer not displaying much feeling outside of being astonished by how much things have changed. But in the second verse it becomes apparent that she holds some animosity towards her ex, basically describing him as a narcissistic. She also brings up the fact, in a sly kind of way, that she “got a new somebody”.  But perhaps more to the point she signifies that, at least at this current juncture, they are not even friends. And it will take some time before they “probably” can be. Thus we can conclude that the aforementioned awkwardness between them is actually due to some type of ill feelings they have for each other.

But at the end of the day, the only emotion Katy really expresses is awe. She simply “can’t believe” that a romance that was once so strong has turned into a relationship where the former lovers barely even speak. Or as she puts it in her own words, they are now “strangers”.  But again, outside of marveling at this new reality, she does not seem to be adversely affected by it at all. In fact in a way it can even be said that she is mocking her ex, as in celebrating the fact that they have parted ways.

Release Date of “Small Talk”

Capitol Records released “Small Talk” on the 9th of August 2019. However, it seems that the track may have leaked over a week prior to that.

Katy Perry herself began teasing the song on 6 August 2019.

“Small Talk” came out about two months after Katy’s Zedd-produced single “Never Really Over” was dropped.

Did Katy Perry write “Small Talk”?

Yes, she contributed writing to “Small Talk”. Her other co-writers are Charlie Puth, Jacob Kasher and Johan Carlsson. Both Puth and Carlsson produced “Small Talk”.