Katy Perry: Fame, fraternity and the finishing line

Perry says ‘good people’ help in handling glory.

NEW YORK:

American singer Katy Perry believes that keeping “good people around” helps her deal with the pressures of being one of the world’s biggest pop stars.

(Read: "Aspiration: Brand wants to do film with wife Perry")

Currently, the star is busy with a global concert tour and her debut in an animated Hollywood film, The Smurfs.  As the music world mourns the death of British singer Amy Winehouse, she says that she is relieved that she was never tempted by the hedonistic lifestyle that has helped fuel the demise of talented performers before her. Perry, whose hits include “Teenage Dream” and “Firework,” says she is able to stay away from the wild, party life with the help of honest, supportive people around her, such as her British actor/comedian husband Russell Brand, whose recovery from drugs has been successful thus far.

While appreciating her husband’s charming bluntness, she adds “I like to keep good people around me, people who sometimes it’s difficult to be around because they’re not ‘yes’ people. My husband is definitely one of those, he keeps me accountable and, you know, he’s not a fan, even though he is a fan — he supports me and loves me but he doesn’t lie to me, which is really important.”

The 26-year-old California native — who is one year younger than Winehouse — tweeted on Saturday, after Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment, “RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace.” Brand also said on his website that his old friend Winehouse was a “genius” and recalled sharing with her the “disease of addiction”, referring to both their public battles with drinking and drug use.

The singer confesses: “In the very beginning there was a lot of, ‘Oh let’s go celebrate,’ always champagne and parties and, that was something that was taking energy from me that I needed to give to my career in that moment”.

In her current California Dreams Tour 2011, which began in February and runs till December, Perry plays up her carefully cultivated bubblegum pop image with sex appeal. But her sunshine image can have its drawbacks. She joked that she wished she didn’t have to act so happy all the time. “I’ve created this ‘candy girl’ who is so happy-go-lucky all the time. I wish she had just like a day where she was a little bit more flat-lined,” said Perry.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th,  2011.