Ayrton Oneill
Swish Swish is a song by American singer Katy Perry featuring rapper Nicki Minaj from Perry's fifth album, Witness. The song uses basketball metaphors to address Perry's bullies and detractors. In basketball, the term swish refers to the act of throwing the ball into the basket so that it falls through without touching the basket or board. The music video for the song also features basketball, with Perry playing Kobe Perry, the captain of a basketball team called The Tigers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Swish Swish |
| Performers | Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj |
| Genre | House-inspired EDM, Hip-hop |
| Songwriting Credits | Katy Perry, Duke Dumont, Sarah Hudson, PJ "Promnite" Sledge, Nicki Minaj, Brittany Hazzard, Starrah, Roland Clark |
| Production Credits | Duke Dumont, PJ "Promnite" Sledge, Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy |
| Sampling Credits | "I Get Deep" by Roland Clark, "What They Say" by Maya Jane Coles |
| Key | F minor |
| Tempo | 120 beats per minute |
| Chord Progression | Cm7–A♭maj7–Gm7–Cm7–A♭maj7–Fm7 |
| Vocal Range | E♭3 to A♭4 |
| Duration | 4 minutes and 2 seconds |
| Music Video Views | Over 687 million as of July 2024 |
| Basketball Reference | Uses basketball metaphors to address bullies and detractors |
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What You'll Learn
The song's music video features basketball imagery
The music video for "Swish Swish" by Katy Perry features extensive basketball imagery and symbolism. The video is set at a basketball game, with Perry playing the role of "Kobe Perry", the captain of a basketball team called "The Tigers". Their opponents are called "The Sheep". The video features a halftime performance by rapper Nicki Minaj, who is also featured on the track. The basketball theme extends to the costumes and choreography, with backup dancers dressed as basketball players and nets covering their faces.
The song itself uses basketball metaphors to address Perry's bullies and detractors. The term "swish" refers to a near-perfect basketball shot where the ball only touches the net, not the rim or basket. This imagery is used in the song to talk about "getting over the haters". The song's lyrics and music video both draw on basketball imagery to convey a message of empowerment and overcoming adversity.
The choice of basketball as a central theme may also be a reference to the song's rumoured subject matter. Multiple media outlets speculated that "Swish Swish" was written in response to Taylor Swift's 2015 single "Bad Blood", which was believed to be about Perry. The basketball theme could be interpreted as a playful way to address their alleged rivalry, with the song's upbeat and energetic tone further emphasising this interpretation.
The music video for "Swish Swish" has garnered significant attention, with over 687 million views on YouTube as of July 2024. Critics have described the video as goofy and exhausting, reflecting the high-energy nature of the song and its basketball-inspired visuals. The video's success contributed to the popularity of the song, which became known for its catchy beat and empowering message.
Overall, the extensive use of basketball imagery in the "Swish Swish" music video enhances the song's themes and adds a layer of playful symbolism to its message of rising above one's detractors. The video's creative use of basketball references, from the team names to the choreography, showcases how music artists can draw on sports culture to create engaging and memorable visual narratives.
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The lyrics use basketball metaphors
"Swish Swish" is a song by American singer Katy Perry featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. The song, from Perry's fifth album Witness, was initially released as a promotional single on May 19, 2017, and later as the album's third single. The song uses basketball metaphors to address Perry's bullies and detractors.
The music video for "Swish Swish" further emphasizes the basketball theme, with Perry playing "Kobe Perry," the captain of a basketball team called "The Tigers." The video features basketball-themed sets, choreography, and costumes, including male dancers in high heels. The video also includes a brief reappearance of Perry's character, Kathy Beth Terry, from her previous music video "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)."
In addition to the basketball references, "Swish Swish" also samples the song "I Get Deep" by Roland Clark, and its beat is similar to Maya Jane Coles' "What They Say." The song is performed in the key of F minor with a tempo of 120 beats per minute and follows a chord progression of Cm7–A♭maj7–Gm7–Cm7–A♭maj7–Fm7. Perry's vocals span from E♭3 to A♭4.
The song received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its empowering message and Minaj's verse, while others had a less favorable response.
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The song's title references basketball
"Swish Swish" is a song by American singer Katy Perry featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. The song was released as a promotional single on May 19, 2017, and later as the third single from Perry's fifth album, Witness. The song, which is house-inspired EDM and hip-hop, was written by Perry, Duke Dumont, Sarah Hudson, PJ "Promnite" Sledge, Minaj, Brittany Hazzard, and Starrah. It samples "I Get Deep" by Roland Clark, and the beat is similar to Maya Jane Coles' "What They Say" (2010).
The song's title, "Swish Swish," references basketball. In basketball, "swish" refers to the act of throwing the ball into the basket so that it falls through without touching either the basket or the board behind it. The term "swish" comes from the sound the net makes when the ball quickly passes through it. This perfect shot is also known as a "net-snapper" or "string music." The song "Swish Swish" uses basketball metaphors to address Perry's bullies and detractors and to talk about getting over the haters.
The music video for "Swish Swish" further emphasizes the basketball theme. In the video, Perry plays "Kobe Perry," the captain of a basketball team called "The Tigers." Their opponents are known as "The Sheep," and Minaj performs during the game's halftime show. The video also features appearances by actors from the TV show GLOW and a brief segment with the Bag Raiders song, "Shooting Stars."
In addition to the song's title and music video, the choreography for live performances of "Swish Swish" also incorporated basketball themes. During Perry's performance on Saturday Night Live, one of her backup dancers, Russell Horning, gained attention for his arm-swinging dance move, dubbed "the Floss." At the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, Perry's performance began with her standing atop a giant basketball, and her backup dancers wore nets over their faces.
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The song's message is about getting over haters
"Swish Swish", the catchy and upbeat track by American singer Katy Perry, is a song with a powerful message about rising above one's detractors and haters. The song, featuring rapper Nicki Minaj, was released in 2017 as a single from Perry's fifth album, Witness. With its energetic rhythm and clever use of basketball metaphors, "Swish Swish" encourages listeners to brush off negativity and embrace a confident, empowering mindset.
The song's title, "Swish Swish", is derived from the basketball term "swish", which describes the sound the net makes when the ball passes through it cleanly, without touching the rim. This term is used to narrate an excellent, near-perfect shot, and Perry cleverly employs this basketball lingo to convey a message of resilience and triumph over adversity. By using basketball metaphors, Perry transforms the act of dealing with haters into a playful game, where one can swish their way to victory.
The music video for "Swish Swish" further emphasizes this message. In the video, Perry plays "Kobe Perry", the captain of a basketball team called "The Tigers". Their opponents are known as "The Sheep", a nod to the theme of overcoming bullies and detractors. The video, with its playful narrative and energetic choreography, brings the song's message to life, encouraging listeners to embrace their inner strength and "swish" away their haters with confidence and style.
The song's lyrics also allude to the idea of getting over haters and rising above negativity. While the specific references remain open to interpretation, many critics believe the song addresses singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's 2015 single "Bad Blood", which was allegedly about Perry. Regardless of the specific target, "Swish Swish" empowers listeners to brush off negative influences and focus on their own path.
"Swish Swish" has had a significant impact, with its message resonating strongly with audiences. The official music video has garnered over 687 million views on YouTube as of July 2024, and the song's empowering message has been praised by many. "Swish Swish" serves as a reminder that facing adversity with confidence and a playful attitude can help one emerge victorious, leaving the haters behind in a cloud of dust (or, in this case, basketball net).
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The song's melody is upbeat and club-ready
"Swish Swish" is a song by American singer Katy Perry featuring rapper Nicki Minaj. The song, from Perry's fifth album Witness, was initially released as a promotional single on May 19, 2017, and later as the album's third single. The house-inspired EDM and hip-hop song was written by Perry with Duke Dumont, Sarah Hudson, PJ "Promnite" Sledge, Minaj, and Brittany Hazzard. The song's upbeat and club-ready melody, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute, is performed in the key of F minor in common time. It follows a chord progression of Cm7–A♭maj7–Gm7–Cm7–A♭maj7–Fm7, and Perry's vocals span from E♭3 to A♭4. The track is four minutes and two seconds long.
The song starts with a sparse piano, before transitioning into a club-ready beat. The song's lyrics use basketball metaphors to address Perry's bullies and detractors. The term "swish" in basketball refers to a near-perfect shot where the ball only touches the net, creating a distinct sound. This term inspired the song's title and upbeat melody, reflecting the energy and excitement of a successful basketball shot.
The music video for "Swish Swish" further emphasizes the basketball theme, with Perry playing "Kobe Perry," the captain of a basketball team called "The Tigers." The video features appearances by celebrities such as Awesome Kong, Britney Young, and Ellen Wong, and includes a halftime show performance by Minaj. The video received widespread attention, with over 687 million views on YouTube as of July 2024.
The song's performance on Saturday Night Live also gained popularity, with a viral dance move called "the Floss" performed by teen dancer Russell Horning, also known as the "Backpack Kid." Perry's live performances of "Swish Swish" further showcased the song's upbeat and energetic nature, with male dancers in high heels and dynamic backup dancers at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Overall, the melody of "Swish Swish" is designed to be upbeat and club-ready, incorporating a fast tempo, energetic chords, and Perry's dynamic vocals. The basketball-inspired lyrics and title enhance the lively atmosphere of the song, creating a unique and memorable listening experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the song "Swish Swish" by Katy Perry uses basketball metaphors to address her bullies and detractors.
The song "Swish Swish" uses basketball metaphors such as "swish" and "net-for-veils" to talk about getting over the haters.
In basketball, "swish" refers to the act of throwing the ball into the basket so that it falls through without touching either the basket or the board behind it.
Yes, Perry performed "Swish Swish" solo on the Saturday Night Live season finale on May 20, 2017. She also performed the song live with Nicki Minaj for the first time at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards.
