04/28/2026
18 years ago today, released “I Kissed A Girl.”
When it comes to iconic debut singles, it’s hard to find one better than Katy Perry’s. The pop rock track was released on April 28th 2008 as the first single from ‘One of the Boys’ - her major label debut album under her now-iconic stage name.
The single kicked off a historic run of hit singles for Perry, marking the first of many globe conquering successes. It hit No. 1 in over 20 countries worldwide and was a defining hit of 2008, ranking among the top 10 biggest selling singles of the year in 12 nations. On the Hot 100 in the United States, the track spent seven weeks at the summit to become the second-longest running No. 1 hit of the year. The RIAA certified the song 6x Platinum in 2020, signifying 6 million units earned in the country.
As hinted at by its title, the track explores themes of bi-curiosity and sparked controversy at the time of its release. Some felt it purported a reductive view of sexuality, especially given Perry’s past as a Christian artist, while others praised it for bringing visibility to the LGTBQ+ community in pop music. Perry herself said in 2018 that she would “make an edit” if she were to rewrite the song, displaying her openness to grow and evolve. “Lyrically, it has a couple of stereotypes in it. Your mind changes so much in 10 years,” she told Glamour.
Despite the track’s mixed reception, it quickly became clear that a new pop star had arrived following its success. In addition to its dominant commercial performance, “I Kissed A Girl” was met with industry honors, including five VMA nominations and a Grammy nod for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Perry then made like any great pop star would and used the track as a launchpad for her career, soaring to remarkable heights in the years that followed and permanently cementing her name in music history.
