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Katy Perry’s “Bandaids”: A Raw Return to Form
Pop superstar Katy Perry surprised fans on November 6, 2025, with the release of “Bandaids,” her first single since her 2024 album “143.” The emotional pop-rock ballad marks a significant shift for the singer, trading the upbeat anthems of her recent work for vulnerable exploration of heartbreak and relationship loss.
The song appears to draw inspiration from Perry’s recent split from longtime partner Orlando Bloom in July, though she hasn’t explicitly confirmed this. Co-written with Kiddo Ibañez and producers Justin Tranter, Sean Cook, Russ Chell, and Eren Cannata, the track features a more stripped-down sound with metallic guitars building to an anthemic climax.
The accompanying music video, co-directed by Perry and Christian Breslauer, takes a darkly comedic approach inspired by the “Final Destination” horror franchise. Perry endures a series of accidents including a garbage disposal injury, falling from a tree, escalator mishaps, and narrowly avoiding death from falling logs. The visual metaphors powerfully illustrate the painful unpredictability of heartbreak.
Critics have responded enthusiastically to the track. Gennaro Costanzo of Clash described it as “a long-awaited return to form” that’s “vulnerable without being preachy, personal without feeling performative,” while several outlets called it a comeback after the lukewarm reception to “143.”
Perry performed “Bandaids” live for the first time in Lyon, France, on November 7, 2025, as part of her ongoing Lifetimes Tour. With its honest emotional core and return to her pop-rock roots, “Bandaids” signals a promising new chapter for the artist.
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