Her biggest video, and her Cleopatra. In Dark Horse (2014) Katy Perry plays Katy Pätra, the witch of Memphis (the Egyptian one, a joke on Juicy J’s hometown in Tennessee). Gold headdress, jewelled grill, a throne shaped like a sphinx, and suitors who keep bringing gifts. She was twenty-nine.
It was the most-watched music video in the world in 2014 and the first video by a female artist to pass one billion views on Vevo, in June 2015. Not a nude scene. It is all costume and attitude.
What happens in the video
Katy Pätra floats down the river on a barge at sunset, then holds court on her throne while pharaohs bring her presents. The first suitor gets turned into a pile of sand; she keeps his jewels for her teeth. The one who brings snacks gets turned into a cup of water, which she drinks.
Gold dresses, floating hieroglyphs and golden pythons, with Juicy J’s verse in the middle. Directed by Mathew Cullen, who also made California Gurls.
The rest of her videos are on the Katy Perry hub: California Gurls, Teenage Dream, Bon Appétit, Dark Horse, Woman’s World.
Watch: Dark Horse (official video)
Video: Dark Horse ft. Juicy J (2014) · Directed by Mathew Cullen · Released 20 February 2014 · Character: Katy Pätra, the witch of Memphis · From the album Prism · Official music video on her YouTube channel · Not a nude scene
Stills from the video
All Katy Perry videos
1California Gurls Candyfornia, 2010- 2Teenage Dream Santa Barbara love scene, 2010
- 3Bon Appétit On the menu, 2017
- 4Now watchingDark Horse Katy Pätra, 2014
- 5Woman’s World Rosie and the knit bikini, 2024
Back to the hub: Katy Perry: her sexiest videos, photos and where you know her from.
