“We just changed it, like, a million times”: Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez’s Collaborator Benny Blanco Had the Hardest Time While Writing This Iconic Katy Perry Song
- Benny Blanco, a music heavyweight, has worked with top artists in the industry.
- However, he struggled with writing Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream.'
- The song's lyrics went through multiple versions before finding success.
Ever wondered what happens when a hit song gets stuck in a never-ending cycle of rewrites? Just ask Benny Blanco, the maestro behind some of the biggest pop anthems. Blanco, who has crafted chart-topping tunes for the likes of Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and many others, recently revealed the details of the tumultuous journey of writing Katy Perry’s smash hit Teenage Dream.
It turns out that creating this catchy tune was anything but a breeze. From lyrics about ‘minivans’ and motherhood to ‘sexy’ references, the process was anything but straightforward. If you’ve ever felt like a song’s lyrics just seem to magically fit, think again. Blanco and his team slogged through endless revisions, proving that even pop perfection requires a hefty dose of trial and error.
Benny Blanco Explained Why the Journey of Teenage Dream Was a Rocky Road
When Benny Blanco and Katy Perry set out to create Teenage Dream, they probably didn’t imagine that it would take a marathon of eight days just to nail down the lyrics. Yes, you read that right—eight days! The songwriter recently shared that the song went through multiple versions, saying in an interview with Daniel Wall on his YouTube channel:
‘Teenage Dream’ took eight days of just lyrics. There’s a version says like before you know you’re a mom in a minivan and it was all all about coming of age and there was then there was one about like getting undressed and like just being sexy, we just changed it, like, a million times.
Even Bonnie McKee admitted on The DaddyMommy Show podcast that “It was the most difficult to write.” McKee, who co-wrote the song with Perry also revealed that they wrestled with the lyrics, trying out around five different versions before finding the right one. The first version even had lines like “You make me feel like I’m born again,” which, let’s be honest, sounds like something out of a fairy tale rather than a pop anthem.
As McKee explained, the initial lyrics felt “too young,” and the team realized they needed something with a bit more exciting. After scrapping several drafts, they landed on the nostalgic chorus we all know:
You make me feel like I’m livin’ a teenage dream / The way you turn me on, I can’t sleep.
Let’s take a look at how Blanco has been the unsung hero behind some of your favorite tracks His name might not always be in lights, but his influence is huge! Spoiler: his list of collaborators includes Selena Gomez, which adds a zesty kick to his already vibrant career.
Benny Blanco is The Hitmaker Who Never Sleeps
If Benny Blanco’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s practically a pop music wizard. Before his romance with Selena Gomez made headlines, Blanco was already a heavyweight in the music industry.
With a track record that includes hits like Kesha’s TiK ToK, Britney Spears’ Circus, and Justin Bieber’s Lonely, Blanco has proven time and again that he knows how to create a hit. He’s also worked with Sel (his now-girlfriend) on tracks like Same Old Love and Single Soon.
And let’s not forget his solo work—his 2018 hit with Juice WRLD, Graduation, is a perfect example of his knack for making music that sticks with you long after the first listen.
The 36-year-old’s ability to seamlessly blend with various artists really shows off his skills as a producer and songwriter. From BTS to Halsey to Juice WRLD, Blanco has a gift for creating catchy hits that click across any genre.
