Dark Horse By Katy Perry

Song Name: Dark Horse
Album: Prism (2013)
1st Genre: Pop
2nd Genre: Trap / Hip-Hop
Beats per Minute: 66 BPM (with half-time feel, ~132 BPM)
Sur Scale: Minor (B♭ minor key)
Estimated Budget: Approx. $2–3 million (including high-production music video with CGI, Egyptian theme, and promotions)
Release Date: September 17, 2013 (single)
Reach: Became one of Katy Perry’s biggest global hits; topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks, hit #1 in over 20 countries, sold over 13 million units worldwide, and its music video surpassed 3.3 billion views on YouTube.

Spotify: Over 1.5 billion streams
YouTube: Over 3.3 billion views
Melon 24Hits Chart: Did not chart significantly (as it was a Western release; Melon is Korea-based)
Apple Music: Widely available; included in top Katy Perry playlists
Amazon Music: Streaming and purchase available globally

Actors in Music Video:

• Katy Perry as an Egyptian queen (Cleopatra-inspired)
• Juicy J appears as himself, performing his rap verse
• Supporting dancers, courtiers, and digitally stylized characters (unnamed professional extras)

Song Lyrics

Oh, no.

Yeah

Ya’ll know what it is

Katy Perry

Juicy J, aha.

Let’s rage

I knew you were

You were gonna come to me

And here you are

But you better choose carefully

ëCause I, Iím capable of anything

Of anything and everything

Make me your Aphrodite

Make me your one and only

But donít make me your enemy, your enemy, your enemy

So you wanna play with magic

Boy, you should know what you’re falling for

Baby do you dare to do this?

Cause Iím coming at you like a dark horse

Are you ready for, ready for

A perfect storm, perfect storm

Cause once youíre mine, once youíre mine

Thereís no going back

Mark my words

This love will make you levitate

Like a bird

Like a bird without a cage

But down to earth

If you choose to walk away, donít walk away

Itís in the palm of your hand now baby

Itís a yes or no, no maybe

So just be sure before you give it all to me

All to me, give it all to me

So you wanna play with magic

Boy, you should know what you’re falling for

Baby do you dare to do this?

Cause Iím coming at you like a dark horse

Are you ready for, ready for

A perfect storm, perfect storm

Cause once youíre mine, once youíre mine (love trippin’)

Thereís no going back

Uh

Sheís a beast

I call her Karma (come back)

She eats your heart out

Like Jeffrey Dahmer (woo)

Be careful

Try not to lead her on

Shortyís heart is on steroids

Cause her love is so strong

You may fall in love

When you meet her

If you get the chance you better keep her

She’s sweet as pie but if you break her heart

She’ll turn cold as a freezer

That fairy tale ending with a knight in shining armor

She can be my Sleeping Beauty

Iím goní put her in a coma

Woo!

Damn I think I love her

Shorty so bad, Iím sprung and I donít care

She ride me like a roller coaster

Turned the bedroom into a fair (a fair!)

Her love is like a drug

I was tryna hit it and quit it

But lil’ mama so dope

I messed around and got addicted

So you wanna play with magic

Boy, you should know what you’re falling for (you should know)

Baby do you dare to do this?

Cause Iím coming at you like a dark horse (like a dark horse)

Are you ready for, ready for (ready for)

A perfect storm, perfect storm (a perfect storm)

Cause once youíre mine, once youíre mine (mine)

Thereís no going back

Song Lyrics (Translation)

This song has English lyrics only. However, translated versions exist in multiple languages by fans worldwide. The main lyrical theme is a warning in love: Katy portrays herself as a powerful, almost supernatural woman, cautioning a potential lover that if he falls for her, there’s no turning back—she’s a “dark horse” that can’t be tamed.

Review

“Dark Horse” stands out as one of Katy Perry’s boldest experiments in sound. Blending trap beats, pop hooks, and hip-hop collaboration, it created a hypnotic, moody track unlike her usual bubblegum pop style. Juicy J’s rap verse adds grit and balance to Katy’s alluring vocals, while the slow, pulsating beat builds a spellbinding atmosphere. The accompanying music video—with its Egyptian fantasy setting, lavish visuals, and surreal imagery—helped cement the song as a cultural moment. Critics praised its genre fusion and daring tone, while fans made it one of the most-streamed and viewed songs of the decade. Even today, it remains a staple in Katy Perry’s discography, symbolizing her versatility and pop dominance. Keep Reading Hitzwow to learn more about the latest emerging hits.