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{{Infobox song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = Who Am I Living For?
| Cover =
| Alt =
| Caption =
| Border = yes
| Type = [[Song]]
| Format =
| Artist = [[Katy Perry]]
| Album = [[Teenage Dream (Katy Perry album)|Teenage Dream]]
| Released = August 24, 2010
| Recorded =The Boom Boom Boom<br>([[Burbank, California]]);<br>Henson Recording Studios<br>([[Los Angeles, California]])
| Genre = [[Electronic music|Electro]]-[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
| Length = 4:11
| Writer = Katy Perry, [[Tricky Stewart|Christopher Stewart]], [[Brian Telestai|Brian Thomas]], Monte Neuble
| Label = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| Producer = Perry, Stewart
|Misc =
}}
"'''Who Am I Living For?'''" is a song by American recording artist [[Katy Perry]] taken from her third studio album ''[[Teenage Dream (Katy Perry album)|Teenage Dream]]'' (2010). It was written by Katy Perry, [[Tricky Stewart|Christopher "Tricky" Stewart]], [[Brian Telestai|Brian Thomas]], and Monte Neuble and produced by the former two. The song's development was inspired by Perry's religious upbringing.
Containing elements of [[dubstep]] and [[Glitch (music)|glitch]], the downbeat [[Gospel music|gospel]]-tinged [[Electronic music|electro-R&B]] and [[electro rock]] [[ballad]] received generally mixed reviews from critics, who praised its dark composition and emotional tone, as well as comparing it to [[Rihanna]] and [[Linda Perry]]. Lyrically, the song retells the biblical story of [[Esther]]; the Jewish Queen of [[Persia]] who discovered and foiled King [[Haman (Bible)|Haman]]'s plan to massacre the Jewish community in Persia. Critics drew comparisons from the story to Perry's own life, who said that "Who Am I Living For?" speaks of her "constant battle between staying true to her faith, and falling down in the perils of a celebrity lifestyle." A dramatic dubstep beat, electric and acoustic guitar riffs, glitchy synths, and wailing vocal techniques make up the songs "edgy" atmosphere.
==Writing and meaning==
Prior to recording ''Teenage Dream'', Perry discussed with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' her plans for the album, stating that she would "definitely keep it pop", in order to not "alienate" her fanbase.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=1332255 |title=Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! |publisher=FMQB |date=May 20, 2009 |accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref> Perry began recording the album on October 13, 2009, stating that she had "lots of layers to get through, thankfully [[Greg Wells]] is there to do the peeling". Work on the album involved collaborating with numerous artists and producers including Wells,<ref name=rollingstone1>{{cite web|last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/14475/83188 |title=Katy Perry Talks Pop Plans for Next LP, Dispels Personal Rumors |work=Rolling Stone |date=May 19, 2009 |accessdate=May 5, 2010}}</ref> [[Guy Sigsworth]],<ref name=rollingstone1/> [[Dr. Luke]],<ref name=rollingstone1/> [[Max Martin]],<ref name=rollingstone1/><ref name=mtvca>{{cite web|last=Vena|first=Joceyln|url=http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=25396|title=Katy Perry's Next Album Could Include West Coast Rappers, Best Friends|work=MTV(CA)|publisher=BellMedia|date=March 29, 2010|accessdate=May 12, 2010}}</ref> [[Ryan Tedder]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Shriver |first=Jerry |url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-01-14-ryantedder14_st_N.htm |title=Ryan Tedder's time is right now |work=USA Today |date=January 28, 2010 |accessdate=May 5, 2010}}</ref> [[Rivers Cuomo]],<ref name=mtvca/> [[Kuk Harrell|Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitchell |first=Gail |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62I4OM20100319 |title=Songwriter Harrell expands his hitmaking business |publisher=Reuters |date=March 19, 2010 |accessdate=July 22, 2010}}</ref> [[Greg Kurstin]], [[Benny Blanco]], [[Rodney Jerkins|Darkchild]], [[Cathy Dennis]], [[Ester Dean]], [[The-Dream]] and [[Christopher Stewart (music producer)|Christopher "Tricky" Stewart]], who told ''[[Rap-Up]]'' magazine in December 2009 that the sound of the album would be pop and rock, like ''One of the Boys'', though calling it a "different gear" for himself.<ref>{{cite web|last=Copsey |first=Robert |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a185960/katy-perry-working-with-beyonce-producer.html |title=Music – News – Katy Perry 'working with Beyoncé producer’ |publisher=Digital Spy |date=November 9, 2009 |accessdate=May 5, 2010}}</ref> Recording for the album finished on April 30, 2010. The album cover is a painting by [[Will Cotton]], and was premiered on July 21, 2010 via a live webstream with Cotton, at his Art Studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katyperry.com/news/ |title=KATY PERRY // Official Website // news |publisher=Katyperry.com |date=July 13, 2010 |accessdate=July 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ustream.tv/katyperry |title=USTREAM |publisher=Ustream.tv |date= |accessdate=July 21, 2010}}</ref> On July 23, 2010, the album's official track listing was posted on Perry's official website.<ref name=katyperry1>{{cite web|url=http://www.katyperry.com/teenage-dream-official-tracks-revealed/ |title=KATY PERRY // Official Website // "Teenage Dream" Official Tracks Revealed! |publisher=Katyperry.com |date= |accessdate=July 26, 2010}}</ref>
While being interviewed by ''[[MTV Asia]]'', Perry was asked how having Christian parents influenced her music, which she using "Who Am I Living For?" as an example:
{{quote|"I guess where I come from is still inside of me and nipping at my heels everyday. There’s a song on my new record which talks about my convictions – it’s a song called “Who Am I Living For”. It’s interesting along the road in the path of life, I meet a lot of different people who come from so many different places and they really kind of influence and inspire who I am.
I definitely continue to want to know the answers and have my own personal pilgrimage, so in a way it does affect what I do musically and who I am as an entertainer but there’s still a lot of me in that as well. I think probably one of the things that is most important in life is not collecting all this stuff or trying to be as famous as possible but to worry about your soul and your spirit and what’s happening next."<ref name="Asia">{{cite web |url=http://blog.mtvasia.com/2010/07/31/katy-perry-interview/ |title=Katy Perry Interview: The girl next door is all grown up|first=Madeleine |last=Chong |work=[[MTV Asia]] |publisher=[[Viacom International]] |date=July 31, 2010 |accessdate=August 8, 2012}}</ref>}}
==Composition==
"Who Am I Living For?" is a slow-paced [[Electronic music|electro]]-[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] [[ballad]], which also heavily utilizes the genres of [[electro rock]] and [[dubstep]].<ref name="alter">{{cite web |url=http://www.alternet.org/story/152970/8_musicians_making_new_music_to_occupy_wall_street |title=8 Musicians Making New Music to Occupy Wall Street |first=Julianne |last=Shepard |work=''[[AlterNet]]'' |publisher=Independent Media Institute |date=November 4, 2011 |accessdate=August 26, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="electro rock">{{cite web |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/album-review-katy-perry-teenage-dream-1-807567 |title=Album review: Katy Perry - Teenage Dream |first= |last=|work=[[Fife Today]] |publisher=[[Johnston Press]] |date=August 26, 2012 |accessdate=October 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="R&B">{{cite web |url=http://www.clickmusic.com/albums/article/katy-perry-teenage-dream |title=Katy Perry - Teenage Dream |first=SHEFALI|last=SRIVASTAVA|work=''ClickMusic'' |publisher=ClickMusic Inc |date=August 30, 2010 |accessdate=October 23, 2012}}</ref> The song also draws influence from [[gospel]], [[Glitch (music)|glitch]], and [[Downtempo|downbeat music]].<ref name="downbeat">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/katy-perry/235452-katy-perry-teenage-dream-track-by-track |title=Katy Perry Teenage Dream Track By Track |first= Tom|last=Thorogood|work=''[[MTV News]]'' |publisher=[[Viacom]] |date=August 27, 2010 |accessdate=October 23, 2012}}</ref><ref name="gospel">{{cite web |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-08-23/entertainment/ct-ent-0823-katy-perry-review-20110823_1_teenage-dream-california-gurls-hot-n-cold |title=Katy Perry: Ditzy girl gone wild |first=Greg |last=Kot |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |publisher=[[Tribune Company]] |date=August 23, 2011 |accessdate=October 23, 2012}}</ref> "Who Am I Living For?" is written in the key of [[A minor]], and the [[tempo]] moves at 63 [[beats per minute]] over a slow beat.<ref name="sheet music">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0088655&|title=Katy Perry – Who Am I Living For? Sheet Music (Digital Download)|work=''Musicnotes.com''|publisher=[[Sony-ATV Music Publishing]]|accessdate=August 8, 2012}}</ref> Perry's vocals in the song range from the low note of [[G (musical note)|G<sub>3</sub>]] to the higher note of [[D (musical note)|D<sub>5</sub>]].<ref name="sheet music"/> The songs edgy suspense-filled atmosphere is composed of a dramatic [[dubstep]] beat, electric and acoustic guitar riffs, and glitchy beats,<ref name="alter"/><ref name="stone"/><ref name="downbeat"/><ref name="guardian">{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/aug/22/katy-perry-teenage-dream-review |title=Katy Perry: Teenage Dream |first=Kitty |last=Empire |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |date=August 22, 2010 |accessdate=October 30, 2012 }}</ref> with Perry's vocals on the song using a "wailing" technique, which was critically praised for showcasing her strong voice.<ref name="downbeat"/>
Lyrically, "Who Am I Living For?" recalls Perry's Christian roots and retells the biblical story of [[Esther]], the Jewish Queen of [[Persia]]; who discovered and foiled King [[Haman (Bible)|Haman]]'s plan to massacre the Jewish community.<ref name="reloaded">{{cite web |url=http://www.ocreloaded.com/music-news/211-katy-perry-teenage-dream-review.html |title=
Music In Review: Katy Perry - Teenage Dream |first=Melissa |last=Garcia |work=OC Reloaded |publisher=OC Reloaded |date=August 29, 2010 |accessdate=October 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="stone">{{cite web|first=Rob |last=Sheffield |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/191651 |title=Teenage Dream by Katy Perry | Music Reviews |work=Rolling Stone |publisher=Wenner Media LLC. |date=August 23, 2010 |accessdate=August 23, 2010}}</ref> [[Rob Sheffield]] of ''[[Rolling Stone Magazine|Rolling Stone]]'' spoke of the song, saying: "Her Christian back story only comes up once, in "Who Am I Living For," where Perry riffs on the biblical story of Esther, the Jewish orphan who married the Persian king and uncovered a plot to exterminate the Jews. It's dark and compelling, especially since she sings it like Rihanna."<ref name="stone"/> Melissa Garcia of the website OCReloaded interpreted the lyrics as Perry's "constant battle between staying true to her faith, and falling down in the perils of a celebrity lifestyle.", and went on to further add that the song "shows an honest insight into a fight that is endless and unyielding in every sense."<ref name="reloaded"/> Perry's vocals on "Who Am I Living For?" have been described as some of the strongest on the album, partially due to the "wailing" vocal technique that she uses.<ref name="downbeat"/>
==Critical reception==
"Who Am I Living For?" received generally mixed reviews from critics, some of whom felt that the song was a standout on ''Teenage Dream'', while others criticized it as trying too hard.<ref name="R&B"/> ''Click Music'' reviewer Shefali Srivastava declared the song as a stand out moment on the album, while later going on to describe it as anthemic, and enjoyed seeing Perry take a "particularly defiant turn."<ref name="R&B"/> Matthew Cole of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' criticized Perry's vocals on the song, saying that it "is a one-note wallow in self-pity, weighed down by clichéd lyrics, a leaden beat, and a tone-deaf vocal turn from Perry."<ref name="slant">{{cite web |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/katy-perry-teenage-dream/2219 |title=Katy Perry - Teenage Dream |first=Matthew |last=Cole |work=[[Slant Magazine]] |publisher=Slant Magazine |date=August 22, 2010 |accessdate=October 30, 2012 }}</ref>
==Credits and personnel==
Credits adapted from the ''Teenage Dream'' liner notes.<ref name="Album notes">{{cite album-notes |title=Teenage Dream (Liner Notes) |albumlink=Teenage Dream (Katy Perry album) |artist=Katy Perry |year=2010 |notestitle= |first=Katy |last=Perry |authorlink=Katy Perry |coauthors= |format=Compact Disc |publisher=Capitol Records |p |location=Los Angeles, California |ref= }}</ref>
;Recording
*Recorded at the [[Studio at the Palms]], [[Paradise, Nevada]], and at The Boom Boom Boom Studios, [[Burbank, California]]
*Mixed at Triangle Sound Studio, [[Atlanta, Georgia]].
;Personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Vocals]] - [[Katy Perry]]
*[[Songwriter|Songwriting]] – Katy Perry, Christopher Stewart, Monte Neuble, Brian Thomas
*[[Record producer|Production]], instruments, programming – [[Tricky Stewart]]
*Vocal engineering and recording – Katy Perry
*Assistant vocal recording – Jennifer Rosales
*[[Audio engineering|Engineering]] – Brian "B-LUV" Thomas, Andrew Weupper
*Assistant engineering – Pat Thralf, Luis Navarro, Steven Dennis, Mark Gray, Jason Sherwood, Randy Urbanski
{{col-2}}
*Mixing – Jaycen Joshua
*Assistant mixing engineer – Giancarlo Lino
*Guitar – Katy Perry, Chris O'Ryan, Andrew Weupper
*Keyboards – Christopher Stewart, Monte Neuble
*Drums Christopher Stewart, Brian Thomas
{{col-end}}
==Charts==
Upon the release of ''Teenage Dream'', "Who Am I Living For?" debuted and peaked at number 158 on the issue date of January 3, 2010, on the [[Gaon Chart|South Korea Gaon International Songs Chart]].
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col"| Chart (2010)
!scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| [[Gaon Chart|South Korea Gaon International Chart]]<ref name="South Korea">{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/online/download/list.gaon?nationGbn=E|title=South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week, August 29, 2010 to September 4, 2010)|publisher=[[Gaon Chart]]|accessdate=August 8, 2012|language=Korean|format=To access the applicable chart, change "년 (Year)" to "2010" and select the week}}</ref>
| 158
|}
==References==
<references />
==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|Katy-Perry|who-am-I-living-for}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
{{Katy Perry songs}}
[[Category:Songs written by Katy Perry]]
[[Category:Songs written by Tricky Stewart]]
[[Category:Katy Perry songs]]
[[Category:Electronic songs]]
[[Category:Electropop ballads]]