Katy Perry’s record label breaks silence on Spain sand dunes complaint in Lifetimes video
Katy Perry’s record label has broken its silence after the singer’s Lifetimes music video was accused of being filmed on protected sand dunes in the Balearic Islands without proper permission.
The Balearic Government has launched an investigation after it emerged that production had taken place in the protected area without authorisation.
Now, Capitol Records, Perry’s record label, says the production company “assured” them that all necessary permits had been obtained and that they had received “verbal approval” prior to recording, after it emerged that no document had yet been released.
“The local video production company assured us that all necessary permits for the video had been obtained. We have since learned that one permit was pending, although we had verbal approval to proceed,” a representative for Perry’s label, Capitol Records, said. Variety.
‘Our local crew applied for a permit for this specific location with the Directorate General Coasts and Coastline on July 22. Our crew received verbal approval on July 26 to continue filming on July 27.
Katy Perry’s record label has broken its silence after being accused of filming her new music video Lifetimes on protected sand dunes in the Balearic Islands without permission, prompting an investigation
‘We have adhered to all regulations governing filming in this area and have the utmost respect for this location and the officials charged with protecting it.
The 39-year-old Fireworks singer filmed the nearly four-minute clip on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera.
The music video features Perry dancing and singing with friends in a tropical location, as well as a busy nightclub.
At one point in the clip, Perry moves around the track in an area that appears to be roped off, near the ocean. The crew and film equipment are also nearby.
According to a press release from the island’s environmental agency, the production company involved in the filming did not obtain or apply for permission to film in the specific area.
An official preliminary investigation has been launched, in which the department will further investigate the possible violation.
The department said the video clip did not constitute a “crime against the environment” and that the footage “can be approved” if properly requested.
The dunes of s’Espalmador are ‘ecologically very valuable’ and the ‘best preserved’ area in the Balearic Islands in Spain, according to Website of Illes Balears Travel.
The islet of s’Espalmador and Ses Illetes are part of the Salinas de Santa Pola Nature Reserve, a ‘natural area of 15,000 hectares that protects the south of Ibiza and the north of Formentera.’
The 39-year-old Fireworks singer filmed the nearly four-minute clip on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera
The music video for Lifetimes officially dropped on August 8 and was compared by fans to her 2010 song Teenage Dream.
It follows hot on the heels of her previous single, Woman’s World, which flopped and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart last July.
The song, which is about women’s empowerment, reached number 63 in its first week.
At one point in the clip, Perry dug out to the track in a seemingly cordoned off area near the ocean — with the crew and film equipment also nearby
However, in a press release obtained by Billboard, the department stated that the music video was not a “crime against the environment” because filming is allowed if a request is made.
Woman’s World also failed to reach the top positions on other charts, peaking at only number 65 on the Global 200 chart and number 47 on the UK chart. Variety.
On Spotify, the song peaked at #110 on the US charts and #58 on the global charts.
A source told DailyMail.com that shortly after the single flopped in the charts, Katy was in a ‘panic’ and had crisis talks to save her comeback.
“Katy is freaking out right now because she’s very aware of the feedback Woman’s World is getting,” the insider said. “She’s pointing the finger at everyone but herself, but it’s her own fault.”
Perry worked with music producer Dr. Luke, who was embroiled in drama with singer Kesha after she accused him of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
Both Katy and Dr Luke have worked together in the past on hits including I Kiss A Girl. But the source added: ‘She was insane to think Dr Luke was a good idea.’
“Instead of diving in and creating art, she released something that sounded like it could have been on one of her 2010 albums.”
“You don’t make a song about female empowerment with basically all men. Katy can’t identify with other women because she lives in her celebrity bubble. She doesn’t know anything about what it’s like to be a woman in the real world.”
A source told DailyMail.com shortly after the single flopped in the charts that Katy was ‘panicked’ and having crisis talks to save her career comeback; seen in LA in April
The source continued: “She’s not using her star power to bring about change in the world, she’s using it to make money.”
Upon its release, Woman’s World was also heavily criticized and described as a “monumental catastrophe.”
Perry quickly came to her defense for her music video for Woman’s World, explaining that the video was intended to be both “slapstick” and “sarcastic.”
Taking to Instagram, she shared a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the clip, saying, “We’re just having fun, kind of sarcastic. It’s very slapstick and very direct.”
“With this set you think, ‘Oooh, we’re not about the male gaze, we’re really about the male gaze.’ And we’re really overdoing it and we’re too direct about it.”
Woman’s World and Lifetimes are featured on her upcoming album 143, due out next month on September 20.
In a statement, Katy candidly discussed the album’s title, explaining: “I wanted to create a bold, exuberant and celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143-digit expression of love as the common thread throughout the message.”
While Perry focused on the release of the LP after Woman’s World flopped on the charts, she appears to have found herself embroiled in new investigative drama following the filming of the Lifetime music video.
Perry was quick to defend her music video for Woman’s World, explaining that it was meant to be both “slapstick” and “sarcastic.”
And while the music video initially featured seemingly unproblematic visuals, the song itself received more praise from fans after Woman’s World
‘Katy Perry gonna rock the world again..!! Lifetimes is such a BOP!’ shared one, while another typed, ‘Why wasn’t this the first single? This makes Woman’s World look like an unreleased demo’
Although the music video initially presented no problematic visuals, the song itself received more praise from fans after Woman’s World.
One social media user took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and typed, “Okay but wow the Lifetimes music video to me is the Teenage Dream music video but more mature and affluent.”
Another simply wrote: ‘Katy Perry is back’, while a fan wrote: ‘Y’all gonna say it….the #LIFETIMES MV is better than Woman’s World. It’s SO BEAUTIFUL. I didn’t expect the MV to be THIS GOOD.’
‘Katy Perry is gonna rock the world again..!! Lifetimes is such a BOP!’ shared one, while another typed, ‘Why wasn’t this the first single? This makes Woman’s World look like an unreleased demo.’
The song itself was inspired by her three-year-old daughter Daisy, whom she shares with Orlando Bloom.
During an interview on The BBC’s The One Show, Perry explains: ‘Lifetimes is a song I wrote, inspired by my daughter.’
During an interview on BBC’s The One Show, Perry explained: ‘Lifetimes is a song I wrote, inspired by my daughter’; seen in Paris in June
‘Of course I say to her every night before I go to sleep, “I love you,” but these days I also say, “Will you find me in every life?” and she says, “Yes.”‘
“The best part is that we went all over Europe this summer and to a lot of beaches. And I bought a big stack of gold chocolate coins,” she recalls.
“And when we build sandcastles, I hide them while she’s digging and she finds them. She loves finding chocolate coins.”
Katy added: ‘When I said the other day, ‘Will you find me in every life?’ and she said, ‘Yes, and then we’ll find chocolate coins together!”