Harleys in Hawaii

Katy Perry traded her high-energy dance-pop for a laid-back island vibe when she released Harleys in Hawaii on October 16, 2019. The track arrived as a standalone single through Capitol Records before settling into the tenth spot on her sixth studio album, Smile, which followed in 2020. Perry co-wrote the song with Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Charlie Puth, while Puth and Johan Carlsson handled production duties to create a sound defined by ukuleles, steel drums, and reggae rhythms.

The accompanying music video premiered the same day as the single, directed by Dave Meyers. It features Perry riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle along a scenic heart-shaped highway in Hawaii alongside her then-boyfriend Orlando Bloom. This visual pairing helped cement their romantic narrative in the public eye and drew immediate attention for its vibrant tropical aesthetic. While specific view counts fluctuate across platforms, the official lyric video has accumulated over 58 million views on YouTube.

Critics responded with mixed but generally positive reviews, noting the song's groovy nature and successful homage to Hawaiian culture. Rolling Stone highlighted the video's storytelling, while Forbes described the track as a deliberate slowing down of Perry's usual pace. Some reviewers felt it leaned too heavily on nostalgic California themes rather than exploring new territory. Despite the varied critical take, the song found a second life years later through viral trends.

A TikTok challenge in September 2021 sparked a massive resurgence, with users recreating the ride choreography that pushed the track back onto charts four years after its release. Another surge occurred in October 2023 following a live stream where Perry performed the song from a bathroom. The partnership between Perry and Harley-Davidson generated an estimated $40 million in brand value for the motorcycle manufacturer based on the song's imagery and lyrics. [edit]