They've Roar-ed, Work-ed and done what they want with their bodies, so what's next for the reigning queens and princesses of pop? With 2013 albums ripe for the picking and bathing-suit season right around the corner, USA TODAY predicts which slices of summertime escapism might dominate the radio next, with insight from Yahoo Music managing editor Lyndsey Parker and Vulture staff editor Amanda Dobbins.
KATY PERRY
It's just not summer without a sugary-sweet Katy Perry tune. The Dark Horse pop star tweeted out the cover art for her next single, Birthday , early this month, ending speculation about what her next Prism smash could be. Parker says it's a good choice because it's an "anthemic party song," although she initially predicted International Smile would be Perry's summer pick. "It's about jet-setting and being an 'it' girl," she says. "It's almost like a modern-day equivalent of those Duran Duran songs where you can just imagine people cruising on yachts."
This Is How We Do would have been a shoo-in for song of the summer had Perry released it, Dobbins says. "It has the same blueprint of T.G.I.F. (Last Friday Night)," she says, referencing Perry's No. 1 hit from summer 2011. "That just seems like a guarantee for a radio-friendly hit."
MILEY CYRUS
After We Can't Stop and Wrecking Ball became pop-culture phenomena last year, Cyrus' ballad Adore You never really took off (peaking at No. 21, although its Cedric Gervais remix could still have some legs). If Cyrus is looking for sexy summer domination, both Dobbins and Parker recommend the Pharrell Williams-produced #GETITRIGHT for her next single. "It's easygoing and slightly more cheery than We Can't Stop," Dobbins says. "The thing about 'song of summer' is that they're the happier, run-around, no-school party songs, and (#GETITRIGHT) has that kind of summer feel to it."
If Cyrus opts for a rowdier route to No. 1, Parker can easily see the Big Sean-assisted Love Money Party take off as a We Can't Stop sequel."I could picture the video having a rap, hip-hop feel and being completely over-the-top and ridiculous," Parker says. "That's what Miley does best."
LADY GAGA
While "grave mismanagement" may have prevented Gaga's Do What U Want video with R. Kelly from ever seeing the light of day, Mother Monster recently returned with an extravagant video for third ARTPOP single G.U.Y. — but is it a strong candidate for a summer smash? "I like the song, but I'm not going to say, 'Oh my god, it's going to be a massive hit, I can hear it on the radio,'" Parker says, adding that Do What U Want (which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard charts) was undoubtedly the strongest ARTPOP track.
Dobbins is even less optimistic about G.U.Y., saying, "I don't hear anything insanely catchy enough in that song to overcome the fact that people are just through (with Gaga). There's nothing on that album that works for her at all."
BEYONCÉ
For a surprise album not driven by singles, Beyoncé is doing pretty well for itself. Jay Z-duet Drunk in Love is still surfboarding in the Billboard Top 20 and Partition recently got a single push (peaking at No. 23). If Queen Bey chooses to release more singles, ***Flawless could be an infectious summer smash, given that it's already become an Internet sensation. "Everybody is already like, 'I woke up like this' and quoting the song," Parker says, referencing the various memes, Instagram pictures and parody videos that allude to the feminist track. "We live in a very quotable, meme-able era, and that's a song people are already aware of."
While Dobbins believes Drunk in Love will hang around the summertime charts, she says not to rule out the Pharrell-produced Blow either. "It has that feel-good '70s sound that's very popular right now," Dobbins says. "Daft Punk did very well with it last summer (Get Lucky) and so did Robin Thicke (Blurred Lines), both thanks to Pharrell."
BRITNEY SPEARS
Some speculators have tossed around Alien and It Should Be Easy featuring will.i.am as likely third singles off the low-sellingBritney Jean, but don't expect another single from Spears any time soon. "This album just came and went," Parker says, despite singles Work B---- and Perfume (which peaked at No. 12 and 76, respectively). While there could be some interest in Chillin' with You with Britney's sister, Jamie Lynn (who relaunched her career as a country artist last year), "I feel like Britney's already moved on to her whole Vegas thing," referencing the pop star's current Sin City residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
If she has any shot at topping the charts, it'd be courtesy of her guest spot on Cyrus' rap-infused SMS (Bangerz) . Although SMS is far from typical radio fare, "the fact that Britney's on it is probably the most appealing part about it," Dobbins says.
Katy - Birthday
Miley - #GETITRIGHT
Gaga - None(!)
Beyonce - ***Flawless or Blow
Britney - None
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