albums and tracks

In the absence of Avril Lavigne it's about time a fresh, bright American rock-pop lass exploded into our lives.

Californian Katy Perry is definitely that girl, as this stonking sexuality-questioning hit proves.

It tore up the US charts, making Katy an instant hit with the teenage "am I?/aren't I?" hordes.

A No.1 single on this side of the Atlantic is a nigh-on certainty, as is huge popularity. After all, there are more top ambiguity-smothered ditties on her forthcoming album One Of The Boys.

The only nagging question - would America have taken the song to its heart if it had been an attractive young man singing, "I kissed a boy, I liked it?"

Picture: PA Photos