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AFL grand final: Katy Perry’s full set list ‘revealed’ as eight-song medley of hits and new music

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Katy Perry is set to deliver an AFL Grand Final show to remember.
Camera IconKaty Perry is set to deliver an AFL Grand Final show to remember. Credit: JAMES ROSS/AAPIMAGE

Katy Perry AFL’s grand final set list has finally been revealed, courtesy of a ‘leak’ from her stage rehearsal at the MCG on Thursday.

Announced on 3AW’s breakfast radio show, reporter Jayden Forster confidently declared the eight-song list set to play to 100,000 fans as Saturday’s pre-game entertainment.

“I had some information sent to me by someone who was at the rehearsal (on Thursday),” Forster said.

Featuring a duet with Aussie icon Tina Arena, the list is a mix of bona fide hits and new music from her latest album 143 in what’s thought to be a 15-minute set.

Earlier in the week it was believed Perry would be curating a five-song set featuring four of her biggest anthems, and one new release, despite the star reportedly wishing to play two new songs.

She has played New York’s Madison Square Garden, the NFL’s SuperBowl, and just two weeks ago performed a medley of her certified bangers at the MTV VMA’s in a tribute to her outstanding contribution to music.

Speculation had swirled around which of her monster hits would get the nod.

Perry joked her 2013 release Roar might favour the Brisbane Lions, potentially giving them an unfair edge over the Sydney Swans with the crowd singing the Lions home to victory.

“I have to cut my song Roar out of the set because it’s not fair. That’s what everybody says,” she told Fox FM, before quickly backflipping.

epa11616637 American singer Katy Perry performs at the 2024 edition of the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 September 2024. EPA/André Coelho NO SALES / EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Camera Iconepa11616637 American singer Katy Perry performs at the 2024 edition of the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 September 2024. EPA/André Coelho NO SALES / EDITORIAL USE ONLY Credit: André Coelho/EPA

Also off her 2013 album Prism is Dark Horse, another animal-themed tune that could aptly be applied to a sporting context.

Getting her wish to perform two tracks from her album titled 143, Gorgeous and Lifetimes are thought to fill spots three and six on the list.

Though perhaps only her rusted-on fans will know the words.

The belly of Perry’s set consists of two oddly juxtaposed tracks in California Gurls and Teenage Dream.

The former is a 2010 expression of Perry’s standing as a queen of Americana culture who’d arrived on the scene — and the latter represents her insecurities as a woman and an ode to her California upbringing.

After hinting a certain “Scorpio” would join her on stage, Aussie icon Tina Arena was unveiled as her local supporting act.

Combining with Melbourne duo Shouse to breathe new life into her 1994 single Chains, Arena will reportedly perform her hit in tandem with Perry after giving it a spin on Friday morning to an adoring crowd in the footy-mad city.

Perhaps an odd song choice for the sports field, the Aussie is said to be within touching distance for a rendition of I Kissed A Girl.

Finally, what better way to set the stage for fireworks on the footy field than with pyrotechnics moments before it?

In what should come as no surprise, Perry’s 2010 smash Firework — which she says audiences react most voraciously to — will close her show.

KATY PERRY AFL GRAND FINAL
Camera IconCody Simpson, Zipporah Corser-Anu, Katy Perry, Christine Anu and Mike Brady met with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon ahead of Saturday’s festivities at the MCG. Credit: News Corp Australia, NewsWire/Nadir Kinani

The pre-game entertainment will kick off a Welcome to Country, with the familiar footy anthem Up There Cazaly to follow.

ARIA winner Christine Anu and her daughter Zipporah Corser-Anu will perform alongside the Songlines Youth Choir, and singing swimmer Cody Simpson has been entrusted with the national anthem.

Katy Perry’s AFL Grand Final Set List

Roar

Dark Horse

Gorgeous (143 album)

California Gurls

Teenage Dream

I Kissed A Girl & Chains (featuring Tina Arena)

Lifetimes (143 album)

Firework

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