Who Am I Living For?: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures some of Perry's most recognizable hits from a pivotal era in pop music, and students gravitate toward material they already know and love. The piano/vocal/chords format gives singers and pianists genuine flexibility: pianists can comp from the chord chart, sing full melody lines, or arrange accompaniment textures to match their skill level. The mix of uptempo celebratory tracks, vulnerable ballads, and rhythmically complex songs means there's something for different voices, pianists, and ensemble contexts.

Bright, energetic, and unapologetically youthful. The collection spans celebratory party anthems crackling with confidence, late-night reflective moments, and soaring emotional peaks. Melodically and harmonically, these songs balance pop accessibility with enough harmonic movement and vocal range to keep musicians engaged.

Singers and pianists preparing solo material or duets for recitals, auditions, or informal performance. This collection also serves music theater programs looking for contemporary pop material that resonates with student performers and audiences.

• Study the recorded versions first to internalize the production style and phrasing, then make deliberate choices about what to keep and what to simplify for your arrangement
• Balance vocal melody clarity with piano texture; these songs often feature layered synth sounds in the original, so decide whether your piano part will outline harmony, provide rhythmic energy, or both
• Pay attention to the vocal range and tessitura across the collection; some songs sit high and demand sustained belt, while others invite a conversational, rhythmic delivery

Feature one or two tracks in a pop/contemporary showcase concert to anchor student interest and broaden the repertoire beyond classical standards. Pairs well with music theater repertoire or can anchor a cabaret-style program celebrating contemporary songwriting.

• Phrasing and interpretation of contemporary vocal styles
• Reading and realizing chord charts for improvised or flexible accompaniment
• Vocal range awareness and transposition for different voice types
• Balancing lyrical singing with rhythmic precision in pop contexts
• Understanding contemporary song form and production arrangement