When Katy Perry debuted "Part of Me" at the Grammys last month, music fans couldn't help but focus on the new song's vicious lyrics obviously pointed at a no-good ex (was it ex-husband Russell Brand? Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy?). But at Saturday's (March 31) Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, Perry's young fans were only focused on the song's pulsing beat and catchy chorus. Even when Katy is getting serious, there's always fun to be had.
Case in point, her entrance: Perry descended onto the stage by flying over the crowd from the ceiling, brandishing a sword. She was joined onstage by dancers in medieval garb, which included puffy shirts and dresses covered in armor. When the bridge kicked in, Perry lifted a gigantic shield in front of her with a glowing heart in the center.
While the medieval theme and dancing could have turned dramatic, especially when a dancer had his head and arms locked in a torture device, Perry got her hands on a pie and smashed it in his face.
Following the performance, host Will Smith presented Perry with the Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie award for her work as Smurfette in "The Smurfs."
"Thank you so very much!" Katy told the crowd. "Listen: The only reason why I'm still here today — and remember this — is because I've never grown up! Thank you so much for this. I love you, and I can't wait to do 'Smurfs 2.' "
This wasn't Katy's first time at the Kids' Choice Awards: Back in 2010, she was the unlucky target of a green slime shower. "I can't see anything," she exclaimed after emerging from a puddle of the slimy goo. "Why does it taste like boogers?"
Perry recently debuted the combat-heavy clip for "Part of Me" on MTV. In the video, she gets down and dirty with Marines as she works out her anger against the aforementioned no-good ex. So why did Perry choose a military theme?
"It's an affirmation of strength, so I wanted to go the strongest route I ever could," she said of the song. "Literally, I was like, 'I'm gonna join the service. I'm gonna join the Marines.' We used only Marines. ... For three days, I was a wannabe Marine, which was so difficult."
What did you think of Katy Perry's KCA performance? Let us know in the comments!