Katy Perry Says She Swiped 'E.T.' From Three 6 Mafia

Katy Perry has already said that when she was writing songs for her Teenage Dream album, her goal was to "make a different 'movie' for each song." So it's ironic that her latest single, "E.T.," was actually meant for a group who knows a thing or two about movies ... and they've got the Academy Award to prove it.

"I'll tell you, it's funny ... this song, I remember writing with Max Martin and Dr. Luke, and there's this producer they wrote with, named Ammo as well, and they were just showing me different samples of songs or tracks or beats, and they accidentally pulled up this beat, and it was for Three 6 Mafia," Perry told. "I heard it and I always knew I wanted to write this futuristic, alienistic song, and they pulled it up and I was like, 'Wait, I can wrap my head around this. I know this seems like a long shot, but I think I have the perfect material to put on top of this sound.' And I did, and it really worked out perfectly."

So if you're one of those Katy fans who's a bit mystified by the abrupt change of pace of "E.T." — and its equally left-of-center video — well, then you can sort of understand why: Deep down, it's actually a Three 6 Mafia track.

"It's a whole different vibe for me. It's kind of a bit harder, it does have that urban feel underneath it. I think that's why Kanye added even another layer on top of it," Perry explained. "And it has ... amazing ... sonics — I mean, there's so much to it, there's a lot in the song if you really put your headphones on and sink into the song."

And that's just part of what drew Perry to the track in the first place. After all, on Teenage Dream, she set out to make movies ... and though it may confound some of her fans, "E.T." is perhaps the most wonderfully odd movie she's ever made. And she knows it.

"Even teasing people with different images from 'E.T.,' people are so perplexed," she laughed. "They're like, 'Katy Perry, you're supposed to be Betty Boop! You're supposed to be wearing pink!' It's exciting to be able to push my audience, to be like, 'There's always more, I've got all of this hidden up my sleeve that I've really longed to show people.'"

What did you think of Katy's new video? Let us know in the comments!