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Katy Perry Releases Rio Olympics Single ‘Rise’ On Same Day As Britney Spears’ ‘Make Me’ [Video]

By Anne Sewell
Published on: 01:20 PST, Jul 15, 2016

NBC Olympics will be using Katy Perry’s new single, “Rise” as an anthem to be played before and during the Rio Olympic Games 2016. Meanwhile the song is battling it out on iTunes with Britney Spears’ new single, “Make Me,” dropped on the self-same day.

While they might have been together at the Los Angeles premiere of The Smurfs 2 in the image above, Perry and Spears are now both in competition for the top spot on iTunes.

This is the first music release by Perry, 31, since her 2013 “Prism,” and while the single is already making waves, Katy explained this doesn’t mean a new LP is on the way.

It seems the song has motivational lyrics and has been “brewing inside” the singer for some years.

“This is a song that’s been brewing inside me for years, that has finally come to the surface. I was inspired to finish it now, rather than save it for my next album, because now more than ever, there is a need for our world to unite,” said Katy.

Perry continued her statement by saying, “I know that together we can rise above the fear – in our country, and around the world. I can’t think of a better example than the Olympic athletes, as they gather in Rio with their strength and fearlessness, to remind us how we ALL can come together, with the resolve to be the best we can be.”

“I hope this song can inspire us to heal, unite, and rise together. I am honored that NBC Olympics has chosen to use it as an anthem before and during the Rio Games.”

According to Billboard, an extract from the lyrics reads: “When, when the fire’s at my feet again/And the vultures all start circling/They’re whispering, ‘you’re out of time’/But still I rise.”

You can hear an intro to the song in the link included below:

The song will be used during NBC’s programming of the Olympic games, including its coverage of the August 5 Opening Ceremony.

Meanwhile Katy shared the news of her new single via Twitter on Thursday and the new track is available for exclusive streaming on Apple Music and for download via iTunes.

In related news on the Inquisitr:

As reported by Cleveland.com, on the very same day, Britney Spears, 34, released the first single from her forthcoming ninth studio album, “Make Me.”

Britney is currently in the lead with her new track on iTunes, even hitting the top spot within hours of its release. It pretty much looks like the original Britney is back, too, as the cover shows her looking incredibly trim in a skimpy white outfit against a desert backdrop.

When Spears hit the top spot for “Make Me” she instantly retweeted a screengrab of the list, saying, “This is an incredible feeling. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! #MakeMe.”

Listen to Britney’s new song in the video included here.

The music video features G-Eazy, a 27-year-old West Coast hip-hop artist whose last two albums debuted high on the charts. His 2015 album, When It’s Dark Out, landed in the top five on the Billboard 200.

Reportedly G-Eazy will be headlining the Endless Summer tour, featuring YG, Logic and others at the Blossom Music Center on July 27.

So, readers, having listened to the new singles above, which one do you prefer? Katy or Britney? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for SONY]

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