Written by frontwoman during her early days as a struggling musician in San Francisco, the song was born out of frustration with a "messed-up world". Interestingly, the phrase "What's Up?" never actually appears in the lyrics; Perry chose the title specifically to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye’s legendary "What’s Going On".
The song's raw energy was almost lost to studio polish. Dissatisfied with the initial produced version, Perry re-recorded it in just one day to capture the authentic, gritty vocal performance we know today. 4 Non Blondes - What's Up (Acoustic Cover)
If you’re looking for inspiration, these artists have captured the song's acoustic spirit: S.F. rock band goes viral in new TikTok trend Written by frontwoman during her early days as