Both artists co-wrote the song with Bonnie McKee and its producers Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco, and Max Martin.

According to Perry, "California Gurls" is an answer song to "Empire State of Mind" (2009), by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

"California Gurls" garnered positive reviews from music critics, with the majority of them labeling it a "summer anthem",[1] as well as complimenting its production and chorus.

When "California Gurls" was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Perry became the first female artist to have four Diamond-certified singles in the country, the others being "Firework", "Dark Horse" and “Roar”.

A music video for the song was released on June 14, 2010, featuring Perry and her dancers as pieces of a board game, set in the fictional "Candyfornia".

It has also been noted that the video was influenced by several other works, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and the board game Candyland.

"[3] Perry used Wikipedia to research which rapper she wanted to collaborate with for "California Gurls", browsing West Coast artists before selecting Snoop Dogg.

[6] After the song was leaked online, Capitol Records decided to release it early, and it was posted on Perry's official website, and the radio date was moved down from May 25, 2010, to May 7, 2010.

[7] "California Gurls" is composed in styles of disco-pop, funk-pop and bubblegum pop[8][9] while bearing influence of new wave music and electropop within its composition.

[11] "California Gurls" utilizes multiple synths, drums, funk guitars, and electronic whooshes in its production.

Richards went on to say that "California Gurls" is "an ever-lasting gobstopper of a tune" and that "summertime megahits rarely feel this good".

[17] Musician Brian Wilson, who had co-written the Beach Boys' "California Girls", commended Perry's vocal on her song and described its melody as "infectious".

[18] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday reviewed the song saying, "'California Gurls' is a fizzy-pop concoction of empty calories, but it sure does stick with you."

[19] Steve Leftridge of PopMatters called "California Gurls" the radio jam of the summer of 2010 and "the gargantuan singalong fantasy that delivered on the promise built by the disco thump of hits like 'I Kissed a Girl' and 'Hot n Cold'."

Leftridge also praised the song's musical composition, lyrical content and chorus which he said "you know by heart halfway through your first listen.

[21] Michael Cragg of musicOMH praised the song, "First single California Gurls is brilliant, brattish fun, Perry sounding sweet and coy on the verses before that huge chorus erupts".

"California Gurls" became the first song to top the 300,000 mark in digital sales more than once in 2010 with 318,000 and 359,000 copies sold in the first and second week of June, respectively.

[28] Within seven weeks of its release, "California Gurls" sold over two million downloads, which is the second fastest pace to do so in digital history behind Flo Rida's "Right Round".

As of June 2023, the song has been certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[30] making Perry the first female artist to achieve this with 4 singles and sold 5.9 million copies in the US.

[36] On October 29, 2010, the British Phonographic Industry classified the single as a "platinum record" (meaning it has sold over 600,000 units).

Perry defeats the army with whipped cream guns attached to her breasts, after which the stunned king throws down his staff and surrenders.

[54] On February 1, 2015, Perry was the headliner of Super Bowl XLIX halftime show and "California Gurls" was part of the performance.

[63][64] The video reached 1 million views in its first week online[65] and stirred controversy over its sexy portrayal of geek girls.