She co-wrote the song with Max Martin, Taylor Swift, Bonnie McKee, Bruno Mars, Mandy Moore and its producers Dr. Luke and Cirkut.

The single's music video was directed by Lance Drake, and featured a fairy tale-like story, starring Perry and a child version of her.

You've been on cloud nine for so long, and it can't always be so sweet and sometimes you need to realize that, and you have to pick yourself up and move forward and face the facts of life and know that this is just a lesson you learn and you're stronger because of it Perry co-wrote "Wide Awake" with Mandy Moore, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bonnie McKee, Max Martin, and its producers Cirkut and Dr. Luke.

[2] According to Perry, "Wide Awake" was inspired by "major life changes", including her divorce from actor and comedian Russell Brand.

You’ve been on cloud nine for so long, and it can't always be so sweet and sometimes you need to realize that, and you have to pick yourself up and move forward and face the facts of life and know that this is just a lesson you learn and you're stronger because of it.

"[1] Initially Max Martin had produced a demo with the chorus being "No Matter What"; however due to his accent, McKee misheard the lyrics as "I'm Wide Awake/I'm Born Again" and wrote the song around that hook.

He praised the song's composition, provided by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Bonnie McKee, and also felt it was, musically, a more comfortable side for Perry than "Part of Me".

[14] Robert Copsey from Digital Spy commented that the song sees Perry in "reflective mode", and gave it four stars out of five.

[15] However, in an album review for Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, Melissa Maerz from Entertainment Weekly was more critical of the song, deeming it a "weepie" and a "kind of bummer", along with "Part of Me".

In the United States, "Wide Awake" made its first appearance on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number 19 based on digital sales alone following the release of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection.

[21] The following week, the single reached number four, and on the chart dated August 11, 2012, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, making the song Perry's eighth consecutive single to reach the top three of the chart since "California Gurls", as well as her first song to peak in the runner-up position.

[22] The song has sold 3.5 million copies in the nation as of August 2020[23] and received a quintuple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

[27] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart, due to strong downloads in April 2012.

A second preview aired on June 13, 2012, during the season finale of the program Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew.

A man dressed as Prince Charming appears riding a unicorn, and walks to Perry with fingers crossed behind his back.

The little girl rides away into a suburban neighborhood on a bike with a license plate reading "Katheryn", which is Perry's birth name.

The camera pans to a concert stage where Perry stands on a rising platform, and sings the beginning bars of "Teenage Dream" to a full audience as the butterfly flies into the arena.

[49] Jenna Rubenstein from MTV Buzzworthy stated that "it's a clever and emotional way to recall her past successes and offer fans some closure on this chapter of the Katy Perry journey.

"[50] Perry debuted the song in an acrobatic fashion for the first time during the 2012 Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2012, where she floated over the stage in a white ribbon swing keeping her suspended in the air while several background dancers performed with aerial silk.

[51] On June 17, 2012, Perry performed "Wide Awake" at 2012 MuchMusic Video Awards, in which she stood on a raised platform, beginning the song as a cocoon and turned into a butterfly when she sang the last chorus.

Instead of taking the Kimmel stage, she performed a medley of her songs including "Wide Awake" into her Katy Perry: Part of Me premiere in Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

For President Barack Obama's 2012 presidential candidacy, Perry performed several of her songs dressed as a ballot, including "Teenage Dream", "Firework", and "Wide Awake".