The power pop track was speculated to be lyrically inspired by her relationship with her ex-husband Russell Brand.
A Midsummer Night's Dream | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Dream Theater | I Dream of Jeannie | Tangerine Dream | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series) | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Dream a Little Dream of Me (song) | Dream a Little Dream of Me | Dream | A Midsummer Night's Dream (opera) | DREAM Act | dream | American Dream | The Dream of Gerontius | Teenage Fanclub | Atlanta Dream | A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master | Teenage Kicks | Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House | Midsummer Night's Dream | Georgian Dream | Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) | Arizona Dream | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Tucker: The Man and His Dream | The Dream Syndicate | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990 film) | Teenage Cancer Trust | In a Broken Dream |
In an interview with YouTube about Teenage Dream in August 2010, Perry revealed that "Hummingbird Heartbeat" was one of the first songs she wrote for the album after she finished her Hello Katy Tour (2009).