Perfect (The Smashing Pumpkins song)
"Perfect" | ||||||||||||||||
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US/UK CD1 cover. | ||||||||||||||||
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins | ||||||||||||||||
from the album Adore | ||||||||||||||||
Released | September 7, 1998 | |||||||||||||||
Format | Cassette tape, CD | |||||||||||||||
Recorded | 1997 | |||||||||||||||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||||||||||||||
Length | 3:22 | |||||||||||||||
Label | Virgin | |||||||||||||||
Writer(s) | Billy Corgan | |||||||||||||||
Producer(s) | Billy Corgan, Flood, Brad Wood | |||||||||||||||
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||
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"Perfect" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the second single from their fourth album, Adore (1998). It was the final commercial single from the album, although "Crestfallen" and "To Sheila" were subsequently released as promotional singles.
Critical reception
Upon release, the song received positive reviews. Rolling Stone notes that the song "picks up on the synth-pop echoes of the 1996 Pumpkins hit 1979."[1] Feldman of website Musiccritic.com called the single "an irresistible slice of candy-coated pop"[2] while website Rockmusicreview.com praised it for its "glimmering shine."[3]
Music video
To expand on the similarities between "Perfect" and "1979", the band released a music video which continued the story of the characters in "1979". They were able to find and use four out of the five original actors from the "1979" video, including Giuseppe Andrews. The fifth was in jail.[4] The same crew of directors was hired, which consisted of husband-and-wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. It was the fifth and final collaboration between the two and The Smashing Pumpkins.
The conclusion of the video, in which a tape falls off a car and is crushed, is probably a reference to the fate of the first tapes of the "1979" music video, which had to be re-taped because they were left on the roof of a car and destroyed when the car drove off.[5]
The video also contains footage of the band performing at The Masque in L.A. for selected fans.[6] The set played at the taping included heavier songs the band was not performing during regular concerts at the time, such as "Where Boys Fear to Tread", "Bodies", and "Pug".
The video debuted on MTV's 120 Minutes on September 16, 1998.
Track listing
All songs written by Billy Corgan, except "Summer", written by James Iha.
UK CD1 | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
1. | "Perfect" | 3:27 |
2. | "Summer" | 3:14 |
3. | "Perfect" (Nellee Hooper Mix) | 4:14 |
UK CD2 | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
1. | "Perfect" | 3:23 |
2. | "Perfect" (Perfecto Mix) | 7:00 |
3. | "Daphne Descends" (Kerry B. Mix) | 3:53 |
UK and US Maxi-CDs | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
1. | "Album Version" | 3:23 |
2. | "Nellee Hooper Mix" | 4:14 |
3. | "Nellee Hooper Instrumental" | 4:12 |
4. | "Perfecto Mix" | 7:00 |
5. | "Electro Breakbeat Mix" | 6:02 |
6. | "Perfecto Dub" | 7:04 |
US CD single | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
1. | "Perfect" | 3:23 |
2. | "Summer" | 3:14 |
3. | "Daphne Descends" (Kerry B. Mix) | 3:53 |
Charts
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] | 11 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] | 18 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] | 24 |
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 42 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[11] | 33 |
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] | 3 |
References
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Adore Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins - Adore - Album Review @ Music-Critic.com : the source for music reviews, interviews, articles, and news on the internet". Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins - Adore / Album Review / Rock Music Review". Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ Band commentary, "Perfect". Greatest Hits Video Collection.
- ↑ "Another Round: The Smashing Pumpkins – "1979"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ Smashing Pumpkins - The Making of 'Perfect' (With Commentary). YouTube. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7039." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – The Smashing Pumpkins – Perfect". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Smashing Pumpkins. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins – Chart history" Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Smashing Pumpkins. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Smashing Pumpkins. Retrieved November 24, 2016.