"Perfect" | ||||
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Single by Fairground Attraction | ||||
from the album The First of a Million Kisses | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 21 March 1988 [1] | |||
Length | 3:36 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mark E. Nevin | |||
Producer(s) |
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Fairground Attraction singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Perfect" on YouTube |
"Perfect" is the debut single by the English folk and soft rock band Fairground Attraction, written by Mark E. Nevin. Released on 21 March 1988 by RCA, the single reached number one in the United Kingdom on 8 May 1988, where it stayed for one week. It also reached number one in Australia, Ireland, and South Africa. In the United States, the song peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100. [2] "Perfect" won the award for British Single of the Year at the Brit Awards 1989 and was nominated for the Ivor Novello 'Best Song Musically and Lyrically' award.
In the UK, "Perfect" was released as a 7-inch single, 12-inch single, and CD single. The song was included on the band's debut studio album, The First of a Million Kisses , released later the same year. A version of the song with a different vocalist was used in television advertising for the British supermarket chain Asda in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was re-released as a single in 1993 after it had reappeared on the compilation album Celtic Heart but this time included "Captured" by Brian Kennedy in the tracklisting.
Tony Reed from Melody Maker wrote, "Acoustic folky rockabilly, and a brilliant, brilliant woman singing it. A minor triumph, to be sure, but for what it is — perfect." [3] Neil Taylor from NME said, "Pop seems to be the order of the day in this pile and this single is one of the best. Eddi Reader's confident, strident vocal sounds like a mish-mash of country and high glitz, but a strong backbeat pulls the record into the safety zone of rock." [4]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Sweden (GLF) [41] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [1] | Silver | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
"Perfect" | ||||
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Single by Baillie & the Boys | ||||
from the album The Lights of Home | ||||
B-side | "Lovin' by Numbers" | |||
Released | 14 April 1990 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:57 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mark E. Nevin | |||
Producer(s) | Kyle Lehning | |||
Baillie & the Boys singles chronology | ||||
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American country music group Baillie & the Boys released their version in April 1990 as the first single from their third studio album The Lights of Home . The song reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. [42]
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [43] | 16 |
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) | 23 |
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" is a song by American pop music duo Boy Meets Girl in 1988, written by the duo's members, Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill. They wrote the song after witnessing a falling star at a Whitney Houston concert and originally offered the song to Houston, but Arista Records CEO Clive Davis rejected it. American singer Belinda Carlisle then recorded a demo of the song but denied its inclusion on her 1987 album Heaven on Earth, so Rubicam and Merrill decided to record and release the song themselves.
"Forever Your Girl" is a song by American singer Paula Abdul from her debut studio album, Forever Your Girl (1988). The song was written and produced by Oliver Leiber, with additional production by Keith "K.C." Cohen. Virgin Records released it as the album's fourth single on February 20, 1989.
"Wind Beneath My Wings" is a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley.
"Crash" is a song by British indie pop band the Primitives, written by band members Paul Court, Steve Dullaghan, and Tracy Cattell. The song was first recorded for the band's 1988 debut album, Lovely. "Crash" was released as a single in February 1988, peaking at number five on UK Singles Chart, number three on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number two on the Swedish Singles Chart.
"A Little Respect" is a song written and recorded by British synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1988 by Mute. It was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The lyrics are a plea to a lover to show compassion and respect. The heavily synthesized instrumentation is accentuated by acoustic guitar and Bell's vocal falsetto in the chorus. It was their tenth single and was taken from their third studio album, The Innocents (1988). Known as one of their signature songs, the single reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and was Erasure's second consecutive top-20 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it made number 14, and reached number two on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart.
"So Alive" is a song by British alternative rock band Love and Rockets, released in 1989 as the second single from their self-titled fourth album. The song reached No. 1 in Canada and charted within the top 30 in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for five weeks and was ranked No. 1 on that listing's year-end chart for 1989. The song's music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and produced by Pamela James.
"I Owe You Nothing" is a song by British boy band Bros. Written by Nicky Graham and Tom Watkins and produced by Graham, the song was originally released as their debut single in 1987 but failed to chart. In 1988, it was remixed and re-released by CBS following the success of their breakthrough single "When Will I Be Famous?". The original version of the song can be found on the band's 1988 debut album, Push.
"Relight My Fire" is a disco song written and released by American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer Dan Hartman as the title track from his 1979 album of the same name. It was also performed by Costa Anadiotis' band Café Society in 1984 and British boy band Take That in 1993, five months before Hartman died.
"Domino Dancing" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in September 1988 by Parlophone as the lead single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). The song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Finland and Spain. Its music video was directed by Eric Watson and filmed in Puerto Rico.
"Girlfriend" is a song by American singer Pebbles from her 1987 self-titled debut studio album. Written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, "Girlfriend" was released as the album's lead single on October 26, 1987, by record label MCA. The song charted in several countries, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 10 in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
"You Came" is a song by English singer Kim Wilde from her sixth studio album, Close (1988). It was released on 4 July 1988 as the album's second single. The song was written by Wilde and Ricky Wilde, after the birth of his first child, Marty.
"When Will I Be Famous?" is a song by British boy band Bros. Written by Nicky Graham and Tom Watkins, "When Will I Be Famous?" was released as a single in November 1987. The following year, it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, topped the Irish Singles Chart, and entered the top five in several other countries. "When Will I Be Famous?" would later appear on Bros' 1988 album, Push.
"First Time" is a song by American singer Robin Beck from her second album, Trouble or Nothin' (1989). The song was released as a single in July 1988 and was originally recorded for a Coca-Cola commercial in 1987. In the United Kingdom, the power ballad climbed to No. 1 and spent three weeks there in November and December 1988, spending 14 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in total. The song additionally reached number one in Austria, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and West Germany. Despite being also released as a single in the US and critically praised by Billboard, it failed to chart due to business political differences between Mercury Records and Coca-Cola wanting to promote either First Time or Save Up All Your Tears, according to Beck's interview with Rock Eyez in 2009.
"Living in a Box" is a song by the British band of the same name, released on 23 March 1987 as their first single from their self-titled debut album. It was the group's biggest hit single along with "Room in Your Heart" (1989), reaching No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. "Living in a Box" became the group's only top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later covered by Bobby Womack; his version reached No. 70 in the UK.
"Everywhere" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac from their 14th studio album, Tango in the Night (1987). The song was written by Christine McVie, who also performed lead vocals, and produced by Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut. In the United States, "Everywhere" was released in November 1987 as the album's fourth single, while in the United Kingdom, it was issued on 21 March 1988 as the album's fifth single.
"Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley " is a song by American dance-pop band Will to Power. The song combines elements of two previously recorded rock songs: "Baby, I Love Your Way", a number-12 Billboard Hot 100 hit from 1976 by British-born singer Peter Frampton, and "Free Bird" by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, which reached number 19 on the Hot 100 chart in 1975. Suzi Carr is the female vocalist and a producer for the song.
"As Long as You Follow" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Performed by Christine McVie and written alongside her then-husband, Eddy Quintela, the song was one of two new tracks on the band's 1988 greatest hits album, along with "No Questions Asked". Lead guitarist Rick Vito singled out the guitar solo on "As Long as You Follow" as his best work with Fleetwood Mac.
"The Lover in Me" is a song by Scottish singer Sheena Easton for her ninth studio album of the same name (1988). Released as the album's lead single on 11 October 1988, the song became Easton's first top-20 hit in the United Kingdom after a seven-year hiatus. The song was also Easton's final top-10 single on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Rubberneckin'" is a song performed by Elvis Presley, which was recorded at American Sound Studio. It was used in the film Change of Habit and subsequently issued as the B-side of "Don't Cry Daddy" in conjunction with the movie premiere. It reached number six in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
"Love Train" is a song by English singer Holly Johnson, released on 9 January 1989 as the lead single from his debut solo album, Blast (1989). It was written by Johnson and produced by Andy Richards and Steve Lovell with additional production by Stephen Hague. The song reached No. 4 in the United Kingdom, spending 11 weeks on the chart, and was certified silver by British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in February 1989. In the United States, the song reached No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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