Perfect (The Smashing Pumpkins song)

"Perfect" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was released as the second single from their fourth album, Adore (1998), on September 7, 1998. It was the final commercial single from the album, although "Crestfallen" and "To Sheila" were subsequently released as promotional singles.

"Perfect"
US/UK CD1 cover
Single by the Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Adore
B-side
  • "Summer"
  • "Daphne Descends"
ReleasedSeptember 7, 1998 (1998-09-07)
Recorded1997
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:22
LabelVirgin, Hut
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
Producer(s)Billy Corgan, Flood, Brad Wood
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Ava Adore"
(1998)		 "Perfect"
(1998)		 "Crestfallen"
(1999)
Alternative cover
UK CD single 2

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 listings

All songs were written by Billy Corgan, except "Summer", written by James Iha. Drums provided by Joey Waronker.[7]

UK CD1
No.TitleLength
1."Perfect"3:27
2."Summer"3:14
3."Perfect" (Nellee Hooper Mix)4:14
UK CD2
No.TitleLength
1."Perfect"3:23
2."Perfect" (Perfecto Mix)7:00
3."Daphne Descends" (Kerry B. Mix)3:53
UK and US Maxi-CDs
No.TitleLength
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
No.TitleLength
1."Perfect"3:23
2."Summer"3:14
3."Daphne Descends" (Kerry B. Mix)3:53

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 28, 1998 Contemporary hit radio Virgin [24]
United Kingdom September 7, 1998 CD
[25]
United States October 6, 1998 Virgin [26]
Japan October 28, 1998 CD [27]

References
  1. "Smashing Pumpkins Adore Album Review". Rolling Stone. May 18, 1998. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  2. "Smashing Pumpkins - Adore - Album Review @ Music-Critic.com : the source for music reviews, interviews, articles, and news on the internet". Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  3. "Smashing Pumpkins - Adore / Album Review / Rock Music Review". Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  4. Band commentary, "Perfect". Greatest Hits Video Collection.
  5. "Another Round: The Smashing Pumpkins – "1979"". Consequence of Sound. March 8, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  6. Smashing Pumpkins - The Making of 'Perfect' (With Commentary). January 14, 2013. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2015 – via YouTube.
  7. "The Smashing Pumpkins – Adore (1998, CD)".
  8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 257.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7039." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  10. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6976." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  11. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7919." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 39. September 26, 1998. p. 9. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  13. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (30.7.–6.8. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). July 31, 2019. p. 11. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  14. "The Smashing Pumpkins – Perfect". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  16. "Smashing Pumpkins: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  17. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  18. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  19. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  20. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  21. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  22. "RPM's Top 100 Hits of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 68, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  23. "RPM's Top 50 Alternative Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  24. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1258. July 24, 1999. p. 47.
  25. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 5, 1998. p. 31. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  26. "Perfect / Summer / Daphne Descends". Amazon. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  27. "パーフェクト | スマッシング・パンプキンズ" [Perfect | Smashing Pumpkins] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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