Perfect 10 (song)

"Perfect 10" is a song by The Beautiful South, released in 1998 as the first single from their sixth studio album, Quench. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and is the band's last top-ten single to date. It received a Gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry in 2013 for shipments of more than 400,000 copies.

For other uses, see Perfect 10 (disambiguation).
"Perfect 10"
Single by The Beautiful South
from the album Quench
ReleasedAugust, 1998 (UK)
Recorded1998
GenrePop rock, alternative rock
Length3:37
LabelMercury Records
Songwriter(s)Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray
The Beautiful South singles chronology
"Liars' Bar"
(1997)		 "Perfect 10"
(1998)		 "Dumb"
(1998)

Analysis

The verses of the song - sung alternately by Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott - are made up of a series of innuendos using clothing sizes and penis length to illustrate a loving relationship between two people who don't conform to modern stereotypes of physical perfection. The male vocal shows that although his partner is a little on the large side ("but she wears a 12"), she is a 'perfect 10' in his eyes. He also states, "the anorexic chicks, the model 6, they don't hold no weight with me," preferring instead to, "hold something I can see."

Likewise, the female vocal references penis size in several places, suggesting that "XXL" is unnecessary ("Every penny don't fit the slot") and that even when all her partner has to offer is "a poor poor 4, there ain't no man can replace."

The chorus to the song is sung by both male and female vocals, and confirms the theme of a happy and accepting relationship beyond ideas of conventional beauty, with Heaton and Abbott stating:

"We love our love, in different sizes
I love her body, especially the lies
Time takes its toll, but not on the eyes
Promise me this, take me tonight."

Paul Weller guested on guitar.[1] Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim helped with arrangement.

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Gold 400,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

"Perfect 10" was seen as a 'tour classic' by The Beautiful South and it has been stated by Dave Stead that, "There are certain songs you just can't leave out...I think we would be lynched if we didn't play "Keep It All In", "Don't Marry Her" and "Perfect 10"."[12]

This song also features in an episode of sitcom Phoenix Nights, where compere Jerry St Clair sings it in his own style.

"Perfect 10" also featured as the theme song of UK television series Fat Friends.

References
  1. Discogs.com - Quench
  2. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 41. 10 October 1998. p. 14. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Beautiful South – Perfect 10". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  4. "Íslenski Listinn (22.1–29.1. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 22 January 1999. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  5. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Perfect 10". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  7. "Swedishcharts.com – The Beautiful South – Perfect 10". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  8. "Swisscharts.com – The Beautiful South – Perfect 10". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  10. "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  11. "British single certifications – Beautiful South – Perfect 10". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 June 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Perfect 10 in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  12. "Welcome Home". This Is Hull. May 23, 2006.


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