Released 28 March 1988 Genre Soft rock, folk pop Label RCA | Recorded January 1988 Length 4:50 | |
Format CD single, cassette single, 7" single, 12" single | ||
"Perfect" is a song by British band Fairground Attraction, which was released as a single on 28 March 1988. The words and music of the song are written by Mark Nevin.
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The single reached number one on 14 May 1988 on the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for one week, and stayed in the chart for a total of thirteen weeks. It also reached number one in South Africa as well as in Australia for three weeks in August and September 1988. In the UK, it was released as a 7" single, 12" single, cassette single and CD single. The song was included on the band's first album, The First of a Million Kisses, released later the same year. A copy of the song using another singer was used in television advertising for 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.
The song achieved crossover onto the US Hot Country Singles, peaking at number 85 in two weeks. It also reached number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, the song reached number 23 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, the song's only Top 40 entry on any Billboard chart.
"Perfect" won the award for British Single at the 1989 Brit Awards.
It was the last number-one single on the NME singles chart, on 14 May 1988.
Original release
- "Perfect"
- "Falling Backwards"
- "Mythology"
- "Mystery Train"
Celtic Heart release
- "Perfect"
- "Walking after Midnight"
- "You Send Me"
- "Captured" (Brian Kennedy solo track)
Baillie & the Boys rendition
American country music group Baillie & the Boys released their version in April 1990 as the first single from the album The Lights of Home. The song reached #23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.