Fuckin' Perfect
"Fuckin' Perfect" (stylized "Perfect" on the clean version, and as F**kin' Perfect on the main cover) is a song by American singer Pink from her first greatest hits album Greatest Hits... So Far!!! (2010). It was released on December 14, 2010, by Jive Records as the album's second single. Written by Pink with Max Martin and Shellback, the track is a Power Ballad that encourages people to accept each other for their true identities.
"Fuckin' Perfect" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Pink | ||||
from the album Greatest Hits... So Far!!! | ||||
B-side | "Whataya Want from Me" | |||
Released | December 14, 2010 | |||
Recorded | July 2010 | |||
Studio | Woodshed Recording (Malibu, California) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:33 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Pink singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music videos | ||||
Pink has stated that the main inspiration behind the track is her husband, Carey Hart.[1] Its music video, directed by longtime collaborator Dave Meyers, delivers a message against depression, self-harm, and suicide. In November 2011, the song garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance. "Fuckin' Perfect" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Pink's eleventh top-10 single in the United States.[2][3] The song also peaked at number two in Canada, Hungary, New Zealand, and Poland.
In 2011, "Fuckin' Perfect" was ranked at number 14 on the "Top 40 Year-End Chart", behind her previous single "Raise Your Glass", based on Mediabase.[4]
Background and composition
"Fuckin' Perfect" was written by Pink, Max Martin and Shellback and produced by Martin and Shellback.[5] The Swedish pair has collaborated with Pink on several of her previous hits including "So What", "Please Don't Leave Me", and "Raise Your Glass".[6]
The clean version recorded for radio is titled "Perfect".[6]
The song is a pop rock[7] and soft rock ballad track containing elements contemporary R&B.[8] It is written in the key of G major in common time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute, featuring guitar, crashing cymbals, simple synth drum beats and a reverberating string section.[8] The song follows the I–V–vi–IV progression (G–D–Em–C), and Pink's vocal range spanning from G3 to D5.[9][10]
Critical reception
The song received critical acclaim from music critics. Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising the "Serious but uplifting lyrics", commenting: "It has just enough edginess to move Pink away from bland middle of the road territory. Finally, the melody and arrangement make the song instantly memorable and familiar."[5]
Music video
Background
Filming of the music video began on December 5, 2010, during Pink's first few weeks of pregnancy. The music video focuses primarily on the life of a woman who overcame several struggles to become a successful artist. The lead role was played by Tina Majorino, as confirmed by Pink via Twitter and Facebook, describing her as "insanely talented".[11]
"Fuckin' Perfect" was directed by Dave Meyers, who worked with Pink on twelve videos before, including her VMA winner "Stupid Girls".[12] It premiered on January 19, 2011, on MTV and Pink's official channel.
Reception
Billboard talked about the video in two different, and largely positive, reviews and described it as "controversial", saying, "Choosing to title her new single 'Fuckin' Perfect' and then open its video with graphic depictions of sex and bloody scenarios of cutting and suicide, P!nk knew her latest projects would ignite controversy. And that's just the way she wants it, because in this particular case, the 31-year-old singer's in-your-face approach is to ensure the message in the music isn't lost or ignored."[13]
In the second review, Monica Herrera begins saying, "If P!nk's new music video for 'Fuckin' Perfect' doesn't make you cry or cringe at some point, you've got thicker skin than we do."[14] She also commented on a particular scene in the video, adding, "Pink video's story directly just once, when she toasts to the girl's newfound happiness from across a crowded room...and it's enough to make you want to raise your glass right along with them."
MTV praised the video, giving a "hats off" to Pink, while saying the video was a "moving call to awareness about a growing problem surrounding depression, numbness and powerlessness that leads to cutting and suicide. Her intention, as usual, is to ruffle a few feathers and shake a few sleepers as she points out 'You can't move mountains by whispering at them.'"[15] The video was nominated for Best Video with a Message at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, but eventually lost to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way".
Chart performance
On November 28, 2010, the song debuted at number ten in Australia, coinciding with the release of her greatest hits album, Greatest Hits... So Far!!!.[16] The song's charting gave Pink her eighteenth top ten single in the country. It has since been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association for sales of 35,000 units.[17]
In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 71 on the chart issued on November 27, 2010. The next week the song dropped out of the chart, but re-entered at number 21 with the release of its music video and leaped to number 11 the following week. It peaked at number 10 on February 27, 2011.
"Fuckin' Perfect" was released in the United States in December 2010. It had earlier bubbled under the Hot 100 at number 20 and then dropped out. It officially debuted at number 86 and then dropped out of the chart. A week later, it became the most added song on the radio in the entire country,[18] therefore it re-entered the chart at number 57. One week later, it jumped to number 30, as the week's Airplay Gainer.[19] The song soared from number 30 to number 11 that week with the Digital Gainer accolades for a second consecutive week.[20]
On the issue dated February 2, 2011, "Fuckin' Perfect" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, behind "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. It became Pink's eleventh top 10 hit in the United States.[2][3] The song reached number 1 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, with 241,000 copies sold, making it her second song to top that chart, after "So What" in 2008. On February 3, 2011, Billboard stated that the song was likely to top the Hot 100 on the chart issue of February 19, 2011. However, the predictions were incorrect and the song fell to number 4 while Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" topped the chart.[21] Despite the false predictions for the February 19 issue and the song's descent on the Hot 100, Billboard chart experts considered the song a nominee to become the chart's 1,000th number 1 song in its 52-year history, it competed against Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and the Glee Cast's, who also covered the song later, nine tracks that were released digitally following the February 6 and February 8 episodes. The February 26 issue of the Hot 100 revealed that "Born This Way" earned the milestone, debuting atop the chart and becoming its 1,000th number 1 song.
On the Billboard chart week of March 26, 2011, "Fuckin' Perfect" reached number one on both the Pop Songs and Adult Pop Songs charts, which at the time, gave Pink the record for most number ones on both charts. On Pop Songs, Pink ties Lady Gaga for second most number 1's with seven, while on Adult Pop Songs she ties Nickelback for the most, with five number 1 hits.[22]
The song held the Digital Gainer certification for three consecutive weeks, the longest streak since Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" (2008). It continues its Airplay chart ascent and has so far peaked at number 4 with 55 million impressions and has so far collected more than two million digital units in the USA.[23] In the week ending March 12, 2011, the song jumped from number 6 to number 4 making it the first time that two songs including the word "fuck" in their titles are in the top 5 as "Fuck You" by Cee Lo Green was number 2 in that week, too.[24] The issue also featured Enrique Iglesias' hit single "Tonight (I'm Fuckin' You)", which was also within the Top 10 that week, marking three simultaneous Top 10 hits with the word "fuck". However, "Tonight" was credited on the Hot 100 with its more popular clean version, "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)". "Fuckin' Perfect" sold 2,497,000 digital copies in 2011 and became the 27th best-selling song of the year in the United States.[25] The song has sold over 3 million downloads as of May 2013.[26]
The song topped German airplay charts, becoming Pink's eighth consecutive single to do so and increasing her previously broken record for the most consecutive number one singles in Germany.[27]
Track listing
- Digital download[28]
- "F**kin' Perfect" – 3:33
- "Whataya Want from Me" – 3:46
- "Perfect" – 3:33
- German CD single[29]
- "F**kin' Perfect" – 3:33
- "Whataya Want from Me" – 3:46
- Australian digital download EP[30]
- "F**kin' Perfect" – 3:33
- "Whataya Want from Me" – 3:46
- "Perfect" – 3:33
- "F**kin' Perfect" (music video) – 4:07
Remixes
- F**kin' Perfect (7th Heaven Radio Edit) – 3:12
- F**kin' Perfect (Liam Keegan Extended Mix) – 5:44
- F**kin' Perfect (Liam Keegan Radio Edit) – 3:29
- Perfect (7th Heaven Club Mix) – 7:00
Personnel
- Vocals, songwriting – Pink, Max Martin, Shellback
- Production and recording – Max Martin, Shellback
- Keyboards – Max Martin
- Drums, guitar and bass – Shellback
- Assistant recording – Sal "El Rey" Ojeda
- Mixing – Serban Ghenea
- Mix engineer – John Hanes
- Assistant mix engineer – Tim Roberts
Source:[31]
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
Certifications
|
Release history
Radio adds
|
Purchasable release
|
References
- "P!nk – Greatest Hits...So Far!!! EPK". YouTube. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Far*East Holds on Hot 100, Swift Makes Another Top Debut". Billboard.com. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Pink's 'Glass' Rises to No. 1 On Hot 100". Billboard.com. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Media Base Year End Edition 2011" (PDF). Pdf.mediabase.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- Lamb, Bill. "Pink – "F**kin' Perfect" – Review of the Single by Pink". About.com. New York Times Company. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- "F—in Perfect by Pink". Songfacts. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- Levine, Nick (February 20, 2011). "Pink: 'F**kin' Perfect' – Music Review". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- "P!nk Greatest Hits... So Far!!! (album review) | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. November 16, 2006. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- Alecia, Moore (16 May 2011). "F**kin' Perfect". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
- Levine, Nick (February 20, 2011). "Pink: 'F**kin' Perfect'". Digital Spy. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- "Niet compatibele browser". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Niet compatibele browser". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Pink Knew Her 'F**kin' Perfect' Video Would 'Ruffle Some Feathers'". Billboard.com. 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- Monica Herrera (2011-01-20). "Pink's 'F**kin' Perfect' Video Gives Suicidal Teen a Second Chance". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
- Lapointe, Jeff (2011-01-21). "Pink sends a message to all those who feel desperate, numb, or powerless – you are not alone but 'Fuckin' Perfect' the way you are". MTV. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
- "Niet compatibele browser". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Bruno Mars Returns To Hot 100 Summit, Britney Slips 5 Spots". Billboard.com. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- Trust, Gary (3 February 2011). "Bruno Mars Holds Off Pink Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- "P!nk Powers To Record-Tying No. 1s On Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- Grein, Paul (18 May 2011). "Week Ending May 15. Songs: Idol Boosts Tyler 2011". Yahoo Chart Watch. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Chart Watch Extra: The Year's Top 30 Hits". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- "Week Week Ending May 12, 2013. Songs: #Letdown". Chart Watch. Yahoo Music. 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
- Steffen Hung. "Nielsen Airplay Charts Deutschland 11/2011". germancharts.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- "F**kin' Perfect – EP by P!nk – Download F**kin' Perfect – EP on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- "Fuckin' Perfect: Pink: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de.
- "F**kin' Perfect – EP by P!nk – Download F**kin' Perfect – EP on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- Fuckin' Perfect (liner notes). Pink. LaFace Records. 2010.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard Brasil (Brasil: bpp) (2): 96. March, 2011.
- "Brasil Hot Pop & Popular Songs". Billboard Brasil (Brasil: bpp) (2): 97. March, 2011.
- "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- P!nk — Fuckin' Perfect. TopHit. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201115 into search. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
- "Billboard Greek Airplay Charts: Top 100". IFPI Greece. 2011-04-05. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – F**kin' Perfect". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – P!nk" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
- "Top 5 Airplay". Polish Music Charts (in Polish). ZPAV. 2011-04-16. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- "P!nk Chart History (Portugal Digital Song Sales)". Billboard.
- "Russia Airplay Chart for 2011-03-14." TopHit. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201116 into search. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
- "P!nk – F**kin' Perfect". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2011-04-18." TopHit. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- "P!nk Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "P!nk Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- "P!nk Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "P!nk Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "P!nk Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
- "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
- "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
- "Album-Top 100". Hitlisten. IFPI Danmark& Nielsen Music Control. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21.
- "2011 MTV EMA – News – MTV.de". MTV Germany. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2011" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2011". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart 2011" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2011". Hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2011" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- "Best of 2011: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
- "Adult Contemporary Pop Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
- "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
- "Pop Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
- "Adult Contemporary Pop Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- "Brazilian single certifications – P!nk – Fuckin' Perfect" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
- "Canadian single certifications – Pink – F**kin' Perfect". Music Canada.
- "Danish single certifications – P!nk – Fuckin' Perfect". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (P!nk; 'F**kin' Perfect')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- "Japanese digital single certifications – P!NK – フxxキン・パーフェクト(Explicit Version)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2014年1月 on the drop-down menu
- "New Zealand single certifications – Pink – F**kin' Perfect". Recorded Music NZ.
- "British single certifications – Pink – F**kin' Perfect". British Phonographic Industry.
- "Danish single certifications – Pink – F**kin' Perfect". IFPI Danmark.
- "Sverigetopplistan – P!" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan.
- "Issue 813 – Singles". Themusicnetwork.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- "Top 40 Mainstream Future Releases #124; Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Releases". Allaccess.com. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
- "Crowley #124; Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Releases". Allaccess.com. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
- "Perfect – Single by Pink – Download Perfect – Single On iTunes". itunes.apple.com. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
- "F**Kin' Perfect: P!Nk: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- Praxis Media. "Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles ::: Charts, DJ Promos, Dance, Lyrics, Free Mp3 Samples Downloads". Radio1.gr. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2010-12-22.