Weak in the Presence of Beauty (song)

On its release, Billboard wrote, "Floy Joy, much praised but barely charted (like Working Week), sound like they have the key to both the U.S. and U.K. charts with 'Weak in the Presence of Beauty', a Don Was production that's sort of Shannon-meets-"Every Breath You Take". Addictive."[9] Anna Martin of Number One commented, "The reslease of 'Weak in the Presence of Beauty' sees Floy Joy adopting a slightly more melodious sound. Less thrash and more dash. One to watch."[10] Jim Whiteford of the Kilmarnock Standard described the song as "a hummable, commercial ditty" and a "sweet mid-paced dancer" which he believed would gain chart success if it received some attention from radio.[11]

7" single

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" – 3:24
2. "You and Me" – 3:07

12" single

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" (Extended Version) – 5:12
2. "You and Me" – 3:07

Following the release of her successful debut album Alf, Moyet decided to move to Los Angeles where she remained for almost a year. Once settled, Moyet's manager hired Jimmy Iovine to produce her second studio album. Aware of Floy Joy's "Weak in the Presence of Beauty", Moyet chose to record the song for the album.[12] It was released as the second single from Raindancing in February 1987,[13] and was also the second and final single from the album in the States, where it was released in August that year.[14]

Moyet later revealed in 2004 that she only recorded the song as she knew it would be a hit single. Appearing on the This Morning show, Phillip Schofield asked Moyet why she disliked the song, to which she replied: "Oh, because I know how cynical I was being when I recorded it. I recorded it 'cause I knew it was a hit rather than the fact that I loved it, and that will teach me, you know? You have a massive hit with something you're not particularly fond of, and it's not a good feeling."[15]

Later speaking to The Quietus in 2013, Moyet elaborated: "What I must say is that it's sometimes very easy to sit there and rescind responsibility, but sometimes I couldn't be arsed. That's the truth of it. We can all make the right choices, but sometimes we're just too lazy to. And sometimes I was just too lazy to do it myself. "Love Letters" and "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" – neither song I enjoy now – they're both my fault. I found them. That was when I was feeling smart, thinking that I knew what a hit was - I don't know what's a fucking hit! But they were hits, and now I'm forever to fucking sing them years later!"[16] Speaking of both songs again in an interview with The Electricity Club, Moyet said: ""Love Letters" was me shooting myself in the foot! That was me being a show-off! That was me showing I had an A&R thing... "oh, I know what a hit is"! I did that twice, I did it with that and with "Weak in the Presence of Beauty"! Two times that I recorded songs knowing they were hits as opposed to the fact I loved them! I say that honestly, that's the only time I've ever recorded anything cynically!"[17]

A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Pete Cornish and produced by Front Row Films.[18]

On its release, Paul Simper of Number One noted the "pleasant production and leisurely chorus" and Moyet's voice "blossoming in a discreetly unexpected way".[19] Pete Clarke of Smash Hits praised Moyet's "superb voice" but added that "somebody's forgotten to give her a decent song this time around and there's nothing quite as sad as a voice in search of a tune."[20] Barney Hoskyns of New Musical Express considered the song to be a "veritable hit" from the "Jimmy Iovine conveyor-belt". He felt it was "almost as bland and obvious" as "Is This Love?"[21]

Lesley O'Toole of Record Mirror praised "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" as Floyjoy's "second finest song" behind "Until You Come Back to Me", but added that Moyet's version was a "lacklustre offering without the luscious tones of Desy Campbell". She felt the song had a "shimmer of class", but considered the "dodgy brass interlude" and "nauseating 'darling, I love you' ad libs" to make for a "dubious arrangement".[22] Bobby Lynch of The Kerryman, who stated that Floy Joy's "brilliant" original should have been a hit, commented, "Not an obvious single for Moyet to record but the production is pleasant and its different."[23] US magazine Billboard considered it to be a "potential hit" and commented on the "loping melody and feel" which "shouldn't be overlooked".[24] Cash Box praised Moyet's "powerhouse performance" on the track.[25]

In a review of Raindancing, Spin singled out the song as a "tangible effort to push Moyet into the 'til tuesday camp of semisweet pop".[26] Musician wrote, "Moyet's interpretive gifts have grown, and Iovine's understated production takes pains not to get in the way, which is why the likes of 'Sleep Like Breathing' or 'Weak in the Presence of Beauty' hold such lasting allure."[27] Josh Lee of Attitude retrospectively commented, "Big choruses that demand to be sung along to don't come more insistent than 'Is This Love?' and 'Weak in the Presence of Beauty'."[28] In a 2015 retrospective on Moyet's career, Classic Pop included the song as one of their twenty favourite Alison Moyet tracks and stated, "She disowned it; we loved it."[29]

7" single

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" - 3:37
2. "To Work on You" - 4:13

12" single #1

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" (Extended Remix) – 6:04
2. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" (Single Version) - 3:37
3. "To Work on You" - 4:13

12" single #2

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" (Extended Remix) – 6:04
2. "To Work on You" - 4:13
3. "Take My Imagination To Bed" - 3:41