{{Short description|1998 single by the Beautiful South}} {{For|the song by Red Velvet|Perfect Velvet}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox song | name = Perfect 10 | cover = Perfect 10 Single Cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = the Beautiful South | album = Quench | B-side = If | released = {{start date|1998|9|21|df=y}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-09-19.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=30|date=19 September 1998|access-date=11 July 2021}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres --> | length = 3:37 | label = * Mercury * Go! Discs | writer = * Paul Heaton * Dave Rotheray | producer = * Jon Kelly * Paul Heaton | prev_title = Liars' Bar | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = Dumb | next_year = 1998 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|js-2cqqY1K8|"Perfect 10"}}}} }} "'''Perfect 10'''" is a song by English pop rock band the Beautiful South, released on 21 September 1998 as the first single from their sixth studio album, ''Quench'' (1998). It debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, selling 89,000 copies during its first week of release,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-10-03-S-OCR.pdf|title=Chart Commentary|last=Jones|first=Alan|magazine=Music Week|page=10|date=3 October 1998|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref> and is the band's last UK top-10 single as of {{YEAR}}. It received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streaming figures exceeding 600,000 units.
==Recording contributions== As well as the contributions from band members, in the documentary ''Paul Heaton: From Hull to Heatongrad'', songwriter Paul Heaton refers to contributions to the recording from Norman Cook and Paul Weller, who offered production assistance and rhythm guitar, respectively.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} Their contributions are also mentioned on the liner notes for ''Quench''.<ref name="quench"/>
==Analysis== {{More citations needed section|date=June 2019}} 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:
{{quote|<poem>"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."</poem>}}
==Critical reception== Scottish newspaper ''Daily Record'' described the song as "great" and "bitter-sweet".<ref>"Chart Slot". ''Daily Record''. 16 October 1998.</ref> Caroline Sullivan from ''The Guardian'' called it "jazzy", noting that "Heaton's sweet-voiced 'I love her body, 'specially the lines', has one of the tenderest lines on an album full of memorable ''bons mots''."<ref>Sullivan, Caroline. (16 October 1998). "Music: This week's pop CD releases". ''The Guardian''.</ref> Adrian Thrills from ''Daily Mail'' declared it as "a rasping musical debate about sexual politics, neatly driven along by funky piano and honking sax".<ref>Thrills, Adrian. (9 October 1998). "The choirboy comes of age; music". ''Daily Mail''.</ref> Ian Hyland from ''Sunday Mirror'' rated the song nine out of ten, adding, "The funkier sound is new but their observations on the important things in life are sharp as ever. Almost perfect."<ref>Hyland, Ian (20 September 1998). "Best singles". ''Sunday Mirror''.</ref> Johnny Dee from ''The Times'' remarked that it "manages to be both funny and touching at the same time."<ref>Dee, Johnny. (10 October 1998). "All points south; The Big Album". ''The Times''.</ref>
==Track listings== * '''UK CD1 and Australian CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Perfect 10|year=1998|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records, Go! Discs|id=566 481-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Perfect 10|year=1998|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records, Go! Discs|id=5664812}}</ref> # "Perfect 10" # "If" # "I'll Sail This Ship Alone"
* '''UK CD2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Perfect 10|year=1998|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records, Go! Discs|id=566 483-2}}</ref> # "Perfect 10" # "Loving Arms" # "One Last Love Song"
* '''UK cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Perfect 10|year=1998|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mercury Records, Go! Discs|id=566 480-4}}</ref> # "Perfect 10" # "If"
==Personnel== Personnel are adapted from the ''Quench'' liner notes.<ref name="quench">{{cite AV media notes|title=Quench|title-link=Quench (album)|year=1998|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Mercury Records, Go! Discs|id=538 166-2}}</ref> {{div col}} * Paul Heaton – writing, vocals, production * Dave Rotheray – writing, guitar * Jacqueline Abbott – vocals * Dave Hemingway – vocals * Sean Welch – bass * David Stead – drums * Paul Weller – additional guitar * Damon Butcher – keyboards * Gary Hammond – percussion * Kick Horns – brass * Norman Cook – rhythm consultant * Jon Kelly – production * John Brough – engineering, mixing {{div col end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1998–1999) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-10-10.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=15|issue=41|page=14|date=10 October 1998|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> |15 |- {{single chart|Germany|64|artist=The Beautiful South|song=Perfect 10|songid=3832|rowheader=true|access-date=21 June 2019}} |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2979643#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn (22.1–29.1. 1999)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|date=22 January 1999|access-date=5 October 2019}}</ref> |17 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|6|song=Perfect 10|rowheader=true|access-date=18 July 2019}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|2|date=19981003|rowheader=true|access-date=21 June 2019}} |- {{single chart|Sweden|23|artist=The Beautiful South|song=Perfect 10|rowheader=true|access-date=21 June 2019}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|47|artist=The Beautiful South|song=Perfect 10|rowheader=true|access-date=21 June 2019}} |- {{single chart|UK|2|date=19981003|rowheader=true|access-date=21 June 2019}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1998) !Position |- !scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100|magazine=Music Week|page=7|date=16 January 1999}}</ref> |37 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Beautiful South|title=Perfect 10|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=2021|id=5054-1846-1|access-date=10 September 2021}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
==In popular culture== "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 "You Keep It All In", "Don't Marry Her" and "Perfect 10"."<ref name="Perfect 10">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisishull.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=136265&command=displayContent&sourceNode=136248&contentPK=14511629&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch|publisher=This Is Hull|title=Welcome Home|date=23 May 2006}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=8387 ''Perfect 10'' song lyrics]
{{The Beautiful South}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1998 singles Category:1998 songs Category:The Beautiful South songs Category:Go! Discs singles Category:Mercury Records singles Category:Songs about body image Category:Songs written by David Rotheray Category:Songs written by Paul Heaton