{{Short description|2022 song by Beabadoobee}} {{distinguish|The Perfect Pear}} {{Use dmy dates|date= December 2024}} {{Infobox single | name = The Perfect Pair | type = single | cover = | artist = Beabadoobee | album = Beatopia | released = 26 September 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases|title=Triple A Future Releases|website=All Access|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915160130/https://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases|archive-date=15 September 2022}}</ref> | recorded = | genre = * Bossa nova * guitar pop | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=58}} | label = Dirty Hit | writer = {{hlist|Beatrice Laus|Jacob Bugden}} | producer = {{hlist|Beatrice Laus|Jacob Bugden|Iain Berryman}} | prev_title = 10:36 | prev_year = 2022 | next_title = Glue Song | next_year = 2023 | misc = }}

"'''The Perfect Pair'''" is a song by Filipino-British singer Beabadoobee. It was written by Jacob Bugden and Beabadoobee, and became available as the fifth track from her second studio album ''Beatopia'' (2022) on 15 July 2022. It was later sent to adult alternative radio on 26 September 2022 as a single by Dirty Hit. Sonically, "The Perfect Pair" is a bossa nova song backed by '90s-style guitar pop. The lyrics detail two lovers' romantic distrust and uncertainty at the end of a relationship.

==Release and composition== "The Perfect Pair" was sent to adult alternative radio on 26 September 2022.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Triple A Future Releases |url=https://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915160130/https://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |archive-date=15 September 2022|website=All Access}}</ref> The song is 2 minutes and 58 seconds at a tempo of 146 BPM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tunebat - the perfect pair - Beabadoobee |url=https://tunebat.com/Info/the-perfect-pair-beabadoobee/41P6Tnd8KIHqON0QIydx6a}}</ref> The song went viral on the video sharing platform TikTok upon its release.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concert Review: beabadoobee Charms Boston at MGM Music Hall {{!}} Arts {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/9/24/beabadoobee-boston-mgm-death-bed-coffee-for-your-head/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.thecrimson.com}}</ref>

The song was described by ''The Line of Best Fit'' as a swingy guitar and bossa nova song that addresses romantic distrust and uncertainty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beabadoobee hones and expands her aesthetic with Beatopia |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/beabadoobee-beatopia-album-review |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Critical reception == ''Pitchfork'''s Arielle Gordon described the song as "shimmying bossa nova" and compared it to the likes of Corinne Bailey Rae.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Arielle |title=Beabadoobee: Beatopia |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/beabadoobee-beatopia/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> Steffanie Wang of ''Nylon'' described it as "at once familiar and a sonic mesh of new ideas".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-18 |title=Soundcheck: The 10 Best Music Releases The Week of July 18, 2022 |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/soundcheck-07-18-2022-lizzo-everybodys-gay-itzy |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Nylon |language=en}}</ref>

==Live performances== Beabadoobee performed the album version of the song at a ''Tiny Desk Concert'' on 29 November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=beabadoobee shares unreleased song during Tiny Desk Concert {{!}} Kerrang! |url=https://www.kerrang.com/beabadoobee-shares-unreleased-song-during-tiny-desk-concert |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.kerrang.com}}</ref>

Beabadoobee performed an acoustic rendition of the song on ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'' on 5 December 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holden |first=Finlay |date=2022-12-06 |title=beabadoobee just performed 'The Perfect Pair' on US television |url=https://readdork.com/news/beabadoobee-has-performed-the-perfect-pair-on-us-television/#:~:text=The%20track%20is%20a%20cut,sophomore%20album,%20'Beatopia'.&text=beabadoobee%20performed%20'The%20Perfect%20Pair,is%20disabled%20in%20your%20browser. |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Dork |language=en-US}}</ref> Wearing an oversized coat, short skirt, and knee-high white boots, she was accompanied by guitarists, violinists, cellists, and drummers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-06 |title=beabadoobee lights up Fallon performing "The Perfect Pair": Watch |url=https://consequence.net/2022/12/beabadoobee-fallon-the-perfect-pair-watch/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Consequence |language=en}}</ref> The performance was met with positive reception.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Alex Gonzales of ''Uproxx'' noted her vocals as "soft and silky",<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-06 |title=Beabadoobee Performed 'The Perfect Pair' On 'Fallon' |url=https://uproxx.com/indie/beabadoobee-perfect-pair-tonight-show-fallon/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=UPROXX |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''Hypebeast'''s Sarah Kearns said she "delivered the soft lyrics with effortless, breathy ease".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-12-06 |title=beabadobee Performs Live Acoustic Rendition of “the perfect pair” on 'Fallon' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2022/12/beabadobee-acoustic-the-perfect-pair-fallon-watch |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Hypebeast}}</ref>

==Credits and personnel== Credits are adapted from the liner notes of ''Beatopia''.<ref name="Notes">{{cite AV media notes|title=Beatopia|others=Beatopia|year=2024|author=Dirty Hit}}</ref> {{div col}} *Jacob Bugden &nbsp;– producer, engineer, songwriter *Beabadoobee&nbsp;– lead vocals, background vocals, songwriter, vocal producer *Iain Berryman&nbsp;– songwriter, producer *Drew Dungate-Smith&nbsp;– engineer, *Joe LaPorta&nbsp;– mastering *Ben Baptie&nbsp;– mixing *Sophie Ellis&nbsp;– assistant mixing {{div col end}}

== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for "The Perfect Pair" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024–2025) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|UK|89|date=20250110|rowheader=true|access-date=10 January 2025}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|19|artist=Beabadoobee|rowheader=true|access-date=17 December 2024}} |}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Beabadoobee|title=The Perfect Pair|award=Platinum|relyear=2022|certyear=2025|source=radioscope|accessdate=26 September 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Beabadoobee|title=The Perfect Pair|award=Gold|relyear=2022|certyear=2025|accessdate=26 September 2025|id=20307-6784-1}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Beabadoobee|title=The Perfect Pair|award=Gold|relyear=2022|certyear=2024}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true | nosales=true | noshipments=true}}

== References == {{Reflist}}{{Beabadoobee}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Perfect Pair}} Category:2022 singles Category:2022 songs Category:Beabadoobee songs Category:Dirty Hit singles Category:Bossa nova songs