In various interviews, the band members and co-writers describe differing aspects of the composition and overall meaning of the song. The song is in D major and has a tempo of 100 beats per minute. Long-time writer and producer for the band, Julian Bunetta described the writing process as 'difficult' due to the writing occurring whilst the members travelled from country to country during their 2015 On the Road Again Tour.[1] Bunetta called the single "a jam" and stated that he plays it in his car frequently.[1][2]
Critical receptionedit
Digital Spy's Lewis Corner praised "Perfect", describing it as a "scintillating slice of '80s pop" and also said that the song was a "delicious retort" to Taylor Swift's (ex-girlfriend of band member Harry Styles) song "Style".[3] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone commented that the song was "a catchy ode to bad boys and the rebellious personas" while noticing that "Styles seems to directly respond to the songs Taylor Swift is rumoured to have written about him on her album 1989.[4]
Former band member Zayn Malik was less complimentary about the song; in his January 2016 cover story interview in Billboard, he said that the first single was "quite cool" but heard the second single and decided not to buy the album.[5]
Chart performanceedit
In the band's native United Kingdom, "Perfect" debuted at number two. In the United States, the song became the band's sixth and final top ten hit when "Perfect" debuted at number 10 on the Billboard issue dated 7 November 2015.[6] This debut also broke The Beatles' record for the most top 10 Hot 100 debuts among bands.[7]
Music videoedit
The music video was directed by Sophie Muller with additional help from actor Giovanni Ribisi[8] and premiered on Vevo on 20 October 2015. The video, filmed in black and white, depicts how the band lives while on tour, and was filmed at the Intercontinental Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City in early September 2015.[9] The video features shots of the members as they relax in a hotel room during their 2015 tour.
^ ab"One Direction Collaborator Breaks Down Group's New Songs". Rolling Stone. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
^")u1!@n on Twitter: ha i dont know if i could say that. But its a jam. I play it in my car all the time". Twitter. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
^"EXCLUSIVE: 1D's new album Made In The AM first listen". Digital Spy. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"Hear One Direction's 'Perfect' Ode to Bad Boys". Rolling Stone. 16 October 2015.
^"Zayn Malik Speaks Out in Revealing Billboard Cover Story: 'I'm Not Censoring Myself Anymore'". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"The Weeknd No. 1 for Sixth Week, Adele No. 1 next week?". Billboard.com.
^Gary Trust (27 October 2015). "One Direction Breaks The Beatles' Record With Fifth Top 10 Debut on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
^"One Direction 'Perfect' by Sophie Muller on Promo News". Promo News. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^Steiner, Amanda Michelle. "One Direction cause trouble in hotel rooms in 'Perfect' music video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
^"One Direction Setlist at 3Arena, Dublin". setlist.fm. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"One Direction Bring 'Perfect' Performance to 2015 AMAs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"One Direction, Live Lounge - BBC Radio 1". BBC. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"See One Direction Perform "Drag Me Down" on 'Ellen'". Fuse. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"One Direction Perform Medley of Songs on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"One Direction Returns to 'X Factor' U.K. to Perform 'Perfect': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"One Direction Setlist at KISS FM Dallas' Jingle Ball 2015". setlist.fm. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"Jingle Ball 2015: Watch Performances By 1D, Selena Gomez, The Weeknd And More | Idolator". Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"Jingle Ball L.A. Recap: One Direction's Last Gig, The Weeknd Gets Sexy & Selena Gomez Slays". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"The Royal Variety Performance 2015: the top 5 acts". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"iTunes - Music - Perfect - Single by One Direction". iTunes Store (GB). 16 October 2015.
^"iTunes - Music - Perfect - EP by One Direction". iTunes Store (GB). 22 October 2015.
^"One Direction – Perfect" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
^"One Direction – Perfect" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
^"One Direction – Perfect" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
^"One Direction Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201543 into search.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 20165 into search.
^"One Direction – Perfect". Tracklisten. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
^"One Direction: Perfect" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
^"One Direction – Perfect" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201543 into search.
^"Billboard: One Direction's Career Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
^"Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ..." All Access. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015.