I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)

"I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" is the first single by Grace Jones from her album Inside Story, released in 1986.

"I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)"
Single by Grace Jones
from the album Inside Story
B-side"Scary But Fun"
ReleasedOctober 1986
Recorded1986
Genre
Length3:22
LabelManhattan
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Grace Jones singles chronology
"Jones the Rhythm"
(1985)		 "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)"
(1986)		 "Party Girl"
(1986)
Music video
"I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" on YouTube

Background

The song was co-written by Bruce Woolley and produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic fame. It was released as the lead single from Jones' eighth studio album, Inside Story. For the 12" single release "I'm Not Perfect" was remixed by Larry Levan and The Latin Rascals. The track met with commercial success, becoming one of Jones' biggest hits. It made the Top 40 in several European countries and Top 10 in New Zealand, and was the highest-charting single by Grace Jones on Billboard Hot 100, and her last song to enter this chart.

Music video

The video was directed by Jones herself, and was the only video she directed.[1] For the video, Jones wore body paint and outfits, including a huge black and white skirt, that were designed by artist and the assistant director, Keith Haring. The video boasts cameo appearances from several of Jones' friends, including Andy Warhol (months before he died), record producer Nile Rodgers and fashion designer Tina Chow.[2][3]

Haring also himself appears in the video, captured when painting black patterns on a white 60-feet skirt that Jones wears while standing on a platform.[4]

Jones stated in her 2015 book I'll Never Write My Memoirs that Capitol were "unconvinced" that she was competent enough to direct a music video, and that because the experience was so difficult—"not the directing itself but working with Capitol"—she vowed never to direct another video.[1] She claims that because she was in every shot, she had to have her makeup frequently reapplied in an adjacent room, and upon returning to the studio, "they [Capitol] would be shooting something or having the cast change clothes. I would say 'What's going on? I am the director. I know what I am doing.'"[1] Capitol also cut down the production time of the video to just two days despite Jones' request for more time.[1]

Track listing
  • 7" single
A. "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" – 3:22
B. "Scary But Fun" – 3:55
  • 12" single
A. "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" (The Perfectly Extended Remix) – 5:54
B1. "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" (instrumental version) – 4:58
B2. "Scary But Fun" – 3:55
  • 12" US single
A1. "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" (The Perfectly Extended Remix) – 5:54
A2. "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" (The Right on Time Edit) – 6:55
B1. "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" (The Ultra Perfect Edit) – 7:15
B2. "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" (The Ultra Perfect Dub) – 5:23
B3. "Scary But Fun" – 3:55

Chart performance
Chart Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop)[5] 18
Germany (GfK Entertainment Charts)[6] 39
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)[7] 24
Italy (Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana)[8] 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 39
New Zealand (Official New Zealand Music Chart)[10] 9
Spain (Productores de Música de España)[11] 16
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[12] 24
UK Singles Chart[13][14] 56
US Billboard Hot 100[15][16] 69
US Dance Music/Club Play[15][17] 4
US Hot Black Singles[18] 9
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[15] 12

References
  1. Jones, Grace; Morley, Paul. I'll Never Write My Memoirs. Simon & Schuster. pp. 306–311. ISBN 978-1-4711-3521-7. Because the track was so personal, I decided I would direct the video for the song, having learned so much, especially from Jean-Paul. [...] I had hired Keith Haring as my assistant director, to help make a more dramatic, and dignified, outfit for the "Perfect" video.
  2. "More Grace Jones: "I'm Not Perfect" (1986) « Gina Vivinetto's Greatest Hits". ginavivinetto.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  3. "Grace Jones Perfection, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring 1986". www.backinthegays.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  4. "A Tribute To Grace Jones x Keith Haring". www.catch-fire.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  5. "Grace Jones - I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You)" (in Dutch). www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  6. "Chartverfolgung / JONES, GRACE / Single" (in German). www.musicline.de. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  7. "Search the charts". www.irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  8. "Indice per Interprete: J". www.hitparadeitalia.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  9. "Discografie Grace Jones" (in Dutch). www.dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  10. "charts.nz - Discography Grace Jones". charts.nz. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  11. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  12. "Grace Jones - I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You)". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  13. "GRACE JONES". www.theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
  14. "Grace Jones". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  15. "Grace Jones". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  16. "Grace Jones Album & Song Chart History". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
  17. "Grace Jones Album & Song Chart History". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  18. "Grace Jones Album & Song Chart History". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
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