"Perfect Day " is a song written by Lou Reed in 1972. It was originally featured on Transformer, Reed's second post-Velvet Underground solo album, and as an A-double side with a big hit, "Walk on the Wild Side". His fame was given a boost in the 1990s when it was featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting and after the star-studded version was released as a BBC charity in 1997, which became number one in the UK for three weeks. Reed re-recorded the song for his 2003 album The Raven .
A version by Duran Duran reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart in 1995.
Video Perfect Day (Lou Reed song)
Recording and composition
Original recording, like the rest of the Transformer album, was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson (who also wrote the string composition and played the piano on the track).
The song begins in its version, which is the development of the main triads in down the perfect fifth, starting yet on the minor triads. The song then moves to the chorus, which is written in the parallel main key for the verse. The song features vocal delivery of sombre and slow piano instrumental support.
The song was written after Reed and then his fiancee (then his first wife), Bettye Kronstad, spent a day at Central Park. The lyrics are often considered to suggest simple conventional romantic devotion, which might offend Reed's relationship with Bettye Kronstad and Reed's own conflict with his sexuality, drug use, and ego.
Some commentators have further seen the lyrical substance as showing Reed's romantic attitudes toward her own addiction period to heroin. The popular understanding of this song as an addiction ode led to an inclusion in the soundtrack for Trainspotting, a film about the life of a heroin addict.
Maps Perfect Day (Lou Reed song)
In other media
This song has been featured in ads such as AT & amp; T that runs during the 2010 Olympics, and an advertisement by Sony for the PlayStation 4 launch in October 2013, two weeks before Reed's death. The song also appeared by chance on TV shows including Afraid of Walking and Gotham . It is also covered in TNT 2017 series Will .
![Perfect Day [Lou Reed] - String Quartet - YouTube](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sfYl38SU5ltvPN5NlzOM-Pg9qkdSLSpFY4uFNcvIBlDc6zlCN7gartilMjWa1YBjEm-v4K7wfdJ5TDCP-IDnZUbEW8Q6Ut1i9hak6mAv0aKpYmm0bhpp-8ggkqbT-E1Qxj_zbvfB55Aw=s0-d "Perfect Day [Lou Reed] - String Quartet - YouTube")
Personnel
- Lou Reed - vocals
- Mick Ronson - piano, string settings
- David Bowie - keyboard
- Trevor Bolder: trumpet
- Herbie Flowers: tuba
- Klaus Voormann - bass
- John Halsey - drums
Company film and BBC charity release
In 1997, a version of the song was exhibited by the BBC in the company's extensive promotion of diverse music coverage aired on the BBC channel and in theaters. It featured Lou Reed himself and other major artists in what the Financial Times described as "an outstanding lineup of world class players". Regarding the license fee, the movie ends with the message "Whatever your musical tastes are, it's filled by BBC Radio and Television.This is only possible thanks to the unique way the BBC is paid by you.You make what it is." This message appears above the words repeated "You will reap what you sow" which The Guardian describes as "a not so subtle message: keep writing checks." In response to accusations from commercial competitors that the company had wasted huge amounts on the film it was revealed that every artist received a "tokens" Ã, Â £ 250 for their belief in the BBC.
Prompted by a huge public demand, the song was released on November 17, 1997, as a series of charities for Children in Need, and Reed said, "I have never been more impressed with the appearance of one of my songs." It was number one in the UK for three weeks, in two separate spells. The record contributed £ 2,125,000 for the largest total charity fundraiser in six years, and, by November 2016, has sold 1.54 million copies. This release features two additional versions of the song: all of which are sung by women, one by a male player. The BBC also produced a Christmas version of the accompanying music video.
In Ireland, the song was also a great success, staying number one for seven weeks, and became number one Christmas that year.
Actor
Performers in order of appearance; parentheses show mute appearances, and delimiters indicate verses/sections.
- Lou Reed
- Bono
- Skye Edwards (from Morcheeba)
- David Bowie
- Suzanne Vega
- Elton John
- (Andrew Davis)
- Boyzone
- Lesley Garrett
- (Lou Reed)
- Burning Spear
- Bono
- Thomas Allen
- (Brodsky Quartet)
- Heather Small (from M People)
- Emmylou Harris
- Tammy Wynette
- Shane MacGowan
- (Sheona White) (tenor horn player)
- John
- David Bowie
- Robert Cray
- Huey Morgan (from Fun Lovin Criminals)
- Ian Broudie (from The Lightning Seeds)
- Gabrielle
- Dr. John
- Evan Dando (from The Lemonheads)
- Emmylou Harris
- (Courtney Pine) (soprano saxophonist)
- (BBC Symphony Orchestra)
- (Andrew Davis)
- (Bono) Brett Anderson (from Suede)
- The Visual Ministry Choir
- Joan Armatrading
- Laurie Anderson
- Little Heather
- Tom Jones
- Little Heather
- Lou Reed
Sequel
Following the success of the "Perfect Day" music video, the BBC produced three other similar campaigns. The first, Upcoming Generation , in December 1998, did a multi-celebrity montage similar to the favorite BBC children's program. The second, called Shaggy Dog Story , features comedians and comic actors telling long-haired dog stories, each sharing a line or phrase. The second short shaggy dog ​​story, titled Mammals vs. Insects , also aired on January 4, 2000. Seventeen years after the release of "Perfect Day", the BBC produced a campaign for their new music division where 27 musicians (labeled "The Impossible Orchestra") covered Beach Boys' "God Only Knows ". The only person who appeared in both campaigns was Sir Elton John.
The cover was parodied in 1997 specifically Harry Enfield and Chums , as well as by Matt Lucas and David Walliams.
The only Sony Music inspired to release a compilation album of various artists, Perfect Day , in early 1998. It reached number 7 on the UK Compilation Chart. It displays Reed's original version of the song, not the Various Artists version.
Live Music 2000
The BBC's live television show in 2000, consisting of a music program all the time, ended with the show "Perfect Day". Although it was watched by millions of people, the recording of events released as singles was not a chart success, only reaching number 69 in mid-June 2000.
These formations include Rolf Harris and Lou Reed's early and late appearances.
Duran Duran Version
The cover version of "Perfect Day" is the first single from Duran Duran cover album Thank You . It reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart in 1995.
The song features a rare appearance by Duran Duran's first drummer, Roger Taylor. She also appeared on videos and in promotional appearances on Top of the Pops.
The music video was filmed in February 1995 by director Nick Egan, and first aired in March. This shows the band clips that appear, interspersed with surreal images.
The single was released in several versions, including many different remixes of other Duran Duran songs and songs. In addition to singles and albums Thank You , this song also appeared on Duran's Duran's Singles Box Set 1986-1995, released in 2004.
In Duran Duran's episode Behind the Music , Reed described the Duran Duran version as potentially the best re-recording of his songs.
Personnel
Duran Duran:
- Simon The Good - vokal
- Nick Rhodes - keyboard
- John Taylor - low gitar
- Warren Cuccurullo - gitar
Dengan:
- Roger Taylor - drum
- Tessa Niles - backing vocals
Also credited:
- John Jones, Anthony J. Resta, Bob St. John - additional production and techniques
- David Richards - mixing
- Mark Tinley - additional programs
Susan Boyle Version
Scottish recording artist Susan Boyle, covered the song on her second album The Gift and also released it on November 8, 2010 as a single.
Conflicts with Lou Reed
In September 2010, Susan Boyle had to cancel the show at America's Got Talent at the last minute. She had planned to sing "Perfect Day", but two hours before the show, she was told that Lou Reed had intervened, denied her permission to do the song and put it in her upcoming album The Gift. Since he and his choir did not have time to practice other numbers, he decided to cancel his performance. A few days later, Lou Reed's representative stated that he had nothing to do with the decision and that it was just a license error.
A few weeks later, Lou Reed agreed not only to let him put the song in The Gift , but also to produce his music video. It was shot on the edge of Loch Lomond and aired on November 7, 2010.
Live show
On November 19, 2010 she performed the song on Children in Need . He also did this again at the 82nd Royal Variety Performance, which was performed on December 9, 2010.
Performance chart
Vatican tweets
Immediately after Reed's death in 2013, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, Vatican's cultural minister, made the news by tweeting the lyrics of the song:
- Oh, this is the perfect day
- I'm glad I spent it with you
- Oh, perfect day
- You just made me depend on
Because the song was considered by some to be related to drugs, the cardinal then clarified that he did not forgive the use of drugs.
See also
- List of UK Singles Chart number in 1990s
- Single number one 1997 (Ireland)
References
Note
Source
- Original Seeds Vol. 2, liner notes by Kim Beissel
External links
- Reviews MP3.com
- List of line-by-line singers
- Lyrics of this song in MetroLyrics
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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