Perfect Day

"Perfect Day" is a song written by Lou Reed in 1972. Its fame was given a boost in the 1990s when it was featured in the 1996 film "Trainspotting", and after its release as a charity single in 1997.

The song was originally featured on the 1972 album "Transformer". The song's lyrics are often considered to suggest simple, conventional romantic devotion, possibly alluding to Reed’s relationship with Bettye Kronstadt (soon to become his first wife) and Reed’s own conflicts with his sexuality, drug use and ego. [Bockris, Victor. "Transformer: The Lou Reed Story". Simon & Schuster, August 1 1995. (ISBN 978-0684803661)]

However, on a deeper reading of the song's lyrics, amongst the idealised description of a "perfect day", interposed lines such as "You just keep me hanging on", and "I thought I was someone else, someone good" suggest a far deeper yearning than just the superficial romantic clichés, and allude to the underlying and painful bitterness of nostalgia often felt even as an event is lived - an event one knows or fears to be a mere distraction or illusion.

Some commentators have further seen the lyrics as displaying Reed's romanticised attitude towards a period of his own addiction to heroin. Critics of this view assert that Reed never tried to conceal his drug use, so the song does not have concealed meanings of this nature.

Reed re-recorded the song for his 2003 album "The Raven".

Harmonic analysis

The song is an a minor key and flucuates between notes from its melodic and harmonic chord notes. The first five bars form two apparent ii-V-I jazz turnarounds, each landing a tone lower so the old I is the new ii. (However the second turnaround uses II instead of ii). The pattern finishes with a iv-V-i turnaround landing on the tonic. The ii-V-I sequences may initially sound like the same pattern played in endlessly descending keys (a common jazz motif), but due to the II-V-I alteration the whole song in fact remains firmly in the home key, though with chords (such as iv and IV) drawn from varying melodic and harmonic minor forms.

Notated in the home key, the progression is thus:

i IV VII III VIb iv V

Cover versions

Several cover versions of "Perfect Day" have been recorded by various artists.

* Helen Hoffner recorded her version on her 1993 album "Wild About Nothing".
* Duran Duran released "Perfect Day" as a single from their 1995 covers album "Thank You"; it reached #28 on the UK Singles Chart.
* Kirsty MacColl recorded her version as a duet with Evan Dando on her 1995 album "Galore".
* California punk band T.S.O.L. recorded a cover for their "4 Songs - 2005" EP
* Coldplay played an acoustic version in the Isle of Wight festival in 2006 after Reed had asked them to backstage after he had finished his set but forgot to perform it himself (as Martin explained beforehand).
* Chris Whitley used it as the title song for his 2000 album "Perfect Day".
* Patti Smith recorded a cover for her "Two More" EP
* Amanda Palmer during her 2006 "Fuck the Back Row" tour.
* Antony Hegarty recorded his version on his 2003 album "Raven," by Reed's request.
* Wolfmother played it at the Andy Warhol Up Late gig in 2008.
* Leningrad Cowboys, a Finnish Hard Rock band, covered it on their 2006 album, Zombie's Paradise.
* Glenn Gregory, known as the lead vocalist of Heaven 17, covered the song on the 1982 British Electric Foundation album "Music of Quality and Distinction Volume 1.
* Dionysis Savvopoulos used the song's music to his own lyrics and created a song called Μέρα Όμορφη("Mera Omorfi", "Beautiful Day")
* Tzimis Panousis recorded a parody of Dionysis Savvopoulos's Greek version of the song, called Πρέζα Όμορφη ("Preza Omorfi", "Beautiful Heroin").

BBC corporate film and charity release

Infobox Single
Name = Perfect Day


Caption =
Artist = Various Artists
from Album =
A-side =
B-side =
Released = October 3, 1997
Format = CD
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 3:46
Label = Chrysalis / BBC
Writer = Lou Reed
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position = * #1 (UK Singles Chart)
Misc =In 1997 the track was showcased by the BBC in a lengthy corporate promotion of its diverse music coverage which was broadcast on BBC channels and in cinemas. It featured Lou Reed himself and other major artists in what the "Financial Times" described as "an astonishing line-up of world class performers".Dunkley, Christopher. "Hard sell of the fast cut" "Financial Times." 1997-10-01] In reference to the licence fee, the film ends with the message "Whatever your musical taste, it is catered for by BBC Radio and Television. This is only possible thanks to the unique way the BBC is paid for by you. BBC. You make it what it is." This message appears over the repeated words "You're going to reap just what you sow" which "The Guardian" described as "a none too subtle message: keep writing the cheque." [Mulholland, John. "Such a perfect way to sing the praises of a licence fee; John Mulholland on how Lou Reed's anthem for doomed youth became the ultimate sales gimmick" The Guardian 1997-09-27] In response to accusations from commercial competitors that the corporation had wasted vast sums on the film it was revealed that each artist received a "token" £250 because of their belief in the BBC.

Prompted by a huge public demand the track was released in November as a charity single for Children in Need. It was the UK's number one single for three weeks, in two separate spells. Selling over a million copies, the record contributed £2,125,000 to the charity's highest fundraising total in six years [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/191758.stm Perfect Day for children] " - BBC News October 12 1998] .

The release featured two additional versions of the song - one entirely sung by female performers, one by male performers. Of the title track featuring the performers listed below, Lou Reed said "I have never been more impressed with a performance of one of my songs" [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/33653.stm Children to reap what Perfect Day sows] " - BBC News November 21 1997] . The BBC also produced a Christmas version of the accompanying music video.

Performers

Performers in order of appearance (italics indicate mute appearance). Dividers indicate verses/sections.columns |width=19em |g

col1 =
*Lou Reed
*Bono
*Skye Edwards (from Morcheeba)----
*David Bowie
*Suzanne Vega
*Elton John
*"Sir Andrew Davis"----
*Boyzone
*Lesley Garrett
*"Lou Reed"
*Burning Spear
*Bono
*Sir Thomas Allen
*Brodsky Quartet----
*Heather Small (from M People)
*Emmylou Harris
*Tammy Wynette
*Shane MacGowan
*Sheona White (tenor horn player)----
*Dr. John
col2 =
*David Bowie
*Robert Cray
*Huey (from Fun Lovin' Criminals)----
*Ian Broudie (from The Lightning Seeds)
*Gabrielle
*Dr. John
*Evan Dando (from The Lemonheads)
*Emmylou Harris----
*Courtney Pine (soprano saxophone player)
*BBC Symphony Orchestra
*"Sir Andrew Davis"
*"Bono"----
*Brett Anderson (from Suede)
*Visual Ministry Choir
*Joan Armatrading
*Laurie Anderson
*Heather Small
*Tom Jones
*Heather Small
*Lou Reed

Tracks

The released single contained three tracks. In addition to the main mix there were two additional tracks consisting of mixes of just the female performances and the male performances respectively.

#Perfect Day '97
#Perfect Day '97 - Female Version
#Perfect Day '97 - Male Version

equels

Following the success of the Perfect Day music video, the BBC produced two further similar campaigns. The first, "Future Generations", in December 1998, did a similar multi-celebrity montage with favourite BBC children's programmes. The second, called "Shaggy Dog Story", featured various comedians and comic actors telling a long-winded shaggy dog story, with each one sharing a line or phrase. A second, shorter shaggy dog story, entitled "Mammals vs. Insects", was also broadcast on 2000-01-04.

Music Live 2000

A BBC live television event, which consisted of music programs around the clock, ended in a performance of "Perfect Day". Although watched by millions the single that was released to coincide with the performance (and was the actual recording from the show) bombed in the charts in dramatic style, reaching #69 in mid June 2000.

The line-up, often forgotten, did include Rolf Harris and also the start and end from Lou Reed himself.

References

*"Original Seeds" Vol. 2, liner notes by Kim Beissel

External links

* [http://www.mp3.com/albums/290363/reviews.html MP3.com review]
* [http://www.onlineweb.com/theones/perfect_day/perfect_day.htm Line-by-line list of singers]