Perfect 10

Album: Quench (1998)
Charted: 2
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Songfacts®:

  • "Perfect 10" is a duet where Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott throw out a series of innuendoes about body image: women worry about clothing sizes and men fret about penis length. But because Heaton and Abbot have a loving relationship, each considers the other beautiful even though they don't conform to modern stereotypes of physical perfection.

    Paul Heaton: "I'm going out with somebody I know who will love me if I'm bald or gray and I would love her in the same situation, not if she was bald or gray - obviously I would hate her. Be all right if she was overweight or whatever." (transcribed from 100 Most Annoying Songs on BBC 3)
  • This was used as the theme song of the British ITV television drama series Fat Friends. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2
  • Cause we love our love in different sizes
    I love her body, especially the lies
    Time takes its toll, but not on the eyes
    Promise me this, take me tonight


    Speaking to The Guardian, Paul Heaton explained: "The jousting of the lyric is that they're kidding themselves and each other about their bodies. He especially loves the way she doesn't tell the truth about hers – he finds that shyness quite endearing."
  • The Beautiful South released "Perfect 10" as the lead single from Quench. Heaton and Beautiful South guitarist Dave Rotheray wrote all the songs on the album.
  • Quench was the Beautiful South's third and last album to top the UK charts.

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