"I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" is a song by Jamaican singer and songwriter

Grace Jones Grace Beverly Jones (born 19 May 1948) is a model, singer and actress. Born in Jamaica, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York, when she was a teenager. Jones began her modelling career in New York state, then in Paris, working for ...

, released as the first single from her eighth album, '' Inside Story'' (1986). It was co-written by

Bruce Woolley Bruce Martin Woolley (born 11 November 1953) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He wrote songs with artists such as The Buggles and Grace Jones, including "Video Killed the Radio Star" and " Slave to the Rhythm", an ...

and produced by

Nile Rodgers Nile Gregory Rodgers Jr. (born September 19, 1952) is an American musician, record producer and composer. The co-founder of Chic, Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million ...

Chic Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick. Etymology '' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English diction ...

fame. For the 12" single release, "I'm Not Perfect" was remixed by

Larry Levan Larry Levan (; born Lawrence Philpot, July 20, 1954 – November 8, 1992) was an American DJ best known for his decade-long residency at the New York City night club Paradise Garage, which has been described as the prototype of the modern da ...

and

The Latin Rascals Anthony "Tony" Moran is a DJ, record producer, remixer, singer and songwriter known for remixing popular songs. In 2007, he hit number one on the U.S. ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Dance Club Songs, Hot Dance Club Play chart twice with "W ...

. The track met with commercial success, becoming one of Jones's 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 the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number 69, and her last song to enter this chart.

Background and lyrics

The song came from an idea that Jones and

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...

had "when you are famous, and having to be as perfect for your partner as you are as a performer"; one of the pair did one line and the other followed. Although they only got as far as the title, Jones told Jagger that she would go away and develop it into a song imagining what her and Jagger would have said.

Music video

The accompanying

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

for "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" was directed by Jones, and was the only video she directed. The video cost $250,000, and featured Jones wearing a huge black and white skirt hand-painted by artist and the assistant director

Keith Haring Keith Allen Haring (May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990) was an American artist whose pop art emerged from the New York City graffiti subculture of the 1980s. His animated imagery has "become a widely recognized visual language". Much of his wor ...

in Paris. The video follows Jones going through the processes of "self-healing and beautification", including

acupuncture Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in which thin needles are inserted into the body. Acupuncture is a pseudoscience; the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scientifi ...

, mud and milk baths, waxing, and a "nightmare psychotherapy session", in order to be "perfect". She soon wears the dress made by Haring, which her "admirers and worshipers" enter under and are "devoured" by her. It includes

cameo appearance A cameo role, also called a cameo appearance and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief appearance of a well-known person in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking ones, and are commonly eit ...

s from several of Jones's friends, including

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...

(months before he died), record producer

and fashion designer

Tina Chow Tina Chow (born Bettina Louise Lutz, April 18, 1950 – January 24, 1992) was an American model and jewelry designer who was considered an influential fashion icon of the 1970s and 1980s. She was the second wife of restaurateur Michael Chow ...

. Haring also appears in the video, captured when painting black patterns on a white 60-

foot The foot ( : feet) is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made ...

skirt that Jones wears while standing on a platform. 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. 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 apitolwould 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.'" Capitol also cut the production time of the video to two days despite Jones's request for more time.

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

Charts

References

{{authority control 1986 singles Grace Jones songs Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers Songs written by Bruce Woolley Songs written by Grace Jones Manhattan Records singles 1986 songs Freestyle music songs