Pretty in Pink (song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Pretty in Pink
| cover = The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty in Pink (1981).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Psychedelic Furs
| album = Talk Talk Talk
| released = 1981 (original version)
1986 (re-recorded version)
| format =
| recorded = 1981 (original version)
1986 (re-recorded version)
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|New wave{{cite web|last1=Terich|first1=Jeff|last2=Emery|first2=Derek|date=26 October 2009|title=The 90 Minute Guide: Halloween Party!|url=https://www.treblezine.com/the-90-minute-guide-halloween-party/|access-date=31 July 2020|website=Treble}}{{cite web|last=Sendra|first=Tim|title=Rockin' 80's [Sony] - Various Artists {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rockin-80s-sony-mw0000326534|access-date=22 April 2021|publisher=AllMusic}}|post-punk{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/08/28/ll-cool-j-miguel-head-hot-labor-day-shows/|title=LL Cool J, Miguel head hot Labor Day shows|last=Harrington|first=Jim|date=28 August 2015|website=The Mercury News|access-date=31 July 2020}}|pop rock{{cite book|first= Johnny|last= Law|editor-first= Robert |editor-last= Dimery |year= 2015 |title= 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die|chapter= The Psychedelic Furs - "Pretty in Pink|publisher= Universe|location= New York|page= 494}}}}
| length = 3:57 (1981 version)
3:53 (1986 single version)
4:40 (1986 album soundtrack version)
| label = Columbia
| writer = John Ashton, Tim Butler, Richard Butler, Vince Ely, Duncan Kilburn, Roger Morris
| producer = Steve Lillywhite (1981 version)
Charles Harrowell (1986 version)
| prev_title = Dumb Waiters
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = Love My Way
| next_year = 1982
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = The Psychedelic Furs
| type = single
| prev_title = Here Come Cowboys
| prev_year = 1984
| title = Pretty in Pink
| year = 1986
| next_title = Heartbreak Beat
| next_year = 1987
}}
}}
"Pretty in Pink" is a song by the English band the Psychedelic Furs, originally released in 1981 as a single from the band's second album, Talk Talk Talk. The 1986 film was named after the song and a re-recorded version of the song was included on its soundtrack.
Composition
Lead singer Richard Butler said "Pretty in Pink" is about two women he knew while living in Muswell Hill in North London. One was a friend of his ex-girlfriend, and the other went to a pub he frequented. However, the Caroline mentioned in the lyrics is a made-up name, and the women are not high-school age, despite the film that was named after the song, causing some people to think so. "The song is about a girl who sleeps around a lot and thinks that she's popular because of it. It makes her feel empowered somehow and popular, and in fact, the people that she's sleeping with are laughing about her behind her back and talking about her," said Butler.{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/richard-butler-of-psychedelic-furs|title=Richard Butler of Psychedelic Furs|last=Wiser|first=Carl|date=July 23, 2020|website=Songfacts|access-date=26 January 2021}}
Release and reception
The original version of "Pretty in Pink" peaked at No. 43 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1981.{{cite web|title=The Psychedelic Furs - 'Pretty in Pink'|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Favourite%20Shirts%20%28Boy%20Meets%20Girl%29|access-date=26 January 2010|publisher=Official Charts Company}}
AllMusic writer Bill Janovitz credited producer Steve Lillywhite for finding "the ideal sound for the band, with a perfect blend of classic pop, punk, and art rock elements".{{cite web|last=Janovitz|first=Bill|title="Pretty in Pink" - Review|url={{AllMusic|class=song|id=t1540237|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=26 January 2010|publisher=AllMusic}}
Janovitz called it "the definitive take" of the song.
The 1986 version reached No. 18 in the UK{{cite web|title=The Psychedelic Furs - 'Pretty in Pink' (1986)|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Don%27t%20Think%20About%20It|access-date=26 January 2010|publisher=Official Charts Company}}
and narrowly missed the Top 40 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 41.{{cite magazine|title=The Psychedelic Furs - Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-psychedelic-furs/chart-history|access-date=14 November 2021|magazine=Billboard}}
Track listing
7" vinyl (1981)
- "Pretty in Pink" – 3:57
- "Mack the Knife" – 4:18
12" vinyl (1981)
- "Pretty in Pink" – 3:57
- "Mack the Knife" – 4:18
- "Soap Commercial" – 2:55
7" vinyl (1986) – UK, Japan
- "Pretty in Pink" – 3:53
- "Love My Way" (US remix) – 3:38
7" vinyl (1986) – US, Europe
- "Pretty in Pink" – 4:01
- "Pretty in Pink" (dub) – 3:21
12" vinyl (1986)
- "Pretty in Pink" – 4:01
- "Pretty in Pink" – 3:21
- "Love My Way" (US remix) – 3:38
Chart performance
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1981) !Peak |
| align="left"|UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|43 |
| Chart (1986)
!Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|UK Singles Chart
|align="center"|18 |
| US Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|41 |
| US Cash Box Top 100{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Joel Whitburn’s Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996|year=2014|publisher=Record Research Inc.|ISBN=978-0-89820-209-0}}
|align="center"|42 |
| Canada{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0685.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - June 14, 1986}}
|align="center"|61 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Psychedelic Furs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pretty In Pink (Song)}}
Category:The Psychedelic Furs songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Songs written by Tim Butler
Category:Songs written by John Ashton (musician)
Category:Songs written by Richard Butler (singer)