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Unpretty

{{Short description|1999 single by TLC}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Unpretty

| cover = tlc-unpretty.jpg

| alt = The three members are standing in front of a multi-colored wall, with thick black horizontal lines covering their bodies. The song title is positioned above them, while the group logo is positioned underneath.

| caption = CD single green cover

| type = single

| artist = TLC

| album = FanMail

| released = {{start date|1999|5|17}}

| recorded =

| studio = D.A.R.P., Bosstown (Atlanta, Georgia)

| genre =

| length =

  • 4:38 (album version)
  • 4:08 (radio version)

| label =

| writer =

| producer = Dallas Austin

| prev_title = No Scrubs

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Dear Lie

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|g2gy1Evb1Kg|"Unpretty"}}}}

}}

"Unpretty" is a song by American group TLC, released on May 17, 1999, through LaFace and Arista Records as the second single from the band's third studio album, FanMail. It was written by Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and producer Dallas Austin. Watkins had written a poem to express her disgust over an episode of Ricki Lake, and Austin helped her adapt it into the song.

"Unpretty" was the album's second song to top the US Billboard Hot 100, which it did for three weeks. The song topped the chart in Iceland and peaked in the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. An accompanying music video was directed by Paul Hunter, which depicts the band situated in three separate storylines. The song was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Background and composition

Watkins was in the hospital when she conceived the idea of "Unpretty" after watching an episode of American talk show Ricki Lake, in which the men on the show called women "fat pigs". She wrote the song out as a poem and gave it to Austin to record in the booth. Austin wanted to incorporate TLC's music into a folk and alternative rock sound. He wrote "Unpretty" as an "acoustic-driven pop song" in order for people to conceive TLC as an established group.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8499567/tlc-fanmail-interview-20th-anniversary-dallas-austin|title=TLC's 'FanMail' Turns 20: A Track-By-Track Retrospective With the Girl Group and Behind-the-Scenes Collaborators|magazine=Billboard|last=Gracie|first=Bianca|date=February 22, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223013401/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8499567/tlc-fanmail-interview-20th-anniversary-dallas-austin|archive-date=February 23, 2019|url-status=live}} Stacy Lambe of VH1 described the song as having an "alternative rock vibe".{{cite web|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/d5rn5t/behind-the-song-tlc-waterfalls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516162250/https://www.vh1.com/news/d5rn5t/behind-the-song-tlc-waterfalls|url-status=live|archive-date=May 16, 2022|title=Behind The Song: TLC's 'Waterfalls' + 'No Scrubs' + 'Unpretty'|last=Lambe|first=Stacy|publisher=VH1|date=October 23, 2013|access-date=November 6, 2017}}

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, spending three weeks atop the chart. It was the second consecutive number-one single from the album, following "No Scrubs". It would also be the group's fourth and final number one on the chart, alongside being their last single to enter the top-ten. Worldwide, the song reached number one in Iceland for a week and peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.

It was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/grammy.noms.01/list.html|title=42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations|publisher=CNN|date=January 4, 2000|access-date=March 15, 2021}}

Music video

=Background=

Paul Hunter directed the music video for "Unpretty", which was filmed in June 1999 in Valencia, California, and cost over $1.6 million in production.{{cite web|url=https://www.finance101.com/most-expensive-music-videos/|title=The jaw-dropping price tag of the most expensive music videos|last=Corkery|first=Emily|website=Finance 101|date=October 14, 2019|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626180514/https://www.finance101.com/most-expensive-music-videos/|url-status=dead}} A shortened edit of the video was created, which was released to an all-ages audience (as "Children's Version"),{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=289882|title=TLC (UK) Unpretty - Childrens Version UK Promo video (VHS or PAL or NTSC) (289882)|work=eil.com}} that removes the solo storylines of both Watkins and bandmate Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, as some of the scenes were deemed as too explicit.

=Synopsis=

The video begins with the TLC members entering a meditation hut. As the three women begin to meditate, a probe camera is released to record images of struggles in daily life, which ties together vignettes of several different stories relating to the song's lyrics. Several shots of TLC meditating and in a pink and purple field of flowers are shown intermittently throughout the video.

The main set of vignettes features a young woman, portrayed by band member Chilli, and an overweight teenager (played by actress Tamika Katon-Donegal).{{cite web|url=http://www.sag.org/iactor/tamikakaton-donegal.pdf|title=Tamika Katon-Donegal|publisher=SAG-AFTRA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052803/http://www.sag.org/iactor/tamikakaton-donegal.pdf|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{Better source needed|reason=Reliable secondary source needed|date=December 2021}} Chilli's boyfriend convinces her to get breast implants to augment her modest bust. However, after she sees another patient in the hospital (played by singer Jade Villalon) getting her implants painfully removed, the woman flees the hospital in fear, and is later shown fighting with her boyfriend when she catches him reading magazines of busty women. The other girl is worried about fitting the "ideal" image of the petite supermodel and struggling with bulimia as a result. Near the end of the video, however, she tears down the unrealistic images of models that she has tacked on her wall and changes into a bathing suit.

Another vignette features Watkins as a high school student who is harassed by two white kids because she is a girl, only to be saved by her teacher, who sends the white kids away and retrieves her stuff for her. The last vignette features Lopes as an inner-city woman who plays her verse from "I'm Good at Being Bad" to her friend in her car.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} They come across a city gang, who are approached by a rival gang who begin to threaten them. The two gangs start fighting, which becomes so violent that knives and guns are involved and Lopes and her friend duck for cover as her car window is damaged. When the fight subsides, Lopes leaves the car to assist the remaining injured and barely conscious survivors. One of the survivors has been mortally wounded due to being stabbed in the heart, so Lopes applies pressure on his chest to stop the bleeding and prays as they wait for the police to arrive. Lopes also appears in the "Unpretty" performance shots reciting the song lyrics in American Sign Language.{{cite web|url=https://psmag.com/social-justice/no-scrubs-the-enduring-awesomeness-of-tlc|title=How TLC Changed Everything|last=Tensley|first=Brandon|website=Pacific Standard|date=May 30, 2017|access-date=June 13, 2022|quote=... she also taught me the sign language that Left Eye uses in the "Unpretty" music video, because naturally she had learned it.}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • US CD and cassette single (green cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records|id=73008-24424-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=LaFace Records|id=73008-24424-4}}
  1. "Unpretty" (album version) – 4:38
  2. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix) – 4:25
  • US 12-inch maxi single (green cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=US 12" single|publisher=LaFace Records|id=73008-24425-1}}
  1. "Unpretty" (radio version) – 4:01
  2. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix) – 4:26
  3. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix a cappella) – 4:26
  4. "Unpretty" (Pumpin' Dolls club mix) – 8:59
  5. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix w/ rap) – 4:26
  • European CD single (green cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Arista Records, LaFace Records, Bertelsmann Music Group|id=74321 68254 2}}
  1. "Unpretty" (radio version) – 4:05
  2. "Unpretty" (M. J. Cole remix—vox up) – 4:46
  • UK CD single 1 (green cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Arista Records, LaFace Records, Bertelsmann Music Group|id=74321 69584 2}}
  1. "Unpretty" (radio version) – 4:08
  2. "No Scrubs" (radio version w/ rap) – 4:06
  3. "Diggin' on You" (radio version) – 4:13
  • UK CD single 2 (blue cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Arista Records, LaFace Records, Bertelsmann Music Group|id=74321 69585 2}}
  1. "Unpretty" (radio version) – 4:08
  2. "Unpretty" (M. J. Cole remix—vox up) – 4:48
  3. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix) – 4:25

{{col-2}}

  • European and Australian CD maxi single 1 (green cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=European CD maxi single 1 liner notes|publisher=Arista Records, LaFace Records, Bertelsmann Music Group|id=74321 68253 2}}
  1. "Unpretty" (radio version) – 4:05
  2. "Unpretty" (album version) - 4:38
  3. "Unpretty" (M. J. Cole remix—vox up) – 4:46
  4. "Unpretty" (M. J. Cole remix—budd dub) – 5:36
  5. "Unpretty" (instrumental) - 4:43
  • European and Australian maxi single 2 (blue cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=European CD maxi single 2 liner notes|publisher=Arista Records, LaFace Records, Bertelsmann Music Group|id=74321 70204 2}}
  1. "Unpretty" (radio version) – 4:01
  2. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix w/o rap) – 4:26
  3. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix w/ rap) – 4:26
  4. "Unpretty" (Pumpin' Dolls radio mix) – 4:03
  5. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix—Big Boyz dub mix) – 5:00
  6. "Unpretty" (Pumpin' Dolls club mix) – 8:59
  • German maxi single (blue cover){{cite AV media notes|title=Unpretty|others=TLC|year=1999|type=German maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Arista Records, LaFace Records, Bertelsmann Music Group|id=74321 70209 2}}
  1. "Unpretty" (radio version) – 4:01
  2. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix w/o rap) – 4:26
  3. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix w/ rap) – 4:26
  4. "Unpretty" (Pumpin' Dolls radio mix) – 4:03
  5. "Unpretty" ("Don't Look Any Further" remix—Big Boyz dub mix) – 5:00
  6. "Unpretty" (Pumpin' Dolls club mix) – 8:59
  7. "Unpretty" (Amber Remix)" - 4:36

{{col-end}}

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Unpretty" adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/unpretty-mw0000937055/credits|title=Fanmail – TLC > Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 17, 2019}}

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

  • Sharliss Asbury – A&R
  • Dallas Austin – arranger, composer, executive producer, producer
  • Leslie Brathwaite - engineer
  • MJ Cole – producer, remixing
  • Regina Davenport – A&R
  • Jonathan Donker – engineer, mixing, producer, remixing
  • Kenneth Edmonds – executive producer
  • Dennis Edwards – composer
  • Franne Golde – composer
  • Duane Hitchings - composer
  • Ty Hudson – assistant
  • Debra Killings – bass, vocals (background)
  • Tom Knight – drums
  • Mike "Mad" Lewin – engineer, mixing, producer, remixing

{{col-2}}

  • Andrew Lyn – remix assistant
  • Carlton Lynn – engineer
  • Tomi Martin – guitar
  • Vernon Mungo – assistant
  • Charlie O'Brien – creative coordinator
  • Herb Powers – mastering
  • Kawan "KP" Prather – A&R
  • L.A. Reid – executive producer
  • Rick Sheppard – design
  • Alvin Speights – mixing
  • TLC – creative concept, executive producer, primary artist
  • Candy Tookes – A&R
  • D.L. Warfield – art direction, design
  • Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins – composer

{{Col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Unpretty"

! scope="col"| Chart (1999)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|3|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Austria|24|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Flanders|13|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|30|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|3|chartid=7284|rowheader=true|access-date=June 24, 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|12|chartid=7842|rowheader=true|access-date=June 24, 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadadance|3|chartid=9973|rowheader=true|access-date=June 24, 2019}}
scope="row"|Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407221908/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|archivedate=April 7, 2005|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/1999.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 1999|website=Cross Canada Countdown|accessdate=November 13, 2023}}

| style="text-align:center"|6

scope="row"|Croatia (HRT){{cite web|url=http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/lista.html|title=HR Top 20 Lista|publisher=Croatian Radiotelevision|access-date=February 14, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991021223259/http://www.hrt.hr:80/hr/top20/lista.html|archive-date=October 21, 1999}}

|8

scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-10-09.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=41|page=10|date=October 9, 1999|access-date=June 22, 2018}}

|9

{{single chart|Finland|12|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|France|32|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Germany|16|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|songid=3991|rowheader=true|access-date=May 17, 2019}}
scope="row"| Hungary (Mahasz){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-11-20.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=47|page=19|date=November 20, 1999|access-date=March 3, 2020}}

|8

scope="row"| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 20){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2989983#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (23.9 – 30.9 1999)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=10|date=September 24, 1999|access-date=October 5, 2019}}

|1

{{single chart|Ireland2|4|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=March 24, 2018}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-10-09.pdf|title=Hits of the World – Italy|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=41|page=72|date=October 9, 1999|access-date=June 4, 2020}}

|20

{{single chart|Dutch40|6|year=1999|week=36|rowheader=true|access-date=March 24, 2018}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|8|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|3|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Norway|10|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
scope="row"|Poland (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-09-04.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay – Week 36/1999|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=36|page=19|date=September 4, 1999|access-date=February 16, 2023}}

|14

{{single chart|Scotland|11|date=19990828|rowheader=true|access-date=June 24, 2019}}
{{single chart|Spain|20|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=March 24, 2018}}
{{single chart|Sweden|8|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|9|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|UK|6|date=19990828|rowheader=true|access-date=June 24, 2019}}
scope="row"| UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf#page=53|title=Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=January 22, 2000|access-date=April 24, 2022}}

|1

{{single chart|UKrandb|1|date=19990828|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013|refname="Hot100"}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|18|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=September 1, 2021}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|4|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|3|artist=TLC|song=Unpretty|rowheader=true|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|10|artist=TLC|rowheader=true|access-date=March 24, 2018}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Unpretty" in 1999

! scope="col"| Chart (1999)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-1999.htm|title=ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1999|publisher=ARIA}}

|37

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1999|title=Jaaroverzichten 1999|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=June 24, 2019}}

|97

scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9952&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9952.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9952|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=June 24, 2019}}

|22

scope="row"| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9964&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9964.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9964|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=June 24, 2019}}

|79

scope="row"| Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9962&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9962.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9962|title=RPM 1999 Top 50 Dance Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=June 24, 2019}}

|33

scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-01-01.pdf|title=Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999|magazine=Music & Media|volume=17|issue=1|page=11|date=January 1, 2000|access-date=February 7, 2020}}

|62

scope="row"| Germany (Media Control){{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1999|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=April 21, 2018}}

|96

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1999|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1999|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 16, 2020}}

|33

scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1999&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=June 24, 2019}}

|95

scope="row"| New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1999-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 1999|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=February 7, 2020}}

|11

scope="row"| Romania (Romanian Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html|title=Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999|language=ro|publisher=Romanian Top 100|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050122081829/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html|archive-date=January 22, 2005|access-date=April 27, 2020}}

|29

scope="row"| Sweden (Hitlistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1999&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1999|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=March 3, 2020}}

|50

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100|magazine=Music Week|location=London, England|page=27|date=January 22, 2000}}

|85

scope="row"| UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf#page=53|title=Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=January 22, 2000|access-date=April 24, 2022}}

|14

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1999|access-date=August 28, 2010|archive-date=November 10, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095342/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999|url-status=dead}}

|20

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=52|page=YE-57|date=December 25, 1999}}

|57

scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=54|date=December 24, 1999|access-date=March 28, 2020}}

|17

scope="row"| US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1999/BBAM-1999-12-24.pdf|title=Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=53|date=December 24, 1999|access-date=March 28, 2020}}

|24

=Decade-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Decade-end chart performance for "Unpretty" from 1990 to 1999

! scope="col"| Chart (1990–1999)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite book|author=Geoff Mayfield|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA4|title=1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s|publisher=Billboard|date=December 25, 1999|access-date=October 15, 2010}}

|76

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Unpretty"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=June 5, 2015}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=TLC|title=Unpretty|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1999|id=1999-12-10|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1999}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=TLC|title=Unpretty|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=2000|access-date=March 21, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=TLC|title=Unpretty|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1999|certyear=2013|id=10083-157-1|access-date=March 6, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=TLC|title=Unpretty|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=July 13, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Unpretty"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label(s)

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"| United States

| May 17, 1999

| Urban contemporary radio

| rowspan="5"| {{hlist|LaFace|Arista}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite magazine|title=AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1299|page=60|date=May 14, 1999}}

June 1, 1999

| Rhythmic contemporary radio

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite magazine |date=May 21, 1999 |title=Crossover Nation: New Releases - Going For Adds 5/24 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hits/90s/1999/Hits-1999-05-21.pdf |magazine=Hits |page=67 |via=World Radio History |accessdate=November 25, 2024}}

July 27, 1999

| Urban adult contemporary radio

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite magazine|title=Urban AC: Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1309|page=112|date=July 23, 1999}}

scope="row"| Sweden

| August 2, 1999

| CD single

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=http://click2music.se/product.asp?prd=249&art=31|title=TLC: Unpretty|website=click2music.se|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050222020953/http://click2music.se/product.asp?prd=249&art=31|archive-date=February 22, 2005|access-date=November 30, 2023}}

scope="row"| United States

| August 10, 1999

| rowspan="2"| {{hlist|12-inch single|CD single|cassette single}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=https://wemissmusic.com/2021/08/10/tlcs-unpretty/|title=22nd Anniversary of TLC's 'Unpretty'|publisher=We Miss Music|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=November 6, 2021}}

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| August 16, 1999

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite magazine|title=Urban AC: Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1309|page=112|date=July 23, 1999}}

scope="row"| France

| September 21, 1999

| CD single

| {{hlist|Arista|BMG }}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=https://www.fnac.com/a769190/TLC-Unpretty-CD-single|title=Unpretty TLC (Interprète) CD single|publisher=Fnac|language=fr|location=France|date=September 21, 1999|access-date=June 13, 2022}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{TLC songs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1999 singles

Category:TLC (group) songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Iceland

Category:Music videos directed by Paul Hunter (director)

Category:Songs based on poems

Category:Songs written by Dallas Austin

Category:Songs written by Tionne Watkins

Category:Song recordings produced by Dallas Austin

Category:Songs with feminist themes

Category:Songs about consumerism

Category:Body image in popular culture

Category:1998 songs

Category:LaFace Records singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:1990s ballads

Category:American pop rock songs

Category:Ugliness