Perfect (Simple Plan song)

"Perfect" is the fourth and final single released from Canadian rock band Simple Plan's debut album, No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002). It became a top-40 hit in the band's native Canada as well as in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The single's B-side, "Happy Together", is a cover of the 1967 Turtles song.

"Perfect"
Single by Simple Plan
from the album No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls
B-side	"Happy Together"
Released	August 25, 2003 (2003-08-25)
Genre	Emo[1][2]
Length	4:37
Label	Lava
Songwriter(s)	Arnold Lanni Simple Plan
Producer(s)	Arnold Lanni
Simple Plan singles chronology
"Addicted" (2003) "Perfect" (2003) "Don't Wanna Think About You" (2004)

Background and composition

"Perfect" was written by the band with music composer Arnold Lanni. Regarding the lyric "Hey dad, look at me" and "I'm sorry I can't be perfect". Drummer Chuck Comeau stated that this song "is his idea", to tell his parents that he is not perfect, he cannot be perfect because Comeau's parents were not supportive of his career choice, so in the song Comeau tells that he made it and he is not perfect and he cannot be perfect.^[3] Bassist and backing vocalist David Desrosiers also stated that this song was "about him" before he starts an acoustic version of the song. In another song of Simple Plan titled "Problem Child" (also sequel-alike for Perfect) from their fifth studio album Taking One for the Team (2016), Comeau stated that "Problem Child" is "a part 2 of Perfect". Comeau also stated that this song is about his brother who supports him in his music career.^[4]

Chart performance

"Perfect" became Simple Plan's biggest hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 24.^[5] It was also a top-10 hit in Australia, peaking at number six,^[6] and reached number 14 in New Zealand.^[7] In 2005, the song become band's first top-10 single on the Canadian Singles Chart, peaking at number five.^[8]

Music video

In the music video of the single, directed by Liz Friedlander, the band are playing on the roof of a house. Throughout the video, it shows how teens are trying to escape such pressure by letting everything out and realizing that they cannot keep their pain in any longer.

Track listing

Standard CD single^[9][10][11]

1. "Perfect" (radio version)
2. "Perfect" (acoustic)
3. "Happy Together"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003–2005) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[6] 6 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[8] 5 Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[12] 13 Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[13] 28 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 14 US Billboard Hot 100[5] 24 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[14] 24 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[15] 5

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position Australia (ARIA)[16] 32 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[17] 80 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 29

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[19]	Platinum	70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[20]	Gold	15,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	August 25, 2003	Contemporary hit radio	Lava	[22]
	November 10, 2003	Hot adult contemporary radio		[23]
Australia	April 5, 2004	CD		[24]