Perfect Day (Lou Reed song)
| "Perfect Day" | ||||
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| Single by Lou Reed | ||||
| from the album Transformer | ||||
| A-side | "Walk on the Wild Side" | |||
| Released | 17 November 1972 | |||
| Recorded | 31 August 1972 at Trident Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:46 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Writer(s) | Lou Reed | |||
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| Lou Reed singles chronology | ||||
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| "Perfect Day" | |
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| Single by Various artists | |
| Released | November 17, 1997 |
| Format | CD single |
| Recorded | 1997 |
| Length | 3:46 |
| Label | Chrysalis, BBC |
| Writer(s) | Lou Reed |
| Producer(s) | The Music Sculptors, Mark Sayer-Wade & Tolga Kashif & Simon Hanhart |
| "Perfect Day" | ||||
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| Single by Duran Duran | ||||
| from the album Thank You | ||||
| B-side | "The Needle and the Damage Done", "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)" | |||
| Released | March 13, 1995 | |||
| Length | 3:53 | |||
| Label | EMI, Capitol – DD 20 | |||
| Writer(s) | Lou Reed | |||
| Producer(s) | Duran Duran | |||
| Duran Duran singles chronology | ||||
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| "Perfect Day" | ||||
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| Single by Susan Boyle | ||||
| from the album The Gift | ||||
| Released | 8 November 2010 | |||
| Length | 4:31 | |||
| Label | Syco/Columbia Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Lou Reed | |||
| Producer(s) | Steve Mac | |||
| Susan Boyle singles chronology | ||||
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"Perfect Day" is a song written by Lou Reed in 1972, originally featured on Transformer, Reed's second post-Velvet Underground solo album, and as a double A-side with his major hit, "Walk on the Wild Side". Its fame was given a boost in the 1990s when it was featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting, and after a star-studded version was released as a BBC charity single in 1997, that became the UK's number one single for three weeks. Reed re-recorded the song for his 2003 album The Raven.
A version by Duran Duran reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart in 1995.
The original recording, like the rest of the Transformer album, was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson (who also wrote the string arrangement and played piano on the track).
The song begins in its verse, which is a progression of major triads in descending perfect fifths, starting however on a minor triad. The song then explodes into the chorus, which is written in the parallel major key to the verse.
The song has a sombre vocal delivery and slow, piano-based instrumental backing balancing tones of sweet nostalgia ("it's such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you"). It was written after Reed and his then fiancée (later his first wife), Bettye Kronstad, spent a day in Central Park.
The song's lyrics are often considered to suggest simple, conventional romantic devotion, possibly alluding to Reed's relationship with Bettye Kronstad and Reed's own conflicts with his sexuality, drug use, and ego.
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