| Perfect | |
| Cover: | Saraevans347298.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Sara Evans |
| Album: | Restless |
| Released: | [1] |
| Recorded: | 2003 |
| Genre: | Country-pop |
| Length: |
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| Label: | RCA Nashville |
| Prev Title: | Backseat of a Greyhound Bus |
| Prev Year: | 2003 |
| Next Title: | Suds in the Bucket |
| Next Year: | 2004 |
"Perfect" is a song by American country music artist Sara Evans. The track was written by Evans, Tom Shapiro, and Tony Martin, with production provided by Evans and Paul Worley. It was released on September 1, 2003, via RCA Nashville Records as the second single from her fourth studio album Restless (2003). It peaked at number two on the US Hot Country Songs chart, becoming her fifth top-ten single.
"Perfect" is performed in the key of E major, with Evans's vocals ranging from G#3–B4.[2] Lyrically, the track speaks on how love doesn't need to be perfect in order to be great.[3]
The music video for the song, directed by Bobby G.,[4] features Evans singing the song with an old-fashioned microphone in a T-shirt and jeans, as well driving a red car through the desert. It was shot at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed in California's Mojave Desert. It was released to CMT on September 7, 2003.[5] It reached the top spot of the network's Top Twenty Countdown for the week of January 6, 2004, and was placed in heavy rotation.[6]
"Perfect" debuted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the week of September 20, 2003, becoming the highest debut of the week. By the end of 2003, the track had reached number 24. It would enter the top-ten of the chart the week of February 21, 2004, at number ten. That week also featured Terri Clark's "I Wanna Do It All" (no. 4) and Martina McBride's "In My Daughter's Eyes" (no. 7), making it the first time since November 3, 2001 that three solo female artists were simultaneously in the top ten; that week featured singles by McBride, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and Reba McEntire in the top-ten. "Perfect" would reach a peak position of number two on the chart on April 3, 2004 behind Kenny Chesney's "When the Sun Goes Down", making it the highest charting single by a solo female artist since Terri Clark's "I Just Wanna Be Mad" also stopped at the runner up spot on February 22, 2003.[7] It spent 33 weeks in total on the chart, Evans's fourth longest run. In February 2004, the song would receive a Spin Award from Broadcast Data Systems for 50,000 confirmed plays.[8] It would receive another Spin Award in May 2004, this time for 100,000 confirmed plays.[9]
| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Country Top 30 (Radio & Records)[10] | 16 | |
| US Country Top 50 (Radio & Records)[11] | 5 |
| Chart (2004) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[12] | 17 | |
| US Country (Radio & Records)[13] | 17 |