The Perfect Kiss

1985 single by New Order

"The Perfect Kiss"

Single by New Order

from the album Low-Life

B-side

"The Kiss of Death"
"Perfect Pit"

Released

13 May 1985

Recorded

1984

Genre

Synth-pop^[1]
disco^[2]^[3]

Length

4:48 (Album version)
8:46 (Full version)

Label

Factory - FAC 123

Songwriter(s)

Gillian Gilbert
Peter Hook
Stephen Morris
Bernard Sumner^[4]

Producer(s)

New Order

New Order singles chronology

"Murder"
(1984)

"The Perfect Kiss"
(1985)

"Sub-culture"
(1985)

"The Perfect Kiss" is the ninth single by the English alternative dance and rock band New Order. It was recorded at Britannia Row Studios in London and released on 13 May 1985.^[5] It is the first New Order song to be released as a single while also included on a studio album (Low-Life). The vinyl version has Factory catalogue number FAC 123 and the video has the opposite number, FAC 321.

Background

The song's themes include love ("We believe in a land of love") and death ("the perfect kiss is the kiss of death").^[6] The overall meaning of the song is unclear to its writer today. In an interview with GQ magazine Bernard Sumner said "I haven't a clue what this is about." He agreed with the interviewer that his best known lyric is in the song: "Pretending not to see his gun / I said, 'Let's go out and have some fun'". The lyrics, he added, came about after the band was visiting a man's house in the United States who showed his guns under his bed before they went out for an enjoyable night. It had been quickly written, recorded and mixed without sleep before the band went on tour in Australia.^[7]

The song has been remixed by third parties like Razormaid and Hot Tracks and has been covered by bands including Capsule Giants, Nude,^[8] International,^[9] Paradoxx, Razed in a New Division of Agony, and Amoeba Crunch.^[10]

Reception

John Leland of Spin wrote, "A dreamy, melancholy melody runs over the electronic and unfortunately guitar-less hooks. But the best part is the end, when they turn all the machines to max and mash the thing up."^[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner

12": FAC 123 (UK) / Qwest 9 20330-0 (US) / FACX 23 (CA)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Perfect Kiss"	8:46
2.	"The Kiss of Death"	7:02
3.	"Perfect Pit"	1:24

12" promo: PRO-A-2342 (US)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Perfect Kiss (Single Edit)"	4:23
2.	"The Perfect Kiss (Live Version From The Perfect Kiss Video)"	5:18

7": FAC 123 (UK)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Perfect Kiss"	3:51
2.	"The Kiss of Death"	3:01

7": 9 28968-7 (US) / FAC 23 (CA)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Perfect Kiss"	4:23
2.	"The Perfect Kiss (Instrumental)"	5:09

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "The Perfect Kiss"
Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[12]	85
Ireland (IRMA)^[13]	15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[14] with "The Kiss of Death"	2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	10
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	46
UK Indie (MRIB)^[17]	1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[18]	5
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[19]	5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "The Perfect Kiss"
Chart (1985)	Position
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[20]	47
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[20]	37

References

^ Sheffield, Rob (11 March 2016). "New Order Play With Their Pleasure Zones in Joyous New York City Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ Shade, Chris (2016). "New Order - Low-Life". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 541.
^ "Dreams Never End". Uncut. 1 January 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ ASCAP entry
^ Gale, Lee (2012-03-29). "GQ&A: BERNARD SUMNER". New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved 2017-01-31. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
^ Lariviere, Aaron (2013-01-25). "The 10 Best New Order Songs". New York City: Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved 2017-01-31. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
^ Gale, Lee (2012-03-29). "GQ&A: BERNARD SUMNER". New York City: Condé Nast. Retrieved 2017-01-31. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
^ "neworderonline.com". Retrieved 2007-10-17., song browser entry for "The Perfect Kiss"
^ "neworderonline.com". Retrieved 2007-10-17., band bio for International
^ "amoebacrunch.com". The Perfect Kiss. Archived from the original on 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
^ John Leland (August 1985). "Singles". Spin. No. 4. p. 36.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 215. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Perfect Kiss". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 29, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
^ "New Order – The Perfect Kiss". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
^ "New Order: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
^ Lazell, Barry (1997). "New Order". Indie Hits 1980–1989: The Complete U.K. Independent Charts (Singles & Albums). Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-95172-069-4. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^ "New Order Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
^ "New Order Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b "1985 The Year in Music & Video – Top Dance Sales Singles/Albums / Top Dance Club Play Singles/Albums". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. 28 December 1985. p. T-23. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.