Meaning of “Perfect Girls” by TLC
What TLC is putting forth in the song “Perfect Girls” is that in reality, there is no such thing as a girl who is perfect. What females are socialized to believe is ‘perfection’ is in fact an image and ultimately one that may prove unattainable, i.e. being more fantastical than real.
For instance, as illustrated in the second verse, a lady may ‘starve herself’ in the name of conforming to mainstream beauty standards. But doing so for instance will not going prevent the apple of her eye from checking out other women nonetheless.
So with this being TLC and all, the conclusive sentiment is that it’s a good idea to strive for inner beauty and fulfillment as opposed to endeavoring for a standard of perfection which ultimately does not equal true self-love. Or as implied in the first verse, if you view someone else as being more “perfect” than yourself, than there’s a good possibility that you’re suffering from self-esteem issues.
Release Date of “Perfect Girls”
“Perfect Girls” is a song recorded and performed by girl group TLC. The song was issued, on June 30 of 2017. It is the fifth track on the track list of the group’s self-titled album.
Credits
The track was written by TLC’s Tionne Watkins alongside American singer and songwriter Candace Wakefield.
Production of “Perfect Girls” was handled by Ayo ‘Kayo’ Watkins in collaboration with Davey Remix and Motown Washington.
Interesting Facts about “Perfect Girls”
Here are some interesting facts about the song and the album:
Crowdfunded Album: “TLC” is notable for being a crowdfunded album. The group raised money via Kickstarter and it became one of the most successful campaigns in the platform’s history, highlighting the dedication and size of TLC’s fanbase.
Long-Awaited Return: “TLC” was released nearly 15 years after their previous album, marking a significant hiatus and a long-awaited return for fans of the group.
Addressing Social Issues: “Perfect Girls” speaks to the societal pressures that women often face to adhere to particular standards of beauty and perfection. This theme is in line with some of TLC’s previous work, which often tackles social and personal issues.
Posthumous Release: The album “TLC” was released after the death of member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Her absence is felt on the album, but her spirit is honored throughout.
Video Projection: Even though Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes had passed away in 2002, TLC has occasionally used video projections of her during live performances to keep her presence alive in their shows.
Continuation of Legacy: “Perfect Girls” and the album “TLC” as a whole showed that the group did not lose its touch when it comes to blending melodic, catchy music with meaningful, impactful lyrics, maintaining their legacy as one of the best-selling American girl groups.
Even More Interesting Facts
Fan Engagement: Given that the album was crowdfunded, it showed a direct engagement and connection with the fans, and the creation of the album was very much a collaborative effort between the artists and their audience.
Independent Creation: With the help of crowdfunding, TLC was able to produce the album independently, giving them more creative control over their work.
Pop and Social Commentary: TLC has consistently demonstrated an ability to intertwine pop music with social commentary, and “Perfect Girls” continues this trend by speaking on societal expectations and self-esteem issues.
Remaining True to Their Style: Despite the long break between albums, “Perfect Girls” retains the signature TLC sound – a mix of R&B, hip-hop, and pop that fans have loved since the group’s debut.
The “TLC” Album
“Perfect Girls” was not one of the singles that accompanied “TLC”. The album, which is the group’s fifth studio project, was accompanied by three singles. “Joy Ride”, being the first single from this project, was issued on October 26 of 2016. The second single, “Haters”, was also released on the said date.
The group released TLC’s third and final single “Way Back” on April 14 of 2017.
This R&B album marked the group’s first studio project since the release of “3D”, a record they released fifteen years earlier. Unlike the group’s previous project, “TLC” did not dominate most of the album charts across the globe. However, it managed to peak at No. 38 in the United States. It also made it to No.40 in the United Kingdom.
