Beautiful Ones

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This article is about the Suede single. For the song by Prince and the Revolution, see The Beautiful Ones.
"Beautiful Ones"
Single by Suede
from the album Coming Up
B-side
  • "Young Men"
  • "Sound of the Streets"
  • "Money"
  • "Sam"
  • "By the Sea" (demo)
Released14 October 1996 (1996-10-14)
GenreBritpop
Length3:50
LabelNude
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ed Buller
Suede singles chronology
"Trash"
(1996) 		"Beautiful Ones"
(1996) 		"Saturday Night"
(1997)

"Beautiful Ones" is a song by English rock band Suede, released as the second single from their third album, Coming Up (1996), on 14 October 1996 through Nude Records. The song became a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number eight, and reached number one in Iceland for two weeks.

Background[edit]

Featuring one of new guitarist Richard Oakes' first guitar riffs, "Beautiful Ones" became one of Suede's more popular singles. The song was originally titled "Dead Leg" after bassist Mat Osman jokingly threatened to give Oakes a dead leg if he was unable to write a top ten single.[1] The song charted at number eight on the UK Singles Chart in October 1996, in an era when the top 10 consisted of an eclectic mix of pop, indie and dance music.[2]

Critical reception[edit]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Like a fast-mangled Oasis song, The London Suede succeeded in making sounds of pop/rock that are definitely unique. The painfully true lyrics and vibrant sounds have already proved to be a hit in the U.K."[3] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times commented, "The Suede resurrection continues apace with this second single from the band's brilliant Coming Up album, a flamboyant parade of sleazebags and lowlifes, "high on diesel and gasoline". Sounds just like my kinda people. Richard Oakes's crispy guitar intro sets the sordid scene, and Brett takes up the trashy torch with bum slapping gusto. As immediate and invigorating as, well, a good sniff of premium unleaded."[4] Music writer James Masterton said in his weekly UK chart commentary, that the band’s follow up to "Trash" "hits similar heights with a rather fine catchy melody that is by no means instant but gradually works its way into your consciousness with repeated listens."[5] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding that "the familiar strains of Brett Anderson ride over this strong single".[6]

In 2014, Paste listed the song at number 34 in its list of "The 50 Best Britpop Songs". Michael Danaher wrote: "The song is both simple and sophisticated, and it's a true Britpop gem that deserves much attention."[7]

Music video[edit]

The music video for the song was directed by Pedro Romhanyi, who had previously made the video for the band's third single, "Animal Nitrate" in early 1993. The video features the band shot in black and white performing the song, intercut with quick edits of conceptual segments illustrating the song's lyrics in a literal fashion.

Track listings[edit]

All songs were written by Brett Anderson and Richard Oakes except where noted.

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 14 October 1996
  • CD1
  • cassette
 Nude [21]
21 October 1996 CD2 [22]
Japan 20 November 1996 CD [23]
United States 21 July 1997 Modern rock radio
[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Barnett, David (23 March 2010). "Trash, You & Me: The Story Of Suede's Coming Up". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  2. ^ Myers, Justin (20 October 2016). "Flashback to 1996: Spice Girls hit Number 1 with Say You'll Be There". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (2 August 1997). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  4. ^ Courtney, Kevin (25 October 1996). "Bohemian Rapping Fandango". Irish Times.
  5. ^ Masterton, James (20 October 1996). "Week Ending October 26th 1996". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 October 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  7. ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie (11 June 2014). "The 50 Best Britpop Songs". Paste. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  8. ^ Beautiful Ones (UK CD1 liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 23CD1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Beautiful Ones (UK CD2 liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 23CD2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Beautiful Ones (UK cassette single sleeve). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 23MC.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Beautiful Ones (European CD single liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. NUD 663742 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Beautiful Ones (Japanese CD single liner notes). Suede. Nude Records. 1996. ESCA 6626.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 45. 9 November 1997. p. 24. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Suede: Beautiful Ones" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (28.11. – 04.12 '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 29 November 1996. p. 20. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Suede – Beautiful Ones". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  20. ^ "British single certifications – Suede – Beautiful Ones". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  21. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 October 1996. p. 31. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  22. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 19 October 1996. p. 37.
  23. ^ "ビューティフル・ワンズ | スウェード" [Beautiful Ones | Suede] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Upcoming New Releases". Hits. Vol. 11, no. 552. 19 July 1997. p. 54.
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