Perfect World (Broken Bells song)

2014 promotional single by Broken Bells

"Perfect World"

Promotional single by Broken Bells
Released| February 4, 2014 (2014-02-04)
Recorded| 2012–13
Genre| Alternative rock
Length| 6:24
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| James Mercer, Brian Burton
Producer(s)| Danger Mouse
Broken Bells singles chronology
| After the Disco
(2014)  | Perfect World
(2014)  | Leave It Alone
(2014)

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|

"Perfect World" is a song written by James Mercer and Brian Burton of the American alternative rock band Broken Bells. It was originally recorded by the band for their second studio album, After the Disco, where it appears as the opening track on the album. A "Perfect World" promotional single was released for streaming on the Australian branch of commercial music streaming service Spotify on February 4, 2014, becoming the third release by the band in promotion of After the Disco, after singles "Holding On for Life" and "After the Disco."

## Composition

[edit]

The song was written in the context of After the Disco, where most of the lyrics and music center around a common theme of the party and the morning after, usually in the form of a metaphor for a break-up in a relationship. The song's hook, which had been described by vocalist James Mercer as having a sense of "shamefulness", were the first lyrics written for the song, serving as the inspirational basis for the rest of the song's lyrics. Mercer spoke to National Public Radio, stating:

"That hook came somewhere along the line. ... I remember when it did happen, though, that it felt like, okay, well, there's like a shamelessness to it, with the keyboard sound and the real, over-the-top melody. It was like, 'So what, man?' We grew up listening to things that were big, but they were sad, too. So, it was like, well, we can be big as long as it's as sad as [our music gets]. It's just there. So we didn't really dial it back too much."[1]

## Recording

[edit]

"Perfect World" was first written and recorded well into the recording sessions for After the Disco, borrowing elements from the title track, "After the Disco", a track which they had finished working on by the time "Perfect World" had been conceived. A chord progression for the song was the first written element of the song; instruments and vocals were recorded later on. Two versions of "Perfect World" were originally created by the band; one version presenting the song as a lighter, yet fast-paced melody and one presenting it as a heavier, slower melody. The final version of the track that appears as the opening track on After the Disco features elements of both of the original versions of the track, mixing it into a single track.[1]

## Track listing

[edit]

Spotify promotional singleNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

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1.| "Perfect World"| James Mercer, Brian Burton| Burton| 6:24

## Personnel

[edit]

Adapted from After the Disco liner notes.[2]

Broken Bells

* Brian Burton – drums, organ, piano, synthesizer, percussion, bass, guitar
* James Mercer – vocals, guitar, bass, organ, synthesizer, percussion

Technical personnel

* Brian Burton – producer, programmer
* Kennie Takahashi – programmer, mixing, recording, engineer
* Todd Monfalcone – recording
* Jacob Dennis – assistant mixing, assistant engineer
* Michele Harrison – management
* Chris Kahn – assistant mixing, assistant engineer
* Stephen Marcussen – mastering
* Todd Monfalcone – mixing, second engineer
* Ian Montone – management
* Geoff Neal – assistant mixing
* Amy Schmalz – management
* Laura Sisk – second engineer

## Release history

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Country  | Date  | Format  | Label

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Australia[3] | February 4, 2014  | Stream | Columbia Records

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Boilen, Bob. "Broken Bells Shares New Song, Accidentally Channels Bee Gees". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
2. ^ After the Disco (album liner notes). Broken Bells. Columbia Records. 2014.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. ^ "Perfect World by Broken Bells". Spotify. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.

* v
* t
* e

Broken Bells

* Brian Burton
* James Mercer

Studio albums|

* Broken Bells
* After the Disco
* Into the Blue

Extended plays|

* Meyrin Fields

Singles|

* "The High Road"
* "Holding On for Life"
* "After the Disco"
* "Perfect World"
* "Leave It Alone"

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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