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Beautiful Ones
View on Wikipedia| "Beautiful Ones" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Suede | ||||
| from the album Coming Up | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 14 October 1996 | |||
| Genre | Britpop | |||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | Nude | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Ed Buller | |||
| Suede singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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]
Reception and legacy
[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 The Irish Times commented, "The Suede resurrection continues apace with this second single from the band's brilliant Coming Up album [...] 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] Alex Needham of Smash Hits was mixed, giving the song a rating of two out of five. He called it: "A jovial, if hardly life-changing, bit of fluff from the nation's favourite pop spooks [...] It gains extra points for the line 'shaking their bits to the hits', but ultimately falls rather flat. The terrible truth is that Suede used to be brilliant until their old guitarist/tunesmith Bernard Butler left, and now they're just pleasantly average."[7]
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."[8] In a Clash retrospective feature on Coming Up, Ricky Jones called the single "a jangly pop masterpiece with one of the most melancholic sing-a-long choruses Britpop would ever produce."[9]
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.
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Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
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‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 14 October 1996 |
|
Nude | [24] |
| 21 October 1996 | CD2 | [25] | ||
| Japan | 20 November 1996 | CD | [26] | |
| United States | 21 July 1997 | Modern rock radio |
|
[27] |
References
[edit]- ^ Barnett, David (23 March 2010). "Trash, You & Me: The Story Of Suede's Coming Up". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Flick, Larry (2 August 1997). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- ^ Courtney, Kevin (25 October 1996). "Bohemian Rapping Fandango". The Irish Times.
- ^ Masterton, James (20 October 1996). "Week Ending October 26th 1996". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 October 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Needham, Alex (9 October 1996). "Suede: Beautiful Ones". Smash Hits. No. 466.
- ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie (11 June 2014). "The 50 Best Britpop Songs". Paste. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Jones, Ricky (6 February 2020). "With 'Coming Up' Suede Provided Britpop's Full Stop". Clash. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Beautiful Ones (UK CD1 liner notes). Nude Records. 1996. NUD 23CD1.
- ^ Beautiful Ones (UK CD2 liner notes). Nude Records. 1996. NUD 23CD2.
- ^ Beautiful Ones (UK cassette single sleeve). Nude Records. 1996. NUD 23MC.
- ^ Beautiful Ones (European CD single liner notes). Nude Records. 1996. NUD 663742 1.
- ^ Beautiful Ones (Japanese CD single liner notes). Nude Records. 1996. ESCA 6626.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 45. 9 November 1997. p. 24. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ "Suede: Beautiful Ones" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (28.11. – 04.12 '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 29 November 1996. p. 20. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 26/10/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Suede – Beautiful Ones". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 26/10/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Independent Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 November 1996. p. 31. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "British single certifications – Suede – Beautiful Ones". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 October 1996. p. 31. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 19 October 1996. p. 37.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Upcoming New Releases". Hits. Vol. 11, no. 552. 19 July 1997. p. 54.
Beautiful Ones
View on GrokipediaBackground
Writing and development
Following the departures of guitarist Bernard Butler after the recording of Suede's second album Dog Man Star in 1994 and original member Justine Frischmann earlier in the band's career, the group underwent significant lineup changes that revitalized their creative direction.[4] In 1995, 17-year-old guitarist Richard Oakes joined as Butler's replacement, bringing fresh energy to the band's sound as they prepared material for their third album, Coming Up.[4] This new configuration shifted Suede toward a more immediate, anthemic Britpop style, with Oakes' high-octane riffs helping to define tracks like "Beautiful Ones."[5] The song originated amid lingering tensions from the chaotic production of Dog Man Star, which had strained band relationships and led to Butler's abrupt exit.[4] Bassist Mat Osman, seeking to motivate the young Oakes, jokingly threatened to give him a "dead leg"—a playful British term for a painful leg punch—if he failed to deliver a potential hit single.[5] This inspired the track's original working title, "Dead Leg," under which Oakes began developing its core riff during pre-production sessions in early 1996.[4] Oakes toyed with the riff for some time, experimenting with multiple guitars to achieve its fizzy, driving quality, while the rhythm section incorporated drum machine-like beats to evoke the pulsating energy of contemporary club scenes.[5][3] Vocalist Brett Anderson then built the lyrics around Oakes' riff, drawing from the "madness" of his and his friends' marginal lives in 1990s London, aiming to create an uplifting ode to youthful excess and outsider vitality.[1] The initial demos captured this raw, high-energy essence, with the song evolving quickly into a centerpiece of Coming Up's vibrant aesthetic before formal recording began.[5] An early four-track demo, still titled "Dead Leg," preserved the track's nascent form and highlighted the new lineup's collaborative spark.[6]Recording
The recording sessions for "Beautiful Ones" formed part of the production for Suede's third studio album, Coming Up, which commenced in December 1995 at The Townhouse Studios in London and extended into early 1996 across multiple facilities, including Mayfair Studios, Westside Studios, and Master Rock Studios.[7] These sessions marked a period of renewal for the band following lineup changes, with Richard Oakes replacing Bernard Butler on guitar and Neil Codling joining as keyboardist.[7] Ed Buller served as producer and engineer, continuing his collaboration with Suede from their prior albums, assisted by engineer Gary Stout and mixer David Bascombe.[7] The core personnel included Brett Anderson on lead vocals, Richard Oakes on guitar, Mat Osman on bass guitar, Simon Gilbert on drums, and Neil Codling on keyboards and backing vocals.[7] Buller's approach prioritized a direct, high-energy sound, incorporating live-feel elements such as initial click-track demos with acoustic and 12-string guitars, alongside percussion additions like bongos and maracas played by Gilbert to infuse rhythmic vitality.[7] Technical choices emphasized layered instrumentation to evoke urgency and immediacy, including the use of an ADA Ampulator and Marshall JMP-1 preamp for guitar tones, alongside effects like the Yamaha FX-900 for tremolo.[7] For "Beautiful Ones" specifically, the track's riff-based structure centered on a hypnotic, circular guitar hook progressing through C, D7, F, and E chords, achieved via a composite of up to eight guitar tracks featuring a Fender Jaguar, Gibson 355, Fender Telecaster, and Dobro slide guitar to deliver a raw, propulsive drive.[7]Composition
Musical style
"Beautiful Ones" exemplifies a blend of Britpop and alternative rock, incorporating glam rock and post-punk influences that define Suede's evolving sound during the mid-1990s. The track's energetic, radio-friendly composition marked a shift toward more accessible pop structures on the band's third album, Coming Up, while retaining the group's signature dramatic flair. This genre fusion is evident in its polished production, which emphasizes melodic hooks and rhythmic drive over the denser arrangements of prior works.[5][8] The song operates at an upbeat tempo of 99 beats per minute, propelling its anthemic chorus into a euphoric, crowd-singalong climax that became a hallmark of Suede's live performances. Structurally, it follows a verse-chorus format, launching with a memorable intro riff crafted by guitarist Richard Oakes, who experimented with multiple guitars to achieve its bright, overdriven tone. A bridge introduces swelling keyboard elements from Neil Codling, adding textural depth before the outro fades on sustained guitar layers, creating a sense of expansive release.[9][1][8] Instrumentation centers on Oakes' jangly yet distorted guitar riffs, which provide the song's infectious backbone, complemented by Mat Osman's driving bassline that anchors the rhythm section with melodic precision. Drummer Simon Gilbert delivers propulsive beats reminiscent of a mechanized intensity, evoking the "psycho drum machine" referenced in the track's energy. Harmonically, the song is rooted in B major, featuring uplifting chord progressions—such as movements through B, D♯m, E, and C♯m—that amplify its celebratory vibe and contribute to the overall sense of exhilaration.[7][1][10]Lyrics and themes
The lyrics of "Beautiful Ones" offer a satirical snapshot of 1990s urban hedonism, cataloging the chaotic excesses of London's marginal youth culture through a series of vivid, fragmented images. Lines such as "High on diesel and gasoline / Psycho for drum machine / Shaking their bits to the hits / Drag acts, drug acts, suicides / In your dad's suits you hide / Staining his name again" evoke the frenetic energy of club scenes, raves, and nightlife, where individuals experiment with identity, substances, and self-destruction while concealing their vulnerabilities behind borrowed facades. This portrayal critiques the superficial allure of beauty and glamour, highlighting instead the gritty, flawed underbelly of hedonistic pursuits among outsiders and misfits.[11] Frontman Brett Anderson drew these themes from personal observations of his own social circle and the city's vibrant yet precarious subcultures, adopting an androgynous lens to explore ambiguous notions of love, intoxication, and nocturnal escapism. In a 2018 interview, Anderson explained that the song was intended as "a celebration of the madness of our lives," reflecting "mine and my friends' marginal lives" amid the "craziness" of 1990s London. The narrative ties into Suede's glam rock heritage, echoing the theatrical ambiguity of influences like David Bowie, but reimagined through the lens of contemporary urban alienation and fluid identities.[1] The chorus—"Oh, here they come / The beautiful ones / Loved up, Doved up, hung around / Stoned in a lonely town"—serves as an ironic anthem for these imperfect figures, bestowing a mocking grandeur on the "trash" and "litter" of society. Anderson originally titled the track "The Beautiful Scum" to emphasize its raw, unflattering edge, but revised it to "Beautiful Ones" to broaden its appeal without seeming "too marginal" or contrived, allowing the irony to underscore the song's commentary on flawed ideals of attractiveness and excess. This evolution from earlier drafts preserved the core satirical bite while enhancing its anthemic quality.[1]Release
Track listings
The "Beautiful Ones" single was released by Nude Records in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1996 in CD and cassette formats, each featuring the title track alongside exclusive B-sides not included on the parent album Coming Up. The CD releases were packaged as a gatefold set comprising two discs. No vinyl single was issued for this release.[12]UK CD1 (NUD 23CD1)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Beautiful Ones" | 3:50 |
| 2 | "Young Men" | 4:37 |
| 3 | "The Sound of the Streets" | 5:02 |
UK CD2 (NUD 23CD2)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Beautiful Ones" | 3:51 |
| 2 | "Money" | 4:06 |
| 3 | "Sam" | 3:39 |
UK cassette single (NUD 23MC)
Side one- "Beautiful Ones" – 3:50
- "By the Sea" (original demo)
- "Beautiful Ones" – 3:50
- "By the Sea" (original demo)
Release history
"Beautiful Ones" was initially released as a single on 14 October 1996 through Nude Records in the United Kingdom, serving as the second single from Suede's third studio album, Coming Up. The release was available in multiple formats, including two CD singles (CD1 in a gatefold sleeve and a limited edition CD2), cassette.[17][12] The single saw international distribution shortly thereafter, with European releases occurring in October 1996 via Nude Records in formats such as CD maxi-singles and standard CDs across various countries. In Japan, a CD single was issued the same year under Nude Records. The United States release was delayed until 1997, handled through Sony's Columbia label, primarily as promotional CDs and VHS singles rather than a full commercial rollout.[12] Following Nude Records' distribution partnership and eventual transition under Sony, the track was reissued on the 2003 compilation album Singles by Sony Music Entertainment (UK). It was later featured on the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of Coming Up, released in 2016 by Edsel Records, which included the original album tracks alongside bonus material.[18][19]| Region | Date | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 14 October 1996 | Nude Records | CD single (2 editions), cassette |
| Europe | October 1996 | Nude Records | CD single, CD maxi-single |
| Japan | 1996 | Nude Records | CD single |
| United States | 1997 | Columbia / Sony | CD promo, VHS promo |
| Worldwide (reissue) | 2003 | Sony Music | CD compilation (Singles) |
| Worldwide (reissue) | 2016 | Edsel Records | CD deluxe edition (Coming Up) |
Promotion
Music video
The music video for "Beautiful Ones" was directed by Pedro Romhanyi, who had previously helmed the band's 1993 single "Animal Nitrate".[3] Filmed in black and white, it depicts the band performing the track in a straightforward setup, intercut with brief clips of young clubgoers dancing energetically.[3] This visual approach captures the song's vibrant energy and ties briefly to its themes of youthful nightlife and abandon.[1] The production exemplified a standard 1990s music video aesthetic, emphasizing the band's polished look and live-like rendition with minimal cutaways to enhance the track's upbeat momentum.[3] According to bassist Mat Osman, "I think it’s a really typical ’90s video in that, we look good in it, we’re playing the song, there are a couple of cut-aways, and it probably cost £100,000."[1] It premiered in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1996, coinciding with the single's release via Nude Records, and later appeared in DVD compilations of the band's work.[20]Live performances
The song "Beautiful Ones" first entered Suede's live repertoire in early 1996, with the earliest recorded performance on January 27, 1996, at the Hanover Grand in London. It became a highlight during their late 1996 UK tours supporting the album Coming Up, with early setlists including it as a highlight from the record's emerging material.[21] One of the first televised performances followed shortly after, when the band appeared on the UK show TFI Friday on October 11, 1996, delivering an energetic rendition that captured the track's glam-infused pop energy.[22] In the years following its release, "Beautiful Ones" featured in varied live formats, including an acoustic version performed by Brett Anderson and Richard Oakes at a Fnac store event in Madrid, Spain, on September 30, 2002, which stripped the song to its melodic core.[23] The track returned prominently during the band's 2010 reunion, headlining a Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on March 24, where it served as a crowd-pleasing closer amid orchestral arrangements.[24] Suede continued to showcase "Beautiful Ones" in festival settings throughout the 2010s, such as at the Les Inrocks Festival in Paris on November 11, 2013, where the full band rendered it with raw intensity at La Cigale venue.[25] More recently, the song has remained a live fixture, appearing at the Flow Festival in Helsinki on August 11, 2023, emphasizing its enduring appeal in outdoor environments.[26] In 2024 and 2025, performances highlighted the track's versatility across intimate and large-scale events, including a July 10, 2024, show at Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it was played acoustically by Anderson and Oakes before transitioning to full-band energy.[27] Later that year, Suede delivered it at BBC Radio 2 in the Park on September 7, 2025, during their Takeover residency at the Southbank Centre, including a collaborative show with Paraorchestra on September 19, and during a Virgin Radio session atop The Shard (Top of the Tower) on September 2, 2025, both capturing the song's anthemic sing-along quality for broadcast audiences.[28][29][30] Throughout its live history, "Beautiful Ones" has become a setlist staple, performed 604 times since 1996 (as of November 2025), often extended with guitar solos by Richard Oakes during reunion shows and anniversary tours like the 2016–2017 Coming Up 20th anniversary run.[31]Commercial performance
Weekly charts
"Beautiful Ones" debuted at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart dated 26 October 1996, marking its peak position there. The song remained in the top 40 for three weeks, dropping to number 20 the following week and number 27 the week after, before exiting the top 40. It spent a total of 8 weeks on the chart, with re-entries in late 1996 and early 1997. In the mid-1990s, the UK Singles Chart was compiled exclusively from physical sales data reported by retailers, as digital downloads and streaming were not yet factors, and airplay was tracked separately for radio charts.[2][32] The single achieved success in several European countries. It peaked at number 6 on the Finnish Singles Chart, number 11 on the Swedish Singles Chart (Sverigetopplistan), number 1 on the Icelandic Singles Chart (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) for two weeks, number 10 on the Scottish Singles Chart, and number 56 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. In Australia, it did not enter the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. In the United States, "Beautiful Ones" received limited airplay on alternative radio stations but did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 or any main chart due to the era's focus on commercial radio formats and the lack of a major US promotional push for Suede's music.[33][34][35]| Country | Peak Position | Chart |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 8 | UK Singles Chart |
| Finland | 6 | Finnish Singles Chart |
| Iceland | 1 | Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 |
| Scotland | 10 | Scottish Singles Chart |
| Sweden | 11 | Sverigetopplistan |
| Eurochart | 56 | Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |
| Australia | — | ARIA Singles Chart (no entry) |
| United States | — | No entry (limited airplay) |
