Synopsis
Scritti Politti perform "Perfect Way" in a stylized, image-driven video that favors atmosphere over narrative. Studio footage of Green Gartside, David Gamson, and Fred Maher is combined with monochrome and color images, tight facial close-ups, electronic visual effects, and fleeting urban scenes. The quick-cut presentation mirrors the song's polished synth-funk energy, while the shifting textures and graphic treatments place the band firmly within the glossy, technologically minded visual language of mid-1980s pop.
Factoids & Trivia
- "Perfect Way" was released as a single in 1985 from the album "Cupid & Psyche 85." It became Scritti Politti's only US Top 20 hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- The video was later included in a 1986 Virgin Music Video compilation titled "Scritti Politti," which collected promotional clips connected with "Cupid & Psyche 85."
- Scritti Politti's sophisticated studio sound was difficult to reproduce onstage. The group did not perform the "Cupid & Psyche 85" material live at the time, making the studio-centered presentation especially fitting for the period.
- Miles Davis recorded an instrumental version of "Perfect Way" for his 1986 album "Tutu." His interpretation gave the composition a second notable US profile and helped establish the song beyond Scritti Politti's original recording.
- The track's blend of programmed rhythm, synthesizers, funk elements, and Green Gartside's light vocal delivery reflects the band's move from its earlier post-punk identity toward highly polished pop production.