Sometimes I have very practical, and selfish, reasons for picking a particular Song of the Day. Today’s selection is a fine example.
When I add new photos to the blog, the upload screen displays the most recent 28 additions. I have set a goal to always have a photo of Beyoncé among those 28. This week, the only remaining Beyoncé picture fell out of the mix. By presenting this song, and photo, I keep Ms. Knowles up front for at least another four weeks.
‘Pretty Hurts’ is the opening track from Beyoncé’s self-titled album. It’s kind of funny that the first words spoken on that surprise record come from Harvey Keitel.
The video does a nice job showing the cost of a culture of perfection, both personally and societally.
Harvey Keitel: Ms. Third Ward, your first question — what is your aspiration in life?
Beyoncé: Oh, my aspiration in life would be to be happy
[Verse 1]
Mama said, you’re a pretty girl
What’s in your head it doesn’t matter
Brush your hair, fix your teeth
What you wear is all that matters
[Pre-Hook]
Just another stage
Pageant the pain away
This time I’m gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down
[Hook]
Pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever’s worse
Perfection is the disease of a nation
Pretty hurts, pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever’s worse
Tryna fix something
But you can’t fix what you can’t see
It’s my soul that needs the surgery
[Verse 2]
Blonder hair, flat chest
TV says bigger is better
South beach, sugar free
Vogue says thinner is better
[Pre-Hook + Hook]
[Bridge]
Ain’t got no doctor or pill that can take the pain away
The pain’s inside
And nobody frees you from your body
It’s the soul, its the that needs surgery
It’s the soul that needs surgery
Plastic smiles and denial can only take you so far
Then you break when the fake facade leaves you in the dark
You left a shattered mirror
And the shards of a beautiful girl
[Hook]
[Outro]
When you’re alone all by yourself
And you’re lying in your bed
Reflection stares right into you
Are you happy with yourself?
You snipped away the masquerade
The illusion has been shed
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Yes
Meet Me In Montauk 
I like this song and the video is well done. I assume the album version doesn’t include the first minute or so of this video but jumps in at the question?
You assume correctly.
I believe I read that today was her birthday 🙂
great lyrics and video