The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (Prince song)

"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"
"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"
Song
B-side	"Beautiful"; "Beautiful" (Extended Club Mix by Simon Harris) (UK 12"); "Beautiful Beats" (UK 12")

"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" is the lead single from both Prince's 1994 The Beautiful Experience and 1995's album The Gold Experience. It was his first release since changing his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol. With the consent of Prince's usual record distributor Warner Bros. Records, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" was released by NPG Records and Edel Music, and independently distributed by Bellmark Records, under the control and guidance of Music of Life, as a one off single.

The single was released in February 1994 in the United Kingdom, and remains Prince's only number one single in the UK Singles Chart,^[1] and was shortly followed by an EP of remixes titled The Beautiful Experience that also charted on #18 in the chart in the United Kingdom. The version that was released on The Gold Experience is a different mix of the song.

Development

The original track is a slow-grooving ballad that serenades a beautiful woman. The song was played during the Miss USA pageant in 1994, but not in full. It was widely advertised in news and trade magazines that a new song from Prince would be premiered at the pageant. The ads had Prince sitting in a chair with a hat pulled down over his face, and Garcia standing next to his chair. The song was officially released on February 24, 1994. It later appeared on The Gold Experience.

The version on The Gold Experience is remixed. The drums are more crisp in the mix, and there are slight instrumental changes. There are also added sound effects and instrumental breaks in the second version. The bridge is slightly more robust as well. The song is still based in light guitar, keyboards and live drums. Although most of the song is sung in falsetto with Prince reaching some extremely high notes, the bridge has him using his regular voice as well as a lower baritone range in parts.^{[citation needed]}

The song was a worldwide hit and established Prince's ability to succeed commercially under his new name, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the RIAA and sold 700,000 copies domestically.^[2]^[3]

It became his first and only United Kingdom No. 1 single under any name as a performer.^[1] He did have two other United Kingdom number ones as a songwriter: the 1984 hit single "I Feel for You" covered by Chaka Khan and Sinéad O'Connor's 1990 cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U". The song was his last top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 during his lifetime. Prince danced to his own song "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" after the World Music Awards at an after show event with Kylie Minogue in 1994.

Track listings

Single

"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (single edit) – 4:06
"Beautiful" (single edit) – 3:54

United Kingdom 12"

"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" – 4:07
"Beautiful" – 3:57
"Beautiful" (extended club mix by Simon Harris) – 6:25

Charts

Chart (1994–95)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[4]	1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[5]	5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[6]	4
Canadian Singles Chart	6
France (SNEP)^[7]	5
Invalid chart entered Germany2	9
Irish Singles Chart	4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[9]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[10]	4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[11]	13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[12]	1
UK Singles (OCC)^[13]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[14]	3
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)^[15]	2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[16]	3
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)^[17]	3

Mayte version

Mayte Garcia later recorded her own version called "The Most Beautiful Boy in the World" when she and Prince were married. The song appears on her album Child of the Sun. It has the same instrumental backing track with extra reverb, and her vocals, with a few slight ad-lib changes. It was released by NPG Records.

Cover versions

In 1998, rapper Raheem the Dream sampled the song to make his own track, "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"
In 2003, pianist Alex Bugnon covered the song on his album Southern Living^[18]^[19]
In 2013, artist Bruno Mars covered the song during The Moonshine Jungle Tour

Bibliography

Uptown: The Vault – The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince: Nilsen Publishing 2004, ISBN 91-631-5482-X

References

^ ^a ^b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 565. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ "American certifications – Prince – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ "Best-Selling Records of 1994". Billboard. 107 (3). BPI Communications: 57. January 21, 1995. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". VG-lista. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
^ "Prince – Chart History: The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ "Prince – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ "Prince – Chart History: Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ "Prince – Chart History: Rhythmic Top 40". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
^ "Southern Living". Narada.com. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
^ "Southern Living Alex Bugnon". JazzTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-31.

Preceded by "Everything Changes" by Take That	UK Singles Chart number-one single April 17, 1994 – April 30, 1994	Succeeded by "The Real Thing" by Tony Di Bart
Preceded by "The Sign" by Ace of Base	Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single May 29, 1994 – June 11, 1994	Succeeded by "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-1] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 565. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[2] "American certifications – Prince – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Recording Industry Association of America.

[3] "Best-Selling Records of 1994". Billboard. 107 (3). BPI Communications: 57. January 21, 1995. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.

[sc_Australia_The_Symbol-4] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Austria_The_Symbol-5] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Flanders_The_Symbol-6] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_France_The_Symbol-7] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Symbol-8] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_New_Zealand_The_Symbol-9] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Norway_The_Symbol-10] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". VG-lista. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Sweden_The_Symbol-11] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_Switzerland_The_Symbol-12] "The Symbol – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Prince-13] "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2016.

[14] "Prince – Chart History: The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.

[15] "Prince – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.

[16] "Prince – Chart History: Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.

[17] "Prince – Chart History: Rhythmic Top 40". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2014.

[18] "Southern Living". Narada.com. Retrieved 2014-03-31.

[19] "Southern Living Alex Bugnon". JazzTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-31.

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v t e Prince singles
1970s	"Soft and Wet" "Just as Long as We're Together" "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
1980s	"Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" "Still Waiting" "Sexy Dancer" "Uptown" "Dirty Mind" "Do It All Night" "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" "Controversy" "Let's Work" "Do Me, Baby" "1999" "Little Red Corvette" "Delirious" "Let's Pretend We're Married" "When Doves Cry" "Let's Go Crazy" "Purple Rain" "I Would Die 4 U" "Take Me with U" "Paisley Park" "Raspberry Beret" "Pop Life" "America" "Kiss" "Mountains" "Anotherloverholenyohead" "Girls & Boys" "Sign "O" the Times" "If I Was Your Girlfriend" "U Got the Look" "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" "Alphabet St." "Glam Slam" "I Wish U Heaven" "Batdance" "Partyman" "The Arms of Orion" "Scandalous!"
1990s	"The Future" "Thieves in the Temple" "New Power Generation" "Gett Off" "Cream" "Diamonds and Pearls" "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" "Insatiable" "Thunder" "Sexy MF" "My Name Is Prince" "7" "Damn U" "The Morning Papers" "Pink Cashmere" "Nothing Compares 2 U" "Peach" "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" "Letitgo" "Space" "Purple Medley" "I Hate U" "Gold" "Dinner with Delores" "Betcha by Golly Wow!" "The Holy River" "The Truth" "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold"
2000s	"U Make My Sun Shine" (with Angie Stone) "When Will We B Paid?" (with Audio Stepchild) "Supercute" "The Work, pt. 1" "Days of Wild" "Controversy (Live in Hawaii)" "Musicology" "Cinnamon Girl" "S.S.T." "Te Amo Corazón" "Black Sweat" "Fury" "Guitar" "F.U.N.K." "Dance 4 Me"
2010s	"Rocknroll Loveaffair" "Breakfast Can Wait" "Fallinlove2nite" "Breakdown" "This Could B Us" "Free Urself"
Promotional singles	"When You Were Mine" "Erotic City" "Nothing Compares 2 U" "Love Sign" (with Nona Gaye) "Somebody's Somebody" "It's About That Walk" "Call My Name" "The Song of the Heart"
Internet downloads	"Guitar (original "demo" version)"
New Power Generation	"Get Wild" "The War" "Come On"
EPs	The Beautiful Experience NYC 1999: The New Master
Other songs	"I Feel for You" "Partyup" "Private Joy" "International Lover" "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" "The Beautiful Ones" "Computer Blue" "Darling Nikki" "Baby I'm a Star" "17 Days" "Around the World in a Day" "Sometimes It Snows in April" "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" "Starfish and Coffee" "Adore" "Don't Talk 2 Strangers" "I Can't Make U Love Me" "La, La, La Means I Love U" "One of Us" "Everyday Is a Winding Road" "A Case of U" "Crimson and Clover" "Moonbeam Levels"