Perfect Gentleman (Wyclef Jean song)

"Perfect Gentleman"
Single by Wyclef Jean
from the album The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book
Released30 January 2001 (2001-01-30)
StudioThe Hit Factory (New York City)
Genre
Length4:09
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Wyclef Jean
  • Jerry "Wonder" Duplessis
Wyclef Jean singles chronology
"911"
(2000) 		"Perfect Gentleman"
(2001) 		"Wish You Were Here"
(2001)

"Perfect Gentleman" is the third single released from Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean's second studio album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book. It features a guest verse by rapper and co-writer Hope Harris. The song cites Chris Rock's spoken-word piece "No Sex (In the Champagne Room)".

"Perfect Gentleman" was released in the United States on 30 January 2001 and reached number 21 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart; it failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, the song peaked within the top 10 in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, the song was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Perfect Gentleman" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart. In 2013, the song re-appeared on the chart at number 70.[2] In December 2017, the single was certified platinum by the BPI, denoting sales and streams of 600,000 units in Britain.[3] The song is certified gold in Sweden, where it reached number four as well.[4][5]

Music video

The music video was shot in Washington, D.C., and features a scene outside The White House. The video shows Wyclef Jean in a large ballroom, performing the song to the crowd. It later features Jean as a college dean, outlining his plans for being the Perfect Gentleman. One of the songwriters, Harry Tait, makes a guest appearance in the video.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are taken from The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book album booklet.[12]

Studios

Personnel

  • Wyclef Jean – writing, vocals, production
  • Jerry "Wonder" Duplessis – writing (as Jerry Duplessis), production
  • Hope Harris – writing, vocals
  • Joe Di Marco – additional background vocals
  • Farel Sedeck Guerschom Jean – co-production
  • Andy Grassi – recording, mixing, mastering
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Serge "Sergical" Tsai – mastering

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Sweden (GLF)[4] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[3] Platinum 600,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 30 January 2001 Rhythmic contemporary radio Columbia [37]
27 March 2001 Urban radio [38]
United Kingdom 9 July 2001
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [39]
Australia 29 October 2001 CD [11]

Cover versions

"Perfect Gentleman" was covered by the reggae rock band Slightly Stoopid on their 2003 LP Everything You Need. Harry Tait also covered this on his acoustic album named All the Things I Love and More, which debuted at number 99 on the UK Albums Chart.

References

  1. ^ "Wyclef Jean: The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book". The A.V. Club. 25 July 2000.
  2. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ a b "British single certifications – Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  6. ^ Perfect Gentleman (UK CD single liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records. 2001. 671052 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Perfect Gentleman (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records. 2001. 671052 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Perfect Gentleman (UK cassette single sleeve). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records. 2001. 671052 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Perfect Gentleman (European CD single liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 671052 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Perfect Gentleman (Australian CD single liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records. 2001. 671052.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 29 Oct 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 29 October 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  12. ^ The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (US CD album booklet). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records. 2000. CK 62180.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Issue 610" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman". Tracklisten. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 31. 28 July 2001. p. 7. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Perfect Gentleman". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  22. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  23. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  24. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman". VG-lista. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Perfect Gentleman". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  29. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001" (in German). Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. 22 December 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  32. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  33. ^ "Ireland – Top Singles for 2001". Allcharts. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  34. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  35. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  36. ^ "Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. 21 December 2001. p. 48.
  37. ^ "CHR/Rhythmic: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1386. 26 January 2001. p. 54. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  38. ^ "AddVance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1394. 23 March 2001. p. 60. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  39. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 9, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 July 2001. p. 25. Retrieved 14 August 2021.