"Pretty Hurts" is the first track of Beyoncé's self-titled fifth studio album, released as a single on June 10, 2014. The song was written by Sia, Beyoncé and Ammo, with production from the latter two.
Background[]
"Pretty Hurts" was initially written by Sia as a demo for Katy Perry, and then offered to Rihanna; both artists failed to record the track and as a result it was sent to Beyoncé instead. The song's subject matter deals with beauty standards, pageants, disordered eating and body image.
On December 31, 2024, Sia's demo version of Pretty Hurts leaked on YouTube. [1]
Critical response[]
The song garnered mostly positive reviews from music critics who commended Beyoncé's vocal performance and the track's lyrical content. "Pretty Hurts" won in the category for Best Song with a Social Message at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards and was named the best track of 2014 by the Associated Press.
Music video[]
The music video for "Pretty Hurts" was directed by Melina Matsoukas, and features Beyoncé competing in a beauty pageant. The video was made available at iTunes Stores as part of the album's release on December 13, 2013. The video was positively reviewed by critics who complimented Beyoncé's acting and the cohesion between the clip and the song's message. It won in the categories for Best Video with a Message and Best Cinematography at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. Rolling Stone included the clip in their year-end list of the 10 best music videos of 2014.
The video begins with Beyoncé preparing to compete in a beauty pageant with other contestants. She is then introduced as "Miss 3rd Ward", and walks on to the stage. She starts singing the song acapella. After this introduction, the studio version of the song plays in the background while various scenes of Beyoncé changing her appearance for the beauty pageant are shown. She is shown putting on makeup, fixing her hair, weighing herself, and working out. These are shown between shots of Beyoncé and other contestants on stage. In the middle of the video, she is interviewed on the beauty pageant stage. She is asked, "What is your aspiration in life?". She replies, "Wow, that's, that's a great question. I wasn't expecting that question. What is my aspiration in life? Well, my aspiration in life would be to be happy." Scenes of Beyoncé falling into water and crying are played while she says this.
She is then shown destroying her trophies, forcing herself to vomit, getting a face lift and Botox and getting a spray tan. Beyoncé doesn't win the pageant, but claps and cheers for the crowned queen. The video ends with a film video of a TV programme. The presenter says; "The winner is Beyonce Knowles Female Pop Vocalist." Beyoncé, who is a child, says; "I would like to thank the judges for picking me, my parents who I love, I love you Houston."
Matsoukas said in a behind the scene video that "The concept behind the video is really a behind the scenes look into society's take on beauty and how it doesn't bring you happiness and it doesn't bring you forward in life and that it's really finding yourself that brings you true happiness."
Accolades[]
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | MTV Video Music Award | Best Editing | Nominated |
| Best Direction | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Won | ||
| Best Video with a Message | Won |