Unpretty
Encyclopedia
"Unpretty" is a 1999
single recorded by TLC
. Produced by Dallas Austin
and co-written by Austin and TLC group member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins
. "Unpretty" was the second single released from FanMail
. It became the group's fourth U.S. number one single on the Billboard Hot 100
spending three weeks atop the chart, and their second Billboard number one single in a row from the album, following "No Scrubs
". It was also their ninth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for Song of the Year
and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas sing lead on the song, with backing vocals by Watkins and Debra Killings
. A remixed version, sampling Dennis Edwards
& Siedah Garrett
's "Don't Look Any Further", was produced by JayDee of 1208Ent. & "Mad" Mike Lewin. Some versions of the remix feature a rap by TLC member Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes. "Unpretty" was later covered by La Musique Populaire
for their 2004 boxed set
A Century of Song
.
In 2011, the song was covered by the hit television series Glee
featuring Dianna Agron
and Lea Michele
(as Quinn Fabray
and Rachel Berry, respectively) in a mashup
with the song "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story
in the episode "Born This Way
".
directed the music video
for "Unpretty" in August 1999, which tied together vignettes of several different stories relating to the song's lyrics. The main set of vignettes features a young woman (portrayed by Thomas
) whose boyfriend convinces her to get breast implants to augment her small bust. However, after she sees another patient in the hospital (cameo by Jade Valerie) getting her implants painfully removed, the woman flees the hospital in fear, and is later shown hitting her boyfriend.
Another prominent set of vignettes features Lopes as an inner-city woman who witnesses a gang fight and a murder. Several of Lopes' scenes are set to her verse from "I'm Good at Being Bad
" (another track on FanMail) instead of "Unpretty" (Lopes appears in the "Unpretty" performance shots reciting the song lyrics in sign language
).
Other vignettes feature a full-figured teenager worried about fitting the "ideal" image of the petite supermodel and struggling with a bulimia as a result. Near the end of the video, however, she tears down the unrealistic images of models that she has tacked on her wall, a sign that she may be starting to embrace her own natural body shape. One last set of vignettes features Watkins as a high school student who is harassed by two white males because she is black.
The video has become a fan favorite because it is the last successful video featuring all three members of TLC before the death of Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes
(The last video, however, was "Dear Lie
"). The music video for "Unpretty" cost over $1.6 million to make, making it one of the most expensive music videos ever made.
1999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
single recorded by TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
. Produced by Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim...
and co-written by Austin and TLC group member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins
Tionne Watkins
Tionne Tenese Watkins better known by her stage name T-Boz, is a four-time Grammy Award–winning American singer, actress, author, and executive producer who rose to fame as the lead singer and one-third of the R&B/hip-hop girl group TLC.-Early life:Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins was born in Des Moines,...
. "Unpretty" was the second single released from FanMail
FanMail
FanMail is the third studio album by American girl group trio TLC, released on February 23, 1999. As with previous album CrazySexyCool , the group re-teamed with Dallas Austin, Babyface, and Jermaine Dupri on the album's production and the album features the computer voice female named Vic-E .The...
. It became the group's fourth U.S. number one single on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
spending three weeks atop the chart, and their second Billboard number one single in a row from the album, following "No Scrubs
No Scrubs
"No Scrubs" is a 1999 song recorded by R&B girl groupTLC for their album FanMail. Released as the album's first single, "No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single and eighth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned them their second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year...
". It was also their ninth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for Song of the Year
Song of the Year
Song of the Year may refer to:* Dove Award for Song of the Year* Grammis Song of the Year* Grammy Award for Song of the Year* Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year* Singing News Fan Awards for Song of the Year...
and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Song Information
"Unpretty" originated from a poem of the same name written by Watkins, which dealt with a woman's struggle with her self-image. The poem also addressed the comparisons many females make between themselves and the sometimes unrealistic concepts of beauty, as it is commonly portrayed in the media. Upon reading the poem, TLC producer Dallas Austin helped Watkins adapt the poem into a song, which TLC recorded as an empowering song for their mostly female fan base to overcome feelings of physical inadequacy.Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas sing lead on the song, with backing vocals by Watkins and Debra Killings
Debra Killings
Debra Killings is an American singer and bass guitarist; notable for an extensive session and background vocal work for LaFace Records & Rowdy Records-based artists such as TLC, Monica and OutKast....
. A remixed version, sampling Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
& Siedah Garrett
Siedah Garrett
Siedah Garrett is an American songwriter and singer.-Biography:She appeared as a contestant on Password Plus in 1980.She performed "One Man Woman" on Quincy Jones' Grammy-Award winning "Back on the Block."...
's "Don't Look Any Further", was produced by JayDee of 1208Ent. & "Mad" Mike Lewin. Some versions of the remix feature a rap by TLC member Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes. "Unpretty" was later covered by La Musique Populaire
La Musique Populaire
La Musique Populaire is an American indie pop band.Members Ryan Bassler and Eric Haugen formed a band called Lorenzo Music in 1992, but faced with legal action from the actor of the same name they changed it to La Musique Populaire, more commonly shortened to LMP.Likened to Ween, The Raspberries...
for their 2004 boxed set
Boxed set
A box set is a compilation of various musical recordings, films, television programs, or other collection of related items that are contained in a box.-Music box sets:...
A Century of Song
A Century of Song
- Disc Two 1923-1939 :- Disc Three 1940-1959 :- Disc Four 1960-1981 :- Disc Five 1981-2000 :- Disc Six 'holus-bolus' :...
.
In 2011, the song was covered by the hit television series Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
featuring Dianna Agron
Dianna Agron
Dianna Agron is an American actress, best known for her portrayal of Quinn Fabray on the television series Glee.-Early life:Dianna Agron was born in Savannah, Georgia, and raised in San Antonio, Texas and San Francisco, California. She is the daughter of Mary and Ronald S. Agron, a general...
and Lea Michele
Lea Michele
Lea Michele Sarfati , known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working professionally as a child actress on Broadway in productions such as Ragtime and Les Misérables. She originated the role of Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and currently plays...
(as Quinn Fabray
Quinn Fabray
Quinn Fabray is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actress Dianna Agron, and has appeared in Glee since its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. She is a former cheerleader at the fictional William McKinley High School in...
and Rachel Berry, respectively) in a mashup
Mashup (music)
A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
with the song "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story
West Side Story
West Side Story is an American musical with a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins...
in the episode "Born This Way
Born This Way (Glee)
"Born This Way" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the American television series Glee, and the 40th episode overall. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on April 26, 2011. The episode was written by Brad Falchuk and directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and is a tribute to...
".
CD-Singles
- US CD Single (Green Cover)
- Unpretty (AlbumFanMailFanMail is the third studio album by American girl group trio TLC, released on February 23, 1999. As with previous album CrazySexyCool , the group re-teamed with Dallas Austin, Babyface, and Jermaine Dupri on the album's production and the album features the computer voice female named Vic-E .The...
Version) - 4:38 - Unpretty ("Don't Look Any Further" Remix) - 4:25
- UK CD 1 of 2 (Green Cover)
- Unpretty (Radio Version) - 4:08
- No ScrubsNo Scrubs"No Scrubs" is a 1999 song recorded by R&B girl groupTLC for their album FanMail. Released as the album's first single, "No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single and eighth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned them their second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year...
(Radio Version) - 4:06 - Diggin' On YouDiggin' on You"Diggin' on You" is TLC's fourth and final single from their second album, CrazySexyCool. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming the group's seventh top 10 single. It also peaked at #7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The music video is for "L.A.'s Live Remix" instead of the...
(Radio Version) - 4:14
- UK CD 2 of 2 (Blue Cover)
- Unpretty (Radio Version) - 4:08
- Unpretty (M. J. Cole Remix) [Vox Up] - 4:48
- Unpretty ("Don't Look Any Further" Remix) - 4:25
- International Remix EP (Blue Cover)
- Unpretty (Radio Version) - 4:01
- Unpretty ("Don't Look Any Further" Remix) - 4:26
- Unpretty ("Don't Look Any Further" Remix w/ Rap) - 4:27
- Unpretty (Pumpin' Dolls Radio Mix) - 4:03
- Unpretty ("Don't Look Any Further" Remix) [Big Boyz Dub Mix] - 5:00
- Unpretty (Pumpin' Dolls Club Mix) - 8:59
- German CD Single (Green Cover)
- Unpretty (Radio Version) - 4:09
- Unpretty (Album Version) - 4:38
- Unpretty (M. J. Cole Remix) [Vox Up] - 4:48
- Unpretty (M. J. Cole Remix) [Budd Dub] - 5:35
- Unpretty (Instrumental) - 4:41
Music video
Paul HunterPaul Hunter (director)
Paul Hunter is a music video director known for his high-budget, visually distinctive videos for popular music singles. He has directed over 100 music videos, many television advertisements and was nominated for an Emmy for Nike's Freestyle commercial...
directed the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Unpretty" in August 1999, which tied together vignettes of several different stories relating to the song's lyrics. The main set of vignettes features a young woman (portrayed by Thomas
Rozonda Thomas
Rozonda Ocelean Thomas , best known by her stage name Chilli, is a four-time Grammy Award–winning American R&B singer and actress who rose to fame as one third of the successful R&B/Hip-Hop/Pop girl group TLC.-Early life:...
) whose boyfriend convinces her to get breast implants to augment her small bust. However, after she sees another patient in the hospital (cameo by Jade Valerie) getting her implants painfully removed, the woman flees the hospital in fear, and is later shown hitting her boyfriend.
Another prominent set of vignettes features Lopes as an inner-city woman who witnesses a gang fight and a murder. Several of Lopes' scenes are set to her verse from "I'm Good at Being Bad
I'm Good at Being Bad
"I'm Good at Being Bad" is a song recorded by R&B girl group TLC for their third album, Fanmail. The track was inspired by and is similar to the song "What About..." which is featured on Janet Jackson's controversial 1997 album, The Velvet Rope. The song was released unofficially as the second...
" (another track on FanMail) instead of "Unpretty" (Lopes appears in the "Unpretty" performance shots reciting the song lyrics in sign language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
).
Other vignettes feature a full-figured teenager worried about fitting the "ideal" image of the petite supermodel and struggling with a bulimia as a result. Near the end of the video, however, she tears down the unrealistic images of models that she has tacked on her wall, a sign that she may be starting to embrace her own natural body shape. One last set of vignettes features Watkins as a high school student who is harassed by two white males because she is black.
The video has become a fan favorite because it is the last successful video featuring all three members of TLC before the death of Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes
Lisa Lopes
Lisa Nicole Lopes better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer, dancer, actress, television host, and songwriter...
(The last video, however, was "Dear Lie
Dear Lie
"Dear Lie" is a R&B ballad written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Tionne Watkins for TLC's third studio album FanMail . It was produced by Babyface and released as the album's third single on November 30, 1999...
"). The music video for "Unpretty" cost over $1.6 million to make, making it one of the most expensive music videos ever made.
Charts
"Unpretty" spent three weeks at the top of the U.S. pop chart and was TLC's final number-one single. In the UK, it was TLC's final top 10 hit.Peak positions
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart | 3 |
| Austria | 24 |
| Finland | 12 |
| France | 32 |
| The Netherlands | 8 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 3 |
| Sweden | 8 |
| Switzerland | 9 |
| UK Singles Chart | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks | 4 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
End of decade charts
| Chart (1990-1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 76 |