"Weak in the Presence of Beauty" is a song written by Michael Ward and Rob Clarke which was first released by their band, Floy Joy

Floy Joy (band)

Floy Joy was a Synthpop band formed in Sheffield which recorded two albums and had minor success with a small few singles.-History:The band formed in 1983, consisting of Elana Harris, Michael Ward and Shaun Ward. This line-up released only one single that year titled "Answer Through Me", produced...

, in 1986. The song was later covered by singer Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...

 in 1987 and became a hit for her.

Floy Joy version

"Weak in the Presence of Beauty" was the first single for Floy Joy's

Floy Joy (band)

Floy Joy was a Synthpop band formed in Sheffield which recorded two albums and had minor success with a small few singles.-History:The band formed in 1983, consisting of Elana Harris, Michael Ward and Shaun Ward. This line-up released only one single that year titled "Answer Through Me", produced...

 second and last album of the same name

Weak in the Presence of Beauty (album)

Weak in the Presence of Beauty was the second and last album by synth-pop band Floy Joy. It was released in 1986. The album featured the minor hit, Weak in the Presence of Beauty....

. The track wasn't a huge hit in the UK, only peaking at #85. The previous debut album featured vocals by Carroll Thompson

Carroll Thompson

Carroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...

 whereas this single and album featured Desy Campbell.

Track listing

7" single

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" – 3:24
2. "You And Me" – 3:07

12" single

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty (Extended version)" – 5:12
2. "You And Me" – 3:07

Chart performance

Chart (1986)	Peak position	Total weeks
Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart	14	5
Canadian Singles Chart	68	5
UK Singles Chart	85	3

Alison Moyet version

"Weak in the Presence of Beauty" is the first 1987 single released by Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...

 from her second studio album Raindancing

Raindancing

Raindancing is the title of the second solo music recording/album of singer/songwriter Alison Moyet. The album includes four single releases; "Is This Love?" , "Weak in the Presence of Beauty", "Ordinary Girl" and "Sleep Like Breathing", a duet with David Freeman of the band The Lover Speaks...

. Unlike the original version, this cover became a huge hit throughout Europe.

Today, Moyet states the song was only recorded as she knew it would be a hit single, she isn't fond of the song at all.

Track listings

7" single

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" - 3:37
2. "To Work on You" - 4:13

12" single #1

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty (Extended remix)" – 6:04
2. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty (Single version)" - 3:37
3. "To Work on You" - 4:13

12" single #2

1. "Weak in the Presence of Beauty (Extended remix)" – 6:04
2. "To Work on You" - 4:13
3. "Take My Imagination To Bed" - 3:41

Chart performance

Chart (1987)	Peak position	Total weeks
Belgian Singles Chart	16	7
Dutch Singles Chart	25	11
French Singles Chart	9	?
German Singles Chart	18	14
Irish Singles Chart	4	6
Italian Singles Chart	33	?
New Zealand Singles Chart	7	10
Norwegian Singles Chart	4	6
Swiss Singles Chart	23	6
UK Singles Chart	6	10

Other versions

The American band Eddie and the Tide

Eddie & the Tide

Eddie & the Tide were an American band started by Steve "Eddie" Rice in 1983. They continued to play the San Francisco Bay Area from 1983 to 1990. They released five albums and one EP...

released a version on their 1987 album "Looking For Adventure".