| "Pretty Hurts" | ||||
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| Single by Beyoncé | ||||
| from the album Beyoncé | ||||
| Released | June 10, 2014 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Composer(s) | ||||
| Lyricist(s) | Sia Furler | |||
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| Beyoncé singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Pretty Hurts" on YouTube | ||||
"Pretty Hurts" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé for her eponymous fifth studio album (2013). It impacted mainstream radio in the United States on June 10, 2014, as the fourth single from the album. The song was written by Sia, Ammo and Beyoncé and its production was handled by Beyoncé and Ammo. It is a power pop and soul ballad, instrumentally complete with a sparse background honed with the use of synths, minor chords and a "booming" drum beat. The track's lyrical content deals with subjects of third-wave feminism, self-empowerment and body image. Additionally, the song's lyrics deal with the consequences of society's high standards of beauty, and in "Pretty Hurts" eating disorders are depicted as one of the subjected results.
"Pretty Hurts" won in the category for Best Video with a Social Message at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards and was named the best track of 2014 by the Associated Press. Following the release of Beyoncé, the track charted in the lower regions internationally. It failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 63 on the UK Singles Chart. However, the song became Beyoncé's 21st number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and was placed at number four on its 2014 year-end chart.
The accompanying music video for "Pretty Hurts" was directed by Melina Matsoukas, and features the singer competing in a beauty pageant. The clip was made available at iTunes Stores as part of the album's release on December 13, 2013. It also won a category for Best Cinematography along with Best Video with a Message 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. Beyoncé performed "Pretty Hurts" during her co-headlining On the Run Tour (2014).