Lead singer Richard Butler said "Pretty in Pink" is about two women he knew while living in Muswell Hill in north London.

"The song is about a girl who sleeps around a lot and thinks that she's popular because of it.

It makes her feel empowered somehow and popular, and in fact, the people that she's sleeping with are laughing about her behind her back and talking about her," said Butler.

[6] AllMusic writer Bill Janovitz credited producer Steve Lillywhite for finding "the ideal sound for the band, with a perfect blend of classic pop, punk, and art rock elements".

18 in the UK[8] and narrowly missed the Top 40 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No.