By Mercy Rose.
Cover art by Feidlimid howdydoodydodis Tumblr.
Released 9/9/2019.
Duration: 3:26.

Listen on Bandcamp.

Read artist commentary.

Lyrics:

Who ever loved a not-good-enough
I never cared for ordinary
There's no special treatment for decency
Why be second best when you can be
Legendary

Not a shard out of place
No star in all of space
Can outshine me

I'm absolutely pedigree
It's no wonder what you see in me
I'm pure, I'm brilliant
I'm blinding

Let's throw a ball so you can bask in my glory
And shatter any gem that fails to adore me
You'll have to fall in line if you want to bow before me
And oh, did I mention it's positively mandatory?

Not a shard out of place
No star in all of space
Can outshine me

I'm absolutely pedigree
It's no wonder what you see in me
I'm pure, I'm brilliant
I'm blinding

My every whim is your highest priority
It's why I'm on top of the Diamond Authority
I didn't get here through favors or seniority
Simply by eradicating every last deformity

Not a shard out of place
No star in all of space
Can outshine me

I'm absolutely pedigree
It's no wonder what you see in me
I'm pure, I'm brilliant
I'm blinding

Prepare to be impressed
You're standing before the best
Why settle for less, when you can be
Perfect, when you can be
Perfect, when you can be
Perfect
I'm perfect

Artist commentary:

Mercy Rose:

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your music.

Yo! I'm Mercy Rose! I've been writing for a decade, but "I'm Perfect" is my first release in almost four years. I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this project! I have another single in the works from the perspective of an ex that really forced me to question my own intentions. It's called "wHAT i wANT." If you like "I'm Perfect," I hope you'll give it a chance!

Q: Briefly describe the process of working on your track!

It all starts with the lyrics for me. They come as naturally as breathing. From there the melody and meter flowed. I started with the orchestra and piano as the main instruments because I wanted the track to have a very dignified sound. White Diamond is a classy gem, so the lyrics have that undeniable Broadway vibe. Underlying everything is just a bit of distortion and dissonance to symbolize how even the most perfect cut of diamond has its faults.

Q: What's your favourite (official) Steven Universe song?

I WAS FINE // WITH THE MEN // WHO WOULD COME INTO HER LIFE NOW AND AGAIN...

I cry every single time I listen to It's "Over Isn't It." Pearl's story and sense of identity are all too real to me. She's absolutely one of my biggest role models.

Q: What were your favourite moments in the show?

Watching Pearl grow beyond the pain of losing the woman she thought she'd spend her life with hit painfully close to home. I recently lost the love of my life. Moving past it feels impossible. Pearl's journey is such a reality to me. She's my solid ground.

Q: Why did you decide to make a track about White Diamond?

White Diamond is the perfect example of an overbearing, controlling parent. It was too tempting to explore the psychology of that Mother-knows- best mentality that's all too familiar to me.

Q: What's your favourite thing about the track you made?

I love how White Diamond's twisted perception was met with a deceptively bright track. The nature of what she's saying betrays your instincts. I had a lot of fun exposing this concept.

Feidlimid:

Q: What's your favourite thing about your illustration and the character you drew?

I think I like how the simplicity of White Diamond can be so imposing. That character design is brilliant. On one hand, you could see a beautiful and comforting figure, but something about the starkness and the angle and the perfection itself is off-putting. And there's something about the "static" in the background when she's portrayed in the show (and in my piece) where it really hammers home that there is no "emptiness" around her, as though that negative space is really "white" noise

Q: So, what are your favourite moments in the show?

In general, I love Connie being the butt-kicking, sword-swinging heroine she is. She's smart, determined, and fierce, and I've seen a lot of myself in her. So those moments where she trains with Pearl and finds her own unique way of partnering with Steven delight me.