Music Review: PJ Harvey "A Perfect Day Elise"
PJ Harvey
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
A Perfect Day Elise
Album: Is This Desire?
Year: 1998
Elise's one-night stand with Joe ends in her death in the novel "A Perfect Day Elise."
Leering drums open the single, creating a savage tone. In the first verse, Joe and Elise went to room 509 in a hotel, where they stayed to have sex. Elise, however, tells him to not to contact her again while she puts her makeup on in front of the mirror. ("He got lucky, got lucky one time/Hitting with the girl in room 509/She turned her back on him facing the frame/Said, "Listen Joe, don't you come here again.")
Joe, however, is obsessed with her and thought they had something genuine. He thought he found the right woman for him. He decides she cannot live anymore, as he sweats from his anger. He dumps her body into the sea. ("White sun scattered all over the sea/He could think of nothing but her name 'Elise'/God is the sweat running down his back/The water soaked her blonde hair black.")
In the chorus, Joe remarks to Elise (ironically) that it was a perfect day, one of the best of his life. ("It's a perfect day, a perfect day Elise.")
In the second verse, Joe has gotten a sunburn and callouses on his hand from wrapping her body up. He goes back to the hotel room, says a prayer for God to save his soul and sobs at the violent act he's done. ("He got burned by the sun (he's a lucky man)/His face so pale and his hands so worn (at the sky)/Let himself in room 509 (as she turned away)/Said a prayer, pulled the trigger and cried.")
The chorus is sung once more ("'It's a perfect day, perfect day Elise.") The leering drums continue until the end.
The murder is told in reverse which is what makes the single intriguing. When the listeners first meet Joe and Elise it's at the beginning of the story. After that, it's then told backwards.
In "A Perfect Day Elise," Joe is punishing Elise for her control of the situation and modern views. He is also ashamed for having sex. She does not believe she has to be tied to a man for life simply for sleeping with him. Joe thinks he should've been determining if she leaves his life or not. It's his decision. Elise defies him, thereby, enmasculating him. Joe must be the dominant one in the relationship, not the woman. Joe can't take the blow the ego and kills her.
Joe also has a deep-seated issue. He can't handle casual sex, again, unless he's the one in control. He feels inadequate and used, feelings he's used to giving but not receiving. Therefore, sex has become an evil thing which he must atone for. He kills her for making him have sexual urges.
Album: Is This Desire?
Year: 1998
Elise's one-night stand with Joe ends in her death in the novel "A Perfect Day Elise."
Leering drums open the single, creating a savage tone. In the first verse, Joe and Elise went to room 509 in a hotel, where they stayed to have sex. Elise, however, tells him to not to contact her again while she puts her makeup on in front of the mirror. ("He got lucky, got lucky one time/Hitting with the girl in room 509/She turned her back on him facing the frame/Said, "Listen Joe, don't you come here again.")
Joe, however, is obsessed with her and thought they had something genuine. He thought he found the right woman for him. He decides she cannot live anymore, as he sweats from his anger. He dumps her body into the sea. ("White sun scattered all over the sea/He could think of nothing but her name 'Elise'/God is the sweat running down his back/The water soaked her blonde hair black.")
In the chorus, Joe remarks to Elise (ironically) that it was a perfect day, one of the best of his life. ("It's a perfect day, a perfect day Elise.")
In the second verse, Joe has gotten a sunburn and callouses on his hand from wrapping her body up. He goes back to the hotel room, says a prayer for God to save his soul and sobs at the violent act he's done. ("He got burned by the sun (he's a lucky man)/His face so pale and his hands so worn (at the sky)/Let himself in room 509 (as she turned away)/Said a prayer, pulled the trigger and cried.")
The chorus is sung once more ("'It's a perfect day, perfect day Elise.") The leering drums continue until the end.
The murder is told in reverse which is what makes the single intriguing. When the listeners first meet Joe and Elise it's at the beginning of the story. After that, it's then told backwards.
In "A Perfect Day Elise," Joe is punishing Elise for her control of the situation and modern views. He is also ashamed for having sex. She does not believe she has to be tied to a man for life simply for sleeping with him. Joe thinks he should've been determining if she leaves his life or not. It's his decision. Elise defies him, thereby, enmasculating him. Joe must be the dominant one in the relationship, not the woman. Joe can't take the blow the ego and kills her.
Joe also has a deep-seated issue. He can't handle casual sex, again, unless he's the one in control. He feels inadequate and used, feelings he's used to giving but not receiving. Therefore, sex has become an evil thing which he must atone for. He kills her for making him have sexual urges.