Pretty Vegas

"Pretty Vegas" is a song by Australian rock band INXS. It was released in September 2005 as the lead single from their 11th studio album, Switch, and the first with new Canadian lead singer J.D. Fortune, winner of the Rock Star: INXS competition.

"Pretty Vegas"
Single by INXS
from the album Switch
Released	19 September 2005 (2005-09-19)
Genre	Rock^[1]
Length	3:26
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Andrew Farriss J.D. Fortune Marty Casey Jordis Unga
Producer(s)	Guy Chambers
INXS singles chronology
"Mystify (Remix)" (2004) "Pretty Vegas" (2005) "Afterglow" (2006)

Release

"Pretty Vegas" was first released exclusively through the iTunes Store on 19 September 2005.^[2] A video for the song was released on the same day. The song debuted on the show Rock Star: INXS during the time when Fortune was vying for the lead vocalist spot in INXS. The eight contestants were challenged to write lyrics to a melody written by Andrew Farriss. They were divided into two teams of four. When Fortune did not see eye-to-eye with his team (which included runner-up Marty Casey), he decided to venture out on his own and write his own lyrics.

Chart performance

The song peaked at number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on 22 October 2005, an achievement that made the band one of a very select few from the 1980s to have a top-40 hit with a new song in the 21st century. After the release of INXS' album Switch, the single reached number seven on the Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart. The single was also somewhat of a comeback song in Australia, becoming their first ARIA top 10 single in 14 years, peaking at number nine.

The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 26 January 2006.^[3] The single was also certified gold by Music Canada on 8 March 2006 for sales of over 10,000 digital copies.^[4]

Track listings

Australian maxi-CD single^[5]

1. "Pretty Vegas" (album version) – 3:27
2. "Pretty Vegas" (live) – 4:17

Digital download^[2]

1. "Pretty Vegas" – 3:26

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[6] 9 Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)^[7] 2 Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)^[8] 3 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[9] 7 US Billboard Hot 100^[10] 37 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[11] 7

Year-end charts Chart (2006) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[12] 27

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[4]	Gold	10,000^*
United States (RIAA)^[3]	Gold	500,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	19 September 2005	Digital download	Epic	^[2]
	17 October 2005	Hot adult contemporary radio		^[13]
Australia	14 November 2005	CD		^[14]

References

1. Breihan, Tom (12 April 2021). "The Number Ones: INXS' "Need You Tonight". Stereogum. Retrieved 9 November 2023. The thoroughly generic rocker "Pretty Vegas," INXS' first single with Fortune, was actually a decent-sized hit...
2. "Pretty Vegas – Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
3. "American single certifications – INXS – Pretty Vegas". Recording Industry Association of America.
4. "Canadian single certifications – INXS – Pretty Vegas". Music Canada. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
5. Pretty Vegas (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). INXS. Epic Records. 2005. 82876 75609 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. "INXS – Pretty Vegas". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
7. "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1634. 25 November 2005. p. 48. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
8. "R&R Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1634. 25 November 2005. p. 55. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
9. "INXS – Pretty Vegas". Top 40 Singles.
10. "INXS Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
11. "INXS Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
12. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
13. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1628. 14 October 2005. p. 25. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
14. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 14th November 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 14 November 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2021.