Better (Meghan Trainor song)
"Better" | ||||
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Single by Meghan Trainor featuring Yo Gotti | ||||
from the album Thank You | ||||
Released | August 29, 2016 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:47 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Meghan Trainor singles chronology | ||||
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Yo Gotti singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Better" on YouTube |
"Better" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter
"Better" peaked at number 35 on the US
Background and composition
Following a disagreement with label director
"Better" is a
Reception
"Better" was well received from critics. Writing for Andpop, Rebecca Matina opined that "Better" is a step in a different direction from Trainor's previous works and wrote "we’re loving the throwback-Rihanna vibes that we’re getting".[14] Alexa Camp of Slant Magazine praised the track, writing that Trainor was down-to-earth and "it feels like we’re catching a glimpse of the real Meghan".[15] Isabella Biedenharn of Entertainment Weekly called the song "woozy" and "ethereal", but added that it sounds like "a castoff from Selena Gomez’s Revival.[16]
"Better" peaked at number 35 on the US
Music video
Background and concept
On September 13, 2016, Trainor posted the first teaser of the music video for "Better" on her Instagram, followed by the second teaser on the next day.[18] On September 15, 2016, Trainor released the video, directed by Tim Mattia.[19] It featured a cameo from Beau Bridges with themes revolving around drug addiction and alcohol abuse.[20] Trainor got a temporary tattoo of scissors for her role in the video.[21]
Synopsis
The video begins with Trainor bailing her grandfather (Beau Bridges) out of a county jail. Trainor gives him a ride from the prison to a barbershop. He apologizes in the car while asking Trainor to pick up his pills from the store and Trainor admits she had already bought them to him, which he denies. The song begins as Trainor and Bridges enter the barbershop where she works as a hairdresser.[22] As the video progresses, Trainor serves customers while her grandfather deals with his substance abuse. He has a fight in a bar and faints. A bartender (Yo Gotti) calls Trainor to inform her of this. Trainor brings him back to the house where she has fights with her grandfather. Following scenes show Gotti consoling Trainor. The video ends with Bridges being arrested again and Trainor breaking down in tears. Alternatively, the video could have been a flashback with latter events leading up to the arrest at the beginning.[23]
Reception
The music video received critical acclaim. Fuse's Bianca Gracie praised Trainor for "get[ting] a little more raw and tell[ing] an important story that doesn't come off as too try-hard" and described the video as a "dramatic" short film.[24] Also believing that the video "contains a serious message", Lauren Daley of The Boston Globe noted that it is reminiscent of MTV's "'80s and '90s video heyday".[25] Allison Sadlier of Entertainment Weekly thought the video saw Trainor take an emotional journey and took the song to "new emotional heights"[26] and Sophie Schillaci of Entertainment Tonight wrote that Trainor "turn[s] up the drama".[27] Describing the video as a new style for Trainor, Much's Allison Bowsher said that she "is doing a 180, showing off her acting chops and shining light on substance abuse".[28] Digital Spy's Joe Anderton gave the video a more mixed review, writing that the concept "is great, especially considering it's a song we assumed to be about a boyfriend on first listen - but it doesn't really go far enough to make a proper impact".[29]
Live performances
Trainor performed the song on
Charts
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
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US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[32] | 35 |
US | 27 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | April 22, 2016 | Digital download | Epic | [33] |
August 29, 2016 | Hot adult contemporary
|
[4] | ||
August 30, 2016 | Contemporary hit radio | [5] | ||
Rhythmic contemporary | [6] |
References
- ^ Kennedy, Gerrick (March 4, 2016). "Ready for a different Meghan Trainor? She says she's 'intense' with new album 'Thank You'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- ^ "Better - Meghan Trainor - Song Info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ a b Blum, Sam (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Releases 'Better' Feat. Yo Gotti". Fuse. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ a b "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases - Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates - AllAccess". AllAccess Music Group. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates - AllAccess". AllAccess Music Group. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases - R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates - AllAccess". AllAccess Music Group. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ Trainor, Meghan [@Meghan_Trainor] (September 13, 2016). "Single artwork for #Better ft. @yogottikom 🌹 https://instagram.com/p/BKTsfE7hoE5/" (Tweet). Retrieved April 14, 2020 – via Twitter.
- Much. May 18, 2016. Archivedfrom the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ a b Stutz, Colin (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Asserts Herself on 'Better' With Yo Gotti". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ Lilah, Rose (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor - Better Feat. Yo Gotti [New Song]". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Conaton, Chris (May 25, 2016). "Meghan Trainor: Thank You (Deluxe Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ Roth, Madeline (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Puts Her Ex On Blast On New Yo Gotti-Featuring Track 'Better'". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- Idolator. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Matina, Rebecca (May 13, 2016). "Track By Track Review: Thank You by Meghan Trainor". Andpop. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Camp, Alexa (May 7, 2016). "Meghan Trainor: Thank You". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ Biedenharn, Isabella (May 12, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Thank You': EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. New York. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ a b "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ^ Wass, Mike (September 14, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Teases Gritty 'Better' Video". Idolator. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
- ^ "Meghan trainor premieres music video for new single 'Better' featuring Yo Gotti". Epic Records. September 15, 2016. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Kiefer, Halle (September 15, 2016). "Oh, Great, Meghan Trainor Made Her New 'Better' Music Video About the Saddest Thing in the World". Vulture. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Kowalski, Kristine Hope (September 15, 2016). "Did Meghan Trainor Get a Tattoo?". Twist. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Geffen, Sasha (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Better' Video Is A Surprisingly Dark Drama". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Penrose, Nerisha (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Deserves 'Better' in New Music Video, Feat. Yo Gotti". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Gracie, Bianca (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Better' Video Is a Dark Story of Alcohol Abuse". Fuse. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Daley, Lauren. "A conquering pop hero, Meghan Trainor brings it all back home". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Sadlier, Allison (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's Better music video features Beau Bridges". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Schillaci, Sophie (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor and Beau Bridges Are a Dysfunctional Family Duo in 'Better' Music Video". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Bowsher, Allison (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Drops Gritty Video For 'Better' Featuring Yo Gotti". Much. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Anderton, Joe (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor deals with an alcoholic grandfather in her gritty new music video for 'Better'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ Wass, Mike (August 30, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Performs 'Better' On 'Fallon'". Idolator. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ Ball-Dionne, Caila (July 23, 2016). "Meghan Trainor At L.A.'s Greek Theatre: Self Empowerment Reigns". Idolator. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
- ^ "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
- ^ "Better: Meghan Trainor feat. Yo Gotti: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.