Better Place (Rachel Platten song)
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"Better Place" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter
"Better Place" divided
Background and recording
I wrote the song at "a tiny little place on 17th and there was a beautiful tree outside the window ... The sunlight would always look really golden and it would make me feel really hopeful about the day, even though things in my life weren't going great."
—Platten talks about the writing process with
Platten's concept for "Better Place" developed following a phone call from her sister, Melanie, who announced her engagement to her then-boyfriend.[3][4] She went on to describe it as one of her favorite tracks on the album, along with it being one of the easiest to write.[5] Specifically, the singer wanted to display how her sister was longing for love and did not want to remain single.[4][6] An editor on the singer's official website wrote that "Better Place" should serve as "the wedding song" of 2015.[7]
Composition and lyrics
Markos Papadatos from Digital Journal described the track as "an ethereal ballad",
Platten opens the song by singing the line, "I'll tell the world / I'll sing a song".[16] She continues by a couple's mutual love for each other, "I see the whole world in your eyes / It's like I've known you all my life / We just feel so right".[17] Platten stated that the song's lyrics revolve around finding positivity and optimism in everyday situations.[2]
Critical reception
"Better Place" received a mixed to positive response from music critics. Maura Johnston from The Boston Globe enjoyed "Better Place" and found it to be among the best on Wildfire. She claimed it "show[s] how Platten's songwriting skills can be used to tease out emotional subtleties."[18] Papadatos, writing for Digital Journal, claimed that the track should "be enjoyed for its beauty and simplicity",[12] while Clint Rhodes of The Herald-Standard declared it a "Well-crafted arrangement" that "give[s] prominence to the depth and genuineness of Platten's heartfelt messages disguised as delicious samples of pop delight".[19] The Red and Black's Korstanje gave an extended opinion of this track and "Superman" while reviewing Wildfire and wrote: "These songs showcase Platten's technically imperfect, occasionally shaky vocals flawlessly, somehow working in her favor rather than harming her status as a singer/songwriter."[13] Adam R. Holz, the founder of Plugged In, declared that the track was capable of bringing out an "aww" from the listener.[17]
However, Tony Clayton-Lea, an editor for
Chart performance
On the
Music video
A lyrical music video was released to Platten's Vevo account on April 21, 2016.[27] The official video was directed by Matthew Stawski and produced by Austin Barbera, Missy Galanida, and Isaac Rice, with cameo appearances by Liev Schreiber, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Garner, Steve Buscemi and Bryce Dallas Howard.[28] It opens with an annotation reading, "For her 'Better Place' music video, Rachel wanted to conduct a social experiment with her fans". The singer is then shown walking around a couch before sitting down and turning on a nearby radio. After she departs the room, various couples and individuals are then welcomed into the room where they take a seat and listen to the song. All of the persons eventually grasps each other's hands or embrace. Towards the end of the song, Platten surprises the guests and greets them. Shortly after this, the screen fades to black.
Platten dedicated the visual to her music teacher in elementary school, Anne Scigliano. The singer spoke about Scigliano: "[she] gave me my first starring role in a play, and inspired me, and made me love the stage."[29] The singer also commented regarding the filming shoot, "The entire day was such a love fest, casting actual fans to participate in this shoot really brought the concept to life. Surprising and singing along with them was just the icing on the cake. Every time I watch it I still get the feels!"[3] The video for "Better Place" premiered on her Vevo account on May 9, 2016.[28] It was released as a paid download in the United States on the following day.[30] Emilee Linder from Fuse reacted positively to it, finding it to be inspiring and full of "syrupy goodness".[31]
Live performances
Platten performed the song live during a number of public appearances, including on the July 1, 2016 episode of the
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Wildfire.[8]
- Rachel Platten – vocals, writer
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Simon Huber – cello
- electric keyboards, piano, bass
- Sally Seltmann – writer
- Jon Sosin – guitar
- Joe Zook – mixing
Charts
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Russia Airplay ( Tophit)[26]
|
227 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[33] | 21 |
US | 41 |
References
- ^ "Microsoft invites you to create a better world". Microsoft. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ AXS. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ Idolator. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ a b c Goins, Alexa (August 29, 2016). "Rachel Platten inspires a generation in Indy". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Wass, Mike (April 13, 2016). "Rachel Platten On 'The Wildfire Tour,' Fame & Next Single "Better Place"". Idolator. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ Cappadona, Bryanna (June 1, 2016). "How growing up near Boston inspired Rachel Platten's music". Boston.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ "Rachel Platten: Biography". Rachel Platten. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ a b Wildfire (Media notes). Rachel Platten. Columbia. 2016. 88875187532.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Watt, David. "New Single: "Better Place" by Rachel Platten". All Noise. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- Amazon.com(US). December 18, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ "Top 40 Hot/Modern/AC > Future Releases". All Access. March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ a b Papadatos, Markos (December 31, 2015). "Review: Rachel Platten amazing on new 'Wildfire' studio album". Digital Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ The Red and Black. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ Sculley, Alan (July 22, 2016). "Years of perseverance pay off for Rachel Platten". The Register-Guard. Retrieved January 26, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Leung, Melanie (January 10, 2016). "Rachel Platten's Wildfire is a pop antidote to the January blues [Review]". South China Morning Post. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ a b Platten, Rachel; Seltmann, Sally (2015). "Rachel Platten 'Better Place' Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Holz, Adam R. "Rachel Platten – Wildfire". Plugged In. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ Johnston, Maura (January 7, 2016). "Album review: Rachel Platten, 'Wildfire'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ Rhodes, Clint (January 7, 2016). "Music review: Rachel Platten– 'Wildfire'". The Herald-Standard. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (January 1, 2016). "Rachel Platten – Wildfire: Pop songs built to withstand a wrecking ball". The Irish Times. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ Stennett, Brooke Pawling (January 1, 2016). "Rachel Platten releases breakthrough album 'Wildfire'". The Young Folks. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- London Evening Standard. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ "Chart search". Billboard Adult Top 40 for Rachel Platten. Retrieved January 27, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Adult Pop Songs: The Week of May 21, 2016". Billboard. May 21, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
- ^ "Adult Pop Songs: The Week of August 6, 2016". Billboard. August 6, 2016. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
- ^ a b "Chart Search". Tophit for Rachel Platten. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Better Place (Lyric) – Rachel Platten". Vevo. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "Better Place – Rachel Platten". Vevo. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ Sweeney, Emily (May 5, 2016). "Rachel Platten thanks Newton teacher on Twitter". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ "Better Place – Rachel Platten". iTunes Store (US). May 10, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ Linder, Emilee (May 9, 2016). "Rachel Platten Drops 'Better Place,' Her Most Heartwarming Video Yet". Fuse. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- Today. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ "Rachel Platten Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- Pop Digital Songs for Rachel Platten. Retrieved January 24, 2017.[permanent dead link]