Better the Devil You Know (Sonia song)
"Better the Devil You Know" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Sonia | ||||
from the album Better the Devil You Know | ||||
B-side | "Not What I Call Love" | |||
Released | 19 April 1993[1] | |||
Length | 2:36 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Nigel Wright | |||
Sonia singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Eurovision Song Contest 1993 entry | ||||
Country | ||||
Artist(s) | Sonia Evans | |||
As | Sonia | |||
Language | English | |||
Composer(s) | "Red" (Brian Teasdale) and Dean Collinson | |||
Lyricist(s) | Red and Collinson | |||
Conductor | ||||
Finals performance | ||||
Final result | 2nd | |||
Final points | 164 | |||
Entry chronology | ||||
◄ "One Step Out of Time" (1992) | ||||
"We Will Be Free (Lonely Symphony)" (1994) ► |
"Better the Devil You Know" is a song written by Brian Teasdale and Dean Collinson for English singer
Eurovision Song Contest 1993
For
In Millstreet, the song was performed nineteenth on the night, after
The song was a retro
Commenting on the song, Collinson stated that he'd written the song years before in an attempt to recreate "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. The song was played as part of a "Eurovision special" on Top of the Pops 2. As the show's narrator, DJ Steve Wright commented during the song's introduction, "This is a good song, but Sonia is a bit too eager to please, so therefore didn't give it the required 'I don't care too much about Eurovision' attitude", implying that was her downfall. For her part, immediately after the winner was known, Sonia accepted defeat in a humble manner, smiled, and shook winner Niamh Kavanagh's hand.[3]
Critical reception
Pan-European magazine
Formats and track listings
- 7-inch and cassette single
- "Better the Devil You Know" – 2:36
- "Not What I Call Love" – 4:08
- 12-inch single
- "Better the Devil You Know" (extended mix) – 4:20
- "Not What I Call Love" – 4:08
- CD single
- "Better the Devil You Know" – 2:36
- "Better the Devil You Know" (extended mix) – 4:20
- "Not What I Call Love" – 4:08
Charts
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 46 |
Europe ( Eurochart Hot 100)[6]
|
53 |
Germany ( Official German Charts)[7]
|
59 |
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[8] | 36 |
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 26 |
15 |
References
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 17 April 1993. p. 29.
- ^ "Better the Devil You Know". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
- ^ Eurovision 1993 winning votes on YouTube
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 22. 29 May 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Sonia – Better the Devil You Know" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 23. 5 June 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ German chart details[dead link]
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (04.06.1993-10.06.1993)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 9 March 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Irish charts - searchable database Archived 5 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Official UK Charts - Sonia