Better (Meghan Trainor song)

"Better"
Single by Meghan Trainor featuring Yo Gotti
from the album Thank You
Released August 29, 2016 (2016-08-29)
Format Digital download
Genre
Length 2:47
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ricky Reed
  • Tommy Brown
  • Mr. Franks
Meghan Trainor singles chronology
"Me Too"
(2016)		 "Better"
(2016)		 "I'm a Lady"
(2017)
Yo Gotti singles chronology
"Champions"
(2016) Champions2016		 "Better"
(2016) Better2016		 "Wait for It"
(2016) Wait for It2016
Music video
"Better" on YouTube

"Better" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor for her second major-label studio album Thank You (2016). It features American rapper Yo Gotti. It was written by Trainor, Eric Frederic, Tommy Brown, Steven Franks, Mario Mims, Taylor Parks, and Travis Sayles, and produced by Ricky Reed, Brown, and Mr. Franks. Initially released as a promotional single, the track was released on August 29, 2016, as the third single from the album. Lyrically, the dancehall, reggae, and pop song is an empowering breakup anthem.

"Better" peaked at number 35 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 and at number 27 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40. Tim Mattia directed the music video for "Better". Released on September 15, 2016, the video featured a cameo from Beau Bridges. Critics praised it, noting that it tells an important story and is more raw than Trainor's previous visuals. Trainor performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It was also included on the setlist for The Untouchable Tour (2016).

Background and composition

"Better" was written by Trainor, Eric Frederic, Tommy Brown, Steven Franks, Mario Mims, Taylor Parks, and Travis Sayles, and produced by Ricky Reed, Brown, and Mr. Franks.[3] Initially released as a promotional single, on April 21, 2016, the track was released as the third single from Trainor's second major-label sudio album Thank You, on August 29, 2016.[4] Colin Stutz of Billboard called it an "empowering breakup anthem".[2]

"Better" is a dancehall, reggae, and pop song with R&B influences.[1][2] The pop ballad features "funky drums", accompanied by guitar strings which gives it an "Island-esque" vibe.[5] It features Trainor putting her ex-boyfriend on blast, and acknowledging that she deserves better, over a tropical beat.[6] On his rap verse, Gotti talks about treating Trainor the way that she deserves to be treated.[4] According to Christina Lee of Idolator, the song is more vulnerable than Trainor's previous efforts.[7]

Critical and commercial reception

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".[8] 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".[9] Isabella Biedenharn of Entertainment Weekly called the song "woozy" and "ethereal", but added that it sounds like "a castoff from Selena Gomez’s Revival.[10] "Better" peaked at number 35 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 and at number 27 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40.[11]

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.[12] On September 15, 2016, Trainor released the video, directed by Tim Mattia.[13] It featured a cameo from Beau Bridges with themes revolving around drug addiction and alcohol abuse.[14] Trainor got a temporary tattoo of scissors for her role in the video.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Reception

The music video received critical acclaim. Nerisha Penrose of Billboard interpreted the video as a flashback, thinking that later events in the video lead up to its beginning.[17] Fuse's Bianca Gracie praised the video, writing "the singer decided to get a little more raw and tell an important story that doesn't come off as too try-hard", and called it a "dramatic" short film.[18] Sophie Schillaci of Entertainment Tonight thought that the video saw Trainor "turning up the drama".[19] Lauren Daley of The Boston Globe wrote that the video "contains a serious message" and noted that it is reminiscent of MTV's "'80s and '90s video heyday".[20]

Allison Sadlier of Entertainment Weekly thought the video saw Trainor take an emotional journey and took the song to "new emotional heights".[21] Much's Allison Bowsher opined that the video was a new stop for her, writing "with her latest video for 'Better,' Trainor is doing a 180, showing off her acting chops and shining light on substance abuse".[22] Digital Spy's Joe Anderton gave the video a mixed review, wrote 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".[23]

Live performances

Trainor performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[24] The song was part of Trainor's setlist for The Untouchable Tour (2016).[25]

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 35
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 27

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States April 22, 2016 Digital download
[27]
August 29, 2016 Adult contemporary radio Epic [28]
August 30, 2016 Top 40 radio [29]
Rhythmic radio [30]

References

  1. 1 2 "There's A Dancehall-Reggae Fusion Trend Taking Over The Music Scene". Much. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Stutz, Colin (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Asserts Herself on 'Better' With Yo Gotti: Listen - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Better - Meghan Trainor - Song Info - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Blum, Sam (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Releases 'Better' Feat. Yo Gotti". Fuse. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ Lilah, Rose (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor - Better Feat. Yo Gotti [New Song]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ Roth, Madeline (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Puts Her Ex On Blast On New Yo Gotti-Featuring Track 'Better'". MTV News. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ Lee, Christina (April 22, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Drops 'Better' Featuring Yo Gotti". Idolator. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ Matina, Rebecca (May 13, 2016). "Track By Track Review: Thank You by Meghan Trainor". Andpop. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ Camp, Alexa (May 7, 2016). "Meghan Trainor: Thank You". Slant Magazine. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ Biedenharn, Isabella (May 12, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Thank You': EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. New York. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Meghan Trainor Teases Gritty "Better" Video". Idolator. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Meghan trainor premieres music video for new single 'Better' featuring Yo Gotti". Epic Records. September 15, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  14. ↑ Kiefer, Halle (September 15, 2016). "Oh, Great, Meghan Trainor Made Her New 'Better' Music Video About the Saddest Thing in the World". Vulture.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  15. ↑ Kowalski, Kristine Hope (September 15, 2016). "Did Meghan Trainor Get a Tattoo?". Twist. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  16. ↑ Geffen, Sasha (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Better' Video Is A Surprisingly Dark Drama". MTV News. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Penrose, Nerisha (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Deserves 'Better' in New Music Video, Feat. Yo Gotti". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  18. ↑ Gracie, Bianca (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's 'Better' Video Is a Dark Story of Alcohol Abuse". Fuse. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  19. ↑ Schillaci, Sophie (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor and Beau Bridges Are a Dysfunctional Family Duo in 'Better' Music Video". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  20. ↑ Daley, Lauren. "A conquering pop hero, Meghan Trainor brings it all back home". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  21. ↑ Sadlier, Allison (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor's Better music video features Beau Bridges". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  22. ↑ Bowsher, Allison (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Drops Gritty Video For 'Better' Featuring Yo Gotti". Much. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  23. ↑ Anderton, Joe (September 15, 2016). "Meghan Trainor deals with an alcoholic grandfather in her gritty new music video for 'Better'". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  24. ↑ Wass, Mike (August 30, 2016). "Meghan Trainor Performs 'Better' On 'Fallon' - Idolator". Idolator. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  25. ↑ Ball-Dionne, Caila (July 23, 2016). "Meghan Trainor At L.A.'s Greek Theatre: Self Empowerment Reigns". Idolator. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Meghan Trainor Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Amazon.com: Better: Meghan Trainor feat. Yo Gotti: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. April 22, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  28. ↑ "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.
  29. ↑ "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.
  30. ↑ "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.
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