Better (Meghan Trainor song)

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Following a disagreement with label director L.A. Reid, Meghan Trainor created the single "No" with producer Ricky Reed. Ultimately, the song changed the direction of its parent album, as they started experimenting with new musical styles and produced six more tracks. [1] Trainor, Mario Mims, Taylor Parks, Travis Sayles, Eric Frederic, Tommy Brown and Steven Franks wrote "Better", and the latter three produced it. [2] The song was digitally released as the third promotional single from Trainor's second major-label studio album, Thank You (2016), on April 21, 2016. [3] It was serviced to adult contemporary radio as the third single from the album on August 29, 2016, and to top 40 radio and rhythmic radio on August 30. [4] [5] [6] On September 13, 2016, she unveiled the single artwork on her social media accounts. [7]

"Better" is a dancehall, reggae, and pop song with R&B influences. [8] [9] The pop ballad features "funky drums" accompanied by guitar strings which gives it an "Island-esque" vibe. [10] The track has steel percussion, syncopated guitar, and a loping beat which gives it a caribbean feel. [11] It features Trainor criticizing her ex-boyfriend, with lyrics about how she deserves better, over a tropical beat. [12] On his rap verse, Gotti talks about treating Trainor the way that she deserves. [3] Colin Stutz of Billboard called it an "empowering breakup anthem". [9] According to Christina Lee of Idolator, the song is more vulnerable than Trainor's previous efforts. [13]

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 Adult Top 40 and at number 27 on the US Mainstream Top 40. [17]

Music video

Background and concept

The song's music video features a cameo appearance by Beau Bridges (pictured in 2008). Beau Bridges Max Payne 2008.jpg
The song's music video features a cameo appearance by Beau Bridges (pictured in 2008).

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 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . [30] The song was part of Trainor's setlist for The Untouchable Tour (2016). [31]

Charts

"Better"
Better (featuring Yo Gotti) (Official Single Cover) by Meghan Trainor.png
Single by Meghan Trainor featuring Yo Gotti
from the album Thank You
ReleasedAugust 29, 2016 (2016-08-29)
Genre
Length2:47
Label Epic
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)
"Better"
(2016)
"Wait for It"
(2016)
Chart positions for "Better"
Chart (2016)Peak
position
US Adult Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [32] 35
US Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [17] 27

Release history

Release dates and format(s) for "Better"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesApril 22, 2016 Digital download Epic [33]
August 29, 2016 Hot adult contemporary [4]
August 30, 2016 Contemporary hit radio [5]
Rhythmic contemporary [6]

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Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper and music executive. In 1996, he released his debut album Youngsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), Back 2 da Basics (2006), Live from the Kitchen (2012), I Am (2013), The Art of Hustle (2016), I Still Am (2017), Untrapped (2020), and CM10: Free Game (2022).

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Meghan Elizabeth Trainor is an American singer-songwriter and television personality. She rose to prominence after signing with Epic Records in 2014 and releasing her debut single "All About That Bass", which reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold 11 million copies worldwide. Trainor has released five studio albums with the label and has received various accolades, including the 2016 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghan Trainor discography</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lips Are Movin</span> 2014 single by Meghan Trainor

"Lips Are Movin" is a song by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, taken from her debut major-label studio album, Title (2015). It was written by Trainor and the album's producer, Kevin Kadish. Epic Records premiered the song on MTV News on October 15, 2014, and released it to the United States contemporary hit radio stations on October 21, as the second single from Title. A retro-tinged doo-wop and pop song with girl-group harmonies and bubblegum pop hooks, "Lips Are Movin" was inspired by Trainor's conflict with her record label. However, critical commentary has described it as a song about Trainor leaving her significant other after discovering he is cheating on her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvin Gaye (song)</span> 2015 single by Charlie Puth

"Marvin Gaye" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth featuring fellow American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, from his third EP, Some Type of Love (2015). It later served as the lead single for his debut studio album, Nine Track Mind (2016). Puth co-wrote it, with Julie Frost, Jacob Luttrell and Nick Seeley, and produced it. Artist Partner Group released it as a single on February 10, 2015. The doo-wop and soul song is named after singer Marvin Gaye, whose name is used as a verb in the lyrics.

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"Better When I'm Dancin'" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor for the soundtrack to the film The Peanuts Movie, based on the popular comic strip of the same name created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. Trainor co-wrote it with Thaddeus Dixon and co-produced it with her brother, Justin. Epic Records released it on October 14, 2015, as the first and only promotional single from the soundtrack. Backed by an instrumentation of salsa-inspired drums, the tropical song has house influences and optimistic lyrics that were inspired by Trainor's fans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boys Like You (Who Is Fancy song)</span> 2015 single by Who Is Fancy featuring Meghan Trainor and Ariana Grande

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<i>Thank You</i> (Meghan Trainor album) 2016 studio album by Meghan Trainor

Thank You is the second major-label studio album by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. Epic Records released it on May 13, 2016, after a week of exclusive streaming on Apple Music. Trainor wrote most of its material with songwriter Jacob Kasher Hindlin and the album's producer Ricky Reed. Influenced by various genres including dance, hip hop, funk, and Caribbean music, Trainor conceived the album to showcase her versatility. It features guest appearances by Yo Gotti, LunchMoney Lewis, Trainor's mother, and R. City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No (Meghan Trainor song)</span> 2016 single by Meghan Trainor

"No" is a song by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from her second major-label studio album, Thank You (2016). Ricky Reed produced the song and wrote it with Trainor and Jacob Kasher Hindlin; Epic Records released it as the album's lead single on March 4, 2016. A dance-pop song inspired by 1990s pop music and R&B, "No" has lyrics about sexual consent and empowerment, encouraging women to reject unwanted advances from men.

"Watch Me Do" is a song by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from her second major-label studio album, Thank You (2016). It was released on March 25, 2016, to digital download platforms by Epic Records as the album's first promotional single. Produced by Ricky Reed, he co-wrote the song with Trainor, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Gamal Lewis. "Watch Me Do" is a hip hop-influenced pop song, with lyrics about female empowerment. The track received mixed reviews from music critics, with some of them appreciating its empowering theme but others being critical of Trainor's rapping skills. It was performed during Trainor's The Untouchable Tour (2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me Too (Meghan Trainor song)</span> 2016 single by Meghan Trainor

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"All the Ways" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. The song was released on June 21, 2018, as a promotional single for the initial intended release of Trainor's third studio album, Treat Myself, and later only appeared on its Target deluxe edition following the album's 2020 release. The song was serviced to hot adult contemporary radio as the lead single from Trainor's second EP, The Love Train, on February 11, 2019.

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"With You" is a song by American DJ Kaskade and singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. Kaskade and Trainor co-wrote the track with Robert Gerongco, Samuel Gerongco, Terence Lam, Sarah Aarons, Finn Bjarnson, Richard Beynon, and Thomas Shaw, while Kaskade co-produced it with the latter three. Released as a single on June 14, 2019, through Columbia Records, the song is an electropop track. The lyrics talk about emotional conflict and Trainor's partner sending her mixed signals when she could be using her time better.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nice to Meet Ya (Meghan Trainor song)</span> 2020 single by Meghan Trainor featuring Nicki Minaj

"Nice to Meet Ya" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor from her third major-label studio album, Treat Myself (2020), featuring the Trinidadian-born rapper Nicki Minaj. Trainor and Minaj wrote it with the songwriter Scott Harris and Raul Cubina and Mark Williams from its production duo, Ojivolta. Epic Records released it as the album's third single on January 31, 2020. Backed by an instrumentation of tingling drums and a hip hop beat, the pop and R&B song has feel-good and characteristically confident lyrics.

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