Better Life

Last updated
"Better Life"
Keith Urban - Better Life.jpg
Single by Keith Urban
from the album Be Here
Released25 July 2005
Recorded2004
Genre
Length4:42
Label Capitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Keith Urban singles chronology
"Making Memories of Us"
(2005)
"Better Life"
(2005)
"Tonight I Wanna Cry"
(2005)

"Better Life" is a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music artist Keith Urban. It was released on 25 July 2005 as the fourth single from his 2004 album Be Here . The song became Urban's seventh number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and spent six weeks at that position. It also peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100. Urban wrote this song with Richard Marx.

Contents

Content

The mid-to-uptempo song is driven by a chugging banjo part set against a distinctive drum pattern. The message of an optimistic future prevailing over current struggles pervades the lyrics, summarized by the chorus. Urban's electric guitar playing further decorates the song, especially in its outro.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Better Life" was directed by Chris Hicky. It shows Urban and his band performing the song in a Los Angeles culvert (filmed at the Los Angeles River bridge, where several music videos across many different music genres have been filmed at), intercut with scenes of a struggling young pair of lovers having their ups and downs and finally ending up in the culvert to watch Urban perform. In April 2006, Urban won the CMT Music Awards Video of the Year for the video. Urban closed that awards show with a live performance of the song, featuring a long interpolation of Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" and backing vocals from a large choir consisting of displaced persons from the previous summer's Hurricane Katrina.

Chart performance

"Better Life" debuted at number 43 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of 30 July 2005.

Chart (2005)Peak
position
Canada Country ( Radio & Records ) [1] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 [2] 44
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [3] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [4] 29

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [5] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Urban</span> Australian-American singer (born 1967)

Keith Lionel Urban is an Australian and American singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Jim Reeves International Award, thirteen CMA Awards, and six ARIA Music Awards. Urban wrote and performed the song "For You" from the film Act of Valor, which earned him nominations at both the 70th Golden Globe Awards and at the 18th Critics' Choice Awards in the respective Best Original Song categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight I Wanna Cry</span> 2005 single by Keith Urban

"Tonight I Wanna Cry" is a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music artist Keith Urban. It was released in November 2005 as the fifth and final single from his 2004 album Be Here. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Urban wrote this song with Monty Powell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Urban discography</span>

New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban has released 12 studio albums, four compilation albums, and 55 singles. He began his career in 1991 with the release of his self-titled debut album on EMI and Capitol Records in Australia. After an American album in 1997 as a member of The Ranch, he embarked on a solo career there as well, subsequently releasing five more studio albums. His highest-certified album in the US is 2004's Be Here, which is four-times-platinum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In God's Hands (song)</span> 2007 single by Nelly Furtado

"In God's Hands" is a song by Canadian singer Nelly Furtado from her third studio album, Loose (2006). It was written and produced by Furtado and Rick Nowels. The song was first released 30 July 2007 as the album's fifth and final single in the United Kingdom and was later released in various formats across Europe in the fall of 2007. Furtado recorded a new version of the song as a duet with Australian-American country singer Keith Urban the following year, which was released to North America in April 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Days Go By (Keith Urban song)</span> 2004 single by Keith Urban

"Days Go By" is a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released on 28 June 2004, as the first single from his 2004 album Be Here. It became Urban's fifth number one single on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in late-2004, spending a four-week stay at that position. Urban wrote this song with Monty Powell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Making Memories of Us</span> 2005 single by Keith Urban

"Making Memories of Us" is a song written by American country music artist Rodney Crowell that has been recorded by several artists. The first version was recorded by American country music artist Tracy Byrd on his 2003 album The Truth About Men. One year later, Crowell and Vince Gill recorded the song as former members Crowell's backing band called The Notorious Cherry Bombs, and was featured on their self-titled album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're My Better Half</span> 2004 single by Keith Urban

"You're My Better Half" is a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music artist Keith Urban. It was released in October 2004 as the second single from his 2004 album Be Here. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Urban wrote this song with John Shanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody Like You</span> 2002 single by Keith Urban

"Somebody Like You" is a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released in July 2002 as the first single from his third studio album, Golden Road (2002). The song became Urban's second number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, spending six weeks at that position. The song also peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number three in Canada. In December 2009, Billboard named the song as the number-one country song of the 2000s decade. In 2003, the song was remixed for the film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Look Good in My Shirt</span> 2008 single by Keith Urban

"You Look Good in My Shirt" is a song, written by Mark Nesler, Tom Shapiro, and Tony Martin and recorded by Australian country music artist Keith Urban for his 2002 album Golden Road. The original version charted at number 60 on the country charts in 2004 based on unsolicited airplay, while a re-recorded version of the song was issued as a single in June 2008. For the chart week of September 6, 2008, it has become Urban's eighth Number One song and his first Number One since "Better Life" reached Number One in late 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Thing (Keith Urban song)</span> 2008 song by Keith Urban

"Sweet Thing" is a song co-written and recorded by Australian country music artist Keith Urban. It was released in November 2008 as the first single from his 2009 album Defying Gravity. The song became Urban's tenth number one single on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song also went on to win his third Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 2010. Urban wrote this song with Monty Powell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Climb (song)</span> 2009 single by Miley Cyrus

"The Climb" is a song recorded by American singer Miley Cyrus, for the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie. The song was written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe, and produced by John Shanks. It was released on March 5, 2009, as the lead single from the film's soundtrack by Walt Disney Records, and is also included as a bonus track on the international release of The Time of Our Lives. The song is a power ballad with lyrics that describe life as a difficult but rewarding journey. It is styled as a country pop ballad, and was Cyrus' first solo song to be released to country radio. The instrumentation includes piano, guitar, and violins. The song is considered both a modern classic and a signature song for Cyrus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss a Girl</span> 2009 single by Keith Urban

"Kiss a Girl" is a song recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released in March 2009 as the second single from his 2009 album Defying Gravity. The song reached number three on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song also became his highest peak on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 16, and his only top 20 on that chart to date. Urban co-wrote this song with Monty Powell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only You Can Love Me This Way</span> 2009 single by Keith Urban

"Only You Can Love Me This Way" is a song written by Steve McEwan and John Reid and recorded by Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released in June 2009 as the third single from Urban's 2009 album Defying Gravity. The song became his eleventh number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in October 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Without You (Keith Urban song)</span> 2011 single by Keith Urban

"Without You" is a song written by Joe West and Dave Pahanish and recorded by Australian country music artist Keith Urban. It was released in February 2011 as the second single from Urban's 2010 album Get Closer. The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highway Don't Care</span> 2013 single by Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift featuring Keith Urban

"Highway Don't Care" is a song recorded by American country music singers Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift on vocals, featuring Keith Urban on guitar. It was released to US country radio on March 25, 2013, as the third single from McGraw's first album for Big Machine Records, Two Lanes of Freedom (2013). The song was written by Mark Irwin, Josh Kear and Brad and Brett Warren. McGraw and Swift recorded their parts separately. To date, this is Swift’s seventh number one hit on Billboard's Country Airplay chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break on Me</span> 2015 single by Keith Urban

"Break on Me" is a song written by Ross Copperman and Jon Nite and recorded by New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban. It was released on 23 October 2015 as the second single from Urban's 2016 album Ripcord. This ballad with its prominent bassline was co-produced by Urban along with Nathan Chapman and has been deemed a stylistic counterpoint to its funky predecessor "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16". The song is also the second of his career to not have an accompanying music video, after 2010's "I'm In".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wasted Time (Keith Urban song)</span> 2016 single by Keith Urban

"Wasted Time" is a song co-written and recorded by New Zealand-born Australian country music artist Keith Urban. It was released on 4 April 2016 as the third single from his 2016 album Ripcord. The song was written by Urban, Greg Wells and James Abrahart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fighter (Keith Urban song)</span> 2017 single by Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood

"The Fighter" is a song by New Zealand Australian country music singer Keith Urban featuring American country music singer Carrie Underwood. It was released on 6 February 2017 as the fifth and final single from Urban's 2016 album, Ripcord. Urban co-wrote and co-produced this song with busbee. The song has entered the record charts of Australia, Canada, the United States, Belgium, and Scotland, where it became Urban's first song to enter the Scottish and Belgian charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Ain't Your Color</span> 2016 single by Keith Urban

"Blue Ain't Your Color" is a song recorded by New Zealand-born Australian country music singer Keith Urban and written by Steven Lee Olsen, Hillary Lindsey, and Clint Lagerberg. It was released on 8 August 2016 as the fourth single from Urban's 2016 album Ripcord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirt on My Boots</span> 2016 single by Jon Pardi

"Dirt on My Boots" is a song recorded by American country music artist Jon Pardi. It was released to radio on September 19, 2016, as the second single to his second studio album California Sunrise. The song was written by Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley.

References

  1. "Canada Country Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records . 21 October 2005. p. 46. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  2. "Keith Urban Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  3. "Keith Urban Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  4. "Best of 2005: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2005. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  5. "American single certifications – Keith Urban – Better Life". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 24, 2019.