"Better Things" | ||||
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Single by Aespa | ||||
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Released | August 18, 2023 | |||
Genre | Dance | |||
Length | 3:23 | |||
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Aespa singles chronology | ||||
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"Better Things" on YouTube |
"Better Things" is a song by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released on August 18, 2023, through SM Entertainment and Warner Records as the group's first original English single. [lower-alpha 1] The song was the group's second release of 2023, following their third extended play, My World , in May. To promote the song, Aespa aired a 3 episode long web series sitcom show, Better Things, with its first episode released on August 7. Originally released as a standalone single, the song was later included in the digital edition of the group's fourth extended play Drama , which was released on November 10, 2023.
Prior to the release of "Better Things", Aespa released a non-Korean song in 2022, the English version of "Life's Too Short" from the group's second extended play, Girls . The song received positive reviews from music critics for its lyrics and a "catchy" melody. [1] [2] On March 31, 2023, they released their second English song, "Hold On Tight", for the soundtrack of the Apple Original Film Tetris. [3]
On July 27, 2023, Aespa began teasing their upcoming release "Better Things" that was later revealed to be released on August 18. [4] On July 31, the group unveiled a teaser for the single which included an "8-bit-inspired" snippet of the song playing over a visual of a "retro handheld water ring toss game". [5] Before the release of the single, SM Entertainment released the first episode of the group's web series sitcom, Better Things, on August 7. [6] Two days later, it was announced that Aespa would perform the song on August 13 at the first show of the American leg of their Synk: Hyper Line tour at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. [7] The same day, the group released the summer-themed teaser photos. [8]
"Better Things" was described as an up-tempo minimalistic dance song. The track features a rhythmic percussion sound "that goes well with summer" alongside a "unique rhythm pattern" and "rich vocals" of the group. The lyrics talk about giving focus to more valuable things in life. [9]
On August 4, a snippet of "Better Things" was revealed on TikTok before the song's official release.[ citation needed ] Aespa would debut "Better Things" at the first show of the American leg of their Synk: Hyper Line tour on August 13. [7] The group also appeared on the magazine cover of Dork's September 2023 issue. [10]
To promote the release of the single, Aespa filmed a three-episode sitcom web series, Better Things, with the first episode uploaded on August 7. [6] Other episodes were released on August 9 and 11, respectively. [6] Ningning only appeared in limited parts of the sitcom, due to her health conditions at the time of filming. The show received a "favorable" response from fans for the chemistry between Aespa members and their "skillful acting". [11]
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
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2023 | Asian Pop Music Awards | Song of the Year (Overseas) | Pending | [12] |
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Weekly charts
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Region | Date | Format | Version | Label |
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Various | August 18, 2023 | Original | ||
September 8, 2023 |
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September 22, 2023 | Tropkillaz remix | |||
September 29, 2023 | Raye remix | |||
October 27, 2023 | Dance remix | |||
United States | CD single |
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"Black Mamba" is the debut single by South Korean girl group Aespa. Originally released as a standalone single on November 17, 2020, by SM Entertainment, the song was later included on the group's second extended play Girls, which was released on July 8, 2022. The song was written and composed by Yoo Young-jin, while also composed by Omega, Ella Isaacson, Gabriela Geneva (NIIVA), Jordan Reyes, Shaun Lopez, and Scott Chesak. Musically, "Black Mamba" was described as a pop, electropop and dance-pop track with a signature synth and EDM sound and bass that is paired with an addictive hook. The lyrics are about a being called "Black Mamba" that not only interferes with the members' and avatar's connection but also threatens their world and as such is abhorred by the members.
Aespa is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group consists of four members: Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The group is known for popularizing the metaverse concept and hyperpop music in K-pop.
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Savage is the first extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. The EP was released by SM Entertainment on October 5, 2021, and is available in three versions—P.O.S, Synk Dive and Hallucination Quest. It contains six songs, including the lead single of the same name.
"Strawberry Moon" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on October 19, 2021, through EDAM Entertainment via Kakao M. "Strawberry Moon" was both written and composed by IU, with additional composition credits by Jonghoon Lee and Lee Chae-gyu.
"Savage" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their first extended play (EP) of the same name. It was released as the lead single on October 5, 2021, by SM Entertainment. Described as a "hyperpop-tinged title track", the song was written by Yoo Young-jin, who also composed along with Kirsten Collins, Jia Lih, and Hautboi Rich, and eventually handled the arrangement alongside Lih. It also continues the group's previous storyline in "Next Level", with the members and their corresponding avatars confronting their Black Mamba villain in the fictional Kwangya universe.
"Life's Too Short" is a song by the South Korean girl group Aespa, released on June 24, 2022, by SM Entertainment and Warner Records, as the pre-release single from the group's second extended play Girls. The song is the group's first song fully recorded in English. It was written by Uzoechi Emenike, Becky Hill and Sam Klempner and produced by Klempner. "Life's Too Short" is a mid-tempo pop, soft pop and bubblegum pop song, driven by an electric guitar riff. It is about staying true to oneself and doing what makes one happy, no matter what others have to say.
Girls is the second extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. The EP was released through SM Entertainment and Warner Records on July 8, 2022. It consists of six tracks and was preceded by the promotional single "Illusion", and two official singles: "Life's Too Short" and "Girls". The digital version also adds the group's previously released singles "Black Mamba", "Forever", and "Dreams Come True".
"Girls" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their second extended play of the same name. It was released as the EP's lead single on July 8, 2022, by SM Entertainment.
Doublast is the second extended play by South Korean girl group Kep1er. The EP was released by Wake One Entertainment on June 20, 2022, and contains five tracks, including the lead single "Up!".
"Loveade" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Viviz for their second extended play Summer Vibe. It was released as the EP's lead single by BPM Entertainment on July 6, 2022.
"Illusion" is a promotional single recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their second extended play Girls. It was released on June 1, 2022, by SM Entertainment and Warner Records as a surprise pre-release track from the EP. Written by Lee Thor while production handled by G'harah "PK" Degeddingseze, Patricia Battani, and Steve Octave, "Illusion" is an electronic "high-energy" hip hop, synth-pop and dance song with bass-heavy chorus, and elements indicative of hyperpop.
"Glassy" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Jo Yu-ri for her debut single album of the same name. It was released as the album's lead single by Wake One Entertainment on October 7, 2021.
"Spicy" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their third extended play My World. It was released as the EP's lead single by SM Entertainment on May 8, 2023.
My World is the third extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on May 8, 2023, and contains six tracks, including the pre-release single "Welcome to My World" featuring Naevis, and the lead single "Spicy" which reached the top three on the Circle Digital Chart. Compared to the dark, futuristic, hyperpop-influenced tones of Savage (2021) and Girls (2022), My World's brighter pop sound draws mostly from dance and R&B, with melodies characterized by "captivating beats" and "delightful" vocals of the group. The songs incorporate eclectic styles ranging from alternative pop and dream pop to synth-pop and ballad. Described by Aespa as a return to the "real world" from Kwangya, the mini album shows a new side of the group across various genres.
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"Drama" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their fourth extended play of the same name. It was released as the EP's lead single by SM Entertainment on November 10, 2023.