Better Way

Last updated
"Better Way"
Single by Ben Harper
from the album Both Sides of the Gun
Released2006
Recorded2006
Genre Raga rock, blues rock
Length3:59
Label Virgin Records
Songwriter(s) Ben Harper
Ben Harper singles chronology
"There Will Be a Light"
(2004)
"Better Way"
(2006)
"Both Sides of the Gun"
(2006)

"Better Way" is a song by singer-songwriter Ben Harper. It is the first track on disc two of his 2006 album Both Sides of the Gun , and was released as the album's first single. A live version of the song appears on Songs for Tibet: The Art of Peace, a compilation album by various artists supporting Tibet. [1] The song also served as a campaign song for Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign. [2]

Themes

A few music journalists have compared the song to John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance".[ citation needed ] Noting the songs are similar because they both express anger at current problems, but do not address how these problems were created or how they will be solved.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Browne</span> American singer, songwriter and political activist (born 1948)

Clyde Jackson Browne is an American rock musician, singer, songwriter and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Harper</span> American musician (born 1969)

Benjamin Charles Harper is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae, and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances, and activism. He has released twelve studio albums, mostly through Virgin Records, and has toured internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gomez (band)</span> English indie rock band

Gomez are an English indie rock band from Southport, comprising Ian Ball, Paul "Blackie" Blackburn (bass), Tom Gray, Ben Ottewell and Olly Peacock. The band has three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional and electronic instruments. Their music covers the genres of blues, indie, alternative, rock, folk, psychedelic and experimental.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Johnson (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter

Jack Hody Johnson is an American singer-songwriter, primarily in the soft rock and acoustic pop genres. Johnson has reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart with his albums Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George in 2006, Sleep Through the Static in 2008, To the Sea in 2010 and From Here to Now to You in 2013. His album In Between Dreams peaked at number two on the chart in 2005 and again in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chingy</span> American rapper (born 1980)

Howard Earl Bailey Jr., known professionally as Chingy, is an American rapper from St. Louis, Missouri. He toured as an opening act with fellow St. Louis rapper Nelly in the summer of 2002, and was eventually signed to Georgia rapper Ludacris' record label, Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP). In a joint-venture with Capitol Records, he released his debut single, "Right Thurr" in April 2003, peaking at 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Chingy specialized in catchy, club-friendly beats and simplistic lyrics delivered in a sing-song, nursery rhyme style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Cab for Cutie</span> American rock band

Death Cab for Cutie is an American rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington, in 1997. Death Cab for Cutie's music has been classified as indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock. The band is currently composed of Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer (bass), Dave Depper, Zac Rae, and Jason McGerr (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Kweller</span> American singer-songwriter

Benjamin Lev Kweller is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Rice</span> Irish musician

Damien George Rice is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. He began his career as a member of the 1990s rock group Juniper, who were signed to Polygram Records in 1997. The band enjoyed moderate success in Ireland with two released singles, "The World is Dead" and "Weatherman". After leaving the band in 1998, Rice worked as a farmer in Tuscany and busked throughout Europe before returning to Ireland in 2001 and beginning a solo career. The rest of Juniper went on to perform under the name Bell X1.

<i>Vulture Street</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Powderfinger

Vulture Street is the fifth studio album by Australian alternative rock band by Powderfinger, released on 29 July 2003 by Universal Music. It won the 2003 ARIA Music Award for Best Rock Album. Produced by Nick DiDia, Vulture Street was certified platinum, and spent 47 weeks on the ARIA Charts and peaked at #1. Singles from the album included "(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind", "Since You've Been Gone", "Love Your Way" and "Sunsets".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace of Mind (Boston song)</span> 1977 single by Boston

"Peace of Mind" is a song by American rock band Boston, written by Tom Scholz. It was released on their 1976 self-titled debut, and released again the next year as the third and final single from the album. It peaked at number 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, as well as number 33 on the Cash Box Top 100. It received substantial radio airplay, both upon the initial release of the Boston album and subsequently, and has been described as a "rock-radio staple".

<i>Pacific Ocean Blue</i> 1977 album by Dennis Wilson

Pacific Ocean Blue is the only studio album by American musician Dennis Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys. When released in August 1977, it was warmly received critically, and noted for outselling the Beach Boys' contemporary efforts. Two singles were issued from the album, "River Song" and "You and I", which did not chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Gilman</span> American politician (1922–2016)

Benjamin Arthur Gilman was an American politician and Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Middletown, New York, from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regina Spektor</span> American musician

Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian–born American singer, songwriter, comedian, and pianist.

<i>Both Sides of the Gun</i> 2006 studio album by Ben Harper

Both Sides of the Gun is the seventh album by Ben Harper, released in 2006. Split into two discs, the title suggests the two sides of Harper's musical nature. The first disc ("White") is made of mostly acoustic and string-driven songs hinted at on the last track of Harper's previous album Diamonds On the Inside. The second disc ("Black") is made up of the more rock and upbeat material and touching on genres such as hard rock, funk and gospel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waiting on the World to Change</span> 2006 single by John Mayer

"Waiting on the World to Change" is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mayer. It was released as the lead single from his third studio album, Continuum (2006), on August 1, 2006. The song enjoyed commercial success as a single and won the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards.

<i>Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur</i> Compilation album by various artists

Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur is a compilation album of various artists covering songs of John Lennon to benefit Amnesty International's campaign to alleviate the crisis in Darfur. The album and campaign is part of Amnesty International's global "Make Some Noise" project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Dee</span> American singer-songwriter

Baby Dee is an American performance artist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio.

Doje Cezhug is an ethnic Tibetan politician in the People's Republic of China. He was the mayor of Lhasa between 2007 and 2013 and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region. He is an outspoken critic of the Dalai Lama for his alleged role in instigating the 2008 Lhasa violence and pursues a growth-based economic policy in Lhasa anchored in tourism.

Relentless7 was an American rock band, formed in 2008 by singer/guitarist Ben Harper. The band was composed of Harper, Jason Mozersky, Jesse Ingalls (bass), and Jordan Richardson (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is the Answer (Cedric Gervais song)</span> Single by Mýa and Cedric Gervais

"Love Is the Answer" is a song by French DJ and record producer Cedric Gervais starring American singer Mýa. It served as Gervais's first single from his studio album Miamication and theme song for the NOH8 campaign. The track was inspired by humanity and various causes Harrison involves herself in particularly and most recently the NOH8 campaign. Written and composed by Mýa and Dee Roberts with additional production by Sandy Vee, the song made its world premiere at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Spa.

References

  1. "Ben Harper – Better Way – Video, listening & stats at". Last.fm. 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  2. Lewis, Nick (2008-02-14). "Campaign songs can be powerful – or perturbing – political tools". National Post. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-12-16.