Better (Pat Barrett song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Better

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Pat Barrett

| album = Pat Barrett

| released = {{Start date|2019|8}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Contemporary worship music

| length = 4:57

| label =

Bowyer & Bow
Sparrow
Capitol CMG

| writer =

Chris Tomlin
Ed Cash
Pat Barrett

| producer = Ed Cash

| chronology =

| prev_title = Build My Life

| prev_year = 2018

| next_title = No Weapon

| next_year = 2020

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|N_yDEEvJlNM|"Better" (Acoustic)}}

| type = single

| header = Music videos

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|_XzrejMkUkg|"Better" (Live)}}

| type = single

| header = no

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|cgpvCVkrV6M|"Better" (Lyrics)}}

| type = single

| header = no

}}

"Better" is a song by American contemporary worship musician Pat Barrett. It was released as the fourth and final single from his eponymous debut studio album in August 2019.{{cite web |url= https://jubileecast.com/articles/22042/20190825/pat-barrett-talks-about-his-new-song-better.htm |title= Pat Barrett Talks About His New Song "Better" : News : JubileeCast |last= Yap |first= Timothy |date= August 25, 2019 |website= JubileeCast |access-date= February 5, 2023}} Barrett co-wrote the song with Chris Tomlin and Ed Cash.{{cite web |url= https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/7108556/better |title= Better {{!}} Chords, Lyrics and Sheet Music {{!}} SongSelect® |website= SongSelect |publisher= CCLI |access-date= February 5, 2023}} Ed Cash produced the single.

"Better" peaked at number 16 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.

Background

In August 2019, "Better" was released to Christian radio in the United States as the follow-up to "Build My Life" from Pat Barrett's self-titled debut studio album.{{cite web |url= https://www.thechristianbeat.org/pat-barrett-s-live-album-canvas-and-clay-releases/ |title= Pat Barrett's Live Album 'Canvas And Clay' Releases - TCB |last= Longs |first= Herb |date= August 25, 2019 |website= The Christian Beat |access-date= February 5, 2023}} Barret shared the story behind the song, saying: ""Better" is such a special song to me personally because it has served as a challenge. Money, appearance, power and approval are all unbelievably tempting to live for at times. We cause ourselves (and others) a lot of harm when we set these things at the center of our lives. In the moments where we feel tempted to live for 'lesser' things, we are only left feeling more empty. I hope this song can help redirect the affection of our heart to something (read: Someone) better."

Composition

"Better" is an acoustic guitar led worship song,{{cite web |url= https://www.365daysofinspiringmedia.com/reviews/pat-barrett-pat-barrett-ep/ |title= Pat Barrett – Pat Barrett EP {{!}} 365 Days Of Inspiring Media |last= Andre |first= Jonathan |date= April 1, 2018 |website= 365 Days Of Inspiring Media |access-date= March 24, 2022}} composed in the key of A♭ with a tempo of 78 beats per minute and a musical time signature of {{music|time|4|4}}.{{cite web |url= https://www.multitracks.com/songs/Pat-Barrett/Pat-Barrett/Better/ |title= Better by Pat Barrett |publisher= MultiTracks |access-date= February 5, 2023}}

Critical reception

Tony Cummings of Cross Rhythms described the track as having an "almost Ed Sheeran intro"."{{cite web |url= https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Pat_Barrett/Pat_Barrett/169928/ |title= Review: Pat Barrett - Pat Barrett {{!}} Cross Rhythms |last= Cummings |first= Tony |date= June 9, 2018 |website= Cross Rhythms |access-date= February 5, 2023}} Joshua Andre of 365 Days of Inspiring Media gave a positive opinion of the song, saying "while slower tempo 5 minute long acoustic guitar led reflective, lullaby-ish and hymn-like melody "Better", co-written with Chris Tomlin, eloquently and vividly describes about how Jesus Christ is better than anything we can ever imagine, and better than our material possessions and the things of this world that we think give us value."{{cite web |url= https://www.365daysofinspiringmedia.com/reviews/pat-barrett-pat-barrett/ |title= Pat Barrett – Pat Barrett {{!}} 365 Days Of Inspiring Media |last= Andre |first= Jonathan |date= July 24, 2018 |website= 365 Days Of Inspiring Media |access-date= February 5, 2023}}

Commercial performance

"Better" debuted at number 49 on the US Christian Airplay chart dated August 17, 2019.{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-airplay/2019-08-17/ |title= Christian Airplay - Billboard |date= August 13, 2019 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 5, 2023}} The song peaked at number 14 on the Christian Airplay chart.

"Better" debuted at number 39 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated August 30, 2019.{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/2019-08-31 |title= Hot Christian Songs - Billboard |date= August 26, 2019 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 5, 2023}} The song peaked at number 16 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.

Music videos

Pat Barrett released the official audio video for the song via YouTube on March 30, 2018.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuu-PpkdmYo |title= Pat Barrett - Better (Official Audio) - YouTube |date= March 30, 2018 |via= YouTube |access-date= February 5, 2023}} Pat Barrett published the acoustic performance video of "Better" on April 18, 2018, via YouTube.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_yDEEvJlNM |title= Pat Barrett - Better (Acoustic Video) - YouTube |date= April 18, 2018 |via= YouTube |access-date= February 5, 2023}} On July 3, 2019, the official lyric video for the song was availed on YouTube.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgpvCVkrV6M |title= Pat Barrett - Better (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube |date= January 4, 2019 |via= YouTube |access-date= February 5, 2023}} Pat Barrett released the live performance video for "Better" through YouTube on August 20, 2019.{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XzrejMkUkg |title= Pat Barrett - Better (Live) - YouTube |date= August 20, 2019 |via= YouTube |access-date= February 5, 2023}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Better"
scope="col"\| Chart (2019-2020) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/2020-01-18 \|title= Hot Christian Songs - Billboard \|date= January 14, 2020 \|magazine= Billboard \|access-date= February 5, 2023}} \| 16
scope="row"\| US Christian Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-airplay/2019-12-14 \|title= Christian Airplay – Billboard \|date= December 10, 2019 \|magazine= Billboard \|access-date= February 5, 2023}} \| 14
scope="row"\|US Christian AC (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-christian-adult-contemporary/2019-12-07 \|title= Christian AC Airplay – Billboard \|date= December 3, 2019 \|magazine= Billboard \|access-date= February 5, 2023}} \| 18

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Better"

scope="col"| Chart (2019-2020)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs/2020-01-18 |title= Hot Christian Songs - Billboard |date= January 14, 2020 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 5, 2023}}

| 16

scope="row"| US Christian Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-airplay/2019-12-14 |title= Christian Airplay – Billboard |date= December 10, 2019 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 5, 2023}}

| 14

scope="row"|US Christian AC (Billboard){{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-christian-adult-contemporary/2019-12-07 |title= Christian AC Airplay – Billboard |date= December 3, 2019 |magazine= Billboard |access-date= February 5, 2023}}

| 18

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for "Better"
scope="col"\| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-christian-songs/ \|title= Hot Christian Songs – Billboard \|magazine= Billboard \|version= Year-End Chart \|access-date= February 5, 2023}} \| 93
scope="col"\| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine \|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/hot-christian-songs/ \|title= Hot Christian Songs – Billboard \|magazine= Billboard \|version= Year-End Chart \|access-date= June 13, 2022}} \| 74

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Better"

scope="col"| Chart (2019)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-christian-songs/ |title= Hot Christian Songs – Billboard |magazine= Billboard |version= Year-End Chart |access-date= February 5, 2023}}

| 93

scope="col"| Chart (2020)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Christian Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/hot-christian-songs/ |title= Hot Christian Songs – Billboard |magazine= Billboard |version= Year-End Chart |access-date= June 13, 2022}}

| 74

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release history and formats for "Better"
scope="col"\| Region ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format ! scope="col"\| Label ! scope="col"\| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" \| United States \| August 2019 \| Christian radio \| rowspan="2" \| {{hlist\| Bowyer & Bow \| Sparrow Records \| Capitol Christian Music Group}} \| {{center\|}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history and formats for "Better"

scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | United States

| August 2019

| Christian radio

| rowspan="2" | {{hlist| Bowyer & Bow | Sparrow Records | Capitol Christian Music Group}}

| {{center|}}