Better Than
{{Short description|2007 single by John Butler Trio}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Better Than
| cover = JBT Better Than.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = John Butler Trio
| album = Grand National
| B-side =
| released = {{start date|df=yes|2007|8|27}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue912.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 27/08/2007|publisher=ARIA|page=29|date=27 August 2007|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222442/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20071020-0000/issue912.pdf|archive-date=22 February 2008|access-date=2 November 2023}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| length = 3:31
| label = Jarrah
| writer = John Butler
| producer =
- John Butler
- Mario Caldato Jr.
| prev_title = Good Excuse
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Used to Get High
| next_year = 2007
}}
"Better Than" is a song by Australian band John Butler Trio from their fourth studio album, Grand National (2007). Produced by John Butler and Mario Caldato Jr., it was released as the album's third single in Australia in August 2007. The single includes two previously unreleased tracks recorded in the Grand National sessions and a special radio mix version of "Better Than" from Chris Lord-Alge.
"Better Than" debuted and peaked at number 16 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart on 3 September 2007. On the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2007, it ranked in at number four.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/triple-js-hottest-100/2007/01/26/1169788690166.html|title=Triple J's Hottest 100|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=26 January 2007|accessdate=2 October 2009}} The song was also released in the United States, where it topped the Billboard Triple A chart for seven weeks in mid-2007.
Music video
An accompanying music video for "Better Than", which utilizes the "Chris Lord-Alge radio mix" has been released on YouTube on 1 August 2007. In this video, members of the John Butler Trio band perform the song while on animated posters and performing on various spots of the streets with various pedestrians and skateboarders going by. Throughout, two messages (which reiterate the lyrical content in the song itself) are shown in a style of graffiti saying "The best things in life...aren't things!" and "Art changes people... people change the world."{{YouTube|79cG_F1GxfI|Better Than - Official Video Clip}} (uploaded 1 August 2007)
Track listing
{{tracklist
| all_writing = John Butler
| headline = Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Better Than|author=John Butler Trio|year=2007|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Jarrah Records|id=JBT012}}
| title1 = Better Than
| length1 = 3:31
| title2 = Recognise Me
| length2 = 4:02
| title3 = Ain't That Just the Way
| length3 = 5:23
| title4 = Better Than
| note4 = Chris Lord-Alge radio mix
| length4 = 3:28
}}
Personnel
The John Butler Trio
- John Butler – vocals, acoustic/amplified 6 string guitar, banjo, harmonica
- Shannon Birchall – double bass, backing vocals
- Michael Barker – drums, congas, shaker, tambourine, cow bells, vibraslap, backing vocals
Production credits
- John Butler – producer
- Mario Caldato Jr. – production, engineering, mixing
- Shannon Birchall – co-production
- Michael Barker – co-production
- Jarrad Hearman – assistant engineering
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Tom Walker – artwork
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2007)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|16|artist=The John Butler Trio|song=Better Than|rowheader=true|access-date=30 March 2020}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|32|artist=The John Butler Trio|song=Better Than|rowheader=true|access-date=30 March 2020}} |
| scope="row"| US Triple A (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/triple-a/2007-07-14/|title=Adult Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=14 July 2007|access-date=2 November 2023}}
| 1 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2007)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2007/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2007|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=30 March 2020}}
| 100 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Better Than"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|certyear=2025|access-date=May 14, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The John Butler Trio}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Jarrah Records singles
Category:John Butler Trio songs