Login
Login

Better Things (Aespa song)

{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Better Things

| cover = Aespa - Better Things.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Aespa

| released = {{start date|2023|8|18}}

| written =

| studio =

| genre = Dance

| length = 3:23

| label =

| writer =

| producer =

  • Clampitt
  • Keen

| prev_title = Spicy

| prev_year = 2023

| next_title = We Go

| next_year = 2023

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Aespa – Better Things sample.opus

}}{{External music video|{{YouTube|gfk3QLU1x0E|"Better Things"}}}}

}}

"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.{{efn|For other English-language songs by Aespa, see {{slink||Background}}.}} 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.

Background

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/best-k-pop-songs-2022|title=The 79 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022|date=December 15, 2022|work=Teen Vogue|access-date=August 12, 2023|archive-date=December 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224023259/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/best-k-pop-songs-2022}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/10-cool-new-pop-songs-aespa-dove-cameron-dayglow-1235107101/|title=10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Aespa, Dove Cameron, Dayglow & More|date=June 27, 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 12, 2023}} On March 31, 2023, they released their second English song, "Hold On Tight", for the soundtrack of the Apple Original Film Tetris.{{Cite web|title=에스파, 애플 오리지널 영화 '테트리스' OST 참여..글로벌 대세 행보|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/112/0003622531|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329054857/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/112/0003622531|archive-date=March 29, 2023|access-date=September 5, 2023|website=Naver News|language=ko}}

On July 27, 2023, Aespa began teasing their upcoming release "Better Things" that was later revealed to be released on August 18.{{cite tweet|user=aespa_official|number=1684186926759436289|title=Notice: Room for Rent!|access-date=August 12, 2023}} 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".{{Cite web|last=Yeo|first=Gladys|date=July 31, 2023|title=Hear a teaser of aespa's new single 'Better Things'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/aespa-better-things-unreleased-raye-demo-3475420|access-date=August 12, 2023|website=NME|language=en-UK}} Before the release of the single, SM Entertainment released the first episode of the group's web series sitcom, Better Things, on August 7.{{Cite web|last=지|first=민경|title=에스파, 'Better Things' 시트콤 첫 공개..능청 연기+찐친 케미|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004903770|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809013103/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004903770|archive-date=August 9, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023|website=entertain.naver.com|language=ko}} 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.{{Cite web|last=경|first=선미|title=에스파, 13일 美 LA 콘서트서 'Better Things' 무대 최초 공개|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004899842|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809011738/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004899842|archive-date=August 9, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023|website=Naver News|language=ko}} The same day, the group released the summer-themed teaser photos.{{Cite web|last=Hyo-jin|first=Jeon|title=에스파, 청량 에너지 충전 티저 공개|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=382&aid=0001068631|access-date=August 12, 2023|website=Naver News|language=ko}}

Composition

"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.{{Cite web|last= Hye-jin|first=Hwang|title=에스파 서머송 온다, 8월 18일 영어 싱글 'Better Things' 발매|url=https://v.daum.net/v/20230731100431193|access-date=August 12, 2023|website=v.daum.net|language=ko}}

Promotion

On August 4, a snippet of "Better Things" was revealed on TikTok before the song's official release.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} Aespa would debut "Better Things" at the first show of the American leg of their Synk: Hyper Line tour on August 13. The group also appeared on the magazine cover of Dork's September 2023 issue.{{Cite web|title= THE NEW ISSUE OF DORK, FEATURING AESPA, IS COMING SOON – PRE-ORDER|url=https://readdork.com/news/dork-september-2023-aespa-cover/|access-date=August 12, 2023|website=Naver|date=August 11, 2023 |language=en}}

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. Other episodes were released on August 9 and 11, respectively. 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".{{Cite web|last=Byung-cheol|first=Yoo|title=에스파, 신곡 'Better Things' 티저 이미지 공개 화제…청량 에너지 충전|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=215&aid=0001118795|access-date=August 12, 2023|website=Naver|language=ko}}

Accolades

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Award and nominations for "Better Things"

align=center

!scope="col"| Year

!scope="col"| Organization

!scope="col"| Award

!scope="col"| Result

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

align="center" | 2023

| Asian Pop Music Awards

| Song of the Year (Overseas)

| {{pending}}

| style="text-align:center"| {{cite web|url=http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIyMTY1ODA4NA==&mid=2247485382&idx=1&sn=bf98629c666752c9a5ec1bf4e537968a&chksm=e838294ddf4fa05b42201582eb38e96440e7a439566ce6d9208bb31fa05e9c7a3ae33bb9deec#rd|title=【APMA 2023】亚洲流行音乐大奖2023年度入围名单|language=zh|date=November 29, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023|archive-date=December 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206235659/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIyMTY1ODA4NA==&mid=2247485382&idx=1&sn=bf98629c666752c9a5ec1bf4e537968a&chksm=e838294ddf4fa05b42201582eb38e96440e7a439566ce6d9208bb31fa05e9c7a3ae33bb9deec|url-status=live}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col 2}}

  • Streaming/digital download{{Cite web |title=Better Things - Single by aespa |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/better-things-single/1699294565 |access-date=October 11, 2023 |via=Apple Music }}
  1. "Better Things" – 3:23
  • Streaming/digital download – Sped Up + Slowed Down{{Cite web |title=Better Things (Sped Up + Slowed Down) - Single by aespa |url=https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/0jXtQE6F6FYFLPx0S3Gp1D |access-date=October 11, 2023 |via=Spotify }}
  1. "Better Things" (Sped Up version) – 3:00
  2. "Better Things" (Slowed Down version) – 3:47
  3. "Better Things" (Snack version) – 0:45
  4. "Better Things" – 3:23
  • Streaming/digital download – Tropkillaz remix{{Cite web |title=Better Things (Tropkillaz Remix) - Single by aespa |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/better-things-tropkillaz-remix-single/1707471546 |access-date=October 11, 2023 |via=Apple Music }}
  1. "Better Things" (Tropkillaz remix) – 3:00
  2. "Better Things" – 3:23

{{col 2}}

  • Streaming/digital download – Raye remix{{Cite web |title=Better Things (Remix) - Single by aespa |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/better-things-remix-single/1708927349 |access-date=October 11, 2023 |via=Apple Music }}
  1. "Better Things" (Raye remix) – 3:25
  2. "Better Things" – 3:23
  • Streaming/digital download – Dance remix{{Cite web |title=Better Things (Dance Remix) - Single by aespa |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/better-things-dance-remix-single/1713421641 |access-date=October 27, 2023 |via=Apple Music }}
  1. "Better Things" (Dance remix) – 3:14
  2. "Better Things" – 3:23
  • CD single{{Cite web |title=aespa Single Album 'Better Things' |url=https://shop.aespa-officialus.com/products/better-things-single-bouquet-cover |access-date=October 27, 2023 |via=Shop aespa }}
  1. "Better Things" – 3:23
  2. "Better Things" (Sped Up version) – 3:00
  3. "Better Things" (Slowed Down version) – 3:47
  4. "Better Things" (Snack version) – 0:45
  5. "Better Things" (Tropkillaz remix) – 3:00
  6. "Better Things" (Instrumental) – 3:23

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col 2}}

=Weekly charts=

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

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Better Things"

! scope="col"| Chart (2023)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|175|artist=Aespa|rowheader=true|access-date=August 29, 2023}}
scope="row"| Japan Download (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlsongs&year=2023&month=08&day=28|title=Billboard Japan Download Songs – Week of August 23, 2023|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=August 23, 2023}}

| 82

scope="row"| Netherlands (Global Top 40){{cite web |title=Nederlandse Global Top 40 – week 34, 2023 |url=https://www.top40.nl/global-top40/2023/week-34 |publisher=Dutch Top 40 |access-date=August 26, 2023 |language=nl}}

| 13

scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2023-09-22|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=August 28, 2023|access-date=August 26, 2023}}

| 24

scope="row"| South Korea (Circle){{Cite web|title=Circle Digital Chart – Week 37 of 2023|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=37&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|date=September 10–16, 2023|access-date=September 21, 2023}}

| 50

scope="row"| Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/aespa/chart-history/vtm/|title=Aespa Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 25, 2023}}

| 63

{{col 2}}

=Monthly charts=

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

|+ Monthly chart performance for "Better Things"

! scope="col"| Chart (2023)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| South Korea (Circle){{cite web |title=Digital Chart – September 2023 |url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=09&hitYear=2023&termGbn=month&yearTime=3 |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Circle Chart |language=ko}}

| 53

{{col-end}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history for "Better Things"

! scope="col" | Region

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Format

! scope="col" | Version

! scope="col" | Label

scope="row" rowspan="5" | Various

| August 18, 2023

| rowspan="5" | {{Hlist|Digital download|streaming}}

| Original

| rowspan="6" | {{Hlist|SM|Warner}}

September 8, 2023

| {{hlist|Sped Up|Slowed Down|Snack}}

September 22, 2023

| Tropkillaz remix

September 29, 2023

| Raye remix

rowspan="2" | October 27, 2023

| Dance remix

rowspan="2" scope="row"| United States

| CD single

| {{hlist|Original|Sped Up|Slowed Down|Snack|Tropkillaz remix|Instrumental}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Aespa}}

Category:2023 singles

Category:2023 songs

Category:Aespa songs

Category:English-language South Korean songs

Category:SM Entertainment singles

Category:Songs written by Leroy Clampitt

Category:Songs written by Raye (singer)

Category:Warner Records singles