Better Things (Aespa song)

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"Better Things"
Single by Aespa
Language
  • English
ReleasedAugust 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
GenreDance
Length3:23
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Clampitt
  • Keen
Aespa singles chronology
"Spicy"
(2023) 		"Better Things"
(2023) 		"We Go"
(2023)
Music video
"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.[a] 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[edit]

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]

Composition[edit]

"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]

Promotion[edit]

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]

Accolades[edit]

Award and nominations for "Better Things"
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2023 Asian Pop Music Awards Song of the Year (Overseas) Pending [12]

Track listings[edit]

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Release history for "Better Things"
Region Date Format Version Label
Various August 18, 2023
Original
September 8, 2023
  • Sped Up
  • Slowed Down
  • Snack
September 22, 2023 Tropkillaz remix
September 29, 2023 Raye remix
October 27, 2023 Dance remix
United States CD single
  • Original
  • Sped Up
  • Slowed Down
  • Snack
  • Tropkillaz remix
  • Instrumental

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ For other English-language songs by Aespa, see § Background.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The 79 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022". Teen Vogue. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  2. ^ "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Aespa, Dove Cameron, Dayglow & More". Billboard. June 27, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  3. ^ "에스파, 애플 오리지널 영화 '테트리스' OST 참여..글로벌 대세 행보". Naver News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  4. ^ @aespa_official (July 26, 2023). "Notice: Room for Rent!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 12, 2023 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Yeo, Gladys (July 31, 2023). "Hear a teaser of aespa's new single 'Better Things'". NME. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c 지, 민경. "에스파, 'Better Things' 시트콤 첫 공개..능청 연기+찐친 케미". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  7. ^ a b 경, 선미. "에스파, 13일 美 LA 콘서트서 'Better Things' 무대 최초 공개". Naver News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Hyo-jin, Jeon. "에스파, 청량 에너지 충전 티저 공개". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Hye-jin, Hwang. "에스파 서머송 온다, 8월 18일 영어 싱글 'Better Things' 발매". v.daum.net (in Korean). Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "THE NEW ISSUE OF DORK, FEATURING AESPA, IS COMING SOON – PRE-ORDER". Naver. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Byung-cheol, Yoo. "에스파, 신곡 'Better Things' 티저 이미지 공개 화제…청량 에너지 충전". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "【APMA 2023】亚洲流行音乐大奖2023年度入围名单" (in Chinese). November 29, 2023. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "Better Things - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  14. ^ "Better Things (Sped Up + Slowed Down) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Spotify.
  15. ^ "Better Things (Tropkillaz Remix) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  16. ^ "Better Things (Remix) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  17. ^ "Better Things (Dance Remix) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  18. ^ "aespa Single Album 'Better Things'". Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Shop aespa.
  19. ^ "Aespa Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Download Songs – Week of August 23, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Global Top 40 – week 34, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  23. ^ "Circle Digital Chart – Week 37 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). September 10–16, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  24. ^ "Aespa Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "Digital Chart – September 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 12, 2023.
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