Better Things (Aespa song) explained

Better Things
Cover:Aespa - Better Things.png
Type:single
Genre:Dance
Length:3:23
Label:
Producer:
  • Clampitt
  • Keen
Prev Title:Spicy
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:We Go
Next Year:2023

"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. 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.[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 tour at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.[7] The same day, the group released the summer-themed teaser photos.[8]

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.[9]

Promotion

On August 4, a snippet of "Better Things" was revealed on TikTok before the song's official release. 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]

Track listings

  1. "Better Things" – 3:23
  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
  1. "Better Things" (Tropkillaz remix) – 3:00
  2. "Better Things" – 3:23
  1. "Better Things" (Raye remix) – 3:25
  2. "Better Things" – 3:23
  1. "Better Things" (Dance remix) – 3:14
  2. "Better Things" – 3:23
  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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japan Download (Billboard Japan)[19] 82
Netherlands (Global Top 40)[20] 13
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] 24
South Korea (Circle)[22] 50
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[23] 63

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
South Korea (Circle)[24] 53

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatVersionLabel
Various <-- Inclusive of South Korea -->August 18, 2023Original
September 8, 2023
September 22, 2023Tropkillaz remix
September 29, 2023Raye remix
October 27, 2023Dance remix
United StatesCD single

Notes and References

  1. News: The 79 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022. December 15, 2022. Teen Vogue. August 12, 2023. December 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221224023259/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/best-k-pop-songs-2022.
  2. 10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Aespa, Dove Cameron, Dayglow & More. June 27, 2022. Billboard. August 12, 2023.
  3. Web site: 에스파, 애플 오리지널 영화 '테트리스' OST 참여..글로벌 대세 행보. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230329054857/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/112/0003622531. March 29, 2023. September 5, 2023. Naver News. ko.
  4. aespa_official. 1684186926759436289. Notice: Room for Rent!. August 12, 2023.
  5. Web site: Yeo. Gladys. July 31, 2023. Hear a teaser of aespa's new single 'Better Things'. August 12, 2023. NME. en-UK.
  6. Web site: 지. 민경. 에스파, 'Better Things' 시트콤 첫 공개..능청 연기+찐친 케미. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230809013103/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004903770. August 9, 2023. August 12, 2023. entertain.naver.com. ko.
  7. Web site: 경. 선미. 에스파, 13일 美 LA 콘서트서 'Better Things' 무대 최초 공개. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230809011738/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004899842. August 9, 2023. August 12, 2023. Naver News. ko.
  8. Web site: Hyo-jin. Jeon. 에스파, 청량 에너지 충전 티저 공개. August 12, 2023. Naver News. ko.
  9. Web site: Hye-jin. Hwang. 에스파 서머송 온다, 8월 18일 영어 싱글 'Better Things' 발매. August 12, 2023. v.daum.net. ko.
  10. Web site: THE NEW ISSUE OF DORK, FEATURING AESPA, IS COMING SOON – PRE-ORDER. August 12, 2023. Naver. August 11, 2023 . en.
  11. Web site: Byung-cheol. Yoo. 에스파, 신곡 'Better Things' 티저 이미지 공개 화제…청량 에너지 충전. August 12, 2023. Naver. ko.
  12. Web site: 【APMA 2023】亚洲流行音乐大奖2023年度入围名单. zh. November 29, 2023. December 6, 2023. December 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231206235659/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIyMTY1ODA4NA

    &mid=2247485382&idx=1&sn=bf98629c666752c9a5ec1bf4e537968a&chksm=e838294ddf4fa05b42201582eb38e96440e7a439566ce6d9208bb31fa05e9c7a3ae33bb9deec

    . live.
  13. Web site: Better Things - Single by aespa . October 11, 2023 . .
  14. Web site: Better Things (Sped Up + Slowed Down) - Single by aespa . October 11, 2023 . .
  15. Web site: Better Things (Tropkillaz Remix) - Single by aespa . October 11, 2023 . .
  16. Web site: Better Things (Remix) - Single by aespa . October 11, 2023 . .
  17. Web site: Better Things (Dance Remix) - Single by aespa . October 27, 2023 . .
  18. Web site: aespa Single Album 'Better Things' . October 27, 2023 . Shop aespa .
  19. Web site: Billboard Japan Download Songs – Week of August 23, 2023. Billboard Japan. ja. August 23, 2023.
  20. Web site: Nederlandse Global Top 40 – week 34, 2023 . . August 26, 2023 . nl.
  21. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2023. August 26, 2023.
  22. Web site: Circle Digital Chart – Week 37 of 2023. Circle Chart. ko. September 10–16, 2023. September 21, 2023.
  23. Aespa Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100). Billboard. November 25, 2023.
  24. Web site: Digital Chart – September 2023 . October 12, 2023 . . ko.

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