Better (song)

Better
Lena × Nico Santos
publication	16th August 2019
length	3:19 min.
Genre (s)	pop
Author (s)	Lena Meyer-Landrut , Kate Morgan, Pascal Reinhardt, Joe Walter, Nico Wellenbrink
Award (s)	KCA
album	Nico Santos / Only Love, L (More Love Edition)

Better ( English for "better") is a duet by the German pop singer Lena and the German singer-songwriter Nico Santos . The piece is the fourth single from Lena's fifth studio album Only Love, L or from the “More Love Edition” of the album as well as the first single from the self-titled second studio album by Nico Santos.

Creation and artwork

Better was written by the two interpreters Lena Meyer-Landrut and Nico Santos - under his real name “Nico Wellenbrink” - themselves, together with co-authors Kate Morgan, Pascal Reinhardt and Joe Walter. With the exception of the mastering , Reinhardt from Berlin excelled for most of the studio work. Among other things, he was responsible for mixing, instrumentation (bass guitar, guitar, keyboard and drums) and programming. The mastering took place under the direction of the Berlin sound engineer Lex Barkey .

On the front cover of the single you can only see - in addition to the artist name and song title - a blue torn heart on a white background. The heart is centered. The title of the song can be found above the heart, including the artist's information, both in black letters. On an alternative cover picture, the same heart can be seen against a black background with white letters.

Publication and promotion

Alternative front cover.

Better was first published as download and streaming on August 16, 2019. It was published as a single track by the music label Polydor , and distributed by Universal Music Publishing . The song was published by Budde Music Publishing, Djorkaeff Beatzarre Edition, Drublic Edition, Fisherman Songs, Joe Walter Musikverlag and Kiwi Edition. Around two months later, on October 18, 2019, an acoustic version of Better was released as a single track for download & streaming. After Better was initially only as a single-track released, it appeared on December 6, 2019 the "More Love Edition" by Meyer-Landrut's fifth studio album Only Love, L . On May 8, 2020, it also appeared on Nico Santos' second self-titled studio album.

To promote the song, Lena and Santos performed a few live performances. The piece celebrated its live premiere in a joint performance on August 22, 2019, as part of the open-air festival Stars for Free . Furthermore, Lena and Santos performed together at the German Radio Prize on September 25, 2019, at prime time on November 1, 2019 in the Sat.1 show Luke! The Great Night Show and the ARD morning magazine on November 26, 2019. During the 1 Live Krone award ceremony on December 5, 2019, Santos Better presented in a duet with the German singer-songwriter Lea . In addition, Santos also appeared solo with Better at prime time in the ARD show Hirschhausen's Quiz des Menschen on September 21, 2019. Lena, on the other hand, presented Better solo in the SWR3 show New Pop Festival Special on September 21, 2019.

background information

For Better it is not the first collaboration between Meyer-Landrut and Santos. In 2016 they covered Closer from the Chainsmokers for Meyer-Landrut's YouTube channel . In 2017, Santos was one of the co-authors of Lena's single Lost in You . The single reached the German and Austrian single charts. In the same year Santos wrote the follow-up single If I Wasn't Your Daughter with. This was able to surpass the success of Lost in You and at the same time reached the charts of all DA-CH countries. For Better occurred according to their own words of Meyer-Landrut and Santos, the melody was composed as Santos with some buddies in the studio and he thought it sounded perfect for a duet. He then sent Meyer-Landrut a WhatsApp message that she urgently had to come to the studio immediately. After 30 minutes she arrived at the studio with her moped . The piece was finished after about four to five hours.

content

The lyrics to Better are in English . The title translates into German as “better”. The music and the text were written and composed jointly by Lena Meyer-Landrut, Kate Morgan, Pascal Reinhardt, Joe Walter and Nico Wellenbrink (Nico Santos). Musically, the song moves in the area of pop music . The tempo is 150 beats per minute . The key is D flat minor . In terms of content, the piece contrasts different separation situations as well as the respective emotions of the abandoned. The key message is that there are always two sides and that it helps to put yourself in the shoes of the other.

The song is based on two verses, a chorus , a bridge and an outro . The song begins with the first verse sung by Meyer-Landrut. This is followed by a so-called “pre-chorus”, before the actual refrain, with its ending “post-chorus”, follows. All parts of the refrain are interpreted alternately or simultaneously by Meyer-Landrut and Santos. The same process is repeated with the second stanza, only that in this case the stanza is sung by Santos. After the second chorus, there is a bridge that is made up of the second paragraph of the chorus. The chorus follows a third time before the song ends with an outro. The outro consists of the text of the post-chorus, which consists only of the repeating line “Better, better, better, better. Who's gonna love you better "( English for" better, better, better, better. (Someone) who will love you better "). In addition to the main vocals of the two performers, the voice of Pascal Reinhardt can be heard in the background.

"Why you take my love just to rip it up? Guess for you it was not enough. All the best, good luck now, try to find someone new. Who's gonna love you better. Take my love just to rip it up. Guess for you it was not enough. All the best, good luck now, try to find someone new. Who's gonna love you better. " - Refrain, original excerpt

“Why do you take my love to tear it apart? I guess it wasn't enough for you. All the best, good luck trying to find someone new. Who can love you better Take my love just to tear it up I guess it wasn't enough for you. All the best, good luck trying to find someone new. Who can love you better. " - Refrain, translation

Music video

There were three official video releases about Better . First of all, a lyric video celebrated its premiere on August 16, 2019. At the bottom of the picture, as is typically the case for lyric videos, it always shows the currently sung song lines. The heart from the single front cover can be seen in the middle of the picture. This unfolds again and again to a piece of paper and back. Two weeks later, on August 30, 2019, the full music video was released. The video can be divided into two sections. On the one hand you can see Meyer-Landrut and Santos speeding through a cornfield in a red SUV, Meyer-Landrut being the driver and Santos the co-driver. On the other hand, it shows the two singing the song together in the said cornfield and separately in opposing locations. In the separate scenes you can see Meyer-Landrut in a red outfit, in front of a red background, while Santos, dressed in white, sings against a gray background. In another scene, Meyer-Landrut sits lightly dressed on a horse while Santos is in a dark red-lit room with steel chains hanging from the ceiling. Meyer-Landrut later went to Santos. In a few sequences, Meyer-Landrut can also be seen in a reclining crowd. The video ends with the SUV hanging from the ceiling against a black background. On the roof, the words "Take My Love" finds ( English for "Take My Love") and on the bonnet ( "Ride or Die" English for "ride or die.") Again. The total length of the video is 3:30 minutes. PLUG directed. To date, the music video has over 18.3 million views on YouTube (as of April 2020). An acoustic video for Better was released on October 18, 2019 . In the black and white video you can see the two singing the song in a living room-like atmosphere. Santos accompanies the two on the keyboard. The video was recorded by Paul Hüttemann.

Allegations of plagiarism

The music video for Better had to submit to some allegations of plagiarism. On the one hand, it should be very similar to the video Papi by the Swiss rapper Monet192 . The allegations refer to several scenes. Among other things, the rapper Badmómzjay can be found on the back of an odd hoofed horse . Lena also wears a light- colored shirt and panties , Badmómzjay a shrill latex outfit . Furthermore, both videos contain a car ride and the sequence of scenes looks quite similar to some viewers. In addition to the scene content, the clothes of Meyer-Landrut and the dancers in Papi would be very similar. Furthermore, she was accused of plagiarism against Helene Fischer . A screenshot from Better , which Meyer-Landrut published on her Instagram profile, is supposed to remind of a recording by Fischer. It is a latex outfit, for which Fischer was criticized a week before Meyer-Landrut's contribution. The fans were negative and celebrities like The BossHoss saw the similarity and commented on the post.

Contributors

Song production Lex Barkey : Mastering Lena Meyer-Landrut : vocals , composer , songwriter Kate Morgan: composer, songwriter Pascal Reinhardt: Mixing , bass guitar , backing vocals , guitar , keyboard , composer, songwriter, programming , drums Joe Walter: composer, songwriter Nico Wellenbrink ( Nico Santos ): vocals, composer, songwriter Companies 100Blackdolphins: Film Producer (Music Video) Budde Music Publishing: Publisher Djorkaeff Beatzarre Edition: Publisher Drublic Edition: Publisher Fisherman Songs: Publisher Inmotion: Film producer (music video) Joe Walter Musikverlag: Verlag Kiwi Edition: Publisher Polydor : music label Universal Music Publishing : Distribution

Music video (selection) Ali Akguel: casting director Georgios Angelidis: set designer Aljoscha Bohatsch: Creative Director Pia Eberhardt: costume designer Julie Griebau: costume designer Victoria Hindelang: styling Philipp Höbel: film editor , camera assistant Paul Hüttemann: cameraman (acoustic version) Domenic Lohrmann: lighting technician Daniela Meichelböck: Styling Inga Menrath: lighting technician PLUG: Director Pero Popovic: set designer Bastian Ried: cameraman Maria Ried: film producer Jakub Rzucidlo: Co-director, film producer Philipp Verheyen: Mask Tatjana Wenig: Director

reception

Prices

On April 12, 2020 Better won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award in the “Favorite catchy tune” category and competes against 194 countries ( Mark Forster ), On what's to come ( Lotte & Max Giesinger ), Good feeling ( Fargo ), Hoch ( Tim Bendzko ) and Vincent ( Sarah Connor ).

Charts and chart placements

Better reached position 15 in the single charts in Germany and stayed in the charts for a total of 26 weeks. Furthermore, Better reached the top position in the German airplay charts for three weeks . In Austria , the single reached its highest chart listing in 20 chart weeks with position 17, in Switzerland in five chart weeks with position 89. In 2019, Better was placed at position 79 in the German single annual charts and at position 73 in Austria. In the German airplay annual charts, the single came in 24th.

For Meyer-Landrut this is the 23rd chart success as an interpreter in Germany, the 13th in Austria and the eighth in Switzerland. As an author, she reached the charts in Germany for the eleventh time with Better , the charts in Austria for the seventh time and the Swiss charts for the fifth time. For Santos this is the fifth chart success as an interpreter in Germany and Austria and the fourth in Switzerland. In his writing, he reached the single charts in Germany for the 17th time, the charts in Austria for the twelfth time and the ninth in Switzerland. For Walter as an author, Better is the eleventh chart success in the German single charts as well as the seventh in Austria and the third in Switzerland. Reinhardt reached the German charts for the ninth time, the single charts in Austria for the seventh time and the Swiss hit parade for the fifth time. Morgan reached the German charts for the first time as an author and for the second time after Hope ( The Chainsmokers feat. Winona Oak ) the charts in Austria and Switzerland.

Chart placements Charts Top ranking Weeks Chart placements  Germany (GfK) 15th (26 weeks) 26th  Austria (Ö3) 17th (20 weeks) 20th  Switzerland (IFPI) 89 (5 weeks) 5

Annual charts Charts (2019) placement Annual charts (2019)  Germany (GfK) 79  Austria (Ö3) 73

Awards for music sales

In March 2020, Better was awarded a gold record in Germany for over 200,000 units sold. It is Meyer-Landrut's sixth single release that has at least achieved gold status in Germany. For Santos it is the fourth single that has at least achieved gold status in Germany. In April 2020, a gold record was awarded in Austria. The single received a total of two golds for over 215,000 units sold.

Country / Region	Award	Sales
Awards for music sales (country / region, Award, Sales)
Germany (BVMI)	gold	200,000
Austria (IFPI)	gold	15,000
All in all	2 × gold	215,000

Cover versions

• 2020: Jan Plewka , the German rock singer covered the piece during the seventh season of the VOX show Sing mein Song - Das Tauschkonzert . The piece was released as a promo single on May 13, 2020. The cover version can also be found on the “Deluxe Edition” of the TV sampler, which was released on May 22, 2020.

Web links

• Music video for "Better" (music video) on YouTube
• Music video for "Better" (acoustic video) on YouTube
• Music video for "Better" (poetry video) on YouTube

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} repertoire search. online.gema.de, accessed on April 15, 2020 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Credits / Better / Lena. listen.tidal.com, August 16, 2019, accessed April 15, 2020 . 
3. ^ ^{A b} "Better" by Lena & Nico Santos. music.apple.com, August 16, 2019, accessed April 15, 2020 . 
4. ↑ Credits / Better (Acoustic Version) / Lena. listen.tidal.com, August 16, 2019, accessed August 16, 2020 . 
5. ^ "Better (Acoustic Version)" by Lena & Nico Santos. music.apple.com, October 18, 2019, accessed April 15, 2020 . 
6. ↑ Lena * - Only Love, L (More Love Edition). discogs.com, December 6, 2019, accessed April 16, 2020 . 
7. ↑ Nico Santos - Nico Santos. hitparade.ch, accessed on May 7, 2020 . 
8. ↑ Big premiere at Stars for Free! Lena teasts song with Nico Santos. starsforfree.radiohamburg.de, August 13, 2019, accessed on April 15, 2020 . 
9. ↑ Lena & Nico Santos: “I don't believe it! This is my song! " deutscher-radiopreis.de, September 25, 2019, accessed on April 15, 2020 . 
10. ↑ Luke! The Great Night Show: Carolin Kebekus saves Mockridge. bild.de, November 2, 2019, accessed April 15, 2020 . 
11. ↑ Live music: Lena Meyer-Landrut & Nico Santos. daserste.de, November 26, 2019, accessed on April 15, 2020 . 
12. ↑ Jochen Rausch: 264,000 WDR viewers saw 1Live Krone. beta.musikwoche.de, December 6, 2019, accessed on April 15, 2020 . 
13. ↑ Hirschhausen's Quiz of People XXL. daserste.de, accessed on April 15, 2020 . 
14. ↑ Frank Medwedeff: "Special" for SWR3 New Pop Festival nominate occupied. beta.musikwoche.de, August 21, 2019, accessed on April 15, 2020 . 
15. ↑ Lena: The Chainsmokers - Closer (Leni Sings feat. Nico Santos). youtube.com, August 21, 2016, accessed April 16, 2020 . 
16. ↑ Lena - Lost in You (single). officialcharts.de, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
17. ↑ Lena - Lost in You. austriancharts.at, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
18. ↑ Lena - If I Wasn't Your Daughter (Single). officialcharts.de, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
19. ↑ Lena - If I Wasn't Your Daughter. austriancharts.at, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
20. ↑ Lena - If I Wasn't Your Daughter. hitparade.ch, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
21. ↑ Dominik Göttker: Nico Santos: Crazy meeting with Lena Meyer-Landrut - "I have you ..." derwesten.de, December 9, 2019, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
22. ↑ Power video for the power duet: LENA x Nico Santos publish “Better” music video. universal-music.de, August 30, 2019, accessed April 16, 2020 . 
23. ↑ BPM for "Better" by Lena. songbpm.com, accessed April 16, 2020 . 
24. ^ Key & BPM for Better by Lena, Nico Santos. tunebat.com, accessed April 16, 2020 . 
25. ↑ ^{a b} Lena: Lena × Nico Santos - Better (Official Video). youtube.com, August 30, 2019, accessed April 16, 2020 . 
26. ↑ Tobias Rüster: Lena Meyer-Landrut: Violent accusations of cheating! Did Lena help herself HERE from Helene Fischer? news.de, September 5, 2019, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
27. ↑ Lena Meyer-Landrut clears away. rtl.de, accessed on April 13, 2020 . 
28. ↑ ^{a b} Lena × Nico Santos - Better. officialcharts.de, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
29. ↑ Airplay Charts Germany 40/2019. germancharts.de, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
30. ↑ Airplay Charts Germany 42/2019. germancharts.de, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
31. ↑ ^{a b} Lena × Nico Santos - Better. austriancharts.at, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
32. ↑ ^{a b} Lena × Nico Santos - Better. hitparade.ch, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
33. ↑ ^{a b} Top 100 annual single charts 2019. officialcharts.de, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
34. ↑ ^{a b} Annual Hit Parade Singles 2019. austriancharts.at, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
35. ↑ Michael Schmich: Strong Airplay Annual Results 2019 for Ed Sheeran and Ava Max.radioszene.de, January 25, 2020, accessed on May 27, 2020 . 
36. ↑ ^{a b} gold / platinum database. musikindustrie.de, accessed on April 16, 2020 . 
37. ↑ ^{a b} gold / platinum database. https://ifpi.at , accessed on April 17, 2020 . 
38. ↑ Better (From Sing My Song, Vol. 7). listen.tidal.com, accessed May 13, 2020 .