Better Things (Aespa song)

"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.[lower-alpha 1] 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. It was later included of the digital version on the group's fourth extended play Drama which was released on November 10, 2023.

"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

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 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

"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

Charts

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

References
  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". n.news.naver.com (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. 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. 경, 선미. "에스파, 13일 美 LA 콘서트서 'Better Things' 무대 최초 공개". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  8. Hyo-jin, Jeon. "에스파, 청량 에너지 충전 티저 공개". n.news.naver.com (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. "Better Things - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  13. "Better Things (Sped Up + Slowed Down) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Spotify.
  14. "Better Things (Tropkillaz Remix) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  15. "Better Things (Remix) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  16. "Better Things (Dance Remix) - Single by aespa". Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Apple Music.
  17. "aespa Single Album 'Better Things'". Retrieved October 27, 2023 – via Shop aespa.
  18. "Aespa Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  19. "Billboard Japan Download Songs – Week of August 23, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  20. "Nederlandse Global Top 40 – week 34, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  21. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  22. "Circle Digital Chart – Week 37 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). September 10–16, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  23. "Digital Chart – September 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 12, 2023.
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