Better (Khalid song)

"Better" is a song by American singer Khalid for his first EP Suncity (2018). It was released as the lead single from the EP on September 14, 2018.[1][2] It was also included on the album Free Spirit. The song was a commercial success and became Khalid's first solo top 10 single in the US. French duet version with the Canadian singer and translator Michaël Morin will appear at the end of 2018.

"Better"
Single by Khalid
from the album Suncity
Released	September 14, 2018 (2018-09-14)
Genre	R&B
Length	3:50
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Mikkel Storleer Eriksen Tor Erik Hermansen Ryan Vojtesak Jamil Chammas Khalid Robinson
Producer(s)	Denis Kosiak StarGate Digi Charlie Handsome
Khalid singles chronology
"Eastside" (2018) "Better" (2018) "Saturday Nights Remix" (2019)
Music video
"Better" on YouTube "Better (French Version)" on YouTube

Commercial performance

"Better" peaked at number eight in the US in its 30th week, making it one of the slowest ascends to the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] Internationally, the song peaked at number 14 in Canada, number four in Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore, six in Australia, and various spots in the top 10 and top 40.

Additionally, "Better" marked Khalid's second number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, following the 11-week run of "Young Dumb & Broke".[4] It also became his first number-one on Billboard's Rhythmic chart in its February 16, 2019 issue.[5][6]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018–19) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 6 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 36 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[9] 3 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[10] 26 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 14 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[12] 21 Denmark (Tracklisten)[13] 10 Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 49 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[15] 24 Ireland (IRMA)[16] 8 Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[17] 22 Malaysia (RIM)[18] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 30 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[21] 9 Portugal (AFP)[22] 6 Romania (Airplay 100)[23] 91 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[24] 57 Singapore (RIAS)[25] 4 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[26] 65 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27] 28 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 13 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 26 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[30] 15 US Billboard Hot 100[31] 8 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[32] 37 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[33] 18 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[34] 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[35] 5 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[36] 1 US Rolling Stone Top 100[37] 37

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position Australia (ARIA)[38] 77 Denmark (Tracklisten)[39] 95 Portugal (AFP)[40] 81 Chart (2019) Position Australia (ARIA)[41] 28 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[42] 34 Denmark (Tracklisten)[43] 98 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 13 Portugal (AFP)[45] 52 US Billboard Hot 100[46] 20 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[47] 12 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[48] 21 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[49] 10 US Rolling Stone Top 100[50] 21

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51]	6× Platinum	420,000
Canada (Music Canada)[52]	5× Platinum	400,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[53]	Platinum	90,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54]	2× Platinum	60,000^*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[55]	Platinum	60,000
Poland (ZPAV)[56]	Gold	10,000^*
Portugal (AFP)[57]	Platinum	20,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[58]	Platinum	600,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	October 9, 2018	Contemporary hit radio	RCA	[59]
		Rhythmic contemporary radio		[60]

References

1. Colburn, Randall (September 14, 2018). "Khalid shares sexy new jam 'Better': Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
2. Ch, Devin (September 13, 2018). "Khalid Drops "Better" In Anticipation Of His 2nd LP". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
3. "Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road,' Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 With Record-Shattering Streams". Billboard. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
4. "Khalid's 'Better' Hits No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs Chart". Billboard. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
5. "Rhythmic Songs, February 16, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
6. "Khalid's 'Better' Hits No. 1 On Rhythmic Songs, Top 10 On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" from Billboard (February 13, 2019)
7. "Australian-charts.com – Khalid – Better". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Khalid – Better" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
9. "Ultratop.be – Khalid – Better" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
10. "Ultratop.be – Khalid – Better" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
11. "Khalid Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
12. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201839 into search. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
13. "Track Top-40 Uge 43, 2018". Hitlisten. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
14. "Offiziellecharts.de – Khalid – Better". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
15. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
16. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
17. "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. October 22, 2018. Archived from the original on 2017-03-09. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
18. "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
19. "Dutchcharts.nl – Khalid – Better" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
20. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
21. "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 39, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
22. "Portuguesecharts.com – Khalid – Better". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
23. "Airplay 100 – 2 iunie 2019" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. June 2, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
25. "Singapore Top 30 Digital Streaming Chart – Week 43" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2018.
26. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201907 into search. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
27. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201838 into search. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
28. "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
29. "Swisscharts.com – Khalid – Better". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
31. "Khalid Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
32. "Khalid Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
33. "Khalid Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
34. "Khalid Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
35. "Khalid Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
36. "Khalid Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
37. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
38. "ARIA End of Year Singles 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
39. "Track Top-100 2018" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
40. "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Singles 2018" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
41. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
42. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
43. "Track Top-100 2019" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
44. "Top Selling Singles of 2019". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
45. "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
46. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
47. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
48. "Pop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
49. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
50. "Top 100 Songs of 2019". Rolling Stone. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
51. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
52. "Canadian single certifications – Khalid – Better". Music Canada. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
53. "Danish single certifications – Khalid – Better". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
54. "New Zealand single certifications – Khalid – Better". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
55. "Norwegian single certifications – Khalid – Better" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
56. "Polish single certifications – Khalid – Better" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
57. "Top AFP/Audigest - Semana 03 de 2020" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 5. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
58. "British single certifications – Khalid – Better". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 November 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Better in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
59. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
60. "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.