Better Than That is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Appearing on her third studio album FROOT, it is the 9th track on the album.
The song was written by Marina alone, and produced by David Kosten.
Better Than That was represented by a lemon 
alongside Happy on Marina's website during the era.[1]
Background[]
The first to be officially recorded,[2] Marina called the song "really important for the sound of the record, 'cause that was one of the first songs I wrote and that heralded the new shift in direction."[3]
Later describing it as her favourite song on the record "musically",[4] and the only spiteful track on the record.[5]
Trivia[]
- Due to unknown reasons, Better Than That is paired with Can't Pin Me Down, and represented by a cherry (
) on vinyl,[6] contradicting the Froot of the Month campaign. - This song is speculated by the community to be written for ex-friend Ellie Goulding and her short-lived relationship to Greg James, a long time friend of Diamandis.
) on vinyl,Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album [Inst.]
|
FROOT | 13 Mar 2015 | 4:36 |
| Demos | ||||
| [7] | Home Demo | N/A - Demo | Leaked: 03 Jan 2021 | 4:57 |
| [8] | Demo | N/A - Demo | Leaked: 03 Jan 2021 | 4:56 |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
You're just another in a long line of men she screwed
Just another in a long line of men she knew
Oh, yes, she did, yeah, she did what she wanted to do
Like all the boys before
Another dream come true
[Verse 2]
It's a power, it's a power, it's a power move
And while I'm not quite sure what she's trying to prove
They all say she's got low self-esteem
So, why is she looking like a cat who got the cream?
[Pre-Chorus]
But you, you can do better than
You can do better than that
[Chorus 1]
I know you've been feeling sad
I've got no right to be mad, mad
But you can do better than that
And I know that you're not to blame
You just got caught in a game, game
But you can do better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
[Verse 3]
She's the apple of everybody's eye
With an angel voice
Devil in disguise
Got a sour face like a poisoned fruit
That the boys can taste till they're out of use
[Verse 4]
And she'll network till her dreams come true
Even if it means getting into bed with you
Everybody's friend, does it ring a bell?
I know a little too much, but I'll never tell
[Pre-Chorus]
But you, you can do better than
You can do better than that
[Chorus 2]
I know you've been feeling sad
I've got no right to be mad, mad
But you can do better than that
And I know that you've been feeling down
You're always out on the town, town
But you can do better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
[Bridge]
Well, I guess it's just what humans do
Hook up with other people till it all falls through
And when it's over, they go out and try and heal their pain
Hook up with another lover, do it all again
I'm not passing judgment on her sexual life
I'm passing judgement on the way she always stuck her knife
In my back ever since we were starting out
Suspicious from the start, I always had my doubts about you
You can do better than
You can do better than that
[Chorus 1]
I know you've been feeling sad
I've got no right to be mad, mad
But you can do better than that
And I know that you're not to blame
You just got caught in a game, game
But you can do better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
[Verse 1]
You're just another in a long line of men she screwed
Just another in a long line of men she knew
Oh, yes, she did, yeah, she did what she wanted to do
Like all the boys before
Another dream come true
[Verse 2]
It's a power, it's a power, it's a power move
And while I'm not quite sure what she's trying to prove
They all say she's got low self-esteem
So, why is she looking like a cat who got the cream?
[Pre-Chorus]
And she'll network till her dreams come true
Even if it means getting into bed with you
Everybody's friend, does it ring a bell?
I know a little too much, but I'll never tell
But you, you can do better than
You can do better than that
[Chorus]
I know you've been feeling sad
I've got no right to be mad, mad
But you can do better than that
And I know that you've been feeling down
You're always out on the town, town
But you can do better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
[Verse 3]
She's the apple of everybody's eye
With an angel voice
Devil in disguise
Got a sour face like a poisoned fruit
That the boys can taste till they're of no use
[Pre-Chorus]
And she'll network till her dreams come true
Even if it means getting into bed with you
Everybody's friend, does it ring a bell?
I know a little too much, but I'll never tell
But you, you can do better than
You can do better than that
[Chorus]
I know you've been feeling sad
I've got no right to be mad, mad
But you can do better than that
And I know that you've been feeling down
You're always out on the town, town
But you can do better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
[Bridge]
Well, I guess it's just what humans do
Hook up with other people till it all falls through
And when it’s over, they go out and try and do it all again
Hook up with another lover, to forget their pain
I'm not passing judgment on her sexual life
I'm passing judgement on the way she always stuck her knife
In my back ever since we were starting out
Suspicious from the start, I always had my doubts about you
You can do better than
You can do better than that
[Chorus 1]
I know you've been feeling sad
I've got no right to be mad, mad
But you can do better than that
And I know that you're not to blame
You just got caught in a game, game
But you can do better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Better than that, better than that
Better than that, ooh-ooh-ooh
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- All vocals - Marina Diamandis
- Keyboards - Marina Diamandis, David Kosten
- Percussion - David Kosten
- Drums - Jason Cooper
- Bass - Jeremy Pritchard
- Guitar - Fyfe Dangerfield, Alexander Robertshaw
Technical[]
- Writer - Marina Diamandis
- Producers - David Kosten, Marina Diamandis
- Programmer, engineer - David Kosten
- Down mixer, additional programmer - Wez Clarke
- Additional engineer - Mo Hausler
- Recorded at - Muttley Ranch, London
- Drums recorded at - Kore Studios, London, Assault's Battery Two, London
- Assistant drum recording engineers - Al Lawson, Drew Smith
- Master - Lewis Hopkin at Star Delta Mastering
- Publisher - Warner / Chappell Music Publishing Ltd
References[]
- ↑
- ↑ https://meandthefroots.tumblr.com/post/136885944158/frootorabilia-just-unearthed-from-the-sorry-mess
- ↑ https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/longread/marina-and-the-diamonds-froot
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYLpKzBqZWA
- ↑ "Track by track of Froot - Marina And The Diamonds." YouTube. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ↑ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/better-than-that-cant-pin-me-down-marina-and-the-diamonds/28730961/2673596116431
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/a075d8
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/76656d
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour • Merch • Froot of the Month • Photography • Tumblr • Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | FROOT • FROOT Acoustic EP |
| Tracklist | Happy • Froot • I'm a Ruin • Blue • Forget • Gold • Can't Pin Me Down • Solitaire • Better Than That • Weeds • Savages • Immortal |
| Non-Album | I'm Not Hungry Anymore • Saviour • When You Take Away Control |
| Misc | True Colours • Disconnect |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams | |