"Better Things to Do" is the debut single by Canadian

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artist

Terri Clark Terri Lynn Sauson, known professionally as Terri Clark, born August 5, 1968, is a Canadian country music singer who has had success in both Canada and the United States. Signed to Mercury Records in 1995, she released her self-titled debut that ...

. It was released in July 1995 and is from her self-titled debut album. The song was written by Clark,

Tom Shapiro Tom Curtis Shapiro (born in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American songwriter and occasional record producer, known primarily for his work in country music. To date, he holds four Country Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorpor ...

, and

Chris Waters Christopher Waters Dunn, known professionally as Chris Waters is an American singer and songwriter, record producer, and culinary writer. He is the brother of country singer Holly Dunn. Dunn has written and produced many of his sister's singles, ...

. It was a top 10 hit on both the U.S. and Canadian country charts, where it peaked at number 3 on both.

Content

"Better Things to Do" is an up-tempo song about a narrator who realizes that she has "better things to do" than to sit around and cry over her ended relationship. At the same time, her man wants her back, thinking she's lost without him.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price of ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "good uptempo tune with a solid delivery."''

'', July 15, 1995

Music video

Terri Clark's first

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

was released for the song, directed by Michael Merriman. In the video, Clark is shown playing her guitar out in the desert as her ex is attempting to use a payphone to reach her. Later, she hops into her jeep and drives in circles around him as he pleads for her to come back to him. Eventually she drives off, leaving him in a cloud of dust.

Chart performance

"Better Things to Do" debuted at number 72 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of July 15, 1995.

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 1995 songs 1995 debut singles Terri Clark songs Songs written by Terri Clark Songs written by Tom Shapiro Songs written by Chris Waters Song recordings produced by Keith Stegall Mercury Records singles PolyGram singles Canadian Country Music Association Single of the Year singles