Better Days (OneRepublic song)

"Better Days" is a song by American band OneRepublic, taken from their fifth studio album Human.^[1] It was released as the fourth single from that album through Interscope Records on March 25, 2020.^[2] It was co-written by frontman Ryan Tedder with bassist Brent Kutzle, John Nathaniel and Tyler Spry. The song was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Better Days"
Live quarantine recording cover
Single by OneRepublic
from the album Human
Released	March 25, 2020
Recorded	2020
Length	2:24
Label	Interscope Mosley
Songwriter(s)	Ryan Tedder Brent Kutzle John Nathaniel
Producer(s)	Ryan Tedder Brent Kutzle John Nathaniel Tyler Spry
OneRepublic singles chronology
"Didn't I" (2020) "Better Days" (2020) "Lose Somebody" (2020)
Music video
"Better Days" on YouTube

Background

The song was inspired by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic upending lives across the globe according to frontman Ryan Tedder, who said, "We were in the final week of our fifth album deadline when a global pandemic was declared by the WHO. A few of us unknowingly got exposed to somebody with COVID-19 in London and ended up in quarantine in L.A. at my studio for two weeks. With only two songs left to finish, one of them happened to be 'Better Days'. We write about real experiences and events that happen to us - this is what happens when you write a song during a crisis."^[3]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Better Days" was first released onto YouTube on April 13, 2020. It depicts life during the pandemic, such as people staying at home and wearing face masks.^[4]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[5]

• Brent Kutzle – producer, composer, lyricist
• John Nathaniel – producer, composer, lyricist, mixer, studio personnel
• Ryan Tedder – producer, composer, lyricist
• Tyler Spry – producer, co-producer

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[6]	39
Italy (FIMI)[7] Italian version	38
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[8]	29
San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[9] Italian version	25
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10]	53
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11]	11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[12]	Gold	35,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[13]	Platinum	70,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	March 25, 2020	Digital download streaming	Original	Interscope	[14]
	May 14, 2020		Live Quarantine Recording		[15]
	May 22, 2020		Mejores Días		[16]
	May 29, 2020		Giorni Migliori		[17]
Italy		Contemporary hit radio		Universal	[18]

References

1. "OneRepublic Official Post announcing the tracklist". August 11, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved August 11, 2021 – via Instagram.
2. "Better Days (feat. KHEA) - Single by OneRepublic & KHEA". Apple Music. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
3. Rowley, Glenn (March 25, 2020). "OneRepublic Look Ahead to 'Better Days' on Optimistic New Single: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
4. "OneRepublic - Better Days". YouTube. 13 April 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
5. "Credits / Better Days / OneRepublic – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
6. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
7. "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 23" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
8. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 13, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
9. "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 15/08/2020" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. August 15, 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
10. "OneRepublic – Better Days". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
11. "OneRepublic Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
12. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
13. "Italian single certifications – One Republic – Better Days" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 25, 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Better Days" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
14. "Better Days". Amazon.
15. "Better Days". Amazon.
16. "Better Days - Mejores Días". Amazon.
17. "Better Days - Giorni Migliori". Amazon.
18. "ONEREPUBLIC "Better Days - Giorni Migliori" | (Radio Date: 29/05/2020)".