Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)

"Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" is the debut single of American music group Citizen King from their second studio album, Mobile Estates (1999), as the second track.^[2] It was first released to rock radio on January 26, 1999, and was given a commercial release later the same year. The song peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart in August 1999. Citizen King did not release another single that replicated the success of "Better Days", making them a one-hit wonder.^[3]

"Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)"
Single by Citizen King
from the album Mobile Estates
B-side	"Basement Show" "Checkout Line" (remix)
Released	January 26, 1999 (1999-01-26)
Genre	Alternative rock[1]
Length	3:38
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Dave Cooley Matt Sims
Producer(s)	Dave Cooley Matt Sims Eric Valentine
Citizen King singles chronology
"Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" (1999) "Under the Influence" (1999)
Music video
"Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" on YouTube

Meaning

Citizen King bassist Mount Sims explained that "Better Days" is about the condition of the band three years before the song became a hit, when he was working at a general store and yearned for a life where music was his only focus.^[4]

Track listings

US and German CD single; US cassette single^[5][6]

1. "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" – 3:38
2. "Basement Show" – 3:22

US maxi-CD single^[7]

1. "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" (album version) – 3:38
2. "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" (Idiot Savant remix) – 6:52
3. "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" (McMonkey and Fries remix) – 2:12
4. "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" (Mario Caldato Jr. remix) – 3:20
5. "Checkout Line" (Cibo Matto remix) – 3:53

Australian CD single^[8]

1. "Better Days" (LP version)
2. "Better Days" (Mario Caldato Jr. remix)
3. "Check Out Line" (Cibo Matto remix)
4. "Better Days" (Idiot Savant remix)
5. "Better Days" (McMonkey & Fries remix)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 86 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 20 Germany (GfK)[11] 95 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 25 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 10 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[14] 11 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[15] 33 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[16] 3 US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[17] 16

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[18] 96 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 22 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 36 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[21] 16

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 26, 1999	Modern rock college rock triple A radio	Warner Bros.	[22]
	April 6, 1999	Contemporary hit radio		[23]

In popular culture

• The song was included in the soundtrack for 2000 film Gone in 60 Seconds.^[24]
• The song was used to close out both the pilot and series finale of the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.^[25]

References

1. Brian Galindo, Alex Naidus & Ryan Creed (November 5, 2023). "37 Alt Rock Songs You Haven't Thought About Since The Late '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
2. "Citizen King – Mobile Estates". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
3. "All One-Hit Wonders 1955–2015". Top40Weekly.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
4. Bell, Carrie (March 27, 1999). "The Modern Age" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 13. p. 91. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
5. Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out) (US CD single liner notes). Citizen King. Warner Bros. Records. 1999. 9 16965-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out) (US cassette single sleeve). Citizen King. Warner Bros. Records. 1999. 9 16965-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out) (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Citizen King. Warner Bros. Records. 1999. 9 44697-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out) (Australian CD single liner notes). Citizen King. Warner Bros. Records. 1998. 9362447052.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8362." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
11. "Citizen King – Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
12. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. August 21, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
13. "Adult Pop Airplay". Billboard. August 21, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
14. "Pop Airplay". Billboard. September 11, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
15. "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. August 14, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
16. "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. May 22, 1999. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
17. "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 34. August 21, 1999. p. 76.
18. "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
19. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-100.
20. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54.
21. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-90.
22. Applefeld Olson, Catherine (February 6, 1999). "Citizen King Stretches Out on WB's 'Mobile'" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 6. p. 20. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
23. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1293. April 2, 1999. p. 44.
24. "Various Artists – Gone in 60 Seconds [Original Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
25. Why 'Malcolm in the Middle' was a seminal comedy