I Wanna Get Better

"I Wanna Get Better"
Single by Bleachers
from the album Strange Desire
B-side Vince Clarke Remix
Released February 18, 2014 (2014-02-18)
Format
Genre
Length 3:24
Label RCA
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jack Antonoff
  • John Hill
Bleachers singles chronology
"I Wanna Get Better"
(2014)		 "Shadow"
(2014)

"I Wanna Get Better" is a song by American indie pop act Bleachers. Written and produced by frontman Jack Antonoff and John Hill, it was released as the lead single from Bleachers' debut studio album Strange Desire on February 17, 2014, through RCA Records. "I Wanna Get Better" topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, becoming the band's first number-one single,[1] and also reached the top ten of the Hot Rock Songs chart. Its accompanying music video stars Antonoff as a therapist and was directed by his girlfriend, actress and filmmaker Lena Dunham.

Composition

"I Wanna Get Better" incorporates cut-up piano notes and samples into its arrangement; Antonoff's vocals range from baritone to "shout-along anthemic."[2]

Antonoff considers the song his "mission statement" because it goes through every bad thing that has happened to him.[3] Antonoff has stated that "the message is heavy, it’s not dumbed down"[4] with the verses being literal and the inspiration coming from a place of sorrow following the events of 9/11, his sister's death in 2002, and his cousin's death during the Iraq War in 2003.[5] In regards to the line "lost control when I panicked at the acid test", Antonoff has stated that he "had a horrible experience" with acid and it changed his life.[4]

Music video

The official music video for "I Wanna Get Better" premiered on March 27, 2014, and was directed by actress and filmmaker Lena Dunham, frontman Jack Antonoff's girlfriend.[6] The video depicts a day in the life of a therapist (Antonoff) who, after getting dumped by his girlfriend, proceeds to his office and meets a variety of clients, all of whom are depicted describing their own personal problems and lip-synching to the song's lyrics.[6] American comedian Retta of Parks and Recreation fame and Broadway actor Mike Doyle play a couple who are suffering from marital problems, actor Rizwan Manji plays a highly-strung patient who gets distracted by "Bring Your Daughter To Work" Day, and actress Mary Kay Place plays a patient who "creates drama" all make cameo appearances in the video.[7] Orange Is the New Black actress Kimiko Glenn plays Antonoff's girlfriend who leaves him before he leaves for work. Antonoff described working with Dunham as "fun", adding: "I didn't have to do anything. I felt, obviously, completely supported. It was nice to be in a position where you can’t fuck up."[8]

Track listing

  1. "I Wanna Get Better" – 3:24
  1. "I Wanna Get Better" – 3:24
  2. "I Wanna Get Better" (Vince Clarke remix) – 4:34

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[10] 52
Canada Rock (Billboard)[11] 21
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[12] 49
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[13] 1
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[14] 10
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[15] 6
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[1] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[16] 27
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[17] 18
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 12

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[19] Golddagger 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

dagger Since May 2013 RIAA certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads.[20]

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Australia February 18, 2014 Digital download RCA Records [9]
United States [21]
March 10, 2014 Adult album alternative radio [22]
March 11, 2014 Modern rock radio [23]
May 27, 2014 Contemporary hit radio [24]
June 2, 2014 Hot adult contemporary radio [25]
United Kingdom June 18, 2014 Digital download [26]

References

  1. 1 2 Trust, Gary (July 28, 2014). "Chart Highlights: MAGIC!, Bleachers, Lil Wayne & Drake Score New No. 1s". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ Martins, Chris (February 18, 2014). "Fun.'s Jack Antonoff Launches Bleachers With Ecstatic 'I Wanna Get Better'". Spin. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ Jada Yuan (June 18, 2014). "Jack Antonoff, a Pop Star a Mother Could Love". Vulture. New York (magazine). Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Tracy Bratten (April 9, 2014). "OffBEAT with Bleachers | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio. Clear Channel Communications. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ Korina Lopez (July 14, 2014). "Jack Antonoff has a 'Strange Desire' for the '80s". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Blistein, Jon (March 27, 2014). "Lena Dunham Directs Video for Jack Antonoff's Solo Project, Bleachers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ Marshall, JoJo (March 27, 2014). "Lena Dunham directs new Bleachers video for 'I Wanna Get Better' — watch it here". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  8. ↑ Duboff, Josh (April 14, 2014). "Fun.'s Jack Antonoff Talks New Band Bleachers, Working with Girlfriend Lena Dunham, and Why Taylor Swift 'Stands Above Everyone Else'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "I Wanna Get Better – Single by Bleachers". iTunes Store (AUS). Apple. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bleachers – I Wanna Get Better" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bleachers – Chart history" Billboard Canada Rock for Bleachers. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Bleachers Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Mexico Ingles Airplay for Bleachers. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Bleachers – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Bleachers. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Bleachers – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Bleachers. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Bleachers – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for Bleachers. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  19. ↑ "American single certifications – Bleachers – I Wanna Get Better". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  20. ↑ "RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  21. ↑ "I Wanna Get Better (2014)". 7digital (US). Archived from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  26. ↑ "I Wanna Get Better – Single by Bleachers". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Archived from the original on June 18, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, January 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.