Something Better to Do
"Something Better to Do" | ||||
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Single by Olivia Newton-John | ||||
from the album Clearly Love | ||||
B-side | "He's My Rock" | |||
Released | September 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Genre | Country, pop | |||
Length | 3:15 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Farrar | |||
Producer(s) | John Farrar | |||
Olivia Newton-John singles chronology | ||||
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"Something Better to Do" is a song written by John Farrar and recorded by Olivia Newton-John. The song was released in September 1975 as the lead single from Newton-John's sixth studio album, Clearly Love. The narrator of the song muses that she's having a hard time adjusting to life without her departed lover; even the birds are wasting their songs singing to her, and until her beloved returns, "the birds will have to find something better to do."
Record World said that the "Strong multi-tracked chorus contains the old Olivia charm."[1]
"Something Better to Do" was Newton-John's fifth number one on the Easy Listening chart, spending three weeks at the top, while peaking at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] In addition, the song went to number nineteen on the U.S. country chart.[3] The record's performance on the Hot 100 and Country charts seemed to signal the beginning of a downturn in Newton-John's popularity, as it broke her streak of five consecutive singles to make the top ten of both charts stretching back to "Let Me Be There" in early 1974; however, her popularity on easy listening-oriented radio stations continued unabated for a time.[citation needed]
Charts
Chart (1975) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 60 |
Canadian RPM Top Singles[citation needed] | 26 |
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary [5] | 1 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] | 40 |
US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 13 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[8] | 1 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 19 |
US Cashbox[10] | 15 |
See also
References
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 20 September 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 181.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 248.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 217. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Olivia Newton-John – Something Better to Do". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Olivia Newton-John Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
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- If Not for You
- Olivia
- Let Me Be There
- Long Live Love
- Have You Never Been Mellow
- Clearly Love
- Come On Over
- Don't Stop Believin'
- Making a Good Thing Better
- Totally Hot
- Physical
- Soul Kiss
- The Rumour
- Warm and Tender
- Gaia: One Woman's Journey
- Back with a Heart
- 2
- Indigo: Women of Song
- Stronger Than Before
- Grace and Gratitude
- Christmas Wish
- A Celebration in Song
- This Christmas
- Liv On
- Friends for Christmas
- If You Love Me, Let Me Know
- First Impressions
- Greatest Hits
- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
- Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992
- The Definitive Collection
- Magic
- Gold
- 40/40: The Best Selection
- Hopelessly Devoted: The Hits
- Just the Two of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 1)
- Just the Two of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 2)
- Grease
- Xanadu
- Two of a Kind
- A Few Best Men
- Hotel Sessions
- Olivia Physical
- Olivia in Concert
- Twist of Fate
- Soul Kiss
- Olivia Down Under
- The Main Event
- Video Gold
- Live at the Sydney Opera House
- "Till You Say You'll Be Mine"
- "If Not for You"
- "Banks of the Ohio"
- "What Is Life"
- "Just a Little Too Much"
- "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
- "Let Me Be There"
- "Long Live Love"
- "I Honestly Love You"
- "If You Love Me, Let Me Know"
- "Have You Never Been Mellow"
- "Please Mr. Please"
- "Something Better to Do"
- "Let It Shine"
- "Come on Over"
- "Jolene"
- "Don't Stop Believin'"
- "Every Face Tells a Story"
- "Sam"
- "Making a Good Thing Better"
- "You're the One That I Want"
- "Hopelessly Devoted to You"
- "Summer Nights"
- "A Little More Love"
- "Deeper Than the Night"
- "Totally Hot"/"Dancin' Round and Round"
- "I Can't Help It"
- "Rest Your Love on Me"
- "Magic"
- "Xanadu"
- "Suddenly"
- "Physical"
- "Make a Move on Me"
- "Landslide"
- "Heart Attack"
- "Tied Up"
- "Twist of Fate"
- "Soul Kiss"
- "The Best of Me"
- "The Rumour"
- "Reach Out for Me"
- "When You Wish Upon a Star"
- "The Grease Megamix"
- "Grease: The Dream Mix"
- "I Need Love"
- "Me and Bobby McGee"
- "If"
- "Help Me Make It Through the Night"
- "If You Could Read My Mind"
- "Angel of the Morning"
- "Everything I Own"
- "God Only Knows"
- "The Air That I Breathe"
- "Love Is Alive"
- "Ring of Fire"
- "Slow Dancing"
- Toomorrow (soundtrack)
- Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You
- Max Born
- Pat Carroll
- John Farrar
- Tottie Goldsmith
- Chloe Lattanzi (daughter)
- Matt Lattanzi (first husband)
- Emerson Newton-John (nephew)
Category
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