Good (Better Than Ezra song)

"Good" is a song by American alternative rock band Better Than Ezra. It was released in February 1995 by Elektra as the first single from their major-label debut album, Deluxe (1995). It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, No. 3 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Good"
Single by Better Than Ezra
from the album Deluxe
ReleasedFebruary 1995
Genre
Length3:05
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Kevin Griffin
Producer(s)Dan Rothchild
Better Than Ezra singles chronology
"Tremble"
(1990)
"Good"
(1995)
"In the Blood"
(1995)
Music video
"Good" on YouTube

Composition

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Kevin Griffin wrote the song in late 1990 or early 1991, just after he had graduated from LSU and had formed Better Than Ezra. It was a part of the band's set lists for several years before being released as a single in early 1995. His simple four-chord pattern and strong modulation were inspired by Bob Dylan's mastery of the three-chord structure, as well as alt-rock pioneers R.E.M. and the Pixies. "I wanted to talk about the positive things that come from the end of a relationship. There's always the hurt feelings and everyone's guarded and it can be traumatic, but when the dust settles, it was about looking at the good things - no pun intended - that you got from that relationship. How did you grow? What did you learn emotionally? And to experience some stuff. And in this case it was just kind of reflecting on how this person changed," said Griffin. He was in a happy relationship at the time, so the song wasn't personal experience, but he broke up shortly after.[4]

Track listings and formats

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  • US CD and cassette single[5][6]
  1. "Good"  – 3:05
  2. "Circle of Friends" (Live Version) – 3:39
  • German maxi-CD single[7]
  1. "Good"  – 3:05
  2. "Summerhouse" (Live Version) – 2:23
  3. "Know You Better" (Live Version) – 4:32
  4. "Circle of Friends" (Live Version) – 3:39

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States February 1995 Elektra
United Kingdom June 12, 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit From Worst to Best". March 28, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "The 95 Best Alternative Rock Songs Of 1995". Spin. August 6, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Unterberger, Andrew. "Top Ten Mediocre Post-Grunge / Alternative Bands". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  4. ^ Wiser, Carl (April 27, 2016). "Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra". Songfacts. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Good (US CD single liner notes). Better Than Ezra. Elektra Records. 1995. 7559-64428-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Good (US cassette single liner notes). Better Than Ezra. Elektra Records. 1995. 4-64428.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Good (German maxi-CD single liner notes). Better Than Ezra. Elektra Records. 1995. 7559-66118-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – 17 Sep 1995". ARIA. Retrieved July 5, 2017 – via Imgur. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2749." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9238." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. July 8, 1995. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. June 10, 1995. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. April 29, 1995. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Pop Airplay". Billboard. August 19, 1995. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  17. ^ "RPM Top 50 Alternative Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved August 8, 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  19. ^ a b "The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. pp. YE-76–77. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 10, 1995. p. 31.