Better Than You Left Me

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"Better Than You Left Me"
Single by Mickey Guyton
from the EP Mickey Guyton
ReleasedJanuary 12, 2015 (2015-01-12)
GenreCountry
Length4:02
LabelCapitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mickey Guyton singles chronology
"Better Than You Left Me"
(2015)
"Heartbreak Song"
(2016)

"Better Than You Left Me" is the debut single from American country music artist Mickey Guyton. It was released to country radio on January 12, 2015 as the first single from her self-titled second EP (2015) and forthcoming debut studio album for Capitol Nashville.[2] The song was written by Guyton, Jennifer Hanson, Jenn Schott, and Nathan Chapman.[3] A re-recorded version of the song is included on Guyton's 2021 debut album Remember Her Name.

Content[edit]

Guyton said that the single was inspired by a breakup with a former boyfriend who "came running back to" her after she got the opportunity to sing for the President of the United States.[4] In the song, the female narrator encounters a former lover, and tells him that she is "better than you left me".

Critical reception[edit]

Taste of Country named the song a "Critic's Pick" from editor Billy Dukes, who called Guyton a "pure country vocalist who relies on talent and strong songwriting before anything else".[5] USA Today's Brian Mansfield also reviewed the single favorably, saying that it "has a soaring melody that reflects its strength of spirit."[6]

Music video[edit]

Peter Zavadil directed the music video, which premiered January 12, 2015 on CMT.[7]

Chart performance[edit]

The song has sold 145,000 copies in the US as of May 2015.[8]

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Canada Country (Billboard)[9] 42
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[10] 34

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2015) Position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 91

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About". Mickey Guyton. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Mickey Guyton's New EP Arrives on May 26; Tracklist Confirmed". Headline Planet. Cantortainment. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. ^ Betts, Stephen (16 March 2015). "Watch Mickey Guyton's Roof-Raising GMA' Performance". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. ^ Alex, Sam (14 January 2015). "Mickey Guyton on 'Better Than You Left Me': 'I Realized I Was the Prize'". Taste of Country. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  5. ^ Dukes, Billy (2 January 2015). "Mickey Guyton, 'Better Than You Left Me' – ToC Critic's Pick [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  6. ^ Mansfield, Brian (19 January 2015). "Song of the Week: Country newcomer Mickey Guyton". USA Today. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Better Than You Left Me". Country Music Television. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. ^ Matt Bjorke (August 11, 2015). "The Top 30 Digital Country Singles: August 11, 2015".
  9. ^ "Mickey Guyton Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Mickey Guyton Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Billboard Country Update for December 14, 2015" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 14, 2015. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.