Better Get to Livin'
Encyclopedia
"Better Get to Livin' " is the first single
from Dolly Parton
's album, Backwoods Barbie
, and was released on August 28, 2007. It was the first single released by Parton's own record label, Dolly Records. An upbeat country pop
song, its lyrics deal with keeping a positive attitude and overcoming negative emotions. The song garnered positive reviews from critics and reached number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. A video for the song, featuring Parton and Amy Sedaris
, was released later that year.
considered it "the CD's standout tune", and remarked that Parton's voice on the track is "still powerful and clear after all these years." Allmusic was somewhat less enthusiastic, deeming the song "cloyingly wise", but "catchy enough". Chris Jones, writing for the BBC's online service
, remarked on the song's feminist
undertones, characterizing it as "a strident ode to the lessons that Parton's learned in a lifetime spent in an arena where men most definitely are men and women are expected to be grateful."
The music video for "Better Get to Livin'" is set in a carnival, filmed on location at a farm in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
. The video begins with Parton putting on her make-up while a hawker, played by Amy Sedaris
, tells everyone to gather around. Parton comes out and begins singing to the depressed women in the audience. The next segment has Parton comforting a friend in the kitchen of her house. The video then returns to the carnival where Parton is running a projector showing an old-fashioned silent movie. In the movie, a fortune-teller (also played by Sedaris) is telling Parton's friend all the things that are wrong with her life. Parton then sings to the women in the audience about how to cope with their problems by keeping a good attitude. At the end, everyone leaves the carnival with their spirits lifted.
The video had a largely positive reception. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post
praised Sedaris' performance in the video and deemed the rest of the video "pretty awesome" as well. Whitney Self, writing for CMT.com
, described the video as "an over-the-top colorful piece" done "in usual Dolly fashion". According to the video's director, Steven Lippman, the video was viewed over 170,000 times on YouTube
prior to the release of the Backwoods Barbie
album.
chart. The song was Parton's first charting solo single since "Hello God" in 2002.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
's album, Backwoods Barbie
Backwoods Barbie
-Bonus tracks:The iTunes, Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy all offered special editions of the CD with bonus tracks that were culled from her 2006-2007 European Tour....
, and was released on August 28, 2007. It was the first single released by Parton's own record label, Dolly Records. An upbeat country pop
Country pop
Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...
song, its lyrics deal with keeping a positive attitude and overcoming negative emotions. The song garnered positive reviews from critics and reached number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. A video for the song, featuring Parton and Amy Sedaris
Amy Sedaris
Amy Louise Sedaris is an American actress, author, and comedian. She is known for playing the character Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central television series Strangers with Candy. Sedaris regularly collaborates with her older brother, humorist and author David Sedaris...
, was released later that year.
Background and writing
The idea for the song came from Parton's co-producer and band leader Kent Wells, who co-wrote the song with her. According to Parton, Wells suggested that she write a song about her attitude since so many people ask what the secret to her happiness is. According to Parton, the song is about coping with the pressures of life and trying to keep a positive outlook in the midst of difficult times:"I think life has always been a pressure cooker. People react to whatever pressures they’re under at the time according to their tolerance level and their mental attitude. Certainly with so much attention today on being skinny and beautiful, rich and famous, equal pay for equal workEqual pay for equal workEqual pay for equal work is the concept that individuals doing the same work should receive the same remuneration. In America, for example, the law states that "employers may not pay unequal wages to men and women who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility,...
, getting ahead, raising kids, holding down a job, getting older, etc., well I think this song says some things to let people know they’re not the only ones in that fix. And this song offers some advice for a way out."
Reception
Critics gave the song positive reviews. Jim Malec, writing for The 9513, remarked that the song "should have been a hit… Dolly sounds as good (maybe better) than she ever has." Jac Chebatoris of NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
considered it "the CD's standout tune", and remarked that Parton's voice on the track is "still powerful and clear after all these years." Allmusic was somewhat less enthusiastic, deeming the song "cloyingly wise", but "catchy enough". Chris Jones, writing for the BBC's online service
Bbc.co.uk
BBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
, remarked on the song's feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
undertones, characterizing it as "a strident ode to the lessons that Parton's learned in a lifetime spent in an arena where men most definitely are men and women are expected to be grateful."
Music video
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 5,875....
. The video begins with Parton putting on her make-up while a hawker, played by Amy Sedaris
Amy Sedaris
Amy Louise Sedaris is an American actress, author, and comedian. She is known for playing the character Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central television series Strangers with Candy. Sedaris regularly collaborates with her older brother, humorist and author David Sedaris...
, tells everyone to gather around. Parton comes out and begins singing to the depressed women in the audience. The next segment has Parton comforting a friend in the kitchen of her house. The video then returns to the carnival where Parton is running a projector showing an old-fashioned silent movie. In the movie, a fortune-teller (also played by Sedaris) is telling Parton's friend all the things that are wrong with her life. Parton then sings to the women in the audience about how to cope with their problems by keeping a good attitude. At the end, everyone leaves the carnival with their spirits lifted.
The video had a largely positive reception. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
praised Sedaris' performance in the video and deemed the rest of the video "pretty awesome" as well. Whitney Self, writing for CMT.com
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
, described the video as "an over-the-top colorful piece" done "in usual Dolly fashion". According to the video's director, Steven Lippman, the video was viewed over 170,000 times on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
prior to the release of the Backwoods Barbie
Backwoods Barbie
-Bonus tracks:The iTunes, Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy all offered special editions of the CD with bonus tracks that were culled from her 2006-2007 European Tour....
album.
Chart performance
"Better Get to Livin'" was released to radio on September 28, 2007, and peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country SongsHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart. The song was Parton's first charting solo single since "Hello God" in 2002.
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 48 |