Better Be Good to Me

"Better Be Good to Me" is a song written by Mike Chapman, Holly Knight, and Nicky Chinn, recorded by Tina Turner for her solo studio album Private Dancer (1984) and released as a single in early September 1984. The song was originally recorded and released in 1981 by Spider, a band from New York City that featured co-writer Knight as a member. Turner's version was successful in the United States and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on the then-Hot Black Singles charts. At the 27th Annual Grammy Awards in 1985, it won Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, one of four Grammys awarded to Turner's Private Dancer album at that ceremony.^[3] The song was also included on the Miami Vice soundtrack.

"Better Be Good to Me"
U.S. 12-inch vinyl single
Single by Tina Turner
from the album Private Dancer
B-side	"When I Was Young"
Released	September 1984^[1]
Recorded	1984
Genre	Rock^[2] R&B
Length	5:10 (LP Version) 3:43 (Single Version) 7:47 (Extended Version)
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Mike Chapman Holly Knight Nicky Chinn
Producer(s)	Rupert Hine
Tina Turner singles chronology
"What's Love Got to Do with It" (1984) "Better Be Good to Me" (1984) "Private Dancer" (1984)
Music video
"Better Be Good to Me" on YouTube

Music video

In the video, Turner is seen performing the song on stage, wearing a black leather jacket and black skin-tight, knee-length leather pants, with leopard print high heels and spikey blonde hair. Towards the end, a man (Cy Curnin lead singer of the Fixx) appears on stage and grabs Turner's arms. She looks him in the eyes and sings the words, "Why can't you be good to me?", then pushes him away. At the end of the video, Turner disappears under the stage in a puff of smoke. Both Curnin and the guitarist in the video, Jamie West-Oram (also of the Fixx), perform on the Private Dancer album.

Personnel

• Tina Turner – lead vocals, background vocals
• Rupert Hine – bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming, background vocals
• Jamie West-Oram – guitar
• Trevor Morais – drums
• Cy Curnin – background vocals

Versions and remixes

• 7-inch edit – 3:43
• Video edit – 4:05
• Album version – 5:10
• Extended 12-inch Remix – 7:47
• Extended 12-inch Remix (early fade on Private Dancer EMI Centenary Remaster) – 7:03

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1984–1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4] 28 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5] 33 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)^[7] 52 Ireland (IRMA)^[8] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[9] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[10] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11] 22 UK Singles (OCC)^[12] 45 US Billboard Hot 100^[13] 5 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[14] 16 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard) 6 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[14] 32

Year-end charts Chart (1984) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[15] 59 Chart (1985) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100^[16] 59 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales Canada (Music Canada)^[17] Gold 50,000^^ ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 847. ISBN 9780862415419.
2. Rolling Stone Staff (24 May 2023). "Tina Turner: 15 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 May 2023. ...Turner made it feel like a signature statement, imbuing its demand for respect with rock-star swagger and her own story of struggle and resilience.
3. "27th Annual Grammy Awards - 1985". Rock On The Net. 1985-02-26. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
4. David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. Australia: St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. "Tina Turner – Better Be Good to Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9590." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
7. "Tina Turner - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Better Be Good to Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Tina Turner" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
10. "Tina Turner – Better Be Good to Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
11. "Tina Turner – Better Be Good to Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
12. "Tina Turner: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
13. "Tina Turner Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
14. "Tina Turner Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
15. . RPM. January 5, 1985. Archived from the original on 2016-05-09. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
16. "The Year in Music: 1985" (PDF). Billboard. December 28, 1985. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
17. "Canadian single certifications – Tina Turner – Better Be Good to Me". Music Canada.