But It's Better If You Do
Encyclopedia
"But It's Better If You Do" is the third single by Panic! at the Disco
, from the album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
(2005).
and released on May 4, 2006 as a CD single
, "But It's Better If You Do" is the third single to be released by Panic! at the Disco, and the second with an accompanying video.
"It's a song about being in a strip club but not actually liking being in there. So I wanted it to be about the sort of complex inner-monologue," he said. "It's not completely fiction, though. It's based on a scenario when I was going through a breakup with a girl. Because in reality, I don't like strip clubs. I think they're kinda perverted," says Ryan Ross
. Ross went on to say, "When I wrote it, I never thought about it being played in strip clubs. But I guess it would be kind of a change from what they usually play in there," he said. "It would be a surreal experience, for sure. I think the tempo is too fast, though. So maybe someone would have to do a chopped and screwed
version or something."
This was the last video to feature Brent Wilson on bass.
. In the movie, the character portrayed by Natalie Portman
says: "Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off... but it's better if you do". "Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" is also the title of another song by Panic! at the Disco.
At the beginning of the song's music video, the song playing in the background is "Intermission", the song preceding "But It's Better If You Do" on the A Fever You Can't Sweat Out CD.
The music video begins with a black-and-white
introduction of a man (played by the band's lead singer, Brendon Urie
), arguing with his girlfriend. She is worried about him always singing at illegal strip clubs; he says he doesn't go to illegal strip joints, but he goes anyway. The music video continues with the song in the overview of the strip joint. Urie performs onstage with the other members of Panic and a Las Vegas showgirls dance group. Urie sees a woman who seems to be unusually interested in him. They retreat to a private room. The two begin to kiss and Urie removes his mask. The woman likewise removes her mask to reveal that she was in fact his girlfriend. A quick slap to Urie's face and his girlfriend turns to leave. As she gains headway, however, the police bust into the club and arrest her. Urie brawls with the chief, but is apprehended. They both are put into a police car, smirk knowingly at one and another, and the scene fades in the same black-and-white color as the intro.
The video for "But It's Better If You Do" debuted on Total Request Live
daily countdown on June 29, 2006 at #8.
UK 7" poster bag (May 2006)
UK 7" colored vinyl (May 2006)
WMI CD (October 2006)
WMI CD/Digital (September 2006)
, the song debuted at number 4 on Billboard
's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart, before dropping to number 8 on the chart dated September 23, 2006. It peaked at number 81 on the Pop 100
chart, and number 74 on the Hot Digital Songs
chart.
In Europe the song had better success. On the UK Singles Chart
it peaked at #23, and in the Netherlands it peaked at #89 on the Dutch Singles Chart
. The single also reached #1 on the UK Rock Chart
on May 14, 2006. "But It's Better If You Do" also found success in the Oceanic regions; on the Australian Singles Chart
, it peaked at #15, and on the New Zealand Singles Chart
, it reached #10.
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
, from the album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Panic! at the Disco. Recorded primarily at SOMD! Studios in College Park, Maryland with producer Matt Squire, the album was released September 27, 2005 on Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen Records.Written and...
(2005).
Song information
Written by Ryan RossRyan Ross
George Ryan Ross III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter most known for his work as the lead guitarist, backup vocalist and main songwriter for the band Panic! at the Disco, before his departure from the band in 2009...
and released on May 4, 2006 as a CD single
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, "But It's Better If You Do" is the third single to be released by Panic! at the Disco, and the second with an accompanying video.
"It's a song about being in a strip club but not actually liking being in there. So I wanted it to be about the sort of complex inner-monologue," he said. "It's not completely fiction, though. It's based on a scenario when I was going through a breakup with a girl. Because in reality, I don't like strip clubs. I think they're kinda perverted," says Ryan Ross
Ryan Ross
George Ryan Ross III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter most known for his work as the lead guitarist, backup vocalist and main songwriter for the band Panic! at the Disco, before his departure from the band in 2009...
. Ross went on to say, "When I wrote it, I never thought about it being played in strip clubs. But I guess it would be kind of a change from what they usually play in there," he said. "It would be a surreal experience, for sure. I think the tempo is too fast, though. So maybe someone would have to do a chopped and screwed
Chopped and screwed
Chopped and screwed refers to a technique of remixing hip hop music which developed in the Houston hip hop scene in the 1990s...
version or something."
This was the last video to feature Brent Wilson on bass.
Title
The title is a quote from the movie CloserCloser (film)
Closer is a 2004 romantic drama film written by Patrick Marber, based on his award-winning 1997 play of the same name. It was produced and directed by Mike Nichols and stars Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Jude Law and Clive Owen...
. In the movie, the character portrayed by Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Hershlag , better known by her stage name Natalie Portman, is an actress with dual American and Israeli citizenship. Her first role was as an orphan taken in by a hitman in the 1994 French action film Léon, but major success came when she was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel...
says: "Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off... but it's better if you do". "Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" is also the title of another song by Panic! at the Disco.
Music video
The music video begins with a black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
introduction of a man (played by the band's lead singer, Brendon Urie
Brendon Urie
Brendon Boyd Urie is an American musician and the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, pianist and singer-songwriter of Panic! at the Disco. He also plays drums, bass guitar, accordion, organ, cello, violin, and trumpet.-Early life:...
), arguing with his girlfriend. She is worried about him always singing at illegal strip clubs; he says he doesn't go to illegal strip joints, but he goes anyway. The music video continues with the song in the overview of the strip joint. Urie performs onstage with the other members of Panic and a Las Vegas showgirls dance group. Urie sees a woman who seems to be unusually interested in him. They retreat to a private room. The two begin to kiss and Urie removes his mask. The woman likewise removes her mask to reveal that she was in fact his girlfriend. A quick slap to Urie's face and his girlfriend turns to leave. As she gains headway, however, the police bust into the club and arrest her. Urie brawls with the chief, but is apprehended. They both are put into a police car, smirk knowingly at one and another, and the scene fades in the same black-and-white color as the intro.
The video for "But It's Better If You Do" debuted on Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
daily countdown on June 29, 2006 at #8.
Track listing
UK CD/Digital (May 2006)- "But It's Better If You Do"
- "I Write Sins Not TragediesI Write Sins Not Tragedies"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, and is the lead single from their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It was released on April 27, 2006 on both compact disc and 7 inch vinyl. The song was written by guitarist Ryan Ross. The song...
" (91XXETRA-FMXETRA-FM — branded 91X, and sometimes identified as XTRA-FM — is an English language, Mexican-owned modern rock music station broadcasting from Tijuana, Baja California on 91.1 MHz. The studios are located in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego...
Acoustic Session)
UK 7" poster bag (May 2006)
- A. "But It's Better If You Do"
- B. "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press CoverageThe Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage", shortened to "The Only Difference" for radio and convenience, is a single from Panic! at the Disco's debut album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It achieved some commercial success and exposed the new band to an audience,...
" (Tommie SunshineTommie SunshineTommie Sunshine is a record producer, remixer, DJ and songwriter of electronic music from Chicago currently living in Brooklyn, New York. He is perhaps best known for creating dance remixes to popular rock and alternative songs, by artists such as Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Good Charlotte,...
Brooklyn Fire Remix)
UK 7" colored vinyl (May 2006)
- A. "But It's Better If You Do"
- B. "I Write Sins Not TragediesI Write Sins Not Tragedies"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, and is the lead single from their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It was released on April 27, 2006 on both compact disc and 7 inch vinyl. The song was written by guitarist Ryan Ross. The song...
" (iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Session)
WMI CD (October 2006)
- "But It's Better If You Do"
- "I Write Sins Not TragediesI Write Sins Not Tragedies"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, and is the lead single from their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It was released on April 27, 2006 on both compact disc and 7 inch vinyl. The song was written by guitarist Ryan Ross. The song...
" (91XXETRA-FMXETRA-FM — branded 91X, and sometimes identified as XTRA-FM — is an English language, Mexican-owned modern rock music station broadcasting from Tijuana, Baja California on 91.1 MHz. The studios are located in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego...
Acoustic Session)
WMI CD/Digital (September 2006)
- "But It's Better If You Do"
- "I Write Sins Not TragediesI Write Sins Not Tragedies"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, and is the lead single from their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It was released on April 27, 2006 on both compact disc and 7 inch vinyl. The song was written by guitarist Ryan Ross. The song...
" (91XXETRA-FMXETRA-FM — branded 91X, and sometimes identified as XTRA-FM — is an English language, Mexican-owned modern rock music station broadcasting from Tijuana, Baja California on 91.1 MHz. The studios are located in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego...
Acoustic Session) - "Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes OffLying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off"Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" is a single by the alternative rock band Panic! at the Disco, from the album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out...
" (Live in Denver)
Chart performance
Following its release in the USAUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the song debuted at number 4 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart, before dropping to number 8 on the chart dated September 23, 2006. It peaked at number 81 on the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
chart, and number 74 on the Hot Digital Songs
Hot Digital Songs
The Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of...
chart.
In Europe the song had better success. On the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
it peaked at #23, and in the Netherlands it peaked at #89 on the Dutch Singles Chart
MegaCharts
MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top...
. The single also reached #1 on the UK Rock Chart
UK Rock Chart
The UK Rock Chart usually refers to the Top 40 Rock Singles and the Top 40 Rock Albums Chart compiled by the Official Charts Company from physical record sales in British retail outlets with larger than average genrespecific sales....
on May 14, 2006. "But It's Better If You Do" also found success in the Oceanic regions; on the Australian Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, it peaked at #15, and on the New Zealand Singles Chart
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...
, it reached #10.