| "Couldn't Be Better" | |
|---|---|
| Song byKelly Clarkson | |
| from the albumUglyDolls: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| Genre | |
| Length |
|
| Label | Atlantic |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Jesse Shatkin |
"Couldn't Be Better" is a song from the 2019 animated musical filmUglyDolls, written byChristopher Lennertz andGlenn Slater. The song was performed in its original show-tune "Movie version" in the film by American singerKelly Clarkson in her vocal role as Moxy, accompanied by select members of the film's cast—Pitbull,Blake Shelton,Wanda Sykes, andGabriel Iglesias. Lennertz and Slater also wrote a "Pop version" solely recorded by Clarkson that was used in the film's closing credits.
The song, an upbeat number celebrating that life is great and it "couldn't be better", presents the life in the fictional world of Uglyville and one of its citizens, Moxy (played by Clarkson), despite loving her square-peg life in the round-hole town, is curious if there is something beyond the life they usually live. In reception of the song, some critics of the film described it as memorable and well-produced, comparing it to the 2014 film number "Everything Is Awesome" fromThe Lego Movie, while commercial digital sales of both versions of the song led it to attain a position on theBillboardKid Digital Songs chart.
Christopher Lennertz was approached bySTX Entertainment executive Jason Markey (whom he had previously collaborated with on the 2016 filmBad Moms) to score the filmUglyDolls.[1] According to him, the feature film was originally intended to be made as a "fun movie with a single song" byRobert Rodriguez.[2][3] Asking Glenn Slater to write its lyrics, they co-wrote the song "Couldn't Be Better" as the film's opening number.[2] WhenKelly Asbury was hired to replace Rodriguez as the film's director, he remarked of the song, "This song is great; we need to make the whole movie a musical."[2] Upon the selection of the voice actors to cast in the film, Lennertz opted with recording artists. In an interview withBillboard, he remarked, "A lot of times they cast actors who don't sing and then it's really painful. For us, we thought it'd be a great situation if we started with people who had amazing voices."[2] Lennertz first choice to play the lead was Kelly Clarkson, who later sung the most throughout the number.[2][1]
Lyrically, the song is an upbeat number celebrating that life is great and it "couldn't be better".[4] Derek Smith ofSlant Magazine described it as a sugary-sweet pop song about self-acceptance and body positivity.[5] The song was first performed in its show-tune "Movie version" in the film by American singerKelly Clarkson in her vocal role as Moxy, accompanied by select members of the film's cast—Pitbull,Blake Shelton,Wanda Sykes, andGabriel Iglesias.[6] In the film, the song introduces the world of Uglyville and its inhabitants, including Moxy (Clarkson), who loves her square-peg life in the round-hole town, but her curiosity about all things leads her to wonder if there is something — anything — on the other side of the mountain that nestles Uglyville.[7] Lennertz and Slater also composed a "Pop version" solely recorded by Clarkson and produced byJesse Shatkin that was used in the film'sclosing credits. Inspired by the works ofAlan Menken, Lennertz opted to base the entire score of the film from the song.[8]
Reviewing the film forThe Christian Post, editor Leah MarieAnn Klett described the number as "memorable".[9] WhileThe Pop Break's Marisa Carpico wrote that the song was "well-produced (perhaps even over-produced in the way so much music for children can be)".[10] In their review of the film, both Hoai-Tran Bui of/Film and Eric Snider of Crooked Marquee compared it to the 2014 film number "Everything Is Awesome" fromThe Lego Movie.[4][11] Following the release of theUglyDolls soundtrack, the combined digital sales of both versions of "Couldn't Be Better" allowed the song to debut on theBillboardKid Digital Songs chart at number 5 and has spent two weeks on the chart.[12]
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USKid Digital Songs (Billboard)[12] | 5 |
