Her playing attracted the attention of bass player Ray Brown, who brought her into touch with influential teachers and producers. At the age of seventeen, she won a scholarship from the Vancouver Jazz Festival to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After three terms she moved to Los Angeles to study with Jimmy Rowles, with whom she also began to sing. In 1990, Krall relocated to New York. She is married to British musician Elvis Costello.
Better Than Anything
Diana Krall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Better than honey on bread
Better than champagne and pretzels
Better than breakfast in bed
Better than chili rellenos
Better than chocolate e'clairs
Better than hothouse tomatoes
Better than fresh Bartlett pears
Or simply gastronomic art
Better than anything except being in love
Better than making a million
Better than being a queen
Better than oil wells and gold mines
Better than pastures of green
Better than finding a horseshoe
Better than losing your head
Better than anything ever thought of
Better than anything ever said
Ah, ha, better than singing right out loud
Or being, ha, spotted in a crowd
Better than (better than anything) anything except being (except being) in love
Better than elephants, elephants are dancing
Better than clowns on parade
Better than peanuts and popcorn
Better than pink lemonade
Better than rides on the midway
Better than seals blowing horns
Better than men shot through cannons
Better than fresh ears of corn
Ah, better than balancing on a wire
Or watching tigers jump through fire
Better than anything except being in love
Better than driving 'round the park
Or watching fireflies after the dark
Better than anything except being in love
Hey, Diana?
Yeah?
Are you sure that love is even better than shopping?
Well, there's a little sale on late floor at Barneys but it's still better
Oh, come on, come on
What about that thirty percent sale at Jimmy's shoes
And Sachs Friends and Family Day? Ha?
Still better
Well, maybe close second
Very close second
Better, more better
Better, better, better
The lyrics of Better Than Anything by Diana Krall and Natalie Cole show that love can be greater and more important than anything, regardless of how exceptional and enjoyable it may seem. Their song highlights the significance of how love can bring joy, happiness, fulfillment, and contentment, which are hard to replace or replicate. Each verse describes a seemingly great thing, such as chili rellenos, champagne, and pretzels, and compares it to the joy of being in love, which is still considered better than these things. The chorus emphasizes the idea of the importance of love, stating that it is better than anything else, including making a million dollars, oil wells, or gold mines. The song suggests that nothing can replace the experience of love- not the circus, not food, not shopping- and it is, without a doubt, the most rewarding experience of all.
Line by Line Meaning
Better than cream cheese and bagels
Superior to even the delicious combination of cream cheese and bagels
Better than honey on bread
Exceeding the goodness of honey spread on bread
Better than champagne and pretzels
More enjoyable than the classic pairing of champagne and pretzels
Better than breakfast in bed
More satisfying than the luxury of breakfast served in bed
Better than chili rellenos
More delightful than the spicy dish of chili rellenos
Better than chocolate e'clairs
More heavenly than the delicious pastry of chocolate e'clairs
Better than hothouse tomatoes
More delicious than the fresh and juicy hothouse tomatoes
Better than fresh Bartlett pears
More succulent than the ripe and juicy fresh Bartlett pears
Better than dining a la carte
More enjoyable than dining at a fancy restaurant a la carte style
Or simply gastronomic art
Even better than the artistry and creativity of culinary delights
Better than anything except being in love
Superior to everything except the feeling of being in love
Better than making a million
More fulfilling than making a million
Better than being a queen
Better than the luxurious life of being a queen
Better than oil wells and gold mines
More valuable than owning oil wells and gold mines
Better than pastures of green
More beautiful than lush pastures of green
Better than finding a horseshoe
More lucky than stumbling upon a horseshoe
Better than losing your head
Better than losing yourself in reckless abandon
Better than anything ever thought of
More wonderful than anything ever imagined
Better than anything ever said
More amazing than anything that has ever been said
Ah, ha, better than singing right out loud
More entertaining than singing loudly
Or being, ha, spotted in a crowd
More exciting than being recognized in a crowd
Better than (better than anything) anything except being (except being) in love
More superior than anything else, except for the feeling of being in love
Better than elephants, elephants are dancing
More enjoyable than watching dancing elephants
Better than clowns on parade
More fun than a parade of clowns
Better than peanuts and popcorn
More delicious than popcorn and peanuts
Better than pink lemonade
More refreshing than a glass of pink lemonade
Better than rides on the midway
More exciting than carnival rides
Better than seals blowing horns
More amusing than seals playing musical instruments
Better than men shot through cannons
More thrilling than men being launched from cannons
Better than fresh ears of corn
More satisfying than the taste of fresh corn on the cob
Ah, better than balancing on a wire
More exhilarating than balancing on a tightrope wire
Or watching tigers jump through fire
More awe-inspiring than watching tigers jump through a flaming ring
Better than driving 'round the park
More enjoyable than leisurely driving around the park
Or watching fireflies after the dark
More magical than watching fireflies light up the night sky
Hey, Diana?
Dialogue begins between Diana Krall and Natalie Cole
Yeah?
Natalie addresses Diana in response to her opening question
Are you sure that love is even better than shopping?
Natalie poses a question to Diana if love really is better than shopping
Well, there's a little sale on late floor at Barneys but it's still better
Diana humorously responds that even a sale at a high-end store like Barneys can't compare to the feeling of love
Oh, come on, come on
Natalie playfully disagrees with Diana's response
What about that thirty percent sale at Jimmy's shoes
Natalie argues that a sale at a specific shoe store is better than love
And Sachs Friends and Family Day? Ha?
Natalie cites another sale from a popular store among friends and family
Still better
Diana insists that love is still better
Well, maybe close second
Natalie acknowledges Diana's point and suggests that shopping is a close second
Very close second
Natalie emphasizes that shopping is only slightly inferior to being in love
Better, more better
Diana is certain that love is the better choice, without a doubt
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BILL LOUGHBOROUGH, DAVE WHEAT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out
Here are the original lyrics. Jet Set 50's anti-Beat Jazz poetry. a little dated, corny, jazz "insider", but as such, perfect. What's with this food stuff ? Oh well, have to make it accessible to younger non jazz audiences I guess. But please isten to to Irene Kral or Al Jarreau. He takes it to a whole different level, of course "Better than sailing at midnite Better than diving for pearls Better than skiing at Aspen and feeding the squirrels Better than finding a horsehoe Better than losing your head
Better than anything thought of Better than anything said.
Better than singing right out loud or being spotted in a crowd
Better than anything except being in love.
Better than four sets with Dizzy Better than Count Basie's band
Better than Rawlins and Coltrane better than being on the stand
Better than Ella Fitzgerald Better than Mile's latest news
Better than Bill Evans's ballads better than Joe William's blues
Better than hearing Lady Day* or checking in at Monterey* * (billie holliday)
Better than anything except being in love *(monterey, ca. jazz festival)
Better than elephants dancing Better than clowns on parade
Better than peanuts and popcorn and fresh lemonade
Better than rides on the midway better than seals blowing horns
Better than being shot from cannons or fresh ears of corn
Better than balancing on wires or seeing tigers leap thru fire
better than anything except being in love"
there's one more verse that i can't remember about late nite TV when it was just the coolest "new thing" and 1950's boxers and Jack Paar...seeing.Emile Griffin fight? Casey and Kildare? talk show late at night...turning out the light....something like that
@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out
***** yeah, i understand they "had to" make it "accessible".And it really is too bad more people don't.know who Diz and Evans were. Or even Miles and Billie Holliday.
.Esoteric. And dated, too. But the songs musically and lyrically come from that moment in time, Improvise on the harmonies or change the arrangement, but , shit, a little respect for the wordsmiths. Do you know how hard it is to actually boil down an image or idea and make it fit the music? You can't fuck around with Mercer or Hammerstein's work (or David "Buck" Wheat'*s ?. that's got to be contractual issue) put in some half assed rhymes about food, and not expect me to get a little upset.
Would you put some
"danglish" words into Mozart's German text "the Magic Flute" to make it more accessible to zee jung juppy Germans? (trendy English words used annoyingly by yuppie German to sound
"kuhl" and sophisticated) i hope not.
But somebody would, probably.
"the radio and the telephone may just be passing fancies and in time may go....but our love is here to stay."
you wouldn't want want to update that set of words!!
it bleedin prohetic, mate!!
passing fancies indeed!
Tuck and patty sang em in '88 and Jarreau
in '75 and the lyrics were dated even then and still worked. Harumpphh.
@frankfim
You don't get such music anymore ...
Two genius and great vocalists
@johnskelton1117
Is this the best duet song ever? It is as far as I am concern...simply outstanding!
@dianecameron8836
I agree with you... Simply outstanding & understandable
@markarneson6815
@@dianecameron8836 ,🥰
@PhoenixGoldenMusic
You are missed Natalie. One of our best vocalists. Diana has a wonderfully consistent tone. Brilliant
@ccalculus
Two awesome Ladies jazz singers having fun on stage, thanks for sharing this masterpiece !
@irishmack72
This performance always makes me smile!!!
@ani3238
I Love this song by Diana Krall who is Fabulous and the late Great Natalie Cole!! Still grieving her death but celebrating her life of song 🎶. Never to be forgotten
@martyemmons8692
Yes, we are blessed to have this performance by Natalie Cole. I can watch it and have joy in my heart.
@jetglo325
No autotune required for these 2. They actually know how to sing.