Only Prettier

"Only Prettier" is an up-tempo song in the key of A♭ major backed by electric and steel guitars and percussion. The song's female narrator, a typical rough-and-rowdy country girl, finds herself facing off with a stereotypical city girl ("I got a mouth like a sailor and yours is more like a Hallmark card"). Although the song's verses find the narrator describing the differences between the two, she offers in the chorus that the two actually have quite a lot in common ("You got your friends, just like I got mine") and that they should put their differences aside ("So let's shake hands and reach across those party lines"). She gets the last word in, stating that "[country girls are] just like you, only prettier", but in the very last chorus, she states "I'm just like you, only prettier."

Lambert relates to the song as her own anthem: "It’s antagonistic in a fun way, and I loved the attitude behind it. It kind of fools you, because it’s got this really country, laid-back intro, but then it’s balls-to-the-wall the rest of the way. It’s so much fun!"^[1]

Co-writer Natalie Hemby told The Boot that she and Lambert wanted the song to be "clever." She referred to the lyrics as being like "a smack in the face, but you don't realize it. It's like wait ... did you just insult me?"^[2]

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Blake Boldt of Engine 145 gave the song a thumbs up, complimenting that "once again, Lambert has bent the iron-clad rules of radio to bring us sharp material like this." He also commented that the "cleverness of her performance makes up for the clumsiness of the production."^[3] Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a B+ rating, comparing it to Lambert's own "Dry Town" and complimenting the lyrics and vocals. However, he was not as impressed with the production, in which he felt "thrashing guitars drown out the steel guitar and come close to overshadowing a great vocal performance from Lambert."^[4]

The music video for "Only Prettier" was directed by Trey Fanjoy and filmed in Joelton, Tennessee in June 2010,^[5] and premiered on VEVO on August 3, 2010.^[6] It features a 1950s theme and appearances by fellow country artists Kellie Pickler, Laura Bell Bundy, and Hillary Scott of Lady A in dual roles. In the video, Lambert and her friends portray two rival cliques — "good girls" dressed in formal white attire with blonde hair, the other as "bad girls" in more provocative dark hair and outfits — attending a high school sock hop.^[1] The "bad girl" alter-egos are shown doing things such as spiking the punch, stuffing their bras and smoking. Ultimately, both groups have a good time at the party. Additionally, Lambert is also shown performing with her band on stage at the event.

"Only Prettier" debuted at number 45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of July 17, 2010.^[7] After spending 24 weeks on the chart, it reached a peak of number 12 for the week of December 25, 2010.^[8]