Our first song about comparing: a song that says you are better than everyone. Simply the best.
Learn from Songs · Unit 5: Comparatives and superlatives · A2–B1
The Best (Simply the Best)
A huge, joyful song of praise: superlatives (the best, the most wonderful), comparatives (better than, more than), the best I’ve ever…, and the irregular forms (good, better, best), with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria, and the Olympic games.
SOPHIA
MARCOS
That’s my song. That’s about me.
DEMETRIA
It’s sung at football matches, Marcos, not about you.
SOPHIA
Both, perhaps. Listen.
Before you listen: the song
London, 1988–1989
“The Best” was written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight. It was first recorded in 1988 by the Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, but it became famous in 1989 when Tina Turner sang it.
Tina Turner (1939–2023) was one of the greatest rock and soul singers of all time, known as the “Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll”. She grew up in a small town in Tennessee, became famous in the 1960s, and then, in her forties, rebuilt her career and became even more successful than before.
The song is a declaration of admiration: the singer tells someone that they are the best, better than all the others, better than anyone she has ever met. Today it’s sung in sports stadiums all over the world, especially in Scotland and Australia.
Simply the best.
Listen: the praise
PHILO
Listen once. Count the words best and better. Who is the song for?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
🏆 Listen to the song: “The Best” (Mike Chapman and Holly Knight, 1988), sung by Tina Turner (1989).Watch the official video →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “The Best”, Tina Turner.Read the lyrics →
Superlatives: the best, the most
DEMETRIA
You’re the best. The greatest. The most wonderful person in the world.
SOPHIA
Short adjectives: the + -est (the greatest, the tallest). Long adjectives: the most + adjective (the most wonderful). Irregular: good → the best, bad → the worst, far → the furthest.
Comparatives: better than
MARCOS
You’re better than all the rest. Better than anyone!
SOPHIA
-er + than or more + adjective + than: faster than, more beautiful than. Irregular: good → better, bad → worse. Careful: better than, never more good or more better!
The best I’ve ever…
PHILO
the best person I’ve ever met. the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.
SOPHIA
A superlative + the present perfect + ever: It’s the best film I’ve ever seen. She’s the kindest person I’ve ever met.
Sophia’s comparison: the Olympic victor
SOPHIA
At Olympia, there is no second prize. Only the winner gets the crown of olive leaves, and poets like Pindar write songs in his honour: the best, the fastest, the strongest of the Greeks.
MARCOS
Only the winner? That’s harsh.
DEMETRIA
That’s why Pindar’s songs sound a bit like Tina Turner’s.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the + -est | superlative, short adjectives | the greatest, the fastest |
| the most + adjective | superlative, long adjectives | the most wonderful |
| -er than / more… than | comparatives | better than all the rest |
| good – better – the best | irregular forms | You’re simply the best. |
| the best… I’ve ever… | superlative + present perfect | the best friend I’ve ever had |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. What is the song?
2. What does the singer say about the person?
3. Who sang the song first?
4. Where is the song often sung today?
5. How does the song sound?
6. What was Tina Turner called?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. You’re simply best.
8. You’re than all the rest. (good)
9. She’s the singer in the world. (great)
10. It’s the most day of my life. (wonderful)
11. He’s the best friend I’ve had.
12. That was the film of the year. (bad)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “You’re more better than him.”
14. “She’s the best singer I’ve ever heard.”
15. “It’s the most good pizza in town.”
16. “This is the most beautiful place in the world.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Award ceremony. Give awards to people in your class or family: the funniest, the kindest, the best cook… Explain why: She’s the best cook I’ve ever met because…
Discuss. 1. Why do you think sports fans love this song? 2. Is it good to be “the best”, or is it enough to do your best? 3. Who is the best… you’ve ever met?
Write (60–80 words). Simply the best. Write about the best person, place or day in your life. Use at least three superlatives and two comparatives.