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Footprints in the Sand (Leona Lewis song)

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"Footprints in the Sand"
A brunette woman is standing in front of a beach. She is wearing a greenish dress and she grabs her neck with her left hand. Next to her image, the words "Leona Lewis" are written in black capital letters, and "better In time & (and) footprints In the sand" in dark brown italics. Below the image the phrase "The Official Single Of Sports Relief 2008" is written in black capital letters and next to it, the Sports Relief logo is visible.
Single by Leona Lewis
from the album Spirit
A-side"Better in Time"
B-side"You Bring Me Down"
Released9 March 2008 (2008-03-09)
Recorded2007
StudioRokstone (London, England)
Genre
Length4:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Mac
Leona Lewis singles chronology
"Bleeding Love"
(2007) 		"Better in Time" / "Footprints in the Sand"
(2008) 		"Forgive Me"
(2008)

"Footprints in the Sand" is a song recorded by British singer Leona Lewis for her debut studio album Spirit (2007). It was written by Simon Cowell, David Kreuger, Per Magnusson, Richard Page, and produced by Steve Mac. The song was digitally released as Lewis's third single on 9 March 2008 in the United Kingdom. Sony BMG and Syco Music launched it as a double A-side with "Better in Time", and "You Bring Me Down" as the B-side.

It is a R&B and pop song composed with a tempo of sixty beats per minute. It was written in a period of one day at Page's home in Malibu, California, with Cowell giving the idea to base it on the Christian poem "Footprints". The single's music video was filmed by British director Sophie Muller in Johannesburg, South Africa. The video describes social problems within the city, but ends with a message of hope. "Footprints in the Sand" became the official theme of the 2008 version of biennial charity programme Sport Relief, by BBC.

The song received positive reviews from music critics, some of them noting its gospel sounds and Lewis's vocals being compared to American R&B singer Mariah Carey. "Footprints in the Sand" charted as a separate single in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Hot 100 Singles, whilst the double A-side appeared in Germany and Switzerland, and was certified gold in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), in 2008. In the same year, Lewis performed the song for the first time in the UK live on the television programme Dancing on Ice. In 2009, the song was covered by Lucie Jones, a contestant of The X Factor, and by Julia Star from Swiss programme Die grössten Schweizer Talente.

Production and composition

[edit]

"Footprints in the Sand" was written by Simon Cowell, David Kreuger, Per Magnusson and Richard Page, whilst the production was helmed by Steve Mac. It was recorded in 2007 at Rokstone Studios in London, England.[1][2] Cowell originally came up with the idea to base a song around the Christian poem "Footprints",[3] and suggested it to Kreuger and Magnusson.[4] They had a scheduled session in Page's home in Malibu, California and finished the song the next day.[4] Cowell secured a songwriting credit for coming up with the idea.[5] In an interview with HitQuarters, Magnusson said they had thought the song would be a good idea for Irish boy band Westlife, but it was offered to British singer Leona Lewis instead.[4] When Cowell mentioned the song concept to Lewis, she agreed that it could be "really quite interesting".[5] Regarding the song, Lewis commented: "Originally it was a poem; it's very inspirational so we put it into a song. I think it is very moving, with a very emotional lyric and I really love to sing this song";[6] and added that the poem "[is] about standing by someone and being there for people who need your help."[7]

"Footprints in the Sand" was included on Lewis's debut studio album Spirit, which was released in 2007 by Syco and J Records.[1] The song has a duration of 4:09 and was composed using common time in the key of A♭ major with a larghetto tempo of sixty beats per minute; Lewis's vocals spanned from the low note of E♭3 to the high note of G♯5.[8] The song follows the sequence of A♭5–A♭5/B♭–Fm7–E♭ in the verses and A♭–B♭–B♭m–Fm–G♭–D♭ in the chorus as its chord progression.[8] It incorporates four instruments: keyboard instruments (a piano, an organ and synthesizers), guitar, bass and drums, and includes a choir performance made by The Tuff Session Singers.[1] It incorporates elements of R&B and pop musical genres,[8][9] and, according to music critics, contains a gospel production performed by a choir and features "crashing drums".[10][11][12]

Release and promotion

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On 29 January 2008, Lewis announced on her website that "Footprints in the Sand", along with "Better in Time", would be released as a double A-side.[13] The single was launched with the song "You Bring Me Down" as the B-side,[14] and was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 9 March 2008, and a physical release on the following day,[13] with proceeds going to the charity.[15][16] The song was remixed for the single release ("Single Mix"),[9] which, unlike the original version, begins with Lewis's voice only, and music starts after she performs the first verse[17]—the album version of "Footprints in the Sand" starts with a piano tune before she starts to sing the lyrics—,[1] and lasts at 3:58.[18]

"Footprints in the Sand" became the official song of the charity Sport Relief, a biennial charity organised by Comic Relief and BBC Sport, for their 2008 broadcast.[14][19] In her performance, Lewis sang the song to the Sports Relief event. Also, there were musicians that played violas, violins, and a piano, and The Tuff Session Singers performed the chorus. Whilst she sang, images of "sadness and desperation" were shown to the public. But, as the Tuff Session Singers began, the third chorus, those images became pictures of "happiness".[20] As part of promotion, Lewis performed the song live on the British television programme Dancing on Ice on 9 March 2008;[21] her song accompanied Torvill and Dean's ice dance routine.[citation needed] In 2013, Lewis added the song to the setlist of her Glassheart Tour.[22]

Music video

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A shanty town located in Soweto, Johannesburg. Many dwellings are shown throughout the photograph.
The music video was filmed in Johannesburg, South Africa. In it, images of poverty of the city (an urban area pictured) are shown.

The accompanying music video was filmed in Johannesburg, South Africa,[7][23] and was directed by British director Sophie Muller back-to-back with the video for "Better in Time".[7][24] It premiered on Lewis official website and BBC Radio 1's website on 27 February 2008.[25] The video begins with the message "Working to change lives across the world, in support of Sport Relief". Then, it intercuts a performance of Lewis in front of a wall and greyscale scenes: an image of a child walking on a landfill site, a funeral, a child lying in the street, and a kid sat in a traffic island. As the first chorus begins, the video continues showing scenes of poverty and AIDS issues in the country. Whilst the second verse goes, pictures of malnourished people appears. As the second chorus and the bridge elapse people crying still coming on the scene. But whereas The Tuff Session Singers start to sing the third chorus, the video begins to show images of kids playing association football and cricket. The video ends with children and people smiling as Lewis sings the outro of the song. It was released on the US iTunes Store on 3 February 2009.[26]

Reception

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Critical response

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Upon the release of Spirit, "Footprints in the Sand" received generally positive reviews by music critics, with some of them comparing Lewis's performance to other singers such as Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera.[27] In his review of the album, Chris Elwell-Sutton of the Evening Standard commented that the song would be perfect as a "theme to a Disney movie".[28] Whilst reviewing Spirit, Chad Grischow of IGN Music described "Footprints in the Sand", along with "Here I Am", as a "sleeper ballad".[29] Lyndsey Winship, a reviewer from BBC Music, noted that the song "is a piano warbler that brings Leona's voice to the forefront".[30]

A reviewer for South African news site iafrica.com described the song as a "show-stopping [...] lush Mariah-style ballad [...] that utilises Lewis'[s] full vocal range and sounds uncannily like Carey at her best.[31] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it "drippy", and added that with "Footprints" Lewis would receive comparisons to Carey.[32] Digital Spy's reviewers gave similar opinions about "Footprints in the Sand". Nick Levine in his review of the album called the song an "histrionic finale" of Spirit, and added that it "seems hellbent on revisiting Mariah Carey's schlock-pop masterwork 'Anytime You Need a Friend'".[33] After it was released as a single Alex Fletcher claimed it has "the sort of ludicrous outro even Mariah Carey might consider over-the-top" and that its lyrics "will have your granny in tears".[27]

Chart performance

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A woman is sitting whilst she sings a song. She wears a pink dress which has some fancy diamonds. She holds a microphone with her left hand, and with her right hand she points something or someone that she is looking at.
With the double A-side "Better in Time"/"Footprints in the Sand", Lewis gained her third consecutive top-five single in the United Kingdom.

"Footprints in the Sand" charted in Europe, reaching position seventy-three on the European Hot 100 Singles.[34] In November 2007, the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number sixty-five, staying on the chart for another week. On 15 March 2008, the single re-entered it at number sixty-three. "Footprints in the Sand" claimed its peak position next week at number twenty-five, staying on the chart for eleven weeks.[35] On the Irish Singles Chart the song debuted and peaked at number fifty;[36] whilst on the Swiss Singles Chart, it debuted on 15 November 2009 at thirty-five, and it stayed there three weeks.[37]

The double A-side "Better in Time" and "Footprints in the Sand" debuted at number seventy-four on the UK Singles Chart on 1 March 2008.[38] After selling 40,476 copies it peaked at number two on 22 March 2008,[35] the same week "Footprints in the Sand" debuted in the top forty.[35] It was Lewis's third single to reach the top five in the UK.[39] It was certified as gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 16 January 2009.[40] The single debuted on the German Singles Chart on 16 June 2008 at number five, and reached its peak position, at number two, on 28 July 2008.[41] It also peaked on the European Hot 100 at number eight.[34]


Track listings and formats

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CD single (Syco), CD single (RCA) and Swiss CD single[42]
  1. "Better in Time" (Single Mix) – 3:55
  2. "Footprints in the Sand" (Single Mix) – 3:58
German premium single[43]
  1. "Better in Time" (Single Mix) – 3:55
  2. "Footprints in the Sand" (Single Mix) – 3:58
  3. "Bleeding Love" (Moto Blanco Remix Radio Edit) – 3:40
  4. "Better in Time" (Video) – 3:58
Sony single;[44] Swiss maxi single[45]
  1. "Better in Time" (Single Mix) – 3:55
  2. "Footprints in the Sand" (Single Mix) – 3:58
  3. "Bleeding Love" (Moto Blanco Remix Radio Edit) – 3:40
UK Sport Relief CD single[14]
  1. "Better in Time" – 3:55
  2. "Footprints in the Sand" – 4:09
  3. "You Bring Me Down" – 3:54

Credits and personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Silver 200,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[40]
with "Better in Time" 		Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Footprints in the Sand"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 10 March 2008
Syco
[13][14]
Australia 19 April 2008 CD Sony BMG
[52]
Germany 9 May 2008 Digital download Ariola
[53]
Switzerland 16 May 2008 Maxi CD Sony BMG
[45]
23 May 2008 CD
[42]
Germany 30 May 2008
  • CD
  • maxi CD
 Ariola
[43]
Australia 5 July 2008
  • Digital download (EP)
  • maxi CD
 Sony BMG
[54][55]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Spirit (Compact Disc). Leona Lewis. Los Angeles, California: Sony BMG, J Records, Syco. 2007. 8 86970 25542 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "Song list: Footprints in the Sand". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2007.
  3. ^ Chinen, Nate (7 April 2008). "Critics' Choice New CDs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "Per Magnusson, producer and songwriter for Leona Lewis, Il Divo, Britney Spears, Westlife". HitQuarters. 31 August 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  5. ^ a b Paphides, Pete (8 March 2008). "Leona Lewis - the X Factor star with more staying power". The Times. London: Times Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  6. ^ "Leona to perform on ice show". Metro. Associated Newspapers Limited. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  7. ^ a b c Allen, Liam (15 February 2008). "Lewis makes footprints in States". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 18 February 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  8. ^ a b c "Footprints in the Sand – Leona Lewis Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes Inc. MN0063217. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  9. ^ a b "Better in Time/Footprints in the Sand". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  10. ^ Segal, Victoria (2 November 2007). "Leona Lewis: Spirit". The Sunday Times. News International. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  11. ^ "Footprints In The Sand - Leona Lewis". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  12. ^ Kaufman, Gil (4 February 2010). "'Footprints In The Sand': The Story Behind The 'American Idol' Audition". MTV News. MTV (Viacom). Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  13. ^ a b c "New single announcement!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 29 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  14. ^ a b c d "Better in Time: Official Sport Relief Single 2008 (Single)". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
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  18. ^ a b Lewis, Leona (2008). Better In Time / Footprints In The Sand (Compact Disc). Leona Lewis. Miami, Florida: Sony BMG, Syco. Back cover. 88697 27200 2.
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  20. ^ "Sports Relief 2008". Sport Relief. 10 March 2008. BBC. BBC Sport / Comic Relief.
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  22. ^ Corner, Lewis (17 April 2013). "Leona Lewis begins 'Glassheart' tour in Germany - pictures". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the original on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  23. ^ Ford, Louise (2 March 2008). "Leona Lewis can't afford to buy her own house, says dad". Sunday Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2 March 2008.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ Lewis, Leona (11 February 2008). "Grammy Party!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  25. ^ "'Footprints in the Sand' exclusive video!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  26. ^ "Footprints In the Sand – Leona Lewis". The iTunes Store (United States). Apple Inc. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  27. ^ a b Fletcher, Alex (10 March 2008). "Leona Lewis: 'Better In Time' / 'Footprints In The Sand'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  28. ^ Elwell-Sutton, Chris (5 November 2011). "CDs of the week". Evening Standard. Evening Standard London Limited. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  29. ^ Grischow, Chris (23 April 2008). "Leona Lewis - Spirit. UK Songstress worthy of the hype on sparkling debut". IGN Music. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  30. ^ Winship, Lyndsey (2 November 2007). "Spirit is just the sound of a generic diva". BBC Music. BBC. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  31. ^ Geffen, Justine (19 February 2011). "Leona Lewis Spirit". iafrica.com. Primedia Online. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  32. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (1 April 2008). "Leona Lewis Spirit". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  33. ^ Levine, Nick (12 November 2007). "Leona Lewis: 'Spirit'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  34. ^ a b c "Leona Lewis Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  35. ^ a b c d "2008 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  36. ^ a b "Discography Leona Lewis". Irish Recorded Music Association. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  37. ^ a b "Leona Lewis - Footprints In The Sand (Song)". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  38. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Leona Lewis – Better In Time / Footprints in the Sand". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  39. ^ "Official Charts Company - Leona Lewis". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  40. ^ a b "British single certifications – Leona Lewis – Better in Time/Footprints in the Sand". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  41. ^ "Better in Time/Premium - Leona Lewis" (in German). Musicline.de. Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  42. ^ a b "Better in Time – 2track" (in German). CeDe. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  43. ^ a b "Better in Time/Premium (Single, Maxi)". Amazon Germany (in German). Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  44. ^ "Better in Time [Sony Single]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  45. ^ a b "Better in Time" (in German). CeDe. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  46. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 13. 29 March 2008. p. 59. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  47. ^ "Better in Time/Premium - Leona Lewis" (in German). Musicline.de. Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  48. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  49. ^ "Leona Lewis: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  50. ^ "2008" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  51. ^ "British single certifications – Leona Lewis – Footprints in the Sand". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  52. ^ "Leona Lewis". Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  53. ^ "Better In Time – Single". Germany: Apple Music. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  54. ^ "Better in Time". Sony Music Entertainment. Sony Corporation of America. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  55. ^ "Better In Time – Single". Australia: Apple Music. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
[edit]
  • Lyrics at Leona Lewis Official Website
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