"Better in Time" is a pop and R&B song performed by British singer Leona Lewis. It was written by J. R. Rotem and Andrea Martin, and was produced by Rotem. It is featured on Lewis's debut album Spirit (2007). "Better in Time" was released on 10 March 2008 as Lewis's third single in the United Kingdom, as a double A-side with "Footprints in the Sand", and "You Bring Me Down" as B-side. It was Lewis's second international single following her hit "Bleeding Love" (2007). Lyrically, "Better in Time" tells the story of a girl who cannot forget her ex-partner, and who knows that "it will all get better in time".
Lewis promoted the song on several live television programmes, such as Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kelly, and on the 2008 American Music Awards, and it was included on the set list of her debut concert tour The Labyrinth (2010). The music video was filmed by Sophie Muller at Hampton Court House School, London in February 2008. On it, Lewis is shown performing in front of several photographic set-ups, and shows what goes on behind the scenes of them. Receiving generally positive reviews by music critics, it was nominated at the Brit Awards in the category "Best British Single". "Better in Time" reached number two in the national music charts of the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as the top ten in several countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy and New Zealand. The single was certified gold in Australia, Denmark and Germany, and silver in the UK.
Composition and release
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"Better in Time"
A sample of "Better in Time", a pop and R&B song composed in G major, which was described as a song with piano sounds harmonized with Lewis' voice. [1]
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Problems playing this file? See media help. |
"Better in Time" is a pop and R&B song set in common time composed in a moderate tempo of eighty beats per minute,[2][3] in the key of G flat major with a vocal range from the tone of C4 to the note of B5.[2][3] The song has a sequence of G–Bm–Em–G/D–C as its chord progression.[2][3] Lyrically the song talks about someone who cannot forget her ex-partner, and at the end the protagonist knows that "it will all get better in time".[4] Andrea Martin and J. R. Rotem wrote the song, and Rotem composed and produced it.[4] On 29 January 2008, Lewis announced on her website that "Better in Time", along with "Footprints in the Sand", would be released as a double A-side single on 10 March 2010, as her third single in the United Kingdom,[5] with 2008 Sport Relief, a biennial charity organised by Comic Relief and BBC Sport, selecting "Footprints in the Sand" as their official single.[6][7][8] It was also her second international single. A new remix of the song was created for the single release.[8] The double A-side was released with another song, "You Bring Me Down", as a B-side.[7]
Critical reception
"Better in Time" received generally positive reviews from music critics. In his review of the album, Chung Ah-young of The Korea Times described the single as "one of the best tracks [on the album] with impressive piano sounds harmonized with [Lewis] powerful vocals".[1] Alex Fletcher from Digital Spy gave a mixed review to the double A-side. He called the single a "placid affair" with "its plinky-plonky piano and R&B groove resting uncomfortably next to Lewis's creamy vocal style".[9] The BBC's reviewer Fraser McAlpine gave "Better in Time" three stars our of five commenting that "The tune's quite nice, fairly hummable without ever actually going anywhere and despite the floaty, Mariah-esque qualities of Leona's vocals, it never goes completely mental in the throat-breakdancing department".[10]
Chuck Taylor of Billboard gave a positive review, stating that the song is of "equal caliber to its predecessor ["Bleeding Love"], with a one-listen hook, elegant chug-along melody, a lyric about healing and Lewis' unquestionably emotive vocal versatility".[11] Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe called it a "'love takes time' rumination", and along with another song of the album ("I Will Be"), described it as "predictable".[12] Sean Fennessey for Vibe noted that the track "is the best thing [on the album], is mannered and takes nearly three minutes to get off the ground".[13] It ranked at number four on the "10 Best Singles of 2008" list by American magazine Entertainment Weekly.[14] "Better in Time" was nominated at the 2009 BRIT Awards in the category of Best British Single,[15] and later the song was included on the awards' compilation album.[16]
Chart performance
Lewis on the red carpet of the 2009
VH1 Divas.
The double A-side "Better in Time" and "Footprints in the Sand" debuted at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart on 1 March 2008; rising 36 places, it debuted in the top 40 the following week, at number 38.[17] On its fourth week, the song reached its peak position at number two, selling 40,476 copies and being beaten to the number one spot by Duffy's "Mercy".[18] With this it became the third single by Lewis to reach the top five in the country.[19] "Better in Time" and "Footprints in the Sand" was certified as silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[20][21] In the Australian charts, "Better in Time" debuted at number 32 on 27 April 2008, reaching the top ten two weeks later, her second single to achieve this feat.[22] On 25 May 2008 the single reached its peak position, at number six, and remained within the top fifty for eighteen weeks.[22] The song was later certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[23] It debuted at number 34 on New Zealand's RIANZ Chart on 17 March 2008, eventually reaching number nine after five weeks, and by its seventh week had climbed to number six, thereby becoming her second consecutive top ten hit in the country.[24] "Better in Time" and "Footprints in the Sand" debuted in the German charts on 16 June 2008 at number five. Although it fell out the top ten the following week, it managed to reach the top five in the issue ending 27 July 2010, and rose to its peak position, at number two, in subsequent days.[25] "Better in Time" entered the German chart on 22 February 2009 at number seventy-nine, where it stayed for three weeks.[26] It achieved a gold certification by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI).[27] In Denmark "Better in Time" entered the charts at number twenty-nine on 9 May 2008, and managed to rise twenty-three places in the next two weeks. On 6 June 2008 the single reached its peak position, number three. Next week, it fell out two places, but it retook its peak the following issue, and the song continued in this position for three weeks.[28]
"Better in Time" and "Footprints in the Sand" debuted and peaked at number eight on the European Hot 100 Singles in the issue ending 29 March 2008, becoming the highest debut of the week.[29] Moreover, "Better in Time" was also a success in the chart, the single eventually reached number seven on the chart in the week ending 2 August 2008.[30] In Switzerland, the single entered at number thirteen, becoming the highest release of the week.[31] On 27 July 2008, its ninth week, it reached its peak position at number five, becoming Lewis's second top five in the country. It managed to stay within the top ten for eleven weeks and it was last seen in the chart on 22 March 2009, forty-two weeks after its debut.[32] In the week ending 26 April 2008, "Better in Time" debuted at number sixty-two on the Billboard Hot 100,[33] in the same week that her previous single, "Bleeding Love", topped the chart.[34] Next week it dropped out of the chart but later re-entered the Hot 100 at number seventy-five, becoming the best comeback of the week.[35] The song reached its peak position at number eleven on its fourteenth week, where it stayed for another week.[30][36] In other charts of the United States, "Better in Time" peaked at number four on the Adult Top 40,[30] ninety-nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,[30] three at the Mainstream Top 40,[30] and at number four on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it spent fifty-two weeks on the chart.[30][37] The single became the seventeenth best-selling single of 2008 in Austria,[38] as well as the twenty-second in Germany and Switzerland,[39][40] the thirty-sixth in New Zealand,[41] the thirty-seventh in the UK,[21] the fifty-fifth of Australia,[42] the sixty-fourth in the Netherlands,[43] and the seventy-second in Flanders, a region in Belgium.[44]
Music video and promotion
The music video shows Lewis performing in front of several photographic sessions.
The music video was filmed at Hampton Court House School in London by the British director Sophie Muller in February 2008,[45] and was released at the end of the same month.[46] The video is inspired by fashion design, with Lewis performing in front of "unrelated photographic set-ups", and shows what goes on behind the scenes.[47] In some parts of the video Lewis is shown with a horse.[48]
Lewis first performed the song live on the television programme Dancing on Ice on 9 March 2008.[49] Lewis also performed both sides of the single on BBC One's Sport Relief on 14 March 2008,[50] Good Morning America on 4 April 2008,[51] and on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show along with "Bleeding Love".[52] On 3 September 2008 Lewis performed the song on Live with Regis and Kelly,[53] and on 1 October 2008 on the season finale of America's Got Talent.[54] The song was featured in the 90210 episode "Lucky Strike", originally aired on 9 September 2008.[55] On 24 November 2008, Lewis performed the song at the 2008 American Music Awards.[56] In May 2010, the song was added to the setlist of her The Labyrinth tour, performed as the fourth song of the show.[57] "Better in Time" was included on the tour's live album and Blu-ray The Labyrinth Tour Live from The O2, released on 29 November 2010.[57] In 2011, Lewis performed a reggae version of the song at BBC Radio 1 segment Live Lounge, where she mashed up the single with "Man Down", a song by Rihanna.[58] It is also one of thirty-eight songs included on the benefit album Songs for Japan, a compilation album released in response to the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tōhoku, Japan), released on 25 March 2011.[59] "Better in Time" was used in the American television series Pretty Little Liars, for the second season finale "unmAsked", in the masquerade ball scene.[60] In 2013, Lewis performed the song along with "Man Down" during her Glassheart Tour.[61]
Track listings and formats
- Australian Maxi single[62] and UK Sport Relief CD single[7]
- "Better in Time" – 3:55
- "Footprints in the Sand" – 4:09
- "You Bring Me Down" – 3:54
- CD single (Syco), CD single (RCA), Maxi single,[22] and Swiss CD single[63]
- "Better in Time" (Single Mix) – 3:55
- "Footprints in the Sand" (Single Mix) – 3:58
- German Premium single[64]
- "Better in Time" (Single Mix) – 3:55
- "Footprints in the Sand" (Single Mix) – 3:58
- "Bleeding Love" (Moto Blanco Remix Radio Edit) – 3:40
- "Better in Time" (Video) – 3:58
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- Sony single;[65] Swiss Maxi single[66]
- "Better in Time" (Single Mix) – 3:55
- "Footprints in the Sand" (Single Mix) – 3:58
- "Bleeding Love" (Moto Blanco Remix Radio Edit) – 3:40
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Credits and personnel
- Better in Time[4]
- Leona Lewis – Vocals
- J. R. Rotem – Instruments, musical arranger, writer and producer
- Greg Ogan – Recorder
- Andrea Martin – Writer
- Vlado Meller – Master
- Serban Ghenea – Mixer
- Lyndell Fraser – Pro–tools engineer
- Tim Roberts – Pro–tools engineer assistant
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- You Bring Me Down[4]
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Charts and certifications
Charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Release history
Region |
Date |
Label |
Format |
United Kingdom |
9 March 2008[5] |
Syco Music |
Digital download |
10 March 2008[5][7] |
CD single |
Canada |
11 March 2008[89][90] |
Sony BMG, Syco Music |
CD single, digital download |
United States |
Australia |
19 April 2008[22] |
Switzerland |
16 May 2008[66] |
Maxi single |
23 May 2008[63] |
CD single, digital download |
Germany |
30 May 2008[64] |
Ariola |
CD single, maxi single |
Europe |
3 June 2008[91] |
Sony BMG Europe |
CD single, digital download |
Japan |
6 June 2008[92] |
CD single, maxi single |
Australia |
5 July 2008[62] |
Sony BMG, Syco Music |
Maxi single |
United States |
15 July 2008[93] |
J, RCA |
Airplay |
References
- 1 2 "Album Reviews". The Korea Times (Hankook Ilbo). 22 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
- 1 2 3 Sheet music for "Better in Time". Sony BMG Music Entertainment Publishing (2008).
- 1 2 3 Lewis 2008
- 1 2 3 4 Spirit (North American version) (Compact Disc). Leona Lewis. Los Angeles, California: Sony BMG, J Records, Syco. 2007. 8 86970 25542 4.
- 1 2 3 "New single announcement!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis is heading into the top ten again.". The Sun. News International. 10 March 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "Better in Time: Official Sport Relief Single 2008 (Single)". Amazon United Kingdom. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "‘Better in Time’ / ‘Footprints in the Sand’ out today!". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 10 March 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- ↑ Fletcher, Alex (10 March 2010). "Leona Lewis: 'Better in Time' / 'Footprints in the Sand'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Ltd. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis – 'Better In Time'". BBC. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
- ↑ Taylor, Chuck (19 July 2008). "Singles". Billboard (Nielsen Company): 46. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ Rodman, Sarah (8 April 2008). "Lewis's huge voice lifts 'Spirit'". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ↑ Fennessey, Sean (June 2008). "Leona Lewis – Spirit". Vibe (Time Inc): 66. ISSN 1070-4701.
- ↑ "10 Best Singles of 2008". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ↑ "Brit Awards 2009: Winners list". BBC. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
- ↑ "Music From Brit Awards 2009 Volume 1". Amazon United States. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Chart Stats - Leona Lewis - Better in Time/Fooprnts in the Sand". Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. Archived from the original on 7 Jul 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ↑ Jones, Alan (17 March 2008). "Did Duffy win fair and square?". Music Week. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Charts Stats - Leona Lewis". Chart Stats. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Certifified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 3 "2008" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "Leona Lewis". Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Charts.org.nz – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Better in Time/Premium - Leona Lewis" (in German). Musicline.de. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- 1 2 "Better in Time/Basic - Leona Lewis" (in German). Musicline.de. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- 1 2 "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('Better%20in%20Time')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Danishcharts.com – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". Tracklisten. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Week of March 29, 2008". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Better in Time - Leona Lewis". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis - Better In Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Week of April 26, 2008". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ↑ "Week of April 26, 2008". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ↑ "Week of August 2, 2008". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis - Better in Time". αCharts.us. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ↑ "Week of October 24, 2009". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
- 1 2 "Jahreshitparade 2008". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "VIVA Single Jahrescharts 2008 – 2008" (in German). Viva. MTV Networks (Viacom. Inc). 16 December 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- 1 2 "Swiss Year-End Charts 2008". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Annual Top 50 Songles Chart 2009". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Dutch Top 40 Year End". MegaCharts. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Ultratop Belgian Charts" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Behind-the-scenes on 'Better in Time' shoot". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ↑ "Better in Time video". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ↑ Allen, Liam (15 February 2008). "Lewis makes footprints in States". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
- ↑ Harmsworth, Andrei (15 February 2008). "Leona saddles up for chart success". Metro (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved 17 February 2008.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis' blades of glory". The Sun (News International). 29 February 2008. Retrieved 29 February 2008.
- ↑ "Rise to the challenge for Sport Relief". BBC Sports. BBC. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ↑ "Good Morning America". Good Morning America. American Broadcasting Company.
- ↑ "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Jimmy Kimmel Live!. American Broadcasting Company.
- ↑ "The Live Stage". Live with Regis and Kelly. American Broadcasting Company. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ↑ "Finale Results". America's Got Talent. Season 3. Episode 20. 1 October 2008.
- ↑ "90210: Lucky Strike". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis to join American Music Awards". Billboard. Reuters. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- 1 2 "The Labyrinth Live Tour DVD". Leona Lewis Official Website. Sony Music Entertainment. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ↑ "Leona performs Reggae version of 'Better In Time' / Rihanna's 'Man Down' in the Radio 1 Live Lounge". Sony Music UK. Sony Music Entertainment. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ↑ Montgomery, James (25 March 2011). "Songs For Japan Includes Eminem, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga And More". MTV News. Viacom Inc. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ↑ Etkin, Jaimie (21 March 2012). "'Pretty Little Liars' Recap: Season 2 Finale Gets 'Psycho' With Mona". The Huffington Post. AOL Inc. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
- ↑ Corner, Lewis (17 April 2013). "Leona Lewis begins 'Glassheart' tour in Germany - pictures". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- 1 2 "Better In Time". Sony Music Entertainment. Sony Corporation of America. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Better in Time – 2track" (in German). CeDe. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Better in Time/Premium (Single, Maxi)" (in German). Amazon Germany. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Better in Time [Sony Single]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- 1 2 "Better in Time" (in German). CeDe. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Leona Lewis – Better In Time" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Leona Lewis – Better In Time" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Leona Lewis – Better In Time" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Leona Lewis. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Radio Top100 Oficiální – Leona Lewis – Better in Time – Czech Republic". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis: Better In Time" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Chart Track: Week 12, 2008". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Leona Lewis. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Leona Lewis – Better In Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 2008-05-08.
- ↑ "Romanian Top 100". Archived from the original on 12 February 2009.
- ↑ "Radio Top 100 Oficiální Slovak Republic – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Leona Lewis – Better In Time" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Leona Lewis – Better In Time". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Leona Lewis: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ↑ "Ultratop Belgian Charts" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2008" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ↑ "Guld og platin: Track Top 40". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ↑ "Better in Time/Footprints in the Sand (Single, Import)". Amazon United States. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Better in Time/Footprints in the Sand (Import, Single)". Amazon Canada. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ↑ "Better in Time". Amazon Europe. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ↑ "Better in Time (Single, Enhanced, Maxi, Import, from US)" (in Japanese). Amazon Japan. Amazon Inc. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- ↑ "Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings: 7/15 Mainstream". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
Notes
External links