Footprints in the Sand (song)

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“Footprints in the Sand”
“Footprints in the Sand” cover
Single by Leona Lewis
from the album Spirit
A-side "Better in Time"
Released 7 March 2008 (2008-03-07) (see release history)
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded Rokstone Studios, London, England, 2007
Genre Piano pop
Length 3:58 (Single Mix)
4:08 (Album Version)
Label Sony BMG, Syco
Writer(s) Richard Page, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Simon Cowell
Producer Steve Mac
Leona Lewis singles chronology
"Bleeding Love"
(2007)		 "Better in Time"/"Footprints in the Sand"
(2008)
Spirit track listing
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
(12)		 "Footprints in the Sand"
(13)		 "A Moment like This"
(14)

"Footprints in the Sand" is a song written by Richard Page, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger[1] and Simon Cowell[2] and produced by Steve Mac[2] for Leona Lewis's debut album, Spirit. It was released in March 2008 as Lewis's third UK single, as a double A-side with "Better in Time".[3]

Contents

[edit] Song information

The song is the official song of charity Sport Relief for 2008.[4] The single was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 9 March 2008, with a physical release on the following day, with proceeds going to the charity.[5][6][7] The song has been remixed for the single release.[8]

"Footprints in the Sand" is an adaptation of the Christian poem "Footprints".[9] Cowell came up with the idea to base a song around the poem, and Lewis agreed that it could be "really quite interesting".[10] Cowell has a songwriting credit for coming up with the idea.[10] Lewis describes the song as "very moving, with a very emotional lyric".[9] The song is about "standing by someone and being there for people who need your help."[11]

To promote the single, Lewis performed the song live on Dancing on Ice on 9 March 2008, with a special ice dance routine performed by Torvill and Dean.[12]

[edit] Critical reception

In its review of the album, the Evening Standard described the song as a "string-fuelled, gospel-tinged power ballad that would make a good theme to a Disney movie."[13] thelondonpaper's reviewer did not like the song, going so far as to describe it as "[g]aseous bowel rot".[14] More complimentary was iafrica's reviewer, describing it as a "show-stopping [...] lush Mariah [Carey]-style ballad [...] that utilises Lewis'[s] full vocal range and sounds uncannily like Carey at her best.[15] Digital Spy's review claimed that the song has "the sort of ludicrous outro even Mariah Carey might consider over-the-top" and that the lyrics "will have your granny in tears".[16] Channel 4 said it was "a lot like [Lewis's first single] "A Moment like This" and a lot like Christmas."[17] The reviewer for the Manchester Evening News said that the song "pushes [Lewis] as a vocalist and fits the charity bill".[18]

[edit] Chart performance

In November 2007, following the release of the album, "Footprints in the Sand" charted in the UK Singles Chart at number sixty-five on download sales.[19] On 24 February 2008, the single debuted at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart three weeks before its physical release.[20] On 9 March 2008, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 63.[19]

When the physical single was released, the double A-side single jumped twenty-one places to #2 in the UK Singles Chart. It sold 40,476 copies and was held off the top spot by the massive hit single "Mercy" by Duffy, which sold 302 copies more.[21] The double a-side eventually sold 182,075 units.

[edit] Music video

The music video for "Footprints in the Sand" was directed in London by acclaimed British director Sophie Muller back-to-back with the video for "Better in Time".[22] The video is cut with footage of Lewis's visit to Johannesburg, South Africa for Sport Relief,[11][23][24] and it premiered on her official website and BBC Radio 1's website on 27 February 2008.[4]

A special edition of the video, featuring footage of Lewis in South Africa, was shown on BBC One on 9 March 2008.

[edit] Track listing

CD single

  1. "Better in Time" (Single Mix) (Jonathan Rotem, Andrea Martin) – 3:55
  2. "Footprints in the Sand" (Single Mix) (Richard Page, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Simon Cowell) – 3:58
  3. "You Bring Me Down" (Salaam Remi, Taj Jackson, Leona Lewis) - 3:53

[edit] Release history

Region Date Label Format
Republic of Ireland 7 March 2008 Syco Music CD single, digital download
United Kingdom 9 March 2008 Digital download
10 March 2008 CD single

[edit] Charts

[edit] "Better in Time"/"Footprints in the Sand"

Chart (2008) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[19] 2
GIB Singles Chart 1
European Hot 100[25] 8

[edit] "Footprints in the Sand"

Chart (2008) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[26] 25
Euro 200[27] 70

[edit] See also


[edit] Cover Versions

The song was covered by Operacion Triunfo Series 6 finalist Noelia. She sang the song live on May 13, 2008 when the gala show took place. She was told by the judges that she did the song justice and performed it very well indeed. She was saved from nomination. Operacion Triunfo is the spanish equivalent of Fame Academy. [1]

[edit] External links

Official Sport Relief Video on Youtube

[edit] References

  1. ^ Footprints in the Sand. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved on 2007-10-g21.
  2. ^ a b (2007) Album notes for Spirit by Leona Lewis [CD album]. Sony BMG (88697185262).
  3. ^ New single announcement!. LeonaLewis. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
  4. ^ a b "Sport Relief in Africa", LeonaLewisMusic.co.uk, 2008-02-27. Retrieved on 2008-02-27. 
  5. ^ "Sign up for the Sport Relief Mile", BBC News. Retrieved on 2008-01-19. 
  6. ^ "Stars out in force for Sport Relief", What's On TV, 2008-01-15. Retrieved on 2008-01-19. 
  7. ^ "Leona reveals new single details", Digital Spy, 2008-01-30. Retrieved on 2008-01-30. 
  8. ^ "New single announcement", Leona Lewis mailing list (2008-02-01). Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  9. ^ a b "Leona to release Sport Relief song", Virgin Media, 2008-01-31. Retrieved on 2008-02-01. 
  10. ^ a b Paphides, Pete. "Leona Lewis - the X Factor star with more staying power", 2008-03-08. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 
  11. ^ a b Allen, Liam. "Lewis makes footprints in States", BBC News, 2008-02-15. Retrieved on 2008-02-17. 
  12. ^ "Leona Lewis' blades of glory", The Sun, 2008-02-29. Retrieved on 2008-02-29. 
  13. ^ Elwell-Sutton, Chris. "CDs of the week", Evening Standard, 2007-11-05. Retrieved on 2008-01-29. 
  14. ^ Mackenzie, Malcolm. "Whine and spirit", thelondonpaper, 2007-11-12. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 
  15. ^ Geffen, Justine. "LEONA LEWIS Spirit", iafrica.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 
  16. ^ Fletcher, Alex. "Leona Lewis: 'Better In Time' / 'Footprints In The Sand'", Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2008-03-09. 
  17. ^ "Leona Lewis Spirit new album review", Channel 4 Music. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 
  18. ^ Walters, Sarah. "Leona Lewis - Better In Time/Footprints In The Sand (BMG)", Manchester Evening News, 2008-03-06. Retrieved on 2008-03-09. 
  19. ^ a b c Leona Lewis - Footprints In The Sand. aCharts.us. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.
  20. ^ Leona Lewis - Better In Time / Footprints In The Sand. aCharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
  21. ^ Digital Spy (2008-03-16). "Duffy holds Leona off number one spot". Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  22. ^ Grammy Party!. LeonaLewis. Retrieved on 2008-02-11.
  23. ^ ‘Better In Time’ video (2008-02-14). Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  24. ^ Ford, Louise. "Leona Lewis can't afford to buy her own house, says dad", Sunday Mirror, 2008-03-02. Retrieved on 2008-03-02. 
  25. ^ U.S. Billboard European Hot 100
  26. ^ Leona Lewis - Footprints In The Sand. aCharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
  27. ^ Euro 200
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Leona Lewis
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"A Moment Like This" · "Bleeding Love"  · "Better in Time"/"Footprints in the Sand"
Other Singles
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