Leona Lewis: 'Better In Time' / 'Footprints In The Sand'

The snubbing of Leona Lewis was one of the few shocks at this year's typically dull Brit Awards. Unsurprisingly, the singer's fortunes don't seem to have been affected by the cold shoulder, as her march towards Whitney-style divadom continues unabated with this new, double A-side single. Released in aid of Sport Relief, 'Footprints In The Sand' / 'Better In Time' proves Lewis is not only one hell of a belter, but also a fan of 'charidee' work. Some people are just show-offs, right?

'Footprints' finds Lewis twisting her vocal chords to within an inch of their life, warbling away as though she's at a Christina Aguilera convention. With two killer key-changes, lyrics that will have your granny in tears and the sort of ludicrous outro even Mariah Carey might consider over-the-top, it offers plenty of good, histrionic fun. Unfortunately, 'Better', its flipside, is a more placid affair, its plinky-plonky piano and R&B groove resting uncomfortably next to Lewis's creamy vocal style. This probably won't stop Lewis from topping the charts again, but whether she'll deserve it is another matter entirely.


> Click here for our review of Lewis' Spirit album