"Better in Time" is a song recorded by English singer Leona Lewis for her debut studio album Spirit (2007).
It was released as the second single from Spirit on 10 March 2008, as a double A-side with "Footprints in the Sand", by Syco Music and J Records.
The song's accompanying music video was directed by Sophie Muller at the Hampton Court House School in London in February 2008, and shows Lewis performing in front of several photographic set-ups and events behind the scenes.
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".
[8] The BBC's reviewer Fraser McAlpine gave "Better in Time" three stars out 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".
[9] 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".
[10] 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".
[11] 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".
[19][20] 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.
[43] The music video was filmed at Hampton Court House School in London by the British director Sophie Muller in February 2008,[44] and was released at the end of the same month.
[45] 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.
[citation needed] Lewis also performed both sides of the single on BBC One's Sport Relief on 14 March 2008,[48] Good Morning America on 4 April 2008,[49] and on the Jimmy Kimmel Live!
[50] On 3 September 2008 Lewis performed the song on Live with Regis and Kelly,[51] and on 1 October 2008 on the season finale of America's Got Talent.
[57] "Better in Time" was used in the American television series Pretty Little Liars, for the second season finale "unmAsked", in the masquerade ball scene.