#11. Chain Reaction | 7.9

Highest Scores: 10: (SamJudd, Rossco, rafik4u, me me, Aaron, Stepsrcwl, pippa, Feel The Fever, Jay), Lowest Scores: 1: (vibe)

Just missing the top 10 by the skin of it's teeth, 'Chain Reaction' which was released in September 2001 as the lead single from their 'Gold - Greatest Hits' album and peaked at #2 on the UK charts, becoming their 6th song to reach that position. They held off the top spot by the mammoth Kylie classic 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head'. Originally a UK chart topper for Diana Ross in 1986 and remains one of her most well known hits and so it was a pretty big risk for Steps to cover. But thankfully they pull it off and do a really good job of this cover, giving a fresh sounding take on it with some Fantastic inspired percussion, all of which makes this one of their best covers. This was a really good choice to lead their Greatest Hits album and even managed to put their own stamp on a classic while still paying respect to the original. Another fact this was actually intended for their 3rd album 'Buzz', but wasn't included on the final tracklisting and instead included it on their next release, which was definitely the better choice.

So many key changes! Good cover, glad it isn’t top 10 though.

So 7 of the last rates top 10 remain.

 

Better Best Forgotten wil jump into the top 10 & Scared of the Dark & Neeon Blue willl be there as well.

Here's what's to feature in the top 10 =

 

 

"Last Thing On My Mind"

"One For Sorrow"

"Tragedy"

"Better Best Forgotten"

"Love's Got A Hold On My Heart"

"Deeper Shade Of Blue"

"Summer Of Love"

"It's The Way You Make Me Feel"

"Scared Of The Dark"

"Neon Blue"

 

 

So please tell me your thoughts or your predictions...

Edited March 2, 20187 yr by SamJudd

Chain Reaction not being top 10 is exactly why I didn’t rate. Criminally low.

I love chain reaction and would have it higher. Love the cover sleeve image for it too.

Hope Deeper Shade of Blue makes top 5!

 

Next to come...Love's Got a Hold, I think!

I'm hoping Love got a hold of my heart is out next! So pleased to see Better Best Forgotten making top 10!!! JUSTICE! SHOULD'VE BEEN #1!!!

Better best forgotten would be my number 1but for this I'm hoping the top 5.

Better Best Forgotten is always and forever my number 1 :wub:

#10. Love's Got A Hold On My Heart | 7.9

Highest Scores: 11: (Simon), 10: (SamJudd, PAJ88, gooddelta, Slowdown73, Stepsrcwl, LB1108, Jay), Lowest Scores: 3: (Euphorique)

At the #10 spot is 'Love's Got A Hold On My Heart', which despite scoring the same average as 'CR', this is higher due to a single score of 11, meaning that this only just about made the top 10, and taking quite a tumble from the last rate where this was top 5, but has gained a much higher average though which is something. Released in July 1999 as the lead single from their 2nd album 'Steptacular' and narrowly missed out on the top spot, due to Ricky Martin's 'Livin La Vida Loca' which had pretty much took over the world by that point and Steps had to settle for the #2 spot, despite being #1 for most of the week (this wouldn't be the last time this would happen). This is a great song that definitely ranks as one of their strongest with it's fantastic summery vibe and infectious chorus which makes this the perfect choice to lead a new era. There's not a bad word I could say about this, it's just a really good solid pop song that's perfect for the summer with some fantastic lead vocals from Claire & Faye. Even the music video, which has to be one of their best with those corny canary yellow outfits and interesting plot line that involves a man trying to steal a film reel of 'Steps: The Movie', and why hasn't that been made. So on the whole this is a well earned top 10 position and deserves to be higher.

Their version of 'Chain Reaction' is a bundle of joy, and I will hear no less.

#09. Neon Blue | 8.00

Highest Scores: 10: (Rossco, gooddelta, Stepsrcwl, Spiceboy, Feel The Fever, Dexton, Jay), Lowest Scores: 4/4.5: (vibe, dandy)

At #9 is the fantastic 'Neon Blue', which turned out to be a rather dark horse in this competition, starting out in the top 15, then looking to settle around the #12-#13 mark, then out of nowhere shot into the top 10, becoming a somewhat surprise considering that it's pretty new as well as beating several of their more well known and bigger hits, well it just goes to show how popular their comeback stuff is and it's nice to see the fans full embracing it with open arms. Released in August 2017 as the 3rd single from their 5th album 'No More Tears On The Dancefloor' and just like the other singles received a positive critical response and while it didn't make any impact on any of the charts it's still a great song with a great message of coming out and basically coming out with them and having a good time. The soft piano intro is very much like something Adele would have on one of her albums, but it soon builds into an upbeat synth track making this a definite classic Steps track that's not only a instant standout on the album, but a more than welcome addition to their wonderful discography.

Claire is seriously looking the best she has ever looked right now.

 

Neon Blue grew on me. It's not one I'd skip, though I still feel it doesn't have that much to it.

Any guesses as to what will drop next...

I'm not sure I'd place 'Neon Blue' that high personally.

Loves got a hold on my heart is one of the weakest songs in the top 10.

 

Neon Blue is great and was the standout track on the album when i first heard it. Shame it managed nothing as single but least it done well here.

Neon Blue is good but too high. Never got the appeal of Love's Got A Hold... way too cheesy.

 

The remix of One For Sorrow should be higher, gave the original a much needed oomph, and still slays today.

#08. Summer Of Love | 8.183

Highest Scores: 11: (Tawdry Hepburn, LB1108), 10: (ElectroTroye, SamJudd, gavindeejay, Lukuzz, Aaron, Jester, iiiiiiiiii, Chapman), Lowest Scores: 1: (dandy, Good Old Days)

At #8 is the colourful and bright 'Summer Of Love' which spent most of the rate switching between the 5th and 6th positions due to it's overwhelming high scores consisting of double 11's, eight 10's and a whole bunch of 8's and 9's, but the 2 low scores caused a slight dip and ending up at the lower half of the top 10, which is still a respectable position. Released in July 2000 alongside 'When I Said Goodbye' (which dropped ages ago) and was already featured on their million selling 2nd album. But this one was an entirely new track which would later feature on their 3rd album 'Buzz'. This also saw them tackle a slight change in sound, going for a Latino-Flavoured pop sound and even features Spanish lyrics. They may have been a bit late in gategrashing the Latin pop craze, nevertheless they pulled it off to perfection and even managed yet another top 5 hit, thanks to a euphoric production which ranks up their usual uptempo pop sound to an 11. It's not hard too see why this overshadowed the other track, because not only are their faster paced pop songs are more popular, their a million times better and this is a shining example of that.

My favourite!