It's hard to believe it also nearly wasnt a single and could have been another paradise lost.

Ready for another!!!

4. Better Best Forgotten | 9.323 Highest Scores: 11: (Feel The Fever, spiceboy), 10: (Nina West, pippa, LMFan, Run For Cover, Qween), Lowest Scores: 7.5: (JosephStyles)


#4 is Better Best Forgotten, released in March 1999 as the 5th & final single from their debut album Step One. The song was given a slight remix for its release, which was delayed by several weeks due to the fact that 'Heartbeat/Tragedy' was selling bucketloads (it was still in the top 20 when this was released). Nonetheless the track became yet another huge success for the group by peaking at #2 on the UK singles chart, becoming their 4th top 10 hit. Steps performed a stripped back ballad version of the track during their 2012 'Christmas with Steps Tour'.

Out of the remaining tracks from their debut, 'Better Best Forgotten' was the most obvious choice as it not only has a similar structure to their previous hits, but also it was simply fantastic. Thankfully the production did get beefed up for its release with a bit of polish & tweaking thrown into the mix. The frantic stabbing synths, catchy bubbly beats, punch chorus & amazing vocals by the girls (especially Lisa) who really shines on this upbeat joyful number. I'm always surprised when this does so well in these rates, not sure why, just always seems that outside of the fanbase this seems rather forgotten (pardon the pun), despite being one of their biggest selling hits. Well anyway this song is simply pure 90's pop that sure may not have aged as well as some of their other hits, but who cares it's still one of the finest tunes to date.

Just the final 3 left now =

 

One For Sorrow VS Scared of the Dark VS Something in Your Eyes

 

Which will come out on top, stay tuned to find out?

I think One For Sorrow will be out next.

I'm not quite sure I'd place BBF as high as 4th, but it's undeniable and an absolute classic.

Better best forgotten is just brilliant,, it's 3 places to low on the countdown for me but 4th is a decent result for it as I thought it might miss the top 5.

Oh, expected DSOB a little higher. Great song and remains one of my favorites :heart: Surprised to see BBF this high. I really enjoy the song but personally not top 5 for me.

 

Great top 3 :heart:

Shocked about DSOB and TWYMMF expected both to be higher! I think scared is winning it.

I think One For Sorrow will be out next.

I'd like that to happen.

3. One For Sorrow | 9.441 Highest Scores: 11: (Nina West, Run For Cover, gog lad84), 10: (gooddelta, Hazelnuts, Jessie Where, spiceboy, Herbs, Jay, Qween, Liam.k), Lowest Scores: 7: (Feel The Fever)


At the #3 spot is the majestic One For Sorrow, released in August 1998 as the 3rd single from their debut album Step One. It became the group's first single to reach the top 5 by debuting at the #2 spot on the UK singles chart, the song established Steps's intention to revive the ABBA sound, striking a considerable resemblance to their 1980 hit "The Winner Takes It All". Claire performs lead vocals on the track which caused some tensions with the rest of the group behind the scenes, but nobody could deny it was her powerful vocals is what made the song such a success and put them well and truly on the map. The song was later remixed by Tony Moran for the US market as their debut single in 1999 and featured on the 'Drive Me Crazy' movie soundtrack. It became their only single to appear on any Billboard chart by peaking at #38 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2015 Claire premiered a new solo acoustic version of the track at an event celebrating Pete Waterman's career at the Royal Festival Hall.

This was the track that moved them into the big leagues of British pop with their profile growing with each release. Everything about this glorious number works perfectly, the beautiful keyboard melody opening and then the stirring synths at the end of the first verse before the full up-tempo production kicks in with the drum kicks & that mammoth chorus where it perfectly showcases Claire's powerful vocal range. Some may complain that this is basically a Claire solo track, but you have to admit she totally smashes every aspect of this wonderful song. This is my absolute favourite Steps song (as you can probably tell by my 11 score), as it's just simply a timeless classic. This felt like their real breakthrough and one that firmly established them. The last of their 97-01 original run to feature here, #3 feels a little too low, but look at that 9.4 average, it would be enough to top most other rates.

Scared of the Dark VS Something in Your Eyes for the WIN.

While you wait for the final results here's the results of the rate from 2018, which was also by me.

1. It'’s the Way You Make Me Feel - 9.766
2. Scared of The Dark - 9.233
3. One for Sorrow - 8.933
4. Deeper Shade of Blue - 8.666
5. Last Thing on My Mind - 8.6
6. Better Best Forgotten - 8.3
7. Tragedy - 8.233
8. Summer of Love - 8.183
9. Neon Blue - 8.00
10. Love’s Got A Hold on My Heart - 7.9
11. Chain Reaction - 7.9
12. Say You’ll Be Mine - 7.766
13. Stomp - 7.75
14. Story of A Heart - 7.566
15. Heartbeat - 7.483
16. Here and Now - 7.466
17. You’'ll Be Sorry - 7.066
18. After the Love Has Gone - 7.033
19. 5,6,7,8 - 6.55
20. Better the Devil You Know - 6.333
21. One for Sorrow (US Mix) - 6.214
22. Dancing with A Broken Heart - 6.083
23. When I Said Goodbye - 5.533
24. Words Are Not Enough - 5.516
25. I Know Him So Well - 5.4
26. Light Up the World - 5.017
27. Thank ABBA for The Music (ft Various) - 4.733
28. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - 4.316


Please NOTE that this was from the Pop forum, which would explain the vast differences between the averages, but it's interesting to see the differences between positions & averages.

Quite similar results overall to 2018 apart from the unexpected collapse for It's The Way You Make Me Feel, which was so dominant in the last one.

 

It's pretty amazing that a band best known for so much classic turn of the century pop has singles from 2017 and 2020 in the top two of its rate! Few other reunited bands have returned with music of comparable quality to their heyday.

 

One For Sorrow is just fantastic, an all-time classic for sure and their best known song to the public that wasn't a cover I would say. Such a shame it didn't quite get to No.1, it was very close sales wise between them and the Manics. That was a great, classic single by them too though, one of those weeks where two mammoth singles arrived at the same time.

What an anthem, it really is the ultimate "cry in the bogs after you've been dumped" song.

From whats left i am happy with the top 2 and im happily surprised that neither one for sorrow or the way you make me feel made it to the final 2, from the 2 remaining id like scared of the dark to win.

The scores for the top 4 are all higher than last year's #2 then!

The top two are amazing… may have been my two 11’s actually… can’t remember!

They're both definitely my favourite two songs since their comeback, and stack up amongst the classics.

 

I think 'Something in Your Eyes' has edged 'Scared of the Dark' for me now, but I'm happy either way. Goes to show how formidable their material has been in their second phase!

Awesome to see two new songs make the top 2!

 

Something In Your Eyes for the win!

It shows that the new material is so popular with fans and that they can still deliver the goods.