What the Future Holds coming so close to making the Top 10.

That said it achieved an impressive average.

Thank you so much, its nice to see my hard work appreciated.

 

100% appreciated :cheer: Really enjoy the bits you’ve written so far.

 

Oh, shame WTFH just missed the top 10. Really grown on me since the first listen. Still, great average score :wub:

 

Thats so annoying for what the future holds landing at number 11, id have loved it to have gone top 10 as i think its great but its a great surprise that Neon Blue has made it as its another song i am a huge huge fan of, thanks for doing this rate, you are doing a great job and some of the results are very interesting.

 

11. What The Future Holds | 8.97 Highest Scores: 10: (gooddelta, Feel The Fever, pippa, Aaron, spiceboy, Qween), Lowest Scores; 7.5/7: (Yobnedor, Run For Cover)

Just falling short of the top 10 at #11 is What The Future Holds, released in September 2020 as the lead single from the group's 6th studio album of the same title. The track was written by Greg Kurstin & Sia. This marked Step's first release with new record label BMG & this single & album was due to be released in the Spring, but was delayed due to the Pandemic. The song's music video was shot in London at the start of the year but didn't premiere until September. The full version of the song features a solo verse shared by Faye & Lisa, but the verse was cut on the shorter single mix of the song.

 

This brilliant bop certainly felt like a natural progression for the group from their last era with its slightly darker futuristic vibe with intense verses before heading into that sparkly & dramatic Clarie driven chorus that soars high above the modern dance production, along with some gorgeous harmonies. You can tell that this song was written by Sia because it has her signature influence all over it, which isn't a bad thing at all, because she's an amazing song writer & having her board can really help elevate any standard pop number. I do admit I wasn't keen on this song on first listen, I dunno why, maybe at first I didn't feel that Steps & Sia didn't mix well together but after a couple of listens I slowly came around to it and find this to be one of the group's finest & catchiest singles to date & set the tone perfectly for what's in store for the album.

 

About where I expected tbh.

 

I wasnt seeing it as a certainty for top 10 but thought it might make it.

10. Paradise Lost | 9.062 Highest Scores: 10: (Nina West, Hazelnuts, Feel The Fever, pippa, Run For Cover, Aaron, spiceboy), Lowest Scores: 6: (Herbs)


Kicking off the top 10 at #10 is Paradise Lost, the last of the album only tracks to feature here & it's done amazingly well. The song originally featured on their 3rd studio album Buzz & was written by Topham & Twigg who also produced the track alongside Pete Waterman. The track finally got its first live concert performance on their 'Party On The Dancefloor' tour in 2017 as part of a medley alongside 'Summer of Love' & 'Despacito' by Luis Fonsi , due to the positive fan response it has gotten over the years.

This is one of the most intriguing songs on the album especially production wise which is very atmospheric with a haunting yet beautiful feel to it. The gorgeous melodies and the bittersweet lyrics that captures that feeling of lost love, isolation & heartache really strikes a chord with the listener & of course its thanks to Claire's amazing vocals that soars over the entire production & commanding your full attention. I can't believe it took so long for them to include it on one of their concert tours as this is an amazing track, one of their most mature offerings from the early days of their careers & a firm highlight on not only the album it originally came from, but the 'Platinum Collection' where it rightfully found a place on. Also YES this really could have been a smash hit single, but the singles run from 'Buzz' was great already.

Edited September 23, 20222 yr by Nina West

Looks like most of us consider this to be the ultimate single that got away! Such a fantastic song. :wub:

Great to see paradise lost in the top 10 and i kinda thought it might make it but wasnt certain, its great steps know how popular the song is and seeing it make the tours in later years was great as it took them long enough, Buzz as an album has continued to grow on me more and more as the years have gone by as at the time it was released it was my least fave album but i now prefer it to steptacular. There def was a change in direction for Buzz and the sound they went for ties in most with their sound since they reformed.

 

I'll need to watch Paradise Lost live! Well deserved highest album track

Really solid track, can't say any more than that really!

 

I'd have maybe liked them to squeeze it in between what seemed like a long gap from 'It's The Way...' to 'H&N/YBS', and maybe push the latter back a bit - although that may have interrupted the plans they had for Gold.

Really solid track, can't say any more than that really!

 

I'd have maybe liked them to squeeze it in between what seemed like a long gap from 'It's The Way...' to 'H&N/YBS', and maybe push the latter back a bit - although that may have interrupted the plans they had for Gold.

 

The 5 month gap between 'It's The Way You Make Me Feel' to 'Here and Now', was due to them promoting the album in Europe. But that long gap did damage the campaign in the UK & by the time 'H&N/YBS' finally came out the album had fallen out of the charts & so that had the task of reviving album, which in a way it did as it did help the album re-enter the charts. What should have been done is release both the songs sooner & separately, then the era could have looked like this (also added chart peaks real & 1 made up)=

 

Oct'00: 'Stomp' - #1

Jan '01: 'It's The Way You Make Me Feel' - #2

April '01: 'Here and Now' - #3

June '01: 'You'll Be Sorry/Paradise Lost' - #4

 

Given that 'Chain Reaction' came out in September, there wouldn't have been any room for 'Paradise Lost', unless they made it a double a-side alongside 'You'll Be Sorry', which could have worked as this & YBS were fan faves, but again like 'H&N', 'PL' could have ended up overshadowing that track yet again. Do think that 'PL' was an amazing track, but would have it have worked as a single maybe.

Edited September 22, 20222 yr by Nina West

You'll be sorry/paradise lost could have been a great release.

Brilliant to see Paradise Lost make the top 10! It's such a good album track, I agree with Aly in that I'd have personally put it out between It's The Way You Make Me Feel and Here And Now/You'll Be Sorry in April 2001, they had such strong momentum coming off the back of ITWYMMF.

 

It's very Ace of Base reminiscent to me, and the bridge and chorus are so good, it's great that it was eventually performed on tour.

Edited September 22, 20222 yr by gooddelta

I agree there are Ace of Base sounds in paradise lost which for me is a compliment as i also liked some of their work.

9. Last Thing On My Mind | 9.176 Highest Scores: 11: (gooddelta), 10: (Nina West, pippa, LMFan, Run For Cover, Yobnedor, Qween), Lowest Scores: 7.5/7: (JosephStyles, Herbs)


#9 is Last Thing On My Mind, released in April 1998 as the 2nd single from their debut album Step One. Originally sung by Bananarama back in 1992 where it peaked at a mere #72, but Step's version outpeaked & outsold it by peaking at #6 & becoming the group's first of many top 10 hits. Both versions of the track was produced by Pete Waterman & would the first time the girls Claire, Faye & Lisa would be featured on lead vocals & set the blueprint for what's to come from Steps as a pop act.

This is possibly the most important track in Step's career as many had already written them off as a one hit wonder after their debut single, but thankfully they managed to truly deliever with this fabulous slice of pure pop that has far more substantial substance than their debut did & would be more in line with what you'd expect a real Steps single would sound like. Everything about this track radiates joy down to the more defined production, the distinctive drum-beats, infectious hooks, amazing vocals by all 3 of the ladies & of course that instantly memorable chorus that just bursts with pure joy. Aren't we all glad that Steps had so much more offer & beginning with this which would lay the first foundation for Steps to become a credible pop act.

Tooooo low! Such a wonderful song with great memories for me, I can't believe I was still in primary school (just about) when it was released! One of the ultimate leaving school disco/holiday camp songs. It's pretty much on par with One For Sorrow for me as my favourite of their 1997-2001 tenure.

 

It was so unexpected after 5,6,7,8 too, I really didn't expect them to go in this direction, and I love the steady run it had in the top ten, seeing as they'd missed out with 5,6,7,8 despite it having sales of a big top ten hit!

 

The Faye verse/Claire verse/Lisa middle eight vocal blueprint was great, and used to great effect for years, and I also love the full pelt 20-second Sash! style instrumental breakdown halfway in just before the middle eight, their first couple of singles were definitely Eurodance influenced.

Edited September 22, 20222 yr by gooddelta

Another oldie but goodie it's a great song and another cover that they absolutely nailed, I also really like the bananarama original but the steps version just gave it more life and made it more uptempo which really suits the song.

The next to drop will have the same average as #9 & it will be a single from the 00's, any guesses?

The next to drop will have the same average as #9 & it will be a single from the 00's, any guesses?

I'll guess It's the Way You Make Me Feel :thinking: I remember it got a couple of low marks. Hopefully it's not though, it deserves higher than 8th!

 

the dreadful Deeper Shade of Blue

I just looked back through the scores and noticed you gave this 7.5! :kink: Did you have a change of heart since then?

You think it’ll be It’s The Way You Make Me Feel.