The world needs to rid itself of the concept of guilty pleasure. If something gives you joy, and it doesn't hurt anyone else, then it should be guilt-free, whether that's classic pop music, a vintage rom-com or a book you just can't put down. Case in point? The prevailing appeal of Steps. The band - made up of Claire, Faye, Lisa, H and Lee - have been delivering pop hits for more than 20 years, and are now teasing a return via social media. After months of misery, it might be exactly what we need.
The news has had us revisiting their impressive canon, and pondering the 25 singles - at the very least, an insanely impressive output from any band - that brought joy over the years. Some, however, have been stronger choices than others. So, to celebrate their forthcoming new album What The Future Holds, we're ranking their entire discography.
A word, before we begin on what is sure to be a contentious list. B-sides have been treated separately rather than as one unit with their A-sides. Covers are included, H and Claire's sneaky side-step into a double act of their own is expunged from the record, and the band's part in Thank ABBA For The Music is not included for two reasons. Firstly, so many artists were involved that it arguably can't be considered a Steps song. And secondly, as a mish-mash of some of the best songs by the greatest band of all time, it probably had an unfair advantage.
Are you sitting comfortably? Well get up and dance through the list.
25. I Know Him So Well
This cover of the Chess classic is a decent showcase of the band's often underrated vocals - Claire and Faye in particular. But it's a dull retread that doesn't seek to do anything different with the source material. Released as the B-side to Words Are Not Enough, and therefore half of the final single of the band's initial run of the Noughties, it was a lacklustre farewell.
24. Light Up The World
It feels like even Steps knew that this song lacked impact. They didn't even make a music video for a song released in 2012 as part of what appeared to be a comeback but, clearly, led to nothing in particular. The tempo is sluggish, and the vocals uninspired.
23. Say You'll Be Mine
An unremarkable number reminiscent of Ace Of Base's weaker fare, the song is light and fluffy but lacking in substance. It did, at least, give Lee one of his few lines on a Steps single and the video - a whizz through some of the most iconic love stories in film history - was quite charming.
22. Dancing With A Broken Heart
This may have featured slightly higher if it didn't suffer so greatly in comparison with their comeback single, Scared Of The Dark. It feels like it's less interesting sibling and the song's momentum drops after the uninspiring chorus. The video - a post-apocalyptic, Mad Max-style vision - looked like it cost about £45.
21. Heartbeat
Step's origins as a dance-based pop act didn't mean they couldn't deliver on a ballad, but Heartbeat is one of their most boring songs. Decent vocals - Faye is the MVP in this one - are ill-served by a truly cheesy chorus that is reminiscent of the Home And Away theme tune. We know that sounds like a good thing, but in this case it's a negative.
20. Story of A Heart
After a solid return with Scared of The Dark - more later - came the obligatory slow number. It's more than a little bit ABBA - mainly because, as has been pointed out to me overnight, it was written by the band's Benny and Bjorn - which is no bad thing, but it lacks emotion and both Claire and Faye seem to have had an uncharacteristic stop-off at diction school before enunciating their way through proceedings.
19. Better The Devil You Know
There is a real skill to releasing a good cover. This is not a good cover. It's a musical rehash of one of Kylie Minogue's least inspired outings, bringing nothing new to the table. Nice coats though.
18. Words Are Not Enough
Another mediocre, slow-tempo number that saw the band say farewell to the music industry for a while. It's a bland ballad and a sad swan song.
17. Love's Got A Hold Of My Heart
At 17, we're beginning to circle the real pop perfection that Steps was capable of, but this just falls shy of being truly iconic. It's got a solid rhythm, but the chorus is unmemorable and it's just that one degree east of cheesy.
It also forced poor Lisa to do those classic echo lines ('no escape...') that she and Liberty X's Michelle were lumbered with for half of their lives, and Claire's cowboy hat/pigtail combo should never have seen the light of day.
16. After The Love Has Gone
Again, this is so close to being a good pop song, but it's just so samey, almost a carbon copy of Love's Got A Hold Of My Heart and a sign that Steps were losing their grip on the fun, floor-filling tunes they had delivered so consistently at this point. The Chinatown theme of the video was a case of cultural appropriation before most of us knew what cultural appropriation was.
15. When I Said Goodbye
This is not a very Steps song, in all honesty. It's one of their most ballad-like ballads with not even a hint of a dance move, but it's also aged pretty well and, when viewed as a chaser to its absolute banger of an A-side - more on Summer Of Love later - it's quite a pleasant break, like sorbet after the starter.
14. You'll Be Sorry
This B-side to Here And Now was slightly drowned out by a cheesy sci-fi video, but it's a solid, energetic dance number that seemed to seek more of a dance music edge. It didn't make a huge impact, unsurprisingly. I don't think the Ibiza set were going to request Steps from the DJ at Pacha.
13. Chain Reaction
Kudos to Steps for learning from their mistake with Better The Devil They Know. When covering the absolutely classic Diana Ross number, they sought to revamp and transform the song into a more spirited rendition. They lose points for the lazy objectification of female hospital workers in the A&E-set video, but it was 2001.
12. Neon Blue
I love this mid-tempo approach from Steps. They should never go slower than this.
The lyrics, an ode to a friend in need of a lift, are oddly moving, a call to the band's fans of old who may need to return to the dance floor once more. It's a pretty simple yet satisfying song and a strong offering from their reunion album.
11. 5,6,7,8
Will I get in trouble for keeping this out of the top ten? This is a colour-by-numbers pop song with nonsensical lyrics and a truly annoying chorus. But it does fill the floor, and receives extra credit for being the number that launched the band's unique blend of pure, unapologetic pop and easy-to-follow moves into the world.
10. Last Thing On My Mind
This is the song that After The Love Has Gone wishes it was. After the saccharine debut of 5,6,7,8, Steps had to prove that they were more than a one hit wonder. They needed to deliver on vocals, offer the same pure pop but with a more substantial essence. This is a truly rousing slice of pop and a mood-lifting way to spend 3 minutes and 3 seconds.
9. Scared Of The Dark
The first single in five years, Scared Of The Dark faced a lot of pressure. It needed to satisfy old school fans, staying true to the band's roots, while proving that they had progressed and grown. It more than delivered. It's a more adult spin on their days of yore, but is still quintessential Steps.
8. Stomp
Don't you just hate it when you give your friends your house keys while you go on holiday and they throw a party and trash the place? Bloody Steps.
One of the most disco-inspired singles in the band's oeuvre, it's high energy with a truly catchy chorus.
7. One For Sorrow
The first of Steps' songs to show their ABBA influence - it's basically The Winner Takes It All on a sugar high - it's an up-tempo treatment of heartbreak that was the only single to go anywhere near the Billboard 100. Claire's vocals in this are pure and gorgeous, but actually annoyed the other four. Oh well.
6. Here And Now
I'm not going to apologise for putting this so high. It is rarely cited as one of their finest songs, but Here And Now - the A-side to You'll Be Sorry - boasts pleasant harmonies, a really excellent bridge and one of H's standout vocals.
5. Tragedy
The first of the band's two number ones (only two? Unacceptable) Tragedy was a bonafide sensation, bringing the BeeGees classic to a modern audience with a fresh approach and truly iconic choreography that you'll still catch at most weddings and, depending on how much you liked the deceased, funerals.
We're not going to talk about Faye's dreadlocks.
4. Summer Of Love
Steps probably went to the Costa del Sol for a few days, listened to a bit of Ricky Martin, and decided that they needed a refreshing, Mediterranean edge to their next single. Summer Of Love was what they - and their regular collaborators Mark Topham and Karl Twigg - came up with. The moment the bridge meets the chorus is an explosion of fun, and the backing vocals really push it over the line to perfection.
3. Better Best Forgotten
The band listened to One For Sorrow and thought 'let's do that again, shall we?' But the increase in tempo, the division of the vocals and a more synthy sound took the ABBA inspiration and added LSD (Pete Waterman, the man behind the band, billed them as ABBA on speed).
Special mention to Lisa, who has a pretty good vocal here.
2. It's The Way You Make Me Feel
Fans. Corsets. Bustles. This is one of those cases where music video and song meet perfectly in the middle, with the Dangerous Liaisons-themed visual paired with the sweeping, romantic strings making this an almost unbeatable pop song.
1. Deeper Shade Of Blue
Honestly, was there any doubt? Deeper Shade of Blue is absolutely flawless. Slightly futuristic, undeniably camp but also oddly emotive, it was not one of the band's biggest hits, but it has aged beautifully.
So there we have it. Where will their next offering sit on this list? You'll have to wait and see.
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