Tim: 15th October 2001. Just over eleven years ago. With the release of their first greatest hits collection, that was the last date the world heard any original material from the band originally formed just to be a one-hit wonder with 5, 6, 7, 8. Until now, that is.
Tom: I am EXCITED.
Tim: Slightly confusing start (“have they gone a bit dubsteppy?”), but then a wonderfully reassuring first verse and chorus.
Tom: See, I was expecting a big Dance Track, not a ballad. Once I readjusted my expectations, I was fine, but that’s a bit of a let-down.
Tim: The strings under the verses sound oddly dramatic – almost something that could come out of a big TV drama, and I love that.
Tom: I was thinking more “end of the first half of a panto”, but I know what you mean.
Tim: The chorus is massive, and if you’re singing along you can’t really do it justice unless you open your mouth a good few inches more than is comfortable. The middle eight, well, seems to be there only to give Lee and H something to do, but never mind because they seem to do a decent job of it. The fade-out ending is as lazy as ever, and gets in the way of a damn good closing section. So despite the very end, I like this song a lot and it’s lovely.
Tom: It is, but damn it, they’re called Steps. They’re meant to do cheesy pop-dance numbers, surely?
Tim: Well, you say that, and possibly, yes. But think back to their singles. There was Tragedy, and 5, 6, 7, 8, obviously, which were both dance routines accompanied by songs. But them aside, Steps were pretty ballad-heavy: just to name a few, Love’s Got A Hold On My Heart, Heartbeat, Deeper Shade Of Blue, Better Best Forgotten – all great, and all ballads.
The chances of a new proper album with original stuff are sadly minimal at best, but as a one-off single as the result of a Sky Living TV series, I think this is great.
Tom: Ha. I thought there had to be some kind of ulterior motive. I just assumed it was a new Greatest Hits album.
Tim: Nope. The first series led to a tour that sold out in minutes, and the second gave us this and an EP of cover tracks. I don’t know – maybe there will be a third series with a proper album, but until then I’ll cope with this.