5,6,7,8

Last updated

"5,6,7,8"
5678Steps.jpg
Single by Steps
from the album Step One
B-side "Words of Wisdom"
Released10 November 1997 (1997-11-10)
Recorded1997
Studio PWL (Manchester, England)
Genre
Length3:22
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Steps singles chronology
"5,6,7,8"
(1997)		"Last Thing on My Mind"
(1998)
Music video
"5,6,7,8" on YouTube

"5,6,7,8" is a song by British group Steps from their debut studio album, Step One (1998). A techno-pop and country pop song written by Barry Upton and Steve Crosby and produced by Karl Twigg, Mark Topham and Pete Waterman, it was released as their debut single in November 1997 by Jive and EBUL following their formation after each group member responded to a magazine advert looking for people to audition to be in a pop band.

Contents

"5,6,7,8" peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart (one of Steps' lowest chart positions) but has become the third-best-selling single of their career in the United Kingdom, selling 365,000 copies and receiving 3,440,000 streams as of March 2017. "5,6,7,8" peaked at number-one in Australia and reached the top five in Belgium and New Zealand. Its accompanying music video was shot on a beach and features the group driving quad bikes and dancing in a bar. "5,6,7,8" was performed on The Ultimate Tour in 2012, Party on the Dancefloor Tour in 2017 and What the Future Holds Tour in 2021.

Background and release

Steps were put together in 1997 following an advert in The Stage magazine asking for applicants to audition for a place in a pop band. Out of the thousands who applied, Lee Latchford-Evans, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, Claire Richards and Ian "H" Watkins successfully secured a place in the band. [1] Latchford-Evans performs the majority of the song, while Scott-Lee sings the middle 8, or bridge. [2] It was recorded at PWL Studios in Manchester, England, and mixed by Lee Sharma at the same venue. Upton also arranged the track and played the guitar, while the banjo, violin, drums and keyboards were played by Sean Lyon, Chris Haigh, Chris McDonnell and Twigg, respectively. [3]

Al Unsworth and Bradlee Spreadborough served as the assistant engineers and it was mastered at Transfermation Studios in London, England. "5,6,7,8" features all of the band members on lead vocals except for Ian "H" Watkins, who only performs background vocals. [3] Various versions of the song were included on the CD single in the United Kingdom, Europe and Japan, including an extended version, an instrumental and a remix by W.I.P.; [4] the CD single in the United Kingdom and Europe also included the B-side, "Words of Wisdom", also written by Upton and Crosby. [5] It was released in the United Kingdom in November 1997, and it was later included on their first greatest hits album, Gold: Greatest Hits (2001), the W.I.P. remix on their first compilation album The Last Dance (2002) and their second greatest hits album, The Ultimate Collection (2011). [6] [7] [8]

Reception

Critical reception

Lucas Villa from AXS said that "5,6,7,8" "was the beginning of Steps' campy, feel good sounds." [9] Andy Coleman from Birmingham Evening Mail described it as a "line dancing ditty". [10] Gary James from Entertainment Focus noted that the song "stands out from the rest of their catalogue for being somewhat a novelty single." He added, "It’s blend of country, techno and pop had us reaching for our lassos and thinking perhaps Rednex had returned with a 'Cotton Eyed Joe' for 1997." [11] Sophie McCoid from Liverpool Echo called it an "epic tune". [12] Mark Beaumont from NME described it as a "more traditional hoedown". [13] Peter Robinson of NME gave the song a negative review in 2001. In his review of Gold: Greatest Hits, he wrote "Steps were only signed for one single – with good reason, for '5,6,7,8' was shit of the very highest order." [14] Similarly, Digital Spy writer Robert Copsey wrote that retrospectively, the track was a "bizarre" choice of lead single in his review of The Ultimate Collection in 2011. [15] In a review of Steps' best-selling songs for the Official Charts Company in March 2017, Copsey noted how "5,6,7,8" distinctly differs from the rest of their discography in terms of its techno-pop genre, line dancing lyrics and lack of lead vocals solely from Claire Richards. [16]

Commercial reception

Commercially, "5,6,7,8" debuted at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart on 16 November 1997, [17] and peaked at number 14 in its eighth week on 10 January 1998. [18] It spent a further nine weeks on the chart from January through to March, and re-entered the chart for one week at number 100 on 18 April 1998. [18] Altogether, "5,6,7,8" spent 18 non-consecutive weeks on the UK Singles Chart, 10 of which were in the top 20. [18] Their first top 40 hit, "5,6,7,8" was the only song of the singles they released (prior to their initial split in late December 2001) not to chart within the top 10. [19] By July 2012, it had become it their fourth-best selling single in their career in the United Kingdom; [20] but by March 2017 it had switched positions with one of their subsequent singles "Better Best Forgotten" to become their third-highest selling song, with sales of 365,000 copies, and is their most streamed track with 37,952,032 plays as of March 2021. [21] [16] It was certified platinum on 11 December 2020 for sales and streams exceeding 600,000. [22] Copsey added that it is very rare for a pop band to be given a second opportunity to release more music following a top 20 debut. [16]

Music video

Set primarily on a beach, the accompanying music video for "5,6,7,8" opens with Latchford-Evans and Watkins riding quad bikes along the beach while Scott-Lee, Tozer and Richards drive a car on the road next to them, with close-ups of each of the female singers performing the chorus outside bathroom stalls. It is followed by a repetition of the chorus during which all of the members perform the song's associated line dancing routine, which was very popular at the time of its release, [2] to the music outside a bar on the beach, attracting a crowd of beachgoers. Latchford-Evans performs the first verse, with Watkins walking slightly behind him from the beach to the bar. Afterwards, the chorus and dance routine is once again repeated, during which Watkins and Richards pull two beachgoers out of the bar to dance with the group, which attracts other beachgoers to the group's performance. Latchford-Evans then performs the second verse while playing a game of snooker with Watkins while Scott-Lee, Tozer and Richards play table football nearby. For the final chorus, the group perform the dance routine in front of a crowd for a final time; however the setting has changed to night time and inside a different bar.

Promotion

"5,6,7,8" was included on the group's sixth concert tour, The Ultimate Tour, in 2012. [23] Latchford-Evans stated in March 2017 that although the band does not like performing the song, they find new ways of performing it live as they know that it is a fan-favourite. [2] It is also included on the set list of their eighth concert tour, the Party on the Dancefloor Tour. [24]

Formats and track listings

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "5,6,7,8"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [40] Platinum70,000^
Belgium (BEA) [41] Gold25,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ) [42] Gold5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Platinum600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steps (pop group)</span> British dance-pop group

Steps are a British dance-pop group consisting of Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Ian "H" Watkins. They were formed in May 1997 and achieved two number-one albums in the UK, 14 consecutive UK top-5 singles including two number ones. The group has sold over 22 million records worldwide, 15 million albums worldwide. In-addition to earning a BRIT Award nomination in 1999, for Best Newcomer, the group would be an opening support act for Britney Spears on her debut American tour the same year. When Richards and Watkins departed to form a recording duo, the group disbanded, on 26 December 2001 (officially). Their penultimate single reached No. 5 on the UK charts, while their final album of greatest hits, Gold (2001), was the group's second No. 1 album in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better the Devil You Know</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and was released as the album's lead single on 30 April 1990 by PWL and Mushroom Records. "Better the Devil You Know" is known as the song that re-invented Minogue with more sex appeal, as her previous albums were presented with her "girl next door" persona. Her music onwards presented a more independent approach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tragedy (Bee Gees song)</span> 1979 song by the Bee Gees

"Tragedy" is a song released by the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb, included on their 1979 album Spirits Having Flown. The single reached number one in the UK in February 1979 and repeated the feat the following month on the US Billboard Hot 100. In 1998, it was covered by British pop group Steps, whose version also reached number one in the UK. In 2024, it was used in the film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, as well as its trailer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stomp (Steps song)</span> 2000 single by Steps

"Stomp" is a song by British pop group Steps, released as a single on 16 October 2000. The song features a modified orchestral riff from "Everybody Dance", released by Chic in 1978, but Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers did not receive songwriting credits until the release of Gold: Greatest Hits in 2001. "Stomp" was the group's second and final single to hit number one on the UK Singles Chart. The track was later released in Australia, Japan, and Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One for Sorrow (song)</span> 1998 single by Steps

"One for Sorrow" is a song by British pop-dance group Steps, released as the third single from their debut album, Step One (1998). It also became the quintet's first single to reach the top five on the UK Singles Chart. Debuting at number two and spending 11 weeks on the UK 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". A remixed version became their debut US single in 1999 and was featured on the Drive Me Crazy film soundtrack. It peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in October 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better Best Forgotten</span> 1999 single by Steps

"Better Best Forgotten" is a song by British pop group Steps, released on 8 March 1999. It was the final single to be taken from their debut album, Step One. The song became the group's fourth top-10 hit in the UK, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and it also reached the top 20 in Ireland and the Flanders region of Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love's Got a Hold on My Heart</span> 1999 single by Steps

"Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" is a song by British pop music group Steps. It was released as the lead single from the band's second album, Steptacular (1999). The song features Faye Tozer and Claire Richards on lead vocals. The single peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and became a top-20 hit in Finland, Flanders, Ireland, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's the Way You Make Me Feel</span> 2001 single by Steps

"It's the Way You Make Me Feel" is a song by British dance-pop group Steps, released as their 12th single on 1 January 2001. It is the second track to be released from their third album, Buzz, and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. This was the first song the band performed following their official reformation in October 2011. One of the single's B-sides, a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby", was taken from the Motown Mania compilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chain Reaction (Diana Ross song)</span> 1985 single by Diana Ross

"Chain Reaction" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on November 12, 1985 by RCA and Capitol, as the second single from her sixteenth studio album, Eaten Alive (1985). The song was written by the Bee Gees and contains additional vocals from Barry Gibb. Sonically, "Chain Reaction" is an R&B and dance-pop song. According to the Gibbs' biography, the brothers had initial reservations about offering the song to Ross in case it was too Motown-like for her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody (Backstreet's Back)</span> 1997 single by Backstreet Boys

"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys, written and produced by Denniz Pop and Max Martin. It was released as the first single from the band's second international studio album Backstreet's Back in July 1997, and the third single from their self-titled debut US studio album in 1998. However, the song was already being played by many American radio stations unofficially by importing the Canadian single. The accompanying music video was directed by American director Joseph Kahn. The song is played at the end of the 2013 movie This is the End.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say You'll Be Mine (Steps song)</span> 1999 single by Steps

"Say You'll Be Mine" is a song by British dance-pop group Steps, released as a double A-side with a cover version of Kylie Minogue's "Better the Devil You Know". Steps' cover of "Better the Devil You Know" was later included as the opening track on their third studio album, Buzz (2000), but did not serve as a lead single. A limited-edition single was released as a digipack that was included with a doubled-sided poster in the sleeve. The song is the first to feature all five members on lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Thing on My Mind (Bananarama song)</span> 1992 single by Bananarama

"Last Thing on My Mind" is by English girl group Bananarama from their sixth studio album, Please Yourself (1993). It was released on 16 November 1992 by London Records as the album's second single. The track was produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, two-thirds of the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. Waterman stated in 2002 the song was influenced by Mozart. The single peaked at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart. Composer Mike Stock blamed the song's poor chart performance on what he claimed to be a deteriorating relationship between the band and their label, London Records, resulting in a poor marketing campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deeper Shade of Blue</span> 2000 single by Steps

"Deeper Shade of Blue" is a song by British dance-pop group Steps, released as the fourth single from their second studio album, Steptacular (1999), on 3 April 2000. The song was originally recorded by English singer-songwriter Tina Cousins, but aside from a few promotional 12-inch vinyl discs pressed in 1998, her version remains unreleased. "Deeper Shade of Blue" entered the UK Singles Chart at number four and spent one more week in the top 10 before falling down the charts. After a total of nine weeks, it left the top 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I Said Goodbye / Summer of Love</span> 2000 single by Steps

"When I Said Goodbye" and "Summer of Love" are two songs by British pop music group Steps, released as a double A-side single. "When I Said Goodbye" is taken from their second studio album, Steptacular (1999), while "Summer of Love" was a previously unavailable track, later included on their third album, Buzz (2000). Following its release on 3 July 2000, the single peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number 18 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbeat (Steps song)</span> 1998 single by Steps

"Heartbeat" is a song by British pop group Steps, from their debut studio album Step One (1998). Issued as a double A-side with their cover of the 1979 Bee Gees single "Tragedy", it was released on 9 November 1998 as the fourth single off the album. "Heartbeat" was solely written by Jackie James, and it was the first ballad released as a single by the group. While promoting the 2012 Hit Factory Live event, Pete Waterman revealed that the song had sat in a drawer for years before he gave it to the band to record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here and Now / You'll Be Sorry</span> 2001 single by Steps

"Here and Now" and "You'll Be Sorry" are two songs by British pop group Steps. Both tracks appear their third studio album, Buzz (2000). Released on 4 June 2001, the songs were the band's fourth double A-side single. In Europe, the song "Here and Now" was released alongside "Summer of Love" instead. The single reached number four in the United Kingdom and number 23 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Words Are Not Enough (song)</span> 2001 single by Steps

"Words Are Not Enough" is a song by British dance-pop musical group Steps, written by Andreas Carlsson and Pelle Nylén. The track was included on the group's first compilation album, Gold: Greatest Hits (2001), and was released as a double A-side single with a cover of the 1984 song "I Know Him So Well", from the musical Chess (1986).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">After the Love Has Gone (Steps song)</span> 1999 single by Steps

"After the Love Has Gone" is a song by Steps, released as their seventh single, and the third from their second album Steptacular. The track continues the group's pop sound but has clear Asian musical influences. Claire Richards provides lead vocals.

"Story of a Heart" is a song co-written by Swedish musicians Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and recorded by Benny Andersson's Band for their first compilation album of the same name (2009); it features vocals from Swedish singer Helen Sjöholm. British group Steps covered the song for their fifth studio album, Tears on the Dancefloor (2017). It was released as the second single from the album in the form of a remix EP on 12 May 2017, with a radio release slated for 16 June.

References

  1. ↑ Akenny, Jason. "Steps". Billboard . Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Flint, Hannah (22 March 2017). "Steps Lee Latchford-Evans says they really don't want to perform debut single '5, 6, 7, 8' on tour". OK! . Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Step One (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0519112.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. 1 2 Steps "5,6,7,8" (CD) (Liner notes). Steps. Rhythm Republic. 1998. RRCD-85214.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 Steps "5,6,7,8" (CD) (Liner notes). Steps. Ebul. 1997. 0517502.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ Gold: Greatest Hits (Liner notes). Steps. Zomba Records. 2001. 9201412.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ The Last Dance (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records. 2002. 9201502.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ The Ultimate Collection (Liner notes). Steps. Sony. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Villa, Lucas (19 June 2017). "Steps turns 20: Counting down the pop group's top 10 singles". AXS . Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  10. ↑ Coleman, Andy (12 May 1998). "Five Steps to pop music heaven...". Birmingham Evening Mail . Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  11. ↑ James, Gary (11 September 2018). "Step's Step One: looking back at their debut album 20 years on". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  12. ↑ McCoid, Sophie (20 November 1997). "Steps Back in Time to the Best School Disco; REVIEW: MUSIC Steps ECHO Arena Liverpool". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  13. ↑ Beaumont, Mark. "Steps – London Croydon Fairfield Hall". NME . Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Robinson, Peter. "Steps : Gold-Greatest Hits". NME . Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  15. ↑ Copsey, Robert (11 October 2011). "Steps: 'The Ultimate Collection' – Album review". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 Copsey, Rob (14 March 2017). "Steps' biggest selling singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 16 November 1997 – 22 November 1997". Official Charts Company . 16 November 1997. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  19. ↑ Myers, Justin (15 March 2014). "Official Charts Pop Gem #49: Steps – One For Sorrow". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  20. ↑ "Inside The Hit Factory: Steps' biggest singles revealed!". Official Charts Company. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "Steps-5,6,7,8". Spotify. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  22. 1 2 "British single certifications – Steps – 5 6 7 8". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  23. ↑ Barr, Gordon (9 April 2012). "Review: Steps at Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle". Chronicle Live . Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  24. ↑ Barr, Gordon (21 November 2017). "Review of Steps in Newcastle - has there ever been a party on the dancefloor at the arena like this?". Chronicle Live . Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  25. ↑ "Step One". iTunes Store. 14 September 1998. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Steps – 5, 6, 7, 8". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  27. ↑ "5,6,7,8" (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1997. 0597502.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ↑ "Steps – 5, 6, 7, 8" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  29. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Single" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 15, no. 11. 14 March 1998. p. 12.
  30. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 14, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  31. ↑ "Steps – 5, 6, 7, 8" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  32. ↑ "Steps – 5, 6, 7, 8". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  33. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  34. ↑ "Steps – 5, 6, 7, 8". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  35. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  36. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA . Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  37. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  38. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  39. ↑ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  40. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  41. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  42. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Steps – 5,6,7,8". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.