"One for Sorrow" is a song by British pop-dance group Steps,released in August 1998 by Jive and Ebul 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. The song was written by Mark Topham,Karl Twigg and Lance Ellington,and produced by Topham and Twigg with Pete Waterman. Debuting at number two and spending 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart as well as peaking at number one in Belgium,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 reached number 38 on the US BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart in October 1999. Two different music videos were produced to accompany the single;for both the original version and the remix.
Unlike Steps' previous single "Last Thing on My Mind",which featured solo vocals by all three women,Claire Richards performs lead vocals on all of the verses,harmonising with Faye Tozer,before the entire group join in for the chorus.
On 29 July 2015,Richards premiered a new solo acoustic version of the track at an event celebrating Pete Waterman's career at the Royal Festival Hall. This was her first solo single,and was released the following day via her official SoundCloud.[4]
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien described the song as "melancholic dance-pop".[1] Lucas Villa from AXS noted that Richards "took the song's tragic wordplay to church in a powerhouse performance." He added that it "stands as one of Steps' finest pop moments."[5]Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote,"U.K. youth quintet Steps is all about conjuring up the timeless ABBA in its debut U.S. single,a joyous romp that will propel hands into the air and,with the proper push from Jive,send this song into the upper reaches of the pop charts—where it's already been across much of Europe. This U.S. mix is the tastiest kind of bubble gum,with a happy-go-lucky dance beat from production maestro Tony Moran;a solid,zippy vocal;and a sing-along chorus that sticks with maddening proficiency."[3]
A reviewer from Birmingham Evening Mail commented,"The nearest thing you'll get to an ABBA tribute song in the top ten. This sounds just like the Swedes around the time their complex inter-band relationships were hitting a rocky patch."[6] Can't Stop the Pop described "One for Sorrow" as a "brilliant moment in '90s pop music",adding that "this is pop music with a heart". They complimented Richard's vocals,stating that the track is "the perfect showcase for the power and range of her vocals."[7] Scottish Daily Record stated,"It sounds like ABBA,but Steps prove they are the real thing with their biggest hit yet".[8] Gary James from Entertainment Focus noted that "starting with the rain effect and gentle tickle of the piano,Claire's voice tells the tale of wanting love but getting uncertainity [sic] as it builds to a big power chorus."[9]Sunday Mirror commented,"Pop's next big things crank up the ABBA again minus the beards thankfully."[10]
Chart performance
"One for Sorrow" reached number two in the United Kingdom on 30 August 1998,during its first week on the UK Singles Chart,and spent 11 weeks on the listing.[11] The song reached number one in the Flanders region of Belgium and entered the top 10 in Ireland as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100.[12][13][14] Outside Europe,"One for Sorrow" peaked at number 13 in New Zealand,number 26 on the Canadian RPMDance 30 chart,and number 34 in Australia.[15][16][17] In the US,the song peaked at number 38 on the BillboardDance Club Songs chart in October 1999.[18]
Music video
There were produced two different music videos for the song;one for the European market and one for the US market (the Tony Moran remix). The first one was filmed in Italy.[19] In the beginning of the video,Claire performs alone inside a villa,standing by a window. Later the group performs in front of a field of sunflowers,as seen on the cover of the single.
Legacy
In 2014,the Official UK Chart named "One for Sorrow" a "pop gem" and a "lovelorn classic",inducting the song in their "Pop Gem Hall of Fame".[20] In 2018,The Guardian stated that "Steps put the fun in late-90s dysfunctional pop and their third single is glorious,its legacy has endured and cemented their pop phenomena status."[21][22][23]
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