One for Sorrow (song)

"One for Sorrow" is a song by British pop-dance group Steps that 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 hit "The Winner Takes It All". A remixed version of this song became their debut US single in 1999 and was featured on the Drive Me Crazy film soundtrack. It became Steps' only single to appear on any US Billboard chart, peaking at number 38 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in October 1999.

"One for Sorrow"
Single by Steps
from the album Step One
B-side"Too Weak to Resist"
Released
  • 24 August 1998 (UK)
  • 3 August 1999 (US)
FormatSingle
Recorded1998
GenrePop
Length4:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Steps singles chronology
"Last Thing on My Mind"
(1998)		 "One for Sorrow"
(1998)		 "Heartbeat/Tragedy"
(1998)
Music video
"One for Sorrow" on YouTube

Release

Unlike Steps' previous single, "Last Thing on My Mind", which featured solo vocals by all three girls, Claire performs lead vocals of all of the verses, which are harmonised with Faye, before the entire band join for the chorus. Following the group's reformation in 2011, it has since surfaced that after the single, tensions arose in the band due to Richards singing lead vocals on the single, thereby pushing the other four members into the background.

On 29 July 2015 Claire Richards premiered a new solo acoustic version of the track at an event celebrating Pete Waterman's career at the Royal Festival Hall.

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 the song "stands as one of Steps' finest pop moments."[2] Larry Flick from Billboard 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] CantStopThePop described the song 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."[4] 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 as it builds to a big power chorus."[5]

Track listings

CD1

  1. One for Sorrow - 4:20
  2. One for Sorrow [Instrumental] - 4:20
  3. Too Weak to Resist - 3:50

CD2

  1. One for Sorrow - 4:20
  2. One for Sorrow [W.I.P. Remix] - 6:53
  3. One for Sorrow [Acapella Mix] - 4:16

Cassette

  1. One for Sorrow - 4:20
  2. One for Sorrow [W.I.P. Remix] - 6:53

Australian CD single (LIBERATION/JIVE, MUSH01806.5)

  1. One for Sorrow 4:20
  2. One for Sorrow (W.I.P. Remix) 6:53
  3. One for Sorrow (Acappella Mix) 4:16

US CD Single (US Jive 01241-42590-2)

  1. One for Sorrow (US Mix) - 3:30
  2. One for Sorrow (UK Mix) - 4:20

US 12" Promo (US JIVE JDJ-42590-2, 1999)

a1. One for Sorrow (Tony Moran Underground Club) 8:37 a2. One for Sorrow (Tony Moran 7") 3:30

b1. One for Sorrow (Tony Moran's Extended Club) 8:12 b2. One for Sorrow (Original Version) 4:20

c1. One for Sorrow (Pimp Juice's Summer Fung 12") 6:28 c2. One for Sorrow (Pimp Juice's Acid Disco Dub) 6:51

d1. One for Sorrow (Soul Solution Extended Vocal Mix) 5:06 d2. One for Sorrow (Tony Moran Underground Instrumental) 8:37

US 12" Single (US Jive 01241-42589-1)

a1. One for Sorrow (Tony Moran's Extended Club) 8:12 a2. One for Sorrow (Original Version) 4:20

b1. One for Sorrow (Soul Solution Extended Vocal Mix) 5:06 B2. One for Sorrow (Pimp Juice's Summer Fung 12") 6:28

Other remixes
  • One for Sorrow (Japanese Radio Edit)
  • One for Sorrow (Pimp Juices Acid Disco Dub)
  • One for Sorrow (Pimp Juices Summer Fung Mix)
  • One for Sorrow (Sleazesisters Anthem Mix)
  • One for Sorrow (Sleazesisters Anthem Mix Edit)
  • One for Sorrow (Sleazesisters Anthem Edit)
  • One for Sorrow (Sleazesisters Anthem Dub)
  • One for Sorrow (Soul Solution Extended Vocal Mix)
  • One for Sorrow (Tony Moran Extended Club Mix)
  • One for Sorrow (Tony Moran 7" Remix)
  • One for Sorrow (Tony Moran Underground Club Mix)
  • One for Sorrow (Tony Moran Underground Club Instrumental)

Other versions
  • One for Sorrow (Sleazesisters 2012 Remix)
  • One for Sorrow (Claire Acoustic Solo version)

Credits and personnel

Charts and certifications

References
  1. O'Brien, Jon. "The Ultimate Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  2. Villa, Lucas (19 June 2017). "Steps turns 20: Counting down the pop group's top 10 singles". AXS. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  3. "Billboard: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. 31 July 1999. p. 21). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  4. "Steps – One For Sorrow". CantStopThePop. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  5. James, Gary (11 September 2018). "Step's Step One: looking back at their debut album 20 years on". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  6. Step One (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0519112.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. "Step One" (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0518492.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "Australian-charts.com – Steps – One For Sorrow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Steps – One For Sorrow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Steps – One For Sorrow" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  11. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8441." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  12. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media.
  13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – One For Sorrow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 39, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Steps – One For Sorrow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  16. "Charts.nz – Steps – One For Sorrow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  17. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  18. "Swedishcharts.com – Steps – One For Sorrow". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  20. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  21. "Steps Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  22. "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  23. "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  24. "British single certifications – Steps – One for Sorrow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 March 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type One for Sorrow in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  25. Copsey, Rob (14 March 2017). "Steps' Biggest Selling Singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.