Mixed Pop Groups & Duos Rate • WINNER ANNOUNCED
- Thread starter Doodvid
- Start date
As much as I love Things That Go Bump In The Night, and I really do, I have a feeling the organisers of this rate will have made it so it lines up with a Hallowe'en elimination, so it's days are numbered (which will be better that it's actual September release date.....real opportunity missed back then).
A Top 5. I can see Liberty X winning. I'd also have an different Aqua song in there.
The top 5 we deserve.
That's because I accidentally got their 2-track single disqualified.
I asked OCC why they kept allowing 2-track singles that were over 10 minutes long to chart despite the rule, wondering whether I was misunderstanding it or something. Westlife had recently released one too.
Everyone's feelin' good
Smiling faces everywhere
So if you're in the mood
Put your hands up in the air
Smiling faces everywhere
So if you're in the mood
Put your hands up in the air
#20
H & Claire - 'DJ'
Average score: 8.309
High scorers: @Hybridcookie, @j267, @Untouchable Ace, @Markus1981 (4x10) @Doodvid, @Hudweiser, @Conan (3x9.5)
Low scorers: @Sprockrooster (6), @DJHazey (6.3), @Ezz, @Wezzo, @idratherjack, @AcerBenII (4x7)
Notable achievements: Their first and only top 5 single, and their only single where the B side was performed on TV too!
Ah, early 2002. The time where you could possibly get away with peddling lines about amicable splits..
However this was no match for the Steps forums or the tabloids, which shrouded the whole H&Claire project with an air of contrivance from the start. The timing didn't help either, with the infamous Steps split just before Christmas 2001 and then H & Claire's duo announcement barely a month later!
Putting this drama aside, what can we say about their first single? It's clear the record company were pushing lots of money into this release, with an expensive video in Miami, designer clothes and an attempt to be a little bit more mature than Steps had been. To me, that's not quite matched by the sound of the track. The robotic elements are hugely reminiscent of S Club 7's Don't Stop Movin'. As the ever brilliant 'Can't Stop the Pop' highlights, the track doesn't necessarily sound like its delivered by a united duo, particularly in the chorus which is Claire with a few H ad-libs. If you're looking for a little bit of warmth during this era, you might want to check out their B-side 'Over You'. This was performed on CD:UK during the promotion for 'DJ' and is rather sweet (if obviously mimed, as per the era!) Would it have worked as a stand alone, it may have stood out more than an attempt to tap into the sultry vibe?
With a promotional circuit at least as heavy as any of their previous Steps campaigns, some killer remixes and a release slot to match the early summer vibes of the video, DJ provided a good base for the duo. It entered the chart at #3, beating poor Faye Tozer who released the rather bizarre ballad 'Someone Like You' with Russell Watson on the same week in the UK, scoring a #10 position. Popinjustice personified that this is Faye's only single release! Back to the topic, while I do have some misgivings about how genuine the song is, at least it gave enough impetus for H and Claire to move forward and experiment a bit further with Half a Heart...
Voters say:
@Doodvid 9.5
The Kool de Sac remix is everything. Wish they’d done more like this.
@Hudweiser 9.5
A great first single for them.
@berserkboi 8
Great sample, but slightly annoying hook in the oooh ooohs [He definitely has form with oooh ooohs, as any regular Steps concert goer in their first era will recall!]
@Ezz 7
Amazing video, but somehow doesn't quite feel authentic - maybe it's because it's the two least dance-y members of Steps trying to pull this off.
What a shame this happened before Youtube, it sounds priceless!
@Doodvid 9.5
The Kool de Sac remix is everything. Wish they’d done more like this.
@Hudweiser 9.5
A great first single for them.
@berserkboi 8
Great sample, but slightly annoying hook in the oooh ooohs [He definitely has form with oooh ooohs, as any regular Steps concert goer in their first era will recall!]
@Ezz 7
Amazing video, but somehow doesn't quite feel authentic - maybe it's because it's the two least dance-y members of Steps trying to pull this off.
What a shame this happened before Youtube, it sounds priceless!
Last edited:
I still find H & Claire oddly triggering, every time I see the name I get war flashbacks to Boxing Day 2001...
As mentioned in the writeup the whole concept was fatally flawed from the start as they were trying to appeal to the very same people whose Christmas they had just ruined! As a result I didn't ever hear their album until a few years ago when Steps had reunited and I finally downloaded it from iTunes out of curiousity. Turns out I wasn't missing anything... Their one amazing song is still in the running here but DJ has overperformed. That story of the signing with the disgruntled Steps fans is hilarious!
As mentioned in the writeup the whole concept was fatally flawed from the start as they were trying to appeal to the very same people whose Christmas they had just ruined! As a result I didn't ever hear their album until a few years ago when Steps had reunited and I finally downloaded it from iTunes out of curiousity. Turns out I wasn't missing anything... Their one amazing song is still in the running here but DJ has overperformed. That story of the signing with the disgruntled Steps fans is hilarious!
he/him
A top 5. (Can you tell the early 00s were formative to me nn)
Could this be real?
Can we stop the dreaming?
Cos I can't live without the love that I found
#19
Same Difference - 'Souled Out'
Average score: 8.323
High scorers: @Ezz, @Hudweiser, @Conan, @Wezzo, @idratherjack, @berserkboi, @MilesAngel, @Ana Raquel, @Markus1981 (9x10), @Doodvid (9.6)
Low scorers: @AcerBenII (3), @Sprockrooster (6), @DJHazey (6), @j267 (6.5)
Notable achievements: A stonking 9 top scores, joint equal with 'Crucified' as the most number of 10s so far! The opening track to their amazing second album 'The Rest Is History'.
I guess it's a sign we're heading for the business end of this rate, when a song with 9 10s still falls at #19! We also continue with the bonfire of the duos, will this trend continue as we proceed into the teen positions? This definitely falls into the 'single that never was' category, along with another yet to be discussed track in this rate. Same Difference worked with legendary producers Topham and Twigg on this opening track for their second album, released just over 10 years ago in February 2011. The duo had been involved with Same Difference's first album, but according to this insightful interview, Syco had rejected them - I guess they were wanting to emphasize the whole High School Musical / 50s image! Back to Souled Out, the song definitely nod to Topham and Twigg's more widely known work' and could easily sit on the second half of Step One alongside tracks like Back to You and Love U More.
While it might not have lifted them to amazing chart success, it is interesting to ponder the 'alternative history' angle: would this arguably stronger song have appealed to the more mature market they were aiming towards, particularly with semi-famous producers behind it? The whole 'The Rest is History' album is heartily recommended for more bops like this.
Voters say:
@Hudweiser 10
Why they didn't pick this as the single is anyone's guess. Not that it would've done a whole lot of damage to the charts.
@Ezz 10
Dramatic, catchy, a bit clubby! Perfection.
@berserkboi 10
Never heard of these people but their voices together is Pop Perfection!
@Doodvid 9.6
Classic Steps sound thanks to Topham & Twigg and I recall this causing a buzz on PJ when it was thought to be the launch single for album #2. The deliberately misspelt/meaningless title slightly grates…
@DJHazey 6
This screams something that will survive until the Top 20, beating my 11 on the way, and I will find out how overrated it is. It just isn't very exciting to these ears, but I can also hear the potential widespread appeal.
I wonder if a technowhizz could clean the sound up here! I love their enthusiasm even at PAs like this!
Awww, bless Sean!
Another Topham and Twigg banger, one of my favourite album tracks!
Can we stop the dreaming?
Cos I can't live without the love that I found
#19
Same Difference - 'Souled Out'
Average score: 8.323
High scorers: @Ezz, @Hudweiser, @Conan, @Wezzo, @idratherjack, @berserkboi, @MilesAngel, @Ana Raquel, @Markus1981 (9x10), @Doodvid (9.6)
Low scorers: @AcerBenII (3), @Sprockrooster (6), @DJHazey (6), @j267 (6.5)
Notable achievements: A stonking 9 top scores, joint equal with 'Crucified' as the most number of 10s so far! The opening track to their amazing second album 'The Rest Is History'.
I guess it's a sign we're heading for the business end of this rate, when a song with 9 10s still falls at #19! We also continue with the bonfire of the duos, will this trend continue as we proceed into the teen positions? This definitely falls into the 'single that never was' category, along with another yet to be discussed track in this rate. Same Difference worked with legendary producers Topham and Twigg on this opening track for their second album, released just over 10 years ago in February 2011. The duo had been involved with Same Difference's first album, but according to this insightful interview, Syco had rejected them - I guess they were wanting to emphasize the whole High School Musical / 50s image! Back to Souled Out, the song definitely nod to Topham and Twigg's more widely known work' and could easily sit on the second half of Step One alongside tracks like Back to You and Love U More.
While it might not have lifted them to amazing chart success, it is interesting to ponder the 'alternative history' angle: would this arguably stronger song have appealed to the more mature market they were aiming towards, particularly with semi-famous producers behind it? The whole 'The Rest is History' album is heartily recommended for more bops like this.
Voters say:
@Hudweiser 10
Why they didn't pick this as the single is anyone's guess. Not that it would've done a whole lot of damage to the charts.
@Ezz 10
Dramatic, catchy, a bit clubby! Perfection.
@berserkboi 10
Never heard of these people but their voices together is Pop Perfection!
@Doodvid 9.6
Classic Steps sound thanks to Topham & Twigg and I recall this causing a buzz on PJ when it was thought to be the launch single for album #2. The deliberately misspelt/meaningless title slightly grates…
@DJHazey 6
This screams something that will survive until the Top 20, beating my 11 on the way, and I will find out how overrated it is. It just isn't very exciting to these ears, but I can also hear the potential widespread appeal.
I wonder if a technowhizz could clean the sound up here! I love their enthusiasm even at PAs like this!
Awww, bless Sean!
Another Topham and Twigg banger, one of my favourite album tracks!
He/Him
I'm so happy Same Difference have made it this far. While it may not have troubled the charts, The Rest Is History is a classic Popjustice album.
