he/him
My favourite Aqua song in the rate, to be honest!
All my fave remixers! Back in the late 90s/early 00s I would buy any CD single, even if I'd never heard it, if it had a remix from any of them and I was never disappointed. I'd say my all time best are Almighty and Motiv8, they never failed to get me slutdropping in a grim regional homosexual nitespot. I also miss the days when an "extended mix" wasn't 4 minutes long! Give me that 12 minute Trouser Enthusiasts fantasy!Metro, Love To Infinity, Almighty, Sleazesisters, D-Bop, Thunderpuss, Trouser Enthusiasts, K-Klass, Motiv 8 , Paul Masterson, Amen, W.I.P, Matt Darey, Illicit, M.A.S.H, Tony Moran etc etc
All iron-clad guarantees you’d get a banging remix of your favourite pop song. I miss those days…
One of our 5 special legend tracks leave us next:
Blasphemy! Sacrilege!Please let it be one Steps track!!
I know (but I don't like it when the same act takes up such a big percentage of what's left in a Versus Rate at the pointy end dd)Blasphemy! Sacrilege!
Tragic news, kids.
My entry to the latest round of Popjustice Song Contest got vetoed - something to do with a UK #1 single and a DISTINCT LACK OF TASTE. But anyway…listen - it’s an actual BOP and a half.
AND…great news is that as a mixed group it’s eligible for our sequel rate! (@Ezz cries in the corner)
Please let it be one Steps track!!
(Though I think my 10th overall is also here, HA!)
#2
It’s the Way You Make Me Feel
Average Score: 9.828
Highest Score: 11x13 (@mrdonut, @MadameX, @GhettoPrincess, @Mina, @AcerBenII, @idratherjack, @Iggypig, @WhipperSnapper, @SuperNerd, @Conan, @Fantasy, @Robsolete, @KingBruno), 10x30 (@Lost In Japan., @Stepsmatt, @AllTheUsernames, @Angeleyes, @Hudweiser, @HollyDunnSomething, @roborovsky, @Hybridcookie, @Seanie, @2014, @LoveUMore2017, @CasperFan, @tylerc904, @Mvnl, @londonrain, @confess85, @stomp, @VivaForever, @TheBakersSon, @Spiral, @Lucas, @paradiddle1211, @Sideout, @Markus1981, @Eric, @AlmostFamous, @Wezzo, @TrueBeliever, @Remorque, @baxterclan)
Lowest Score: 7x3 (@DJHazey, @SaturSteps, @Scotty B)
I’m very proud of this one because it was very nearly not in the top two, which would have been a disaster after winning the singles rate, and on 50% of days it is my favourite Steps song, even if my 11 went to ‘Here and Now’ that I felt needed it more. In fact, for a good while in the voting this song wasn’t in the top five, which had me questioning everything. But even the last minute surge of 10s and 11s this song received wasn’t enough to push this one ahead of ‘xxxxx’ and so, just like in January 2001, it charts at #2. This is one of the Steps singles that everyone gets a line on, with the vocals being shared pretty fairly (I particularly enjoy that each girl gets the end line of the chorus), but for me this has always been Faye’s song to shine until Claire gets to ad-lib all over the track at the end - which is always a highlight of the live performances.
AllTheUsernames (10) calls this “one of Steps finest songs. Buzz is an album that doesn’t feel entirely “Steps”, and this song is no exception, but it works nevertheless. It’s so romantic, and the video is gorgeous”. Hudweiser (10) describes it as “a perfect pop record”, while AlmostFamous (10) says “this was so nearly my 11, I adore this song so much”. One Stop Candy Shop (9.5) says “this is how it's done. A great song and everyone gets to sing. (Oprah: "You get a line! You get a line! You get a line! Everyone gets a line!”)”. JakeMagnus (9) says “I remember that random family members who didn't know Steps used to like that song when it played on the TV back then. It's obviously an almost perfect slice of pop and should have been another number one. It's a bit too tame for me to hand out a 10, so a 9 it is”.
JamieHT (8) calls it “very nearly perfection again, it’s Faye’s Britney impression that puts me off I think. I love Faye’s voice, so why did they do that??” Speaking of Ms Spears, iheartpoptarts (9) says “so this is their ‘Sometimes’!” DJHazey (7) says “this has always been an enjoyable listen as it seems to be the one most people play when you tell them you've never heard this group before -- but honestly it doesn't do them enough justice if you ask me. I've heard plenty of songs that takes thing to whole new level from doing this rate. This scores means I like what I'm hearing but nothing truly stands out for me and I don't see myself going back to it nearly as much as the songs I've scored higher”.
confess85 (10) says “it’s funny because when Buzz was released I wouldn't have picked this as a single at all. I love the video for this track and feel the song is really quite special”. Empty Shoebox (9) says “I'm a sucker for a good string section”, while Seanie (10) says “actually this is their best ballad, is it a ballad? Its really amazing how well they can do this live”. JMRGBY88 (10) is “still bitter this didn’t get #1. I didn’t realise how loved it was until going to Party On The Dancefloor. What a song”. And MadameX (11) calls it “my all time favourite. I cry at this song and on tour. There I said it, it just gets me in the feels. Also, Lisa's braces and blue in her hair is LEWK”. Also a fan of La Scott-Lee is londonrain (10), who says "Lisa’s blue hair and braces are still the highlight of the video for me. What a song, though”. I mean, she coordinated them both with her dress. What an ICON.
tylerc904 (10) “almost handed this my 11 but I have a feeling it can win this thing regardless. Just a perfect pop song. I wish we got another Swedish-Steps album off the back of Buzz or Gold. Faye is the start of the song for me. I love the harmonies they introduced when they reunited”, and HollyDunnSomething (10) said “what a song. Probably my only other 11 contender but I'm sure this will win anyway”. Well guys, it didn’t win, so I hope you’re happy. There were a few of you who said this came very close to getting your top score, like Angeleyes (10) who called it “one of my immediate faves, which probably isn't too surprising. There's something so infectious about it, and the way their voices blend together in the chorus is amazing. It's not my personal 11, but I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if this won”. Hybridcookie (10) said “this was my nearly my 11, I switched so many times between 2 songs, but this one ultimately lost out. I love the video and the routine, and they always sound great singing this one live - Claire's high note in particular. I liked the performance when H was sick and Lee took over his lines, and Lisa got her parts mixed up”. And VivaForever (10) called it “their best single for sure. It nearly got my 11, but I decided to give that to an album track deserving of some special recognition”.
CasperFan (10) declared it “quite possibly the best song they have ever done-almost my 11. Not a typical Steps song but is soooo gorgeous and the perfect sing-a-long song. Nicely shared out vocals, they all sound great and Claire’s ad-libs at the end are amazing. Top notch, rich production too”. And TrueBeliever (10) said it was “hands down, one of their very best songs, and a strong Top 4 contender for my 11. All members are on top of their vocals. The song is mature and so well composed. The ending is perfect, and it still sends chills up my back every single time. I hope this makes it to the top 5, and I would assume that it will come very close to winning, if it doesn’t, in fact, win the whole thing”. So close but so far!
We’ve already heard from some of those who gave this their 11, but let’s finish this off with a round up of everyone else who thought this Steps’ best song:
KingBruno (11) said “this song is outright unreal. For their first two studio albums I always considered ballads their weakest points, but then this one passed by. As far as my memory goes, there hasn’t been a power pop ballad that felt so surprising both lyrically and musically; every line is neatly coherent while the music itself takes twists and turns that are completely unexpected. “Tell me how can I walk away / I don’t care what they say / I’m loving you anyway” remains an outstanding moment in pop history”. (Yes, absolutely - the melody of that bit, and the way it is delivered, is so outstanding and much of the reason why I find this song so repayable and so perfect). Mina (11) calls it “amazing”, saying “back in the early '00s before the days of Youtube or particularly informative Wikipedia articles that highlighted singles and chart performances, I downloaded the Buzz album from my favorite P2P site, and this was definitely the standout track for me. It's still amazing on relisten 15+ years later”. Iggypig (11) says they “adore this song, and it never feels dated or tired, a superb song that I just can't imagine anyone else singing”. GhettoPrincess (11) says “oh the nostalgia, the princess fantasy… how elegant they all look in the music video. That middle 8 from Lisa, those ad-libs by Claire…. stunning. Like a grown up Disney musical number. It’s a gorgeous song and one I can come back to & still enjoy just as much”. mrdonut (11) adds that “this is a perfect pop song in its construction and delivery. I can’t fault a single second of it. The sheer emotion packed into that majestic chorus should be cherished forever by pop fans. A masterpiece”. And Fantasy (11) calls it “the absolute peak of Steps’ discography. Everything about it is perfect; from the magical opening music, to the alternating verses between the girls and boys, to that huge and spectacular chorus, to Lisa’s middle-eight (and of course her iconic blue hair and braces). The last minute of the video in particular gives me chills every single time. For me this is quite simply one of the best pop songs ever recorded”.
Such a great song!
Thanks for this @Ezz - although it actually won the Steps Singles Rate in 2014 hosted by @Cowboystyle which is why it was included here. (Any excuse though)
Not the winner of my first rate ever breaking a record and I only learnt about it now dd.Held the record for the biggest rise in UK Chart history, after its rise from #72 (after some record stores had erroneously sold it a week early) to #2. Held this record until 2009, when 'Boys and Girls' by Pixie Lott rose from #72 to #1.