One for Sorrow (song)

For the traditional English song, see One for Sorrow (nursery rhyme).

"One for Sorrow"
CD2 cover
Single by Steps
from the album Step One
B-side	"Too Weak to Resist"
Released	24 August 1998 (1998-08-24)
Recorded	1998
Studio	PWL (Manchester, England)
Genre	Pop
Length	4:20
Label	Jive Ebul
Songwriter(s)	Mark Topham Karl Twigg Lance Ellington
Producer(s)	Mark Topham Karl Twigg Pete Waterman
Steps singles chronology
"Last Thing on My Mind" (1998) "One for Sorrow" (1998) "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" (1998)
Music videos
"One for Sorrow" on YouTube
"One for Sorrow" (Tony Moran's Remix) on YouTube

"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.

Release

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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3][4][5] Outside Europe, "One for Sorrow" peaked at number 13 in New Zealand, number 26 on the Canadian RPM Dance 30 chart, and number 34 in Australia.^[6][7][8] In the US, the song peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in October 1999.^[9]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien described the song as "melancholic dance-pop".^[10] 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."^[11] 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."^[12] 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."^[13]

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."^[14] Scottish newspaper Daily Record stated, "It sounds like ABBA, but Steps prove they are the real thing with their biggest hit yet".^[15] 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."^[16] Sunday Mirror commented, "Pop's next big things crank up the ABBA again minus the beards thankfully."^[17]The Guardian in August 2018 issue 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.”^[18][19][20]

Music video

There were made two different music videos for the song; one for the European market and one for the US market. The first one was filmed in Italy.^[21] In the beginning, Claire performs alone inside a villa, standing by a window. Later the group performs in front of a field of sunflowers.

Track listings

UK CD1 and Australian CD single[22][23] "One for Sorrow" – 4:20 "One for Sorrow" (instrumental) – 4:20 "Too Weak to Resist" – 3:50 UK CD2[24] "One for Sorrow" – 4:20 "One for Sorrow" (W.I.P. Remix) – 6:53 "One for Sorrow" (a cappella mix) – 4:16 UK cassette single[25] "One for Sorrow" – 4:20 "One for Sorrow" (W.I.P. Remix) – 6:53

European CD single[26] "One for Sorrow" – 4:20 "One for Sorrow" (instrumental) – 4:20 US CD single[27] "One for Sorrow" (US mix) – 3:30 "One for Sorrow" (UK mix) – 4:22 US 12-inch single[28] A1. "One for Sorrow" (Tony Moran's extended club) – 8:12 A2. "One for Sorrow" (original version) – 4:17 B1. "One for Sorrow" (Soul Solution extended vocal mix) – 5:05 B2. "One for Sorrow" (Pimp Juice's Summer Fung 12-inch) – 6:38

Credits and personnel

A-side: "One for Sorrow" Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Step One.[29] Recording Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester in 1998 Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London Vocals Lead vocals – Claire Richards Background vocals – Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian "H" Watkins Personnel Songwriting – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Lance Ellington Production – Karl Twigg, Mark Topham, Pete Waterman Mixing – Les Sharma Engineer – Chris McDonnell Drums – Chris McDonnell Keyboards – Karl Twigg Guitars – Mark Topham, Barry Upton Banjo – Sean Lyons Violin – Chris Haigh

B-side: "Too Weak to Resist" Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Step One.[29] Recording Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester in 1998 Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London Vocals Lead vocals – Ian "H" Watkins Background vocals – Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans Personnel Songwriting – Dan Frampton Production – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman Mixing – Dan Frampton Engineer – Dan Frampton, Chris McDonnell Drums – Pete Waterman Keyboards – Dan Frampton, Karl Twigg Guitars – Greg Bone

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998–1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 34 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[30] 40 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[7] 26 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] 10 Ireland (IRMA)[4] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 24 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 28 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 13 Scotland (OCC)[33] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 34 UK Singles (OCC)[2] 2 UK Indie (OCC)[35] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[9] 38

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 14 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 31

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[39]	Gold	423,000[38]

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	24 August 1998	CD cassette	Jive Ebul	[40]
United States	3 August 1999	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio		[41]

References

1. "One for Sorrow (Acoustic Version) by Claire Richards | Free Listening on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
2. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
3. "Steps – One for Sorrow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – One for Sorrow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 37. 12 September 2021. p. 10.
6. "Steps – One for Sorrow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
7. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8441." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
8. "Steps – One for Sorrow". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
9. "Steps Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
10. O'Brien, Jon. "The Ultimate Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
11. Villa, Lucas (19 June 2017). "Steps turns 20: Counting down the pop group's top 10 singles". AXS. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
12. Flick, Larry (31 July 1999). "New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 21). Retrieved 29 January 2018.
13. "Single of the Week". Birmingham Evening Mail. 25 August 1998.
14. "Steps – One for Sorrow". Can't Stop the Pop. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
15. "Chartslot". Daily Record. 4 September 1998.
16. James, Gary (11 September 2018). "Step's Step One: looking back at their debut album 20 years on". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
17. "REVIEWS". Sunday Mirror. 23 August 1998. p. 40.
18. Sullivan, Caroline (11 June 2023). "Britney, bust-ups and 'B-List at Capital': how Steps staged pop's most unlikely comeback". Retropop. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
19. Steps One for Sorrow Legacy
20. Steps the legendary pop group in the 90s
21. "Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins lifts lid on grim detail about One For Sorrow video". irishmirror.ie. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
22. One for Sorrow (UK CD1 liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1998. 0519092.
23. One for Sorrow (Australian CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1998. MUSH01806.2.
24. One for Sorrow (UK CD2 liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1998. 0519102.
25. One for Sorrow (UK cassette single sleeve). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1998. 0519094.
26. One for Sorrow (European CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1998. 0589092.
27. One for Sorrow (US CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 01241-42590-2.
28. One for Sorrow (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 01241-42589-1.
29. Step One (European CD album liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1998. 0519112.
30. "Steps – One for Sorrow" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 39, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
32. "Steps – One for Sorrow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
34. "Steps – One for Sorrow". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
35. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
36. "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
37. "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
38. Copsey, Rob (14 March 2017). "Steps' Biggest Selling Singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
39. "British single certifications – Steps – One for Sorrow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
40. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 22 August 1998. p. 35. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
41. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1310. 30 July 1999. pp. 53, 59.