karl twigg - Can't Stop The Pop

Ellie Campbell – Don’t Want You Back

Almost two years after her first top 40 single, Ellie Campbell was back with one of the best songs Britney Spears never recorded.

As a product of Pete Waterman’s intent to push back against changing chart trends, Pop! made a strong argument with ‘Heaven and Earth’.

With Disney in the market for a pop act to re-record ‘Beauty and the Beast’, H & Claire seized the opportunity to show what they could do.

‘Stomp’ earned Steps a long overdue second #1 single, even if it wasn’t necessarily a song that showcased them at their very best.

It might have been a little late to the party, but ‘Summer Of Love’ still managed to put a uniquely Steps-twist on the Latin-pop craze.

‘Sweet Lies’ is the epitome of a pleasant pop song that didn’t ever sound like it would trouble the charts.

‘All Out Of Love’ saw H & Claire come full-circle as they released one of the best songs that Steps never recorded.

‘After The Love Has Gone’ saw Steps draw on one of their biggest hits and give it a very Oriental twist.

The release of ‘One For Sorrow (Tony Moran US Remix)’ in 2001 saw the Steps story come full-circle as the track once again peaked at #2.

‘Can’t Say Goodbye’ was as much a statement of defiance for Pop! as it was a familiar tale of disco-heartbreak.

‘You’ll Be Sorry’ saw Steps hit back with a massive ‘f**k you’ (and a brilliant B-side) after years on the receiving end of heartbreak.

‘Deeper Shade Of Blue’ was a watershed moment for Steps, marking a significant shift in their sound and thrusting them in a bold new direction.