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Deeper Shade of Blue
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Wikipedia article
"'Deeper Shade of Blue'" is a song by British dance-pop group Steps, released as the band's ninth single. It is an uptempo pop song about the darker side of life and an attempt to break free. It was the fifth song to be released from the group's second studio album, 'Steptacular' (1999). The song was originally recorded by Tina Cousins, but, aside from a few promotional 12-inch records, her version remains unreleased. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number four and spent one more week in the top 10 before falling down the charts. After a total of nine weeks, it left the top 100.
The first two verses are performed by Ian "H" Watkins and Claire Richards, respectively, whilst all five members perform the middle eight. The chorus also features all five voices. In October 2011 following the reformation of the band, they performed the track on 'Lorraine' and 'Loose Women'. The song was included on Steps's compilation albums 'Gold: Greatest Hits' (2001), 'The Last Dance' (2002), and 'The Ultimate Collection' (2011).
On 1 September 2015, Richards premiered a new stripped backed piano recording of the track via her social media pages.
Composition and reception
Jon O'Brien wrote for AllMusic and in two different reviews he noted "Deeper Shade of Blue" is a "club potential", and the Sleaze Sisters remix is "realized on a Sash-esque trance remix". O'Brien also commented it is "Italo house-inspired" and it "fits right in with the current retro-dance revival". Lucas Villa from AXS described the song as a "futuristic club banger", adding that the group "battled the love blues atop pulsating house music beats with Richards' out-of-this-world vocals channeling the dance floor divas that came before her." He also stated that the song "remains the band's fiercest, most flawless effort." Can't Stop the Pop called it "a total mood-piece", noting that "the thumping club beat creates a brooding darkness that was quite unlike anything Steps had attempted before."
The song was referenced by Dave Benson Phillips during an episode of 'Get Your Own Back' when H was thrown in the Gunk Dunk. After H's shocked reaction to being gunked, Benson Phillips remarked "As we can see, H has gone a deeper shade of blue" before H splashed him.
Music video
The music video has a futuristic style, with the group wearing blue and red latex uniforms with red latex gloves with the girls wearing blue latex hats for the dance sequences and each transforming into a darker alter-ego during the video. The alter-egos are to show the darker side of life that the song talks about.
Track listings
'UK enhanced CD single'
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (radio edit) 3:45
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (W.I.P. mix) 6:47
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (Sleaze Sisters Anthem mix) 7:54
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (video) 3:50
'UK cassette single'
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (radio edit) 3:45
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (W.I.P. mix) 6:47
'European CD single'
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (Kiss W.I.P. remix) 3:59
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (radio edit) 3:45
'European maxi-CD single'
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (Kiss W.I.P. remix) 3:59
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (radio edit) 3:45
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (W.I.P. mix) 6:47
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (Sleaze Sisters Anthem mix) 7:54
# "Deeper Shade of Blue" (Blockbuster Dirt Blue Klub mix) 6:49
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of 'Steptacular'.
'Recording'
* Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester, in 1999
* Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester
* Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London
'Vocals'
* Lead vocals Ian "H" Watkins, Claire Richards
* Background vocals Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans
'Personnel'
* Songwriting Mark Topham, Karl Twigg
* Production Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Pete Waterman
* Mixing Tim Speight
* Engineer Chris McDonnell, Tim Speight
* Drums Chris McDonnell
* Keyboards Karl Twigg
* Guitar Mark Topham
* Bass Mark Topham
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Category:1999 songs
Category:2000 singles
Category:Jive Records singles
Category:Pete Waterman Entertainment singles
Category:Songs written by Karl Twigg
Category:Songs written by Mark Topham
Category:Steps (group) songs
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