"Better Best Forgotten" is a song by British pop group Steps, released on 8 March 1999. It was the final single to be taken from their debut album, ''

Step One Step(s) or STEP may refer to: Common meanings * Steps, making a staircase * Walking * Dance move * Military step, or march ** Marching Arts Films and television * ''Steps'' (TV series), Hong Kong * ''Step'' (film), US, 2017 Literature * ' ...

''. The song became the group's fourth top-10 hit in the UK, peaking at number two on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, and it also reached the top 20 in Ireland and the

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region of Belgium. A stripped back ballad version of the track was performed during the 2012

Christmas with Steps Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...

tour. "Better Best Forgotten" features all three girls singing a verse each with the boys joining in for the choruses.

Critical reception

Can't Stop the Pop wrote that this was the song "most strikingly consistent" with the "

ABBA ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's ...

-on-

speed In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quanti ...

" vision, that

Pete Waterman Peter Alan Waterman, (born 15 January 1947) is an English record producer, songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterm ...

strove to achieve with the group. They added that

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Lisa Lisa or LISA may refer to: People People with the mononym * Lisa Lisa (born 1967), American actress and lead singer of the Cult Jam * Lisa (Japanese musician, born 1974), stylized "LISA", Japanese singer and producer * Lisa Komine (born 1978), J ...

and

Claire Clair or Claire may refer to: *Claire (given name), a list of people with the name Claire * Clair (surname) Places Canada * Clair, New Brunswick, a former village, now part of Haut-Madawaska * Clair Parish, New Brunswick * Pointe-Claire, Q ...

"all bring such drama" to the track, "they sing as though their life depends on it, and that – among many other things – is what worked so well about Steps." Scottish newspaper '' Daily Record'' noted that the group "continue to shine in the charts with their latest Abba-esque hit", "Better Best Forgotten". They also wrote that this "catchy tune" is "sure to fill the dance floors." Sarah Davis from ''

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'' stated that "this predictably Abba-sounding track builds energetically to reach its adrenaline-filled peak in a hook-laden, singalong

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

. The group really cannot put a foot wrong at present". Gary James from Entertainment Focus noted it as a "uplifting" and "energetic" pop song, with "fairytale references of happy endings and taking chances." He added that this track is "definitely not best forgotten". Mark Beaumont from ''

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'' said it is "great". ''

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'' commented, "A poppy enough tune from the smiley five piece but they need some new material. And fast."

Chart performance

"Better Best Forgotten" entered the

at number two in March 1999, beaten to number one by

Boyzone Boyzone were an Irish boy band, created in 1993 by talent manager Louis Walsh. Before even recording any material, Boyzone made an appearance on RTÉ's '' The Late Late Show''. Their most successful line-up was composed of Keith Duffy, Steph ...

's " When the Going Gets Tough". It spent 17 weeks on the British charts and became the first single for Steps to fall off the chart and re-enter. The song topped the

UK Indie Chart The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the rele ...

while reaching number eight in Ireland. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Belgium and peaked at number 11 on the

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Music video

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

was made to accompany the song, directed by David Amphlett. It has a watery-theme, and the group wear blue outfits. Group members Lee and H play with water pistols, and interfere with the girls' singing. During the video shoot, a glass wall collapsed on

Track listings

Credits and personnel

A-side: "Better Best Forgotten"

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of ''

''. Recording * Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester, in 1998 * Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester * Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London Vocals * Lead vocals – Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee * Background vocals – Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian "H" Watkins Personnel * Songwriting – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman * Production – Karl Twigg, Mark Topham, Pete Waterman * Mixing – Dan Frampton * Engineer – Chris McDonnell, Dan Frampton * Drums – Chris McDonnell * Keyboards – Karl Twigg, Mark Topham

B-side: "Why?"

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of "Better Best Forgotten". Recording * Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester, in 1998 * Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester * Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London Vocals * Lead vocals – Faye Tozer * Background vocals – Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian "H" Watkins Personnel * Songwriting – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg * Production – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Pete Waterman * Mixing – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman * Engineer – Chris McDonnell

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 1999 singles 1998 songs Jive Records singles Pete Waterman Entertainment singles Songs written by Andrew Frampton (songwriter) Songs written by Pete Waterman Steps (group) songs UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles Songs about heartache