"One Step Closer" is the debut single of British pop group S Club Juniors, written by

Cathy Dennis Catherine Roseanne Dennis (born 25 March 1969)Gregory, Andy (2002) ''International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002'', Europa; , p. 133 is a British singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. She was the vocalist for D Mob, which had the s ...

, Mike Percy, and

Tim Lever Dead or Alive were an English pop band that released seven studio albums from 1984 to 2000. The band formed in 1980 in Liverpool and found success in the mid-1980s, releasing seven singles that made the UK top 40 and three albums on the UK to ...

. Produced by

Nick Foster Nick Foster is a British composer and music producer based in London. He is best-known for his work as a composer for television, commercials and film. Career Foster’s recent work includes Jack Whitehall & Freddy Syborn’s comedy-drama for ...

and Mike Rose, it was released as the first single from their first album, ''

Together ''ToGetHer'' (, aka Superstar Express) is a 2009 Taiwanese drama starring Jiro Wang of Fahrenheit, Rainie Yang and George Hu. It was produced by Comic International Productions ( 可米國際影視事業股份有限公司) and directed by Linzi ...

'' (2002). "One Step Closer" was issued on 22 April 2002 in the United Kingdom, where it peaked 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 ...

, losing out to the number-one spot by 1,000 copies. The song served as the theme for the US reality television series '' American Juniors'' (2003).

Composition

Frankie Sandford Francesca Bridge ( Sandford, born 14 January 1989) is an English singer, formerly a member of S Club Juniors and a member of girl group The Saturdays. She is signed to Fascination and Polydor labels. Bridge began her career when she auditioned ...

sings the first verse. Calvin Goldspink sings the first part of the first and the third bridges.

Jay Asforis S Club 8 (originally S Club Juniors) were a spin off of the British pop group S Club 7. The group's members, Jay Asforis, Daisy Evans, Calvin Goldspink, Stacey McClean, Aaron Renfree, Hannah Richings, Frankie Sandford and Rochelle Wiseman wer ...

sings the second part of the first and the third bridges and the first part of the second bridge.

Daisy Evans S Club 8 (originally S Club Juniors) were a spin off of the British pop group S Club 7. The group's members, Jay Asforis, Daisy Evans, Calvin Goldspink, Stacey McClean, Aaron Renfree, Hannah Richings, Frankie Sandford and Rochelle Wiseman wer ...

sings the second verse.

Hannah Richings S Club 8 (originally S Club Juniors) were a spin off of the British pop group S Club 7. The group's members, Jay Asforis, Daisy Evans, Calvin Goldspink, Stacey McClean, Aaron Renfree, Hannah Richings, Frankie Sandford and Rochelle Wiseman were ...

sings a backing vocal during the second verse.

Stacey McClean Stacey Franks ( McClean, born 17 February 1989) is an English pop singer. She was part of the S Club 7 spin-off band, S Club 8 and in 2009 took part in the sixth series of ''The X Factor''. Career 2001–05: S Club Juniors Franks was b ...

sings the second part of the second bridge and backing vocals during the final chorus.

Rochelle Wiseman Rochelle Eulah Eileen Humes (née Wiseman; born 21 March 1989) is an English singer and television presenter. Humes began her career in British pop groups S Club Juniors and The Saturdays, and has gone on to co-present the ITV entertainment se ...

sings backing vocals in the final chorus. Aaron Renfree does not have any solos in this song. Recording was produced by Tim Lever and done at Hollywood's famed Radio Recorders by engineer Jordan Winsen.

Release and chart performance

The single was released in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2002. During its first week on sale, it reached number two on the

, selling approximately 84,400 copies. It remained within the top 40 for 11 weeks, until mid-July. In Ireland, the song peaked at number five. It also entered the top 20 of the European Hot 100 Singles chart, reaching number 14.

Music video

The video shows the band in a classroom which changes into a disco. The noise attracts the attention of the headmaster (played by

Lee Cornes Lee Cornes is an English television actor and writer born in Worcester. A stand up comedian since 1980, he was a regular compere at London's Comedy Store throughout the 1980s and won best Stand Up Comedian at the Charrington London Fringe Awa ...

) who arrives only to find it a classroom again.

Track listings

UK CD1 # "One Step Closer" # " Reach" (special

S Club 7 S Club 7 were a British pop group from London, created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller and consisting of members Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee, Paul Cattermole, Rachel Stevens and Tina Barrett. The gro ...

and S Club Juniors version) # "Together" # "One Step Closer" (CD-ROM) UK CD2 # "One Step Closer" # "One Step Closer" (karaoke version) # "S Club Juniors Girls Reveal Their Secrets to the S Club 7 Boys" UK cassette single # "One Step Closer" # "One Step Closer" (acapella version)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the ''

'' album booklet. Studios * Recorded at Rose & Foster Studios (London, England) * Mastered at Transfermation (London, England) Personnel *

– writing * Mike Percy – writing *

– writing * Paul Gendler – guitars * Nina Cockburn – violin *

– production, arrangement * Mike Rose – production, arrangement * Jewels & Stone – additional production and mix * Dean Murphy – recording * Ben Foster – additional arrangement and score * Richard Dowling – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

American Juniors version

"One Step Closer" was covered by American Juniors, recorded by the ten finalists on the '' American Juniors'' television program, not just the five who won. It was released by Jive Records on 12 August 2003. This version reached number two in Canada but did not chart in the US.

Track listing

# "One Step Closer" # "

Kids in America "Kids in America" is a song recorded by English pop singer Kim Wilde. It was released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the United States in spring 1982, later appearing on her Kim Wilde (album), self-titled de ...

" (pop mix) # "

" (rock mix)

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:One Step Closer (S Club Juniors Song) 19 Recordings singles 2002 debut singles 2003 singles American Juniors songs Polydor Records singles S Club 8 songs Songs written by Cathy Dennis Songs written by Tim Lever