Better Best Forgotten

"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. The song became the group's fourth top-10 hit in the UK, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and it also reached the top 20 in Ireland and the Flanders region of Belgium.

"Better Best Forgotten"
CD2 cover
Single by Steps
from the album Step One
B-side"Why?"
Released8 March 1999 (1999-03-08)[1]
Recorded1998
StudioPWL (Manchester, England)
GenrePop
Length3:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Steps singles chronology
"Heartbeat" / "Tragedy"
(1998)		 "Better Best Forgotten"
(1999)		 "Thank ABBA for the Music"
(1999)
Music video
"Better Best Forgotten" on YouTube

A stripped back ballad version of the track was performed during the 2012 Christmas with Steps 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-on-speed" vision, that Pete Waterman strove to achieve with the group. They added that Faye, Lisa and Claire "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."[2] Scottish newspaper Daily Record noted that the group "continue to shine in the charts with their latest Abba-esque hit", "Better Best Forgotten".[3] They also wrote that this "catchy tune" is "sure to fill the dance floors."[4] Sarah Davis from Dotmusic stated that "this predictably Abba-sounding track builds energetically to reach its adrenaline-filled peak in a hook-laden, singalong chorus. The group really cannot put a foot wrong at present".[5] 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".[6] Mark Beaumont from NME said it is "great".[7] Sunday Mirror commented, "A poppy enough tune from the smiley five piece but they need some new material. And fast."[8]

Chart performance

"Better Best Forgotten" entered the UK Singles Chart at number two in March 1999, beaten to number one by Boyzone'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 while reaching number eight in Ireland. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Belgium and peaked at number 11 on the Eurochart Hot 100.

Music video

A music video 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 Faye.

Track listings
UK CD1[9]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Better Best Forgotten" (radio edit)
3:42
2."Why?"
  • Mark Topham
  • Karl Twigg
4:08
3."Better Best Forgotten" (W.I.P. '99 Cream of Manchester Mix)
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
6:16
UK CD2[10]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Better Best Forgotten" (radio edit)
3:42
2."Better Best Forgotten" (Nip on the Dance Floor W.I.P. Mix)
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
5:20
3."Better Best Forgotten" (instrumental)
  • Frampton
  • Waterman
3:42
4."Better Best Forgotten" (video)  
UK cassette single[11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Better Best Forgotten" (radio edit)
3:42
2."Why?"
  • Mark Topham
  • Karl Twigg
4:08

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Gold 400,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "New Releases – For Week Starting 8 March, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 March 1999. p. 25. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  2. "Steps – Better Best Forgotten". Can't Stop the Pop. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  3. "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 26 March 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  4. "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 19 March 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. Davis, Sarah (23 February 1999). "STEPS BETTER BEST FORGOTTEN (EBUL/JIVE)". Dotmusic. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. James, Gary (11 September 2018). "Step's Step One: looking back at their debut album 20 years on". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  7. Beaumont, Mark. "Steps – London Croydon Fairfield Hall". NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  8. Sunday Mirror. 7 March 1999. p. 54. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  9. Better Best Forgotten (UK CD1 liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519212.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Better Best Forgotten (UK CD2 liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519242.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Better Best Forgotten (UK cassette single sleeve). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1999. 0519214.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Step One (European CD album liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, Ebul Records. 1998. 0519112.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Steps – Better Best Forgotten" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 13. 27 March 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Better Best Forgotten". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  16. "Tipparade-lijst van week 18, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  17. "Steps – Better Best Forgotten" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  20. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  21. "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. 22 January 2000. p. 27.
  22. "British single certifications – Steps – Better Best Forgotten". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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