"Step by Step"
Single cover
Single by New Kids on the Block
from the album Step by Step
B-side"Valentine Girl"
ReleasedMay 10, 1990[1]
Recorded1989
GenreDance-pop, disco
Length4:29
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Maurice Starr
Producer(s)Maurice Starr
New Kids on the Block singles chronology
"This One's for the Children"
(1989) 		"Step by Step"
(1990) 		"Valentine Girl"
(1990)

"Step by Step" is a song by American boyband New Kids on the Block, released on May 10, 1990 as the first single from the album of the same name (1990). It is the group's biggest-selling hit single. The lead vocals were sung by Jordan Knight. Danny Wood sang "Step 1", Donnie Wahlberg sang "Step 2", Jordan Knight sang "Step 3", Joey McIntyre sang "Step 4", and Jonathan Knight sang "Step 5".

"Step by Step" was initially recorded by one of Maurice Starr's other groups, The Superiors. It was released as a single in 1987 on Motown Records but it was not successful. The New Kids cover of the song on the other hand was a huge worldwide hit, becoming one of the biggest selling singles of 1990. The New Kids on the Block's cover spent three weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was eventually certified platinum; it also spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart, in total "Step by Step" spent five weeks at No. 1 in the North American charts. It also peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and was also a top 10 hit in the Australian, French, West German, Irish and Norwegian charts.

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Unstoppable teen idols preview upcoming album of the same name with a perky pop/dance confection rife with disco-era string fills. The phenomenon continues."[2] Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly praised "Step by Step" as "a wonderfully ingratiating morsel of pop. It’s nourished by a chugging beat and (for dessert, so to speak) offers perky disco strings and a brief flash of silver falsetto from New Kid Jordan Knight."[3] Ben Thompson from NME commented, "The New Kids can be forgiven a certain caution as to where they are putting their feet, given their recent run-in with a malevolent cuddly toy. Excepting some nice Saturday Night Fever fake strings, all potential points of interest have been relentlessly expunged from this record."[4] In their review of the album, People Magazine found that the music "is in fact better in spots than on their previous effort", noting that the song is "funkier".[5] Rolling Stone described it as "a peppy reintroduction to the group that breaks up its generalized pledges of devotion with quick spots from each member, one-liners coyly called "ad libs" on the lyric sheet, although they're faithfully printed. (Nothing but nothing on this record happens by chance.)"[6]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Step by Step" was directed by American director Larry Jordan.[7] Donnie Wahlberg's brother Mark Wahlberg also appears in the video.

Impact and legacy

"Step by Step" was voted #4 in a Smash Hits poll of "Best Boyband songs...Ever" and also made the list of the top 30 Guilty Pleasures on About.com's music site.[8]

The song was voted #7 in a viewer poll of the greatest boy band/girl band songs on New Zealand show UChoose40.[9] It was also voted #1 in a viewer poll of the greatest Guilty Pleasures on the same show.

In August 2007, it was confirmed that "Step by Step" would be part of a 30-song track list in the new edition of the SingStar series titled SingStar 90s, a karaoke style game on classic '90s songs.[10]

Furthermore, it was chosen as part of a 32-track dance game in November 2009 for the Wii, called Just Dance.

In January 2015, Heat magazine's TV Channel placed it at #17 in their "Greatest Boyband Anthems" countdown.

Track listings

  1. "Step by Step" - 4:27
  2. "Valentine Girl" - 3:57
  1. "Step by Step" - 4:27
  2. "Valentine Girl" - 3:57
  1. "Step by Step" (Radio Edit) - 3:59
  2. "Step by Step" (LP Version) - 4:27
  3. "Step by Step" (12" Club Remix) - 5:25

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[41] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[42] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[43] Silver 200,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[44] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[46] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Coleman, Bill (May 19, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Sandow, Greg (June 22, 1990). "Step By Step". Entertainment Weekly.
  4. ^ Thompson, Ben (June 9, 1990). "Singles". NME. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Step by Step". People. July 16, 1990. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "The kids are just alright. Rolling Stone. August 9, 1990. Issue 584.
  7. ^ "New Kids on the Block: Step by Step". IMDb. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "Guilty Pleasures: A Month of Pop Music Guilty Pleasures". Archived from the original on 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  9. ^ "Home - TV - FOUR". C4tv.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  10. ^ "SingStar '90s - Solus (PS2) : Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  11. ^ Step By Step (US 7-inch Single liner notes). New Kids on the Block. Columbia. 1990. 38-73343.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Step By Step (Canadian 7-inch Single liner notes). New Kids on the Block. Columbia. 1990. 38-73343.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "New Kids On The Block - Step By Step". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  14. ^ "New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  16. ^ "New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1276." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7955." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. June 30, 1990. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 23, 1990. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  20. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  21. ^ "Top 3 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. August 11, 1990. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  22. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Step by Step". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – New Kids on the Block" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  24. ^ "New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  25. ^ "New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  26. ^ "New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". VG-lista. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  27. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  28. ^ "New Kids on the Block – Step by Step". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  29. ^ ""Step by Step" on Swedish Charts". Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  31. ^ "New Kids on the Block Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  32. ^ "New Kids on the Block Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – New Kids on the Block – Step by Step" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  34. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  35. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  37. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 60. OCLC 29800226. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2020 – via American Radio History.
  38. ^ "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  39. ^ "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-14.
  40. ^ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  41. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  42. ^ "Canadian single certifications – New Kids On The Block – Step by Step". Music Canada. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  43. ^ "French single certifications – New Kids On The Block – Step by Step" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  44. ^ "Japanese single certifications – ニュー・キッズ・オン・ザ・ブロック – Step by Step" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 13 March 2016. Select 1992年4月 on the drop-down menu
  45. ^ "British single certifications – New Kids On The Block – Step by Step". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 March 2016.Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Step by Step in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  46. ^ "American single certifications – New Kids On The Block – Step by Step". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 13 March 2016.

External links

New Kids on the Block
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