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"One Step Closer"
Single by S Club Juniors
from the album Together
B-side	"Reach" "Together"
Released	22 April 2002 (2002-04-22)
Studio	Rose & Foster (London, England)
Length	3:08
Label	Polydor 19
Songwriter(s)	Cathy Dennis Mike Percy Tim Lever
Producer(s)	Nick Foster Mike Rose
S Club Juniors singles chronology
"One Step Closer" (2002) "Automatic High" (2002)
Frankie Sandford singles chronology
"One Step Closer" (2002) "Automatic High" (2002)

"One Step Closer" is the debut single of British pop group S Club Juniors, written by Cathy Dennis, Mike Percy, and Tim Lever. Produced by Nick Foster and Mike Rose, it was released as the first single from their first album, Together (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, 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 sings the first verse. Calvin Goldspink sings the first part of the first and the third bridges. Jay Asforis sings the second part of the first and the third bridges and the first part of the second bridge. Daisy Evans sings the second verse. Hannah Richings sings a backing vocal during the second verse. Stacey McClean sings the second part of the second bridge and backing vocals during the final chorus. Rochelle Wiseman 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

"One Step Closer" was released in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2002. During its first week on sale, it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, 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. In New Zealand, the single was released on 5 August 2002 but did not chart.

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) who arrives only to find it a classroom again.

Track listings

UK CD1

1. "One Step Closer"
2. "Reach" (special S Club 7 and S Club Juniors version)
3. "Together"
4. "One Step Closer" (CD-ROM)

UK CD2

1. "One Step Closer"
2. "One Step Closer" (karaoke version)
3. "S Club Juniors Girls Reveal Their Secrets to the S Club 7 Boys"

UK cassette single

1. "One Step Closer"
2. "One Step Closer" (acapella version)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Together album booklet.

Studios

• Recorded at Rose & Foster Studios (London, England)
• Mastered at Transfermation (London, England)

Personnel

• Cathy Dennis – writing
• Mike Percy – writing
• Tim Lever – writing
• Paul Gendler – guitars
• Nina Cockburn – violin
• Nick Foster – 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

Certifications

American Juniors version

"One Step Closer"
Single by American Juniors
from the album Kids in America
Released	12 August 2003 (2003-08-12)
Length	3:05
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Cathy Dennis Tim Lever Mike Percy

"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

1. "One Step Closer"
2. "Kids in America" (pop mix)
3. "Kids in America" (rock mix)

Charts

References

1. ^ Jones, Alan (4 May 2002). "Chart Commentary". Music Week. p. 15. Sugababes Freak Like Me hit eventually sold nearly 85,500 copies, about 1,000 more than their rivals' One Step Closer.
2. "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 April 2002" (PDF). Music Week. 20 April 2002. p. 35. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
3. "New Releases". netcd.co.nz. 5 August 2002. Archived from the original on 12 August 2002. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
4. One Step Closer (UK CD1 liner notes). S Club Juniors. Polydor Records, 19 Recordings. 2002. 5707322.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. One Step Closer (UK CD2 liner notes). S Club Juniors. Polydor Records, 19 Recordings. 2002. 5707332.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. One Step Closer (UK cassette single sleeve). S Club Juniors. Polydor Records, 19 Recordings. 2002. 5707324.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Together (UK CD album booklet). S Club Juniors. Polydor Records, 19 Recordings. 2002. 0652502.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 21. 18 May 2002. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – One Step Closer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 April 2002.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 April 2002.
12. "Top 100 Songs of 2002". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
13. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
14. "British single certifications – S Club Juniors – One Step Closer". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
15. "Jive Slates 'American Juniors' Single, Album". Billboard. 5 August 2003. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
16. "American Juniors Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2020.

• 2002 songs
• 2002 debut singles
• 2003 singles
• S Club 8 songs
• American Juniors songs
• 19 Recordings singles
• Polydor Records singles
• Songs written by Cathy Dennis
• Songs written by Tim Lever
• Songs written by Mike Percy (musician)