Ain't no party like an S Club party...

The year was 1999. Steps had firmly re-established dance-pop at the top of the charts thanks to hits like Tragedy and One For Sorrow. It was time for someone to capitalise on that success. And that someone was Simon Fuller who launched his multi-media group (ie, they had a tv show) S Club 7 onto the world. And they were quite good to be fair. Dance routines, catchy melodies, huge singalong choruses, a blend of cheese and more polished pop. Plus Paul was quite buff to start with (to be fair so was I at the time, metabolism is a cruel mistress). They even spawned a spin off group, S Club Juniors (who later became S Club 8 around the same time S Club 7 became S Club because Paul left) and had a movie. Marv. Here are 10 of the best S Club (of all varieties) songs around to celebrate the fact that they are possibly most likely going to reform for some concerts this summer. And have a tv show. Ah S Club. Always the Steps bridesmaid, never the bride...

• 10= ~ Sunshine: Ah a lovely Jon Lee solo ballad that indicated he would have a rather decent future as a solo popstar (he choose musical theatre instead and did quite well thank you). A gently chugging instrumental and sweet, charming lyrics give way to an unassuming but delightful chorus. Blissful...
• 10= ~ Never Had A Dream Come True: A massive smash for them (the b-side Perfect Christmas is equally dreamy) thanks to being linked to Children in Need & having a winter themed video and a huge inspirational chorus. Plus Same Difference did a lovely version on X Factor not so long back too...It was like passing the torch.
• 09 ~ You: Perkalicious pop at it's very best! In fact the literal definition of fizzypop, effervescing with energy and vim! Whatever vim is. Once heard, never forgotten and guaranteed to brighten up your day (see also Reach later on...)
• 08 ~ S Club Party: I love it when a band has their own theme song (see also Youngblood by Youngblood). The unfortunate side effect of this song was that encouraged drunk people to do a big massive "S" with their fingers as if they were writing with a sparkler in gay bars across the country. I nearly took out someone's eye. Plus i think i like this for the lyric "Paul's getting down on the floor". And I was...
• 07 ~ Hey Kitty Kitty: The highlight for me of the fourth album, the soundtrack-ish Seeing Double. Saw them getting a little bit naughty and a little bit raunchy and I liked that side of them. Shame it was never a single - I mean it was essentially about having no sexual morals whatsoever!! Cue 100s of parents explaining to their 10 year olds that it was about a naughty cat...
• 06 ~ One Step Closer: ah the first of two S Club 8 tracks. There is something just so exuberant, so exhilarating, so exciting about this track - it's just one of those unashamedly pop songs that celebrates what it is rather than trying to dress itself up as something else. So good that American Juniors somewhat less successfully tried to get in on the act...

• 05 ~ Have You Ever? My favourite of the S Club ballads (though again, Jon does a mean Can You Feel The Love Tonight and Bradley leads a sterling Lately) - I liked that it showed them somewhat more melancholy and downbeat than they normally are. Swooning chorus that is to die for...
• 04 ~ Sundown: Oh how the juniors quickly grew up. While this was no less poptastic than One Step Closer, it certainly represented a more polished, mature pop sound for the blossoming tykes and the whole album was a lovely progression...
• 03 ~ Bring It All Back: Talk about capturing sunshine in a bottle - their debut single was a spritely, rambunctious affair with enough energy to power the most enthusiastic of cheerleader teams. Entirely marvelous from start to finish :)
• 02 ~ Reach: Amazing. Love how S Club manage to make everyone's shit life so much better :D
• 01 ~ Don't Stop Movin': By far their most successful blend of their tweeny-pop roots and a wider audience reaching sound, this song quite rightly rocketed to number one with it's infectious disco infused chorus and fun dance routine filled video. It was their "better the devil you know" moment. There is also an amazing Billie Jean mash-up floating around out there. Brillz.

Other S Club related goodies:

• Rachel Stevens ~ I Said Never Again: Frankly there are lots of very good indeed Rachel Stevens solo tracks out there, but this ode to sneaking around with sly references to botty love (though probably not) is by far my fave.
• The Saturdays ~ Up: Two of the juniors went on to join Britain's 3rd premier girl group and the single mix of Up still remains their most glorious achievement.
• Jon Lee in Loveshack The Musical: Jon Lee teamed up with Noel from Hear'say and Faye Steps to tour the UK in a musical about a couple getting married (from memory!) His ballad Sometimes, Never, Always was quite serene.