Neon Blue

"Neon Blue"
A single cover with two men and three women in front of a blue background
Single by Steps
from the album Tears on the Dancefloor
Released 4 August 2017 (2017-08-04)
Format
Length 3:26
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • The Alias
  • Carl Ryden
Steps singles chronology
"Story of a Heart"
(2017)		 "Neon Blue"
(2017)

"Story of a Heart"
(2017)		 "Neon Blue"
(2017)

"Neon Blue" is a song recorded by British group Steps for their fifth studio album, Tears on the Dancefloor (2017). Written by Carl Ryden and Fiona Bevan, it was announced as the third single from the album on 20 July 2017, and subsequently released on 4 August. Musically, it begins with a down-tempo piano introduction and builds into an upbeat synth track, while lyrically it is about encouraging a downcast friend to come out and have some fun. Band member Ian "H" Watkins described "Neon Blue" as a gay anthem due to its message of coming out. It garnered a positive response from music critics, with a general consensus that it is a classic Steps song. Its composition also received comparisons to other recording artists, including Adele, Colplay, Kylie Minogue and Leona Lewis.

Background and composition

"Neon Blue" was co-written by Carl Ryden and Fiona Bevan and produced by Ryden with The Alias for Steps fifth studio album, Tears on the Dancefloor (2017).[1] It appears as the ninth song on the track listing, with a running time of three minutes, 26 seconds.[2] On 20 July 2017, the group announced the song as the third album from the album, and it was released in the form of two remixes – a radio mix and a club mix – produced by Adam Turner on 4 August.[3][4] "Neon Blue" begins with a soft piano introduction which unfolds in a upbeat "euphoric" chorus backed by a piano and synths.[5][6] Official Charts Company writer Justin Myers wrote that the song's introduction was reminiscent of the musical style of Coldplay, and also compared elements of it to "Collide" by Leona Lewis and Avicii.[7] Lyrically, the group sings about asking a downcast friend to join them on a night out and have some fun, which can be heard in the line "Come out, come out and dance with me/ If you're down it's a remedy."[3] Band member Ian "H" Watkins considered the track to be a gay anthem owing to it's message of coming out.[3]

Critical reception

The song was met with a positive response from critics. Matt Bagwell of The Huffington Post awarded the song five out of five stars in his track-by-track review of Tears on the Dancefloor in April 2017; he wrote that the piano introduction is reminiscent of the musical style on English singer Adele's third studio album 25 (2015), but noted that it soon evolves into "classic Steps. Or Kylie." he concluded by endorsing its release as a potential single.[5] Shaun Kitchener of the Daily Express echoed Bagwell's notation of the down to up-tempo structure, and described the song as an "instant classic".[6] AXS contributor Lucas Villa praised the track, writing that the song "shines as a true Steps classic with feel good lyrics that could light up the darkest room."[3]

Formats and track listings

Digital download – Album[2]

  1. "Neon Blue" – 3:26

Digital download - Adam Turner Remixes[4]

  1. "Neon Blue" (Adam Turner Radio Edit) – 4:05
  2. "Neon Blue" (Adam Turner Club Mix) – 6:21

Digital download - 7th Heaven Remixes[8]

  1. "Neon Blue" (7th Heaven Radio Edit) – 3:39
  2. "Neon Blue" (7th Heaven Club Mix) – 6:44

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tears on the Dancefloor.[1]

Release history

Country Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 21 April 2017
(as part of the Tears on the Dancefloor album)		 Original
  • Steps Music LLP
  • Fascination
  • Absolute
 [2]
4 August 2017
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Adam Turner Remixes [4]
11 August 2017
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 7th Heaven Remixes [8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Tears on the Dancefloor (Liner notes). Steps. Steps Music LLP. 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Tears on the Dancefloor". iTunes Store. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Villa, Lucas (24 July 2017). "Steps selects 'Neon Blue' as next 'Tears on the Dancefloor'". AXS. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Neon Blue (Adam Turner Remixes) - Single". iTunes Store. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  5. 1 2 Bagwell, Matt (20 April 2017). "Steps 'Tears On the Dancefloor' Review: Our Track-By-Track Verdict". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 Kitchener, Shaun (21 April 2017). "Steps: Tears on the Dancefloor Review - Pop legends cement comeback with glorious album". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  7. ↑ Myers, Justin (18 April 2017). "New Steps album – we've heard it in full, and this is what it sounds like". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Neon Blue (7th Heaven Remixes) - Single". iTunes Store. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
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