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Steps NEWS
The Deeper Shade of Blue Steptoons are FINALLY here - click here! Thanks to Chris from Steps-US.com
Okay - because DSOB is not going to be released in Australia - this is a special Deeper Shade of Blue Section for all you Aussie fans who are going to miss out on all the Blue! :) Below is the Behind The Scenes of the making of Deeper Shade of Blue. The Lyrics. The Interviews and the Fun Stuff. Thanks to Jack from stepsofficial.com
BEHIND THE SCENES
The one thing you could never comprehend by watching the five members of STEPS in their super sleek space environment on the video is quite how many people are needed to turn your regular everyday member of STEPS into a scary yet futuristic and seductive creature from another time or place.
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There's the make-up artists, choreographers, photographers, directors, the sound department, set designers, the list could go on for ever and ever with a number of people working within each of these groups, there is even someone whose job is specifically to reload the camera film whenever it runs out! Of course with so many people standing around and working very hard all day from the early hours of the morning, people are going to get hungry. So yes, you guessed it, there is even a canteen with it's own work force adding to the number of people squeezed into the one studio. And it's in the canteen where the first appearance by a member of STEPS took place, closely followed by an alter ego rushing passed at high speeds!
Everyone was happily tucking into a plate of pasta, potatoes and carrots (which was surprisingly nice for canteen food. Only the best for STEPS!). Busy people that worked on all different areas of the shoot were grabbing a quick meal before getting back to work. Then in walked the first person wearing a baseball cap. It was a hungry Claire, who after checking out what was available on the menu started chatting to people she knew and was introduced to everyone. It was a memorable but brief hello as she had to go and have something to eat before getting into costume. Claire had been there since 7am that morning, video shoots can be long, tiring days as they will almost always over run well into the late evening, and occasionally into the next day.
Moments later someone rushed past the canteen door with glittery blue hair that looked simply amazing already. Poking her head back round the door to wave and say hi to people in the canteen was the blue haired beauty (hair currently retracted) Faye half in costume and rushing off to have her make-up finished off.
Later, while walking around it was hard not to notice the two dumb-bells now almost as famous as their owner resting on the floor. And yes, at that moment from behind us that familiar voice could be heard and Lee came in to do a quick workout before going to have his section filmed. Not that you'd have recognised him with his radically different spiky blue hair cut and shiny blue trousers. But only one person has a six pack like that! But no sooner had he started pumping iron had he been called away to start doing the wind tunnel scene. Not even a second to take a quick photo for the site, tisk tisk! It was at this moment you start to realise just how hectic a video shoot schedule can be, so he's let off the hook.
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While wondering how on earth Lee managed to even move the huge weights lying on the floor, I was introduced to Peter Berry. Pete is STEPS' press officer and deals with all the articles and photos that you see in magazines as well as the photos that later became part of the cover art to the single's CD case. The photographer, Dave Willis, would be taking photos of the various members of the band in their costumes throughout the day. Believe it or not to get to that one photo you see on the cover of all singles or albums over two hundred frames will need to be taken in total. As Pete explained, with all of the band's singles since "One For Sorrow" which was filmed in Italy, "Deeper Shade Of Blue" will use a picture taken on the set during the video shoot. Or in this case, as each member was in costume five pictures taken at a different times. Five individual photos pieced together to get the final artwork. This means all singles are instantly recognisable as the band are in the same costume and surrounding as the video that you see on TV.
It was now time to go down stairs and find out what was happening on set! Watching every move the band made was Paul Domaine. He is STEPS' choreographer and works with the band to come up with all the fantastic dance routines that you see performed in the videos, on TV and during live performances. Paul works with a large number of big name bands in the music industry such as Five, Billie and tour mate Lolly. So he knows what he's doing, and it certainly shows! The dance routine for "Deeper Shade Of Blue" looks fantastic on and off camera. Capturing the mood of the song and futuristic, robotic feel of the video. I spoke to Paul to find out a little more about the oh so good dance...
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Paul, the dance looks great, how did you come up with it?
I listened to the music, the lyrics, just to get a feel for the song. I start with getting a hook for the chorus. I try to create that copy-cat routine, as that's what STEPS are famed for, and I think, well I hope it manages to do that. I then work my way back through the routine to get the verses and so on. The idea for the video is reflected in the dance routine. Also while on tour "Deeper Shade Of Blue" was the opening to the space/moon section, so this influenced the style too.
I noticed that you had to alter the routine on set as there were a few difficulties with it...
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Yeah, if something doesn't work we just adapt the dance on set, working with the band.
How long did it take the band to learn the entire routine?
For this routine it took only half a day to learn the dance. Which isn't ideal but due to STEPS' hectic schedule, as they were filming for a TV show (STEPS To The Stars) at the same time, that's all the time we had to work with. So you make do with what time you've got.
How different is this routine to any you've done before?
It's definitely got more of an edge to it. There are two sides to the dance as there are two alter egos for the band, which was interesting. It's a lot dancier, but it still keeps those copycat elements.
Would you say it's a more serious routine?
I wouldn't say serious, it is a bit, it's a bit more edgey than others. It's got a bit more attitude.
Moving around the set, making sure everything is running as smoothly as it should be were the producers of the video Harvey and Carolyn. They were the guys who came up with the initial concept for the whole look and style of the video. Yep, these guys came up with the idea for the strange alter-egos! The two producers were constantly hard at work coming up with the right camera angles, organising the set and fixing any mishaps that might occur during the shoot which took place on a Tuesday and Wednesday in January at a top secret location in London.
Talking to Carolyn she informed me of how the video would be coming together and where each member's part of the video would come into play during the song. First up we would see all five members in their slick military uniforms forming shapes with their arms, which you can see at the start of the video. The order stays pretty much the same as the initial concept. Then would come H, because he sings the majority of the first verse he would be the first to transform into his alter-ego. After his verse the whole band join in for the chorus, so this would be a perfect moment for Faye's part to come in. As Carolyn said, while all this is going on they will be transforming from their usual looks to the more wild, gothic styles in time to the music. As soon as Claire's vocals start the video cuts to her, and then comes Lee when the next chorus starts. The band members will keep changing from their alter-egos to their military outfits and back all the way through the video, with Lisa coming last during the final chorus.
The area around the cameras was packed solid with people and equipment, and throughout the rest of the day various members of the band took their turn doing their bit of filming. We will be taking you through each member's filming session in the near future. So keep checking back at the Interviews section as new areas will become unlocked for you to read.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews - "Deeper Shade Of Blue" has the most fascinating and jaw dropping video yet released by the band.
In this section you can find out all of the secrets and information from the filming of each of the band member's scenes in the video for "Deeper Shade Of Blue". STEPSofficial.com joined all five members of STEPS on their two day video shoot. Each page will become accessible on the day stated next to each name, so be sure to check back every week so that you aren't left in the dark. Click one of the pages below :
FUN STUFF
Making their debut here on STEPSofficial.com are the wacky and wild STEPtoons all the way from the USA! Click the picture on the right to launch the video.
Check out this stunning piece of Stepping animation. With the first showing of the feature length Steptoon for "Deeper Shade Of Blue" starring none other than our very own H, Lee, Claire, Lisa and Faye. STEPtoons appear courtesy of the Jive website - STEPS-US. Check it out for even more adventures with the STEPtoons!
| Screensaver - PC Version | Screensaver - Mac Version |
Why not install a Steptoon "Deeper Shade Of Blue" screensaver onto your computer? It's really cool, and easy to install. Just click either 'PC Version' or 'Mac Version' depending on what type of computer you have. Then choose where you want to download it to on your computer (remember where you saved it). Now go to where you saved the file and double click it. It will say it's installed and hey presto! Now whenever you're away from your computer STEPS will keep it safe for you.
Dance Steps - Master the "Deeper Shade Of Blue" dance routine using the animated dance steps. Read the instructions, select an individual picture to get the hang of each move and then dance along to the song!
Song Lyrics - Want to sing along to STEPS' latest single? Just click here!
Desktop Themes - see the instructions below on how to save a Deeper Shade Of Blue theme onto your computer.
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Windows 95/98/NT to install a Deeper Shade Of Blue theme click the resolution above that would fit your monitor best. Once the image has finished loading right click on the picture and then click 'Set As Wallpaper".
Macintosh OS/iMAC to install a Deeper Shade Of Blue theme click the resolution above that would fit your monitor best. Once the image has loaded click and hold your mouse over the picture and save it to your 'hard disk'. Go to your 'Desktop Pictures' or 'Appearance' control panel, select the image you just saved and set it as your wallpaper.
Okay - here's the deal with the release of "Deeper Shade of Blue" - the REAL reason for it's NOT being released in OZ is because the album "Steptacular" was not big enough to covert he costs of a new single - which means.... VERY BAD NEWS!!! Aussie fans will never see the release of "Deeper Shade of Blue" & Steps's next single - "When I Said G'bye" which is being re-recorded and the film clip shot as you read this.
Aussie fans - The 1999 Smash Hits Poll Winner Party was on Channel 10 - Steps won NO awards - but were voted for quite a few. "H" won Funniest Person in Pop! **personal opinion
TRACK 1) Deeper Shade Of Blue - Radio Edit
TRACK 2) Deeper Shade Of Blue - W.I.P. Mix
TRACK 3) Deeper Shade Of Blue - Sleaze Sisters Anthem Mix
TRACK 4) Deeper Shade Of Blue (VIDEO) COMING SOON!
Steps - The Australian Connection REVIEW: Deeper Shade of Blue is one of my top #3 tracks on the 2nd album and I am glad they released it as a single. The mixes on this single are great - the Sleaze Sisters mix being the better. As for the video clip, well, what can I say? STRANGE!!!! They are in space, or so it seems. Unlike every others Steps film clip, this one does NOT have a storyline to it... Dunno why. They are in some kinda of white room, in blue space cadet type costumes (see pics above) - then, all of a sudden, they change into these sexy and gothic type costumes. Definately not the best Steps clip to date, but the most eye catching! :) Dance moves??? Hmmmm, hard - impossible! Move over Better Best Forgotten!
