"1, 2 Step" is a song by American singer Ciara featuring American rapper Missy Elliott. Written alongside producer Jazze Pha, it was released on November 1, 2004, as the second single of Ciara's debut studio album, Goodies. It peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several countries worldwide, including Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for seven weeks. The song is heavily inspired by 1980s electro music production. Throughout the song, Ciara gives a description of how the song's beat feels as she exhorts party-goers to dance to the music. "1, 2 Step" was ranked 59th on Billboards Top 100 Songs of the 2000s.
Background and composition
"1, 2 Step" is one of four songs Ciara and Jazze Pha originally recorded at Doppler Studios in Atlanta two years before the release of Goodies. It is explained that Ciara was inspired by Roscoe Blunt, leading to the creation of this song. "The two connected so well, that half of the album was made within eight days or so." Pha asked Missy Elliott to appear on the track and she accepted. Elliott recorded her rap verse at the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami. She did not meet Ciara until the song's music video was filmed.
"1, 2 Step" is an electro song, created on one of Jazze Pha's five Akai MPC3000s. Pha used laser pulses from E-mu Proteus in the 2000s that were used for old school hip hop songs and b-boy break dance tracks. "1, 2 Step" is inspired by Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock." Jazze Pha thought about how he could create a more melodic version and "shared some interesting ideas on what kind of music he would like to produce with her. Let's put it this way, it would be epic."
Critical reception
"1, 2 Step" received favorable reviews from music critics. Contact Music gave the song three out of five stars and called it "arse shaking floor filling R&B" and a "wicked melodic souful twist." Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic was published that the track is "good, if not great." Gerardo E. wrote it is "a feel good track," something that is not overproduced but works its magic." Kate Watkins of The Situation called it "a funky song in the style we have come to expect from Missy." Fazed stated that the song is about "joys of dancing around with family." Slant thought that "1, 2 Step" was a "fun dance track."
"1, 2 Step" was nominated for the 2006 Grammy Award for "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration," but lost to "Numb/Encore" by Jay-Z and Linkin Park. The song also received a nomination at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Music Awards for "Best Dance Cut." The song was nominated for "Viewer's Choice" at the 2005 BET Awards, but lost to Omarion's "O." The song won the award "Best Performed Songs in the ASCAP Repertory for the 2005 Survey Year," which included the title track from the album as well as third single, "Oh." The song won the award for "Choice Music R&B/Hip Hop Track" at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards and "Best Collaboration" and "Viewer's Choice" at the BET Awards in 2005.
Chart performance
"1, 2 Step" debuted at number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100. on October 30, 2004. On the January 8, 2005, issue of Billboard, the song climbed to number two on the chart and stayed there for seven weeks, becoming Ciara's second top-10 single.
:A1. "1, 2 Step" (main) – 3:22
:A2. "1, 2 Step" (instrumental) – 3:22
:B1. "1, 2 Step" (main) – 3:22
:B2. "1, 2 Step" (acappella) – 3:14
UK CD1
- "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
- "1, 2 Step" (instrumental) – 3:22
UK CD2
- "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
- "1, 2 Step" (Delinquent "Growing Pains" remix) – 4:55
- "1, 2 Step" (Phatbelly club remix) – 3:30
- "1, 2 Step" (Eazy remix) – 5:16
- "1, 2 Step" (video)
UK 12-inch single
:A1. "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
:A2. "1, 2 Step" (Phatbelly club remix) – 3:30
:B1. "1, 2 Step" (Delinquent "Growing Pains" remix) – 4:55
:B2. "1, 2 Step" (Eazy remix) – 5:16
European CD single
- "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
- "1, 2 Step" (Johnny Budz Mixshow edit) – 4:40
Australian CD single
- "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
- "1, 2 Step" (Johnny Budz Mixshow edit) – 4:40
- "1, 2 Step" (Ford's E-Hop club mix) – 5:28
- "Goodies" (Bimbo Jones full vocal) – 7:18
Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from the UK CD1 liner notes.
|1
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!scope="row"|Croatia (HRT)
| 7
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!scope="row"|Czech Republic (IFPI)
|35
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!scope="row"|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)
|3
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|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|UK Hip Hop/R&B
| 1
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
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{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2015)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
!scope="row"|US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)
|37
|}
Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2004)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)
|88
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2005)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)
|13
|-
!scope="row"|Australian Urban (ARIA)
|9
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!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
|73
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
|88
|-
!scope="row"|Brazil (Crowley)
|100
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)
|62
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Media Control GfK)
|64
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (RIANZ)
|17
|-
!scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100)
|8
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
|39
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)
|44
|-
!scope="row"|UK Urban (Music Week)
|3
|-
!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100
|5
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot Dance Airplay (Billboard)
|5
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
|15
|-
!scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)
|4
|-
!scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)
|7
|}
Decade-end charts
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2000–2009)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100
|59
|}
Certifications
Release history
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|
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!scope="row" rowspan="2"|United States
|November 1, 2004
|
|rowspan="2"|
|
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|December 6, 2004
|Contemporary hit radio
|
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!scope="row"|Australia
|February 28, 2005
|rowspan="2"|CD
|rowspan="3"|
|
|-
!scope="row"|Germany
|March 14, 2005
|
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!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|April 11, 2005
|
|
|}
See also
- List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2005 (U.S.)