Step It Up (song)

"Step It Up" is a 1992 single by British group Stereo MCs. It charted higher than the band's earlier single "Connected" and the next single "Ground Level". The single peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, number 13 on the New Zealand singles chart and appeared in the 1993 comedy film Wayne's World 2. It was also included on the 1996 compilation album The Beautiful Game.[1] In Australia, the song peaked at number 87.[2]

"Step It Up"
Single by Stereo MCs
from the album Connected
Released	23 November 1992
Recorded	1992
Genre	Acid jazz hip hop
Length	4:59 (Album Version)
Label	Gee Street and Island Records (US) 4th & Broadway (UK)
Songwriter(s)	Nick Hallam Rob Birch
Producer(s)	Stereo MC's
Stereo MCs singles chronology
"Connected" (1992) "Step It Up" (1992) "Ground Level" (1993)
Music video
"Step It Up" on YouTube

Critical reception

Billboard described the song as a "lively unity anthem".[3] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote that their "unique mix of musical influences place the Stereo MC's among the freshest sounds to come along this year. This uptempo entry contains the magic vibe that's brought them worldwide attention".[4]

Track listing

7" vinyl

• A Step It Up (Radio Edit)
• B Step It Up (Ultimatum Trumpet Mix)

12" vinyl UK Release

• A1 Step It Up (Extended Mix)
• A2 Step It Up (Ultimatum Trumpet Mix)
• A3 Step It Up (Ultimatum Remix)
• B1 Step It Up (Stereo Field Dub) Remix by Leftfield
• B2 Step It Up (Stereo Field Instrumental Dub) Remix by Leftfield

12" vinyl US Release

• A1 Step It Up (Ultimatum Remix)
• A2 Step It Up (Ultimatum Trumpet Mix)
• B1 Step It Up (Stereo Field Dub) Remix by Leftfield
• B2 Step It Up (Album Version)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992–1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 87 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 12 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 29 Canada (RPM)[8] 19 Canada Dance (RPM)[9] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 44 France (SNEP)[11] 50 Greece (Pop + Rock)[12] 5 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[13] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 13 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Canada Dance (RPM)[16] 25 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[17] 89

References

1. Stereo MC's. New Zealand Charts. Accessed 5 April 2012.
2. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
3. "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 9 January 1993. p. 60. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
4. Sholin, Dave. "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
5. "Australian-charts.com – Stereo MC's – Step It Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
6. "Austriancharts.at – Stereo MC's – Step It Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
7. "Ultratop.be – Stereo MC's – Step It Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
8. "RPM (Sep 11, 1993)". RPM. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
9. "RPM Dance (Sep 11, 1993)". RPM. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 January 1993. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
11. "Lescharts.com – Stereo MC's – Step It Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
12. "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
13. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (09.04.1993 - 15.04.1993)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
14. "Charts.nz – Stereo MC's – Step It Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
15. "Swedishcharts.com – Stereo MC's – Step It Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
16. "Canada Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
17. "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 1 June 2020.