1, 2 Step

"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."[http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2015/11/revealed-season-1-episode-4-ciara-jazze-pha-interview REVEALED: CIARA & JAZZE PHA ON POSSIBLY WORKING TOGETHER AGAIN]. Retrieved December 1, 2015. Pha asked Missy Elliott to appear on the track and she accepted. Elliott recorded her rap verse at the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami.

"1, 2 Step" is a Crunk&B track, which is strongly influenced by 1980s electro music. The song was 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." "1, 2 Step" references her past song "Goodies" and "We Will Rock You" by Queen. Missy Elliott's verse was inspired by Teena Marie's song "Square Biz".{{cite web|author=Missy Elliott|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/missyelliott/status/20005337977323520|title=@LaniBeautifull Yes|website=Twitter|date=December 29, 2010|access-date=January 1, 2019}}

"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."[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/ciarax09x03x05 CIARA – FEATURING MISSY ELLIOTT – 1, 2 STEP – ZOMBA – single review]. Retrieved January 13, 2008. Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic was published that the track is "good, if not great."[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r706610|pure_url=yes}} (((Goodies > Overview)))]. Retrieved January 13, 2008. Gerardo E. wrote it is "a feel good track," something that is not overproduced but works its magic."{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050506100102/http://www.goldlyrics.com/review/ciara/goodies/287068_ciara_will_have_you_1_2_stepping_to_her_goodies/ *Ciara Will Have You 1,2 Stepping To Her Goodies*]}}. Retrieved January 13, 2008. Kate Watkins of The Situation called it "a funky song in the style we have come to expect from Missy."[http://www.thesituation.co.uk/reviews/ciara_review.htm Ciara – Goodies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207012128/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/reviews/ciara_review.htm |date=February 7, 2012 }}. Retrieved January 13, 2008. Fazed stated that the song is about "joys of dancing around with family."[http://www.fazed.com/music/ciara_goodies.html Fazed – style, culture & fashion] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823182300/http://fazed.com/music/ciara_goodies.html |date=August 23, 2013 }}. Retrieved January 13, 2008. Slant thought that "1, 2 Step" was a "fun dance track."[http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=507 Slant Magazine – Review: Ciara Goodies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029215647/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=507 |date=October 29, 2013 }}. Retrieved January 13, 2008.

"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.

"1, 2 Step" debuted at number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100. on October 30, 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2004-10-30/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=October 31, 2004|access-date=March 4, 2023}} 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. "1, 2 Step" reached number one on the Hot Dance Airplay and Top 40 Mainstream charts. It also peaked within the top five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic Airplay charts and within the top 30 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. "1, 2 Step" was ranked at number five for the year on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2005 and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over three million digital copies in the United States.

Internationally, "1, 2 Step" was successful, reaching the top 10 in several countries. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, "1, 2 Step" entered and peaked at number three on both the UK and Irish Singles Charts. In Ireland, the single stayed at three for three weeks. The song reached number two in Australia for one week and in New Zealand for two weeks. It was a top-30 hit in Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), France, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

The music video for "1, 2 Step" was directed by Benny Boom. It takes place in an Atlanta dance studio and on the streets. R&B boy band, B5, makes a short appearance in the video, along with Lloyd and Lil Scrappy. Ciara can be seen teaching others the song's title "one, two step" dance, which is similar to the traditional grapevine.

The video begins with Ciara putting her Goodies CD in a radio, setting it to the "1, 2 Step" track, and pressing the play button. As the song begins, you see Jazze Pha reciting the introduction, featuring Elliott, and then finally Ciara herself. We see Ciara and her dancers, dancing in the Atlanta dance studio, and certain shots of her teaching her female friend the "1, 2 Step". We then see a clip of Ciara meeting up with B5 and performing the "1, 2 Step". Later, Ciara is seen dancing alone on the streets. While dancing at the studio, she looks behind her, and sees Elliott in the mirror, says she is just looking things. Then Elliott begins to rap her verse and they continue dancing with each other in front of the mirror, until the songs ends. During this time, we also see shots of Ciara teaching a group of young girls the dance and also, she meets a boy who is standing in front of his house and kind of gives him a flirtatious look. We also see four skaters, three male, and one female skater, skating in the streets and a last shot of Ciara and her dancers.

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US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=1, 2 Step|year=2004|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=LaFace Records, Sho'nuff Records|id=82876 66687 1}}

: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{{cite AV media notes|title=1, 2 Step|year=2005|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Sho'nuff Records, Sony BMG|id=82876 688342}}

1. "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
2. "1, 2 Step" (instrumental) – 3:22

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=1, 2 Step|year=2005|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Sho'nuff Records, Sony BMG|id=82876 68819 2}}

1. "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
2. "1, 2 Step" (Delinquent "Growing Pains" remix) – 4:55
3. "1, 2 Step" (Phatbelly club remix) – 3:30
4. "1, 2 Step" (Eazy remix) – 5:16
5. "1, 2 Step" (video)

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UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=1, 2 Step|year=2005|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=LaFace Records, Sho'nuff Records, Sony BMG|id=82876 68819 2}}

: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{{cite AV media notes|title=1, 2 Step|year=2005|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Sho'nuff Records, Sony BMG|id=82876 66135 2}}

1. "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
2. "1, 2 Step" (Johnny Budz Mixshow edit) – 4:40

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=1, 2 Step|year=2005|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Sho'nuff Records, Sony BMG|id=82876 66135 2}}

1. "1, 2 Step" (album version) – 3:22
2. "1, 2 Step" (Johnny Budz Mixshow edit) – 4:40
3. "1, 2 Step" (Ford's E-Hop club mix) – 5:28
4. "Goodies" (Bimbo Jones full vocal) – 7:18

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Credits are taken from the UK CD1 liner notes.

Studios

• Recorded at Doppler Studios (Atlanta, Georgia) and Hit Factory Criteria (Miami)
• Mixed at Patchwerk Studios (Atlanta, Georgia)

Personnel

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• Ciara – writing (as Ciara Harris), vocals
• Jazze Pha – writing (as Phalon Alexander), production
• Missy Elliott – writing, featured vocals
• Pierre Medore – vocal production
• Sam Thomas – recording
• Carlos Bedoya – recording
• Leslie Brathwaite – mixing
• Kori Anders – mixing assistant

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|access-date=June 7, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|title=1,2 Step|artist=Ciara|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2006|access-date=June 7, 2019|digital=true}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Ciara feat. Missy Elliott|title=1, 2 Step|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|access-date=January 21, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Ciara feat. Missy Elliott|title=1, 2, Step|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2005|source=radioscope|access-date=January 15, 2025|certyear=2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Ciara ft Missy Elliott|title=1 2 Step|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2022|id=13598-4134-1|access-date=June 13, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Ciara feat. Missy Elliott|title=One, Two Step|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=June 7, 2024|refname="riaa"}}

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• List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2005 (U.S.)

{{Reflist}}

{{Ciara}}

{{Missy Elliott singles}}

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Category:2004 singles

Category:2004 songs

Category:American electronic dance music songs

Category:Ciara songs

Category:Crunk songs

Category:Electropop songs

Category:LaFace Records singles

Category:Missy Elliott songs

Category:Music videos directed by Benny Boom

Category:Song recordings produced by Jazze Pha

Category:Songs about dancing

Category:Songs about parties

Category:Songs written by Ciara

Category:Songs written by Missy Elliott

Category:Songs written by Jazze Pha

Category:Sony BMG singles