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Love's Got a Hold on My Heart

{{Short description|1999 single by Steps}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2011}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Love's Got a Hold on My Heart

| cover = Stepsloves.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Steps

| album = Steptacular

| B-side = To Be Your Hero

| released = {{start date|1999|7|12|df=y}}

| recorded = 1999

| studio = PWL (Manchester, England)

| genre = Pop

| length = 3:19

| label =

| writer =

| producer =

| prev_title = Thank ABBA for the Music

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = After the Love Has Gone

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|iLhm3EMSUw8|"Love's Got a Hold on My Heart"}}}}

}}

"Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" is a song by British pop music group Steps. It was released as the lead single from the band's second album, Steptacular (1999). The song features Faye Tozer and Claire Richards on lead vocals. The single peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and became a top-20 hit in Finland, Flanders, Ireland, and New Zealand.

Critical reception

Can't Stop the Pop stated that "the one thing that immediately jumps out with this single – from that first keyboard whizz in the intro – is how summery it sounds. The track is not without a trademark hint of melodrama, but on the whole, it’s a much lighter production which exudes sunshine and warmth." They added that the chorus is "deceptively – and enduringly – catchy."{{cite web|url=https://www.cantstopthepop.com/2020/07/06/steps-loves-got-a-hold-on-my-heart/|title=Steps – Love's Got A Hold on My Heart|work=Can't Stop the Pop|date=6 July 2020|access-date=28 July 2020}} Scottish newspaper Daily Record said it is "their best tune yet. A Europop sound, ABBA-tinged melody and they even supply the dance moves on the CD box"."Chartslot". Daily Record. 23 July 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020. They also wrote, "This song sounds like the band looks - cheesy. The tune pops along using all the right ingredients to make sure you're tapping your feet.""Chartslot". Daily Record. 30 July 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020.

Chart performance

The single missed out at number one on the UK Singles Chart, losing out to Latin pop singer Ricky Martin, who spent a second week at the top with "Livin' La Vida Loca". Spending 12 weeks on the British charts, this single is the group's only single to fall off the charts for two consecutive weeks and then re-enter. The song did reach number one on the Scottish Singles Chart, conversely preventing "Livin' la Vida Loca" from reaching the top spot. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" also peaked at number nine in Finland and Ireland, number 14 in the Flanders region of Belgium, number 18 in New Zealand, and number 29 in Australia.

Music video

The music video for the song, shot in Cannes in the South of France, was directed by Dani Jacobs. The main plot sees the group chase a man who has stolen the film reel for the fictitious "Steps: The Movie", interspersed with clips of the band performing the dance routine on a jetty dressed in yellow outfits.

Track listings

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UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|others=Steps|year=1999|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Ebul Records|id=0519372}}

  1. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" – 3:19
  2. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" (W.I.P. Off the Wall mix) – 6:12
  3. "To Be Your Hero" – 3:49

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|others=Steps|year=1999|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Ebul Records|id=0519392}}

  1. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" – 3:19
  2. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" (instrumental) – 3:20
  3. "Last Thing on My Mind" (Wip't Up in the Disco mix instrumental) – 5:41

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UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|others=Steps|year=1999|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Jive Records, Ebul Records|id=0519374}}

  1. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" – 3:19
  2. "To Be Your Hero" – 3:49

Australian, New Zealand, and Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|others=Steps|year=1999|type=Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Ebul Records|id=0519422}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|others=Steps|year=1999|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Avex Trax|id=AVCZ-95123}}

  1. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" – 3:19
  2. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" (WIP Off the Wall mix) – 6:12
  3. "To Be Your Hero" – 3:49
  4. "Last Thing on My Mind" (WIP't UP the Disco mix instrumental) – 5:41
  5. "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" (instrumental) – 3:20

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Credits and personnel

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{{col-2}}

=A-side: "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart"=

Credits adapted are from the liner notes of Steptacular.{{cite AV media notes|title=Steptacular|title-link=Steptacular|others=Steps|year=1999|type=European CD album liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Ebul Records|id=0519442}}

Recording

  • Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester in 1999
  • Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester
  • Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London

Vocals

  • Lead vocals – Claire Richards, Faye Tozer
  • Background vocals – Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian "H" Watkins

Personnel

  • Songwriting – Andrew Frampton, Pete Waterman
  • Production – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman
  • Mixing – Dan Frampton
  • Engineer – Dan Frampton
  • Drums – Pete Waterman
  • Keyboards – Andrew Frampton
  • Guitar – Dan Frampton
  • Bass – Andrew Frampton

{{col-2}}

=B-side: "To Be Your Hero"=

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart".

Recording

  • Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester in 1999
  • Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester
  • Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London

Vocals

  • Lead vocals – Ian "H" Watkins
  • Background vocals – Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans

Personnel

  • Songwriting – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman
  • Production – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman
  • Mixing – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman

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Charts

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=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1999)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|29|artist=Steps|song=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018|refname="charts"}}
{{single chart|Flanders|14|artist=Steps|song=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-07-31.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=16|issue=31|page=8|date=|access-date=26 June 2018}}

|12

{{single chart|Finland|9|artist=Steps|song=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|9|song=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018|refname="ire"}}
scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/steps/steps-love-s-got-a-hold-on-my-heart-16273|title=Steps – Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=27 June 2018}}

|9

{{single chart|Dutch100|58|artist=Steps|song=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|18|artist=Steps|song=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018}}
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=19990724|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018|refname="scot"}}
{{single chart|UK|2|date=19990724|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2018|refname="uk"}}
{{single chart|UKindie|1|date=19990724|rowheader=true|access-date=10 November 2018}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1999)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=22 January 2000}}

|62

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Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry |region=United Kingdom|artist=Steps|title=Love's Got a Hold on My Heart|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|id=4078-76-1|access-date=24 September 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|12 July 1999

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|{{hlist|Jive|Ebul}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-07-10.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 12 July, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=10 July 1999|access-date=22 July 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|22 September 1999

|CD

|{{hlist|Jive|Avex Trax}}

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/321405/products/45865/1/|title=ステップス {{!}} ホールド・オン・マイ・ハート|trans-title=Steps {{!}} Hold on My Heart|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=21 February 2025}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Steps songs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Love's Got A Hold On My Heart}}

Category:1999 singles

Category:1999 songs

Category:Avex Trax singles

Category:Jive Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:Pete Waterman Entertainment singles

Category:Songs written by Andrew Frampton (songwriter)

Category:Songs written by Pete Waterman

Category:Steps (group) songs

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles