After winning The X Factor, Steve Brookstein was immediately signed to the Sony BMG record label through which he released his first single, a cover of "Against All Odds" on 20 December 2004. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 2 and then rose to the number 1 spot on 2 January 2005, and stayed there for one week. In Ireland, the song peaked at number 11. The music video for the song was a montage of clips from his time on The X Factor, from his initial audition to his final performance after being declared the winner.
Brookstein released his debut album Heart & Soul on 9 May 2005 through Sony BMG, five months after his first single reached number one. The album was an immediate success, also debuting on the UK charts at number one and going on to sell approximately 250,000 copies. Although Brookstein continued to perform tracks from his album on television shows, a second single failed to materialise. In August 2005 it was announced that Sony BMG had dropped him from their line-up only eight months after his X Factor victory and despite the success of his debut single and album. Brookstein maintains that the decision to 'drop' him reportedly came after he was offered a second album and to come back on the show, which he declined as it was to be another album of covers and he preferred a mix of old and new.
After being released from his contract by Sony BMG, Brookstein spent the next year writing his own material and forming his own record label. On 2 October 2006, he released his second single (and first from his upcoming album), Fighting Butterflies, independently. Although accompanied and promoted by a music video, the song failed to crack the UK Top 75. Undeterred, Brookstein released his second album, 40,000 Things, on 9 October 2006. However, the album also failed to chart.
From September to November 2006, Brookstein embarked on a nationwide tour of small venues in order to promote his new album. Many of the shows were sold out, but several had to be cancelled due to low ticket sales.
In June 2007, Brookstein appeared on the P&O Portsmouth to Bilbao ship for cruisers, alongside X Factor series 2 alumni Chico and Journey South In September 2007, Brookstein embarked on his Great American Soul Book tour, and in October he recorded and contributed the track "Head Over Heels" for Ian Levine's Disco 2008 album. In 2008, he played 'the father' in a touring production of the award-winning musical Our House.
In 2009 he was working on producing his wife Eileen Hunter's jazz album and performing at smaller venues. He also recorded a cover of Promised Land with the Boogie Pimps which was a best seller for the label, Liberty Records.
Since his 2004 X-Factor win and subsequent fall from grace, Steve has spent much of his time bitterly, publicly and vociferously criticising Simon Cowell, The "X-Factor" phenomenon and the media generally, via his website and twitter feed.
Against All Odds (Take A Look
Steve Brookstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking every breath
With you
You're the only one who really knew me at all
How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave 'Cause we shared the laughter and the pain
And even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all
So take a look at me now
There's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Now take a look at me now
There's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds
And that's what I've got to face
I wish I could just make you turn around
Turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you
So many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all
So take a look at me now
There's just an empty space
There's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Now take a look at me now
'Cause there's just an empty space
But to wait for you is all I can do And it's what I've got to face
Take a good look at me now
'Cause I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
It's a chance I've got to take
Take a look at me now
The lyrics of Steve Brookstein’s song “Against All Odds” depict the struggle of a person who is left behind by their loved one. The singer is questioning their loved one's decision to walk away from them, leaving an empty space and nothing but memories behind. They express how this person was the only one who truly knew them and all they shared, including their laughs and tears. They wish they could make them turn around and see their tears, hoping for a second chance.
The chorus of the song, “So take a look at me now, 'Cause there's just an empty space, And there's nothing left here to remind me, Just the memory of your face,” highlights the singer's pain and the emptiness they feel without the one they love. However, despite the odds, they are still standing with hope in their heart that the person they love will come back to them one day.
Overall, “Against All Odds” conveys the message of love and loss while depicting the emotional turmoil that one goes through after being left behind by a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I just let you walk away
I struggle to just let you go without a fight
Just let you leave without a trace
Letting you leave without any sense of closure or understanding is hard for me
When I stand here taking every breath
Every breath I take reminds me of your absence
With you
When we were together
You're the only one who really knew me at all
You are the only person who understood me completely
How can you just walk away from me
Leaving me behind is just unfathomable to me
When all I can do is watch you leave
I am left to just watch you walk away
'Cause we shared the laughter and the pain
We've shared both the good and the bad times
And even shared the tears
We've cried together
So take a look at me now
Take a moment to see how I am doing now
There's just an empty space
Where you used to be, there is now just emptiness
And there's nothing left here to remind me
There are no tangible reminders of you left
Just the memory of your face
The only thing I have left is the memory of your face
Now take a look at me now
See me now
And you coming back to me is against the odds
The likelihood of you returning to me is low
And that's what I've got to face
I have to come to terms with that
I wish I could just make you turn around
I wish I could make you reconsider leaving
Turn around and see me cry
See the pain that your departure has caused me
There's so much I need to say to you
There are many things I want to tell you
So many reasons why
So many things that make me think we should be together
But to wait for you is all I can do
Waiting for you is my only option
And it's what I've got to face
I have no choice but to deal with this situation
Take a good look at me now
Really see me now
'Cause I'll still be standing here
Despite everything, I'm still here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
The chance of you returning is unlikely
It's a chance I've got to take
But I'm willing to take that risk
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cloud625
Always remember Steve Brookstein as X Factor 2004!
@larryloveyougraz2354
I really like you and your voice. You should be given another chance in the music industry.
@EwelinaTargosz
it leaves me in awe
@juanenamorado6072
Beautiful, great voice. Better than all together X factors contestants.
@MarcosCorderoBALDO
....Another ..winner..that went nowhere....thats what all those talentr shows are about..
@heroknaderi
very nice
@Tobefree2011
amazing
@jonathandaly748
He's amazing he's a lovely person he's has a jazz's voice
oh gosh, I cannot believe there's a great male voice of this version.
@weirdo-gj5xz
wtf lmao u better be trolling