Heartbeat/Tragedy

"Heartbeat / Tragedy"
Single by Steps
from the album Step One and Steptacular
B-side "Stay With Me"
Released 6 November 1998
Format
Recorded 1998
Genre Pop
Length
  • 4:24 ("Heartbeat")
  • 4:31 ("Tragedy")
Label Jive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Steps singles chronology
"One for Sorrow"
(1998)		 "Heartbeat / Tragedy"
(1998)		 "Better Best Forgotten"
(1999)

"One for Sorrow"
(1998)		 "Heartbeat / Tragedy"
(1998)		 "Better Best Forgotten"
(1999)
Music video
"Tragedy" on YouTube

"Heartbeat / Tragedy" is the fourth single released by British pop group Steps. "Heartbeat", written by Jackie James, was the first ballad released as a single by the group. The single is also known as one of their Christmas songs as it was released near Christmas. Whilst promoting the 2012 Hit Factory Live event, Pete Waterman revealed that the song had sat in a drawer for years before he gave it to the band to record. "Tragedy" reached number 1 in the UK and New Zealand.

The video for "Tragedy", originally a hit by the Bee Gees, contained the dance step of putting both hands parallel to the sides of the head in time with the word 'Tragedy', which became a trademark of the group. The single hit the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart after eight weeks on that chart. "Heartbeat / Tragedy" spent a total of 30 weeks in the chart, and sold more copies than all three previous Steps singles combined, with 1.21 million copies sold in the UK.[1] Heartbeat features Claire and Faye singing the first two verses. Lisa performs the middle eight, followed by Claire. The rest of the group join in for the choruses. Tragedy features again Faye and Claire singing the verses, with the rest of Steps joining in for the choruses.

Music videos

The music video for "Heartbeat" is set in snowy surroundings. It begins with Steps riding a sleigh while an evil Ice Queen has her sights set on Ian "H" Watkins; she is watching an image of on the tiny pond in her throne room. The group are staying in a lodge, and H goes out back to fetch some wood for the fire. The Ice Queen decides that this is the time to strike, and she sends her three dwarf guards to kidnap H. They jump H, and the Ice Queen casts a spell, knocking him out. By the time H wakes up, he is in the back of their sleigh. The rest of the group come out and find H is missing, finding only a little sword carried by one of the guards. On skis and snowmobiles, they set off to rescue H. Along the way to the Ice Queen's castle, they stop at a barn, finding absolutely nothing. Arriving at the castle, they break into the throne room where H is tied up in the middle of the frozen pond. Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans and Claire Richards easily take care of the guards (while H is able to free himself), and Lisa Scott-Lee defeats the Ice Queen with a karate kick to the chin. The group then return to the lodge for a Christmas party.

The video for "Tragedy" sees Faye, Claire, and Lisa getting married, but the lads, Lee and H, sabotage all three weddings before they all go to a disco. The church and disco scenes were filmed in All Saints' Church, Harrow Weald, London and the adjoining Blackwell Hall. The external location shots of the boys leaving their house and driving were filmed in Blackheath, South London. The group's actual families all took part in the video, with the girls' fathers walking them down the aisle, and record producer Pete Waterman appears as the wedding DJ.

Track listings

UK version

  1. "Heartbeat" - 4:24
  2. "Tragedy" - 4:31
  3. "Heartbeat" [Instrumental] - 4:24

US version

  1. "Tragedy"
  2. "Stay With Me"

(Includes fold out poster with the dance steps to "Tragedy")

Cassette

  1. "Heartbeat" - 4:24
  2. "Tragedy" - 4:31

Remixes

  • Tragedy (WIP Reception Mix)
  • Tragedy (WIP Mix)
  • Heartbeat (Simon Hill Mix)

Credits and personnel

Charts and certifications

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Copsey, Rob (14 March 2017). "Steps' biggest selling singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Step One (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0519112.
  3. ↑ "Steptacular" (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1999. 0518492.
  4. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  6. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  7. ↑ "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Heartbeat / Tragedy". Irish Singles Chart.
  10. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  11. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. ↑ "Charts.nz – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy". Top 40 Singles.
  13. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  14. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy". Singles Top 100.
  15. ↑ "{{{artist}}}: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  16. ↑ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1999". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 22 January 2000. p. 27.
  20. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  21. ↑ "RIANZ Top 50 Singles > 18 April 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  22. ↑ "British single certifications – Steps". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Steps in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  23. ↑ "American single certifications – Steps". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  24. ↑ UK Pop Acts Have To Speak New Language. Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
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