Heartbeat/Tragedy

"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 double A-side reached number one in the United Kingdom 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.

"Heartbeat / Tragedy"
Single by Steps
from the album Step One and Steptacular
B-side"Stay with Me" ("Tragedy", US)
Released9 November 1998 (1998-11-09)[1]
Recorded1998
GenrePop
Length
  • 4:24 ("Heartbeat")
  • 4:31 ("Tragedy")
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Steps singles chronology
"One for Sorrow"
(1998)		 "Heartbeat / Tragedy"
(1998)		 "Better Best Forgotten"
(1999)
Music video
"Tragedy" on YouTube

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.[2] 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. While 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.

Critical reception

"Tragedy"

Aberdeen Evening Express stated that Steps "did such a sparkling remake" of the song, noting that it "gets [Steptacular] off to a discotastic start".[3] AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien described it as a "triumphant cover".[4] Lucas Villa from AXS wrote that Claire, Faye and Lisa's "powerful performances (coupled with that iconic hands dance step) made "Tragedy" an undeniable dance floor anthem."[5] Daily Record commented, "Once again, Steps have come up with a catchy tune and the reworking of Tragedy has clubbers mimicking the band's dance techniques."[6]

Music videos

The music videos for "Heartbeat" and "Tragedy" were directed by David Amphlett. "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 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" starts with a Doraemon-shaped alarm clock ringing and sees Faye, Claire, and Lisa getting married. 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, respectively. 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 CD single

  1. "Heartbeat" – 4:24
  2. "Tragedy" – 4:31
  3. "Heartbeat" (instrumental) – 4:24

US CD single

  1. "Tragedy"
  2. "Stay with Me"

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

Cassette single

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

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

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[27] Gold 25,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Platinum 10,000*
Sweden (GLF)[29] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] Platinum 1,210,000[2]
United States — 98,000[30]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Credits and personnel

See also

References
  1. "British single certifications – Steps". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  2. Copsey, Rob (14 March 2017). "Steps' biggest selling singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  3. Aberdeen Evening Express. 6 October 1999. p. 26. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  4. O'Brien, Jon. "The Ultimate Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. Villa, Lucas (19 June 2017). "Steps turns 20: Counting down the pop group's top 10 singles". AXS. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  6. "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 22 January 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  7. "Australian-charts.com – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 1–3. 16 January 1999. p. 7. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  11. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 9. 27 February 1999. p. 20. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Heartbeat / Tragedy". Irish Singles Chart.
  13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. "Charts.nz – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy". Top 40 Singles.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy". Singles Top 100.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  20. "Jaaroverzichten 1998" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  21. "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  22. "1999 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  23. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 1. 1 January 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  24. "End of Year Charts 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  25. "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  26. "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 22 January 2000. p. 27.
  27. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  28. "New Zealand single certifications – Steps – Heartbeat/Tragedy". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  29. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  30. UK Pop Acts Have To Speak New Language. Billboard. 19 May 2001. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  31. Step One (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0519112.CS1 maint: others (link)
  32. "Steptacular" (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1999. 0518492.CS1 maint: others (link)
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