Tragedy (Bee Gees song)

"Tragedy"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Spirits Having Flown
B-side	"Until"
Released	February 1979
Recorded	1978
Genre	Dance-rock[1]
Length	5:03
Label	RSO
Songwriter(s)	Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)	Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten, Karl Richardson
Bee Gees singles chronology
Music video
	"Tragedy (Live in Las Vegas, 1997 - One Night Only)" on YouTube

"Tragedy" is a song released by the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb, included on their 1979 album Spirits Having Flown. The single reached number one in the UK in February 1979 and repeated the feat the following month on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Origin

Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote this song and "Too Much Heaven" in an afternoon off from making the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie, in which they were starring. In the same evening, they wrote "Shadow Dancing", which was performed by Andy Gibb (and reached number one in the US).[2]

Though not originally in Saturday Night Fever, it has subsequently been added to the musical score of the West End version of the movie-musical. The song knocked "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor off the top spot in the US for two weeks before that song again returned to number one for an additional week. "Tragedy" was the second single out of the three released from the album to interrupt a song's stay at number one. In the US, it would become the fifth of six consecutive number-ones in a single year, tying the record with Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles for most consecutive number-ones in the US in a single year.

In 1979, NBC aired The Bee Gees Special, which showed how the sound effect for the explosion was created. Barry cupped his hands over a microphone and made an exploding sound with his mouth. Several of these sounds were then mixed together creating one large boom heard on the record.

Reception

Billboard Magazine felt that the song had similar intensity to "Stayin' Alive" and that it had multiple vocal and instrumental hooks and "graceful" harmonies.[3]

In other media

"Tragedy" is playable as downloadable content for Rock Band 3 and Rock Band 4.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4]	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5]	3
Canadian RPM Disco Singles[6]	7
Canadian RPM Top Singles[7]	1
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[8]	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	7
France (SNEP)[9]	1
Ireland (IRMA)[10]	1
Italy (FIMI)[11]	1
Japan (Oricon)	32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12]	4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14]	1
Norway (VG-lista)[15]	4
South African Chart[16]	2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[17]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18]	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19]	2
UK (Official Charts Company)[20]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[21]	1
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[22]	19
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[21]	22
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[21]	44
US Cash Box[23]	1
US Record World Singles[8]	1
West Germany (Official German Charts)[24]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)	Rank
Australia[25]	37
Canada RPM Top Singles[26]	12
New Zealand[27]	15
South Africa [28]	14
UK[29]	15
US Billboard Hot 100[30]	16
US Cash Box[31]	19

Sales and certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[32]	Platinum	150,000^{^}
France (SNEP)[33]	Gold	821,000[34]
United Kingdom (BPI)[35]	Gold	500,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)[36]	Platinum	2,000,000^{^}
Total certified sales:		3,150,000
^{^}shipments figures based on certification alone

Steps version

In 1998, Steps covered "Tragedy", releasing it as a double A-side with "Heartbeat". It debuted at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, before climbing to the top spot in its eighth week, and achieving platinum status. It is considered their best-selling single[37] and signature song.[38][39]

Steps's version is notable for having the dance step of putting the hands parallel to the head in time with the word "tragedy".[39]

References

Eder, Bruce. "Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
Tragedy Songfacts
"Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 3 February 1979. p. 86. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
"Austriancharts.at – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
"Ultratop.be – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
"Tragedy in Canadian Disco Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
"Tragedy in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
Steve Hawtin; et al. "Song title 301 - Tragedy". Tsort.info. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
"Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). Infodisc.fr. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
"Tragedy in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 2 June 2013. 2nd result when searching "Tragedy"
"The best-selling singles of 1979 in Italy". HitParadeItalia (it). Retrieved 2 June 2013.
4. Tragedy - The Bee Gees [#1]
"Nederlandse Top 40 – Bee Gees" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
"Dutchcharts.nl – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
"Charts.nz – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Top 40 Singles.
"Norwegiancharts.com – Bee Gees – Tragedy". VG-lista.
John Samson. "Tragedy in South African Chart". Retrieved 2 June 2013.
Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). Billboard 23 June 1979. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
"Swedishcharts.com – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Singles Top 100.
"Swisscharts.com – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Swiss Singles Chart.
"1979 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 3rd March 1979". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
"Spirits Having Flown awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 26.
"Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Archives. 17 March 1979. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
"Offiziellecharts.de – Bee Gees – Tragedy". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
"Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
"Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
"End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
"Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
"Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 22 December 1979. p. 27.
Musicoutfitters.com
"Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, 29 December 1979". Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
"Canadian single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Music Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
"French single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select BEE GEES and click OK.
"Les Singles en Or :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
"British single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Tragedy in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
"American single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/steps-biggest-selling-singles-revealed__18480/
https://www.dailyedge.ie/1990s-cover-versions-786647-Feb2013/
https://forum.popjustice.com/threads/5-6-7-rate-the-steps-discography-rate-winner.66625/page-104

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] Eder, Bruce. "Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2020.

[2] Tragedy Songfacts

[3] "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 3 February 1979. p. 86. Retrieved 9 July 2020.

[sc_Austria_Bee_Gees-4] "Austriancharts.at – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Flanders_Bee_Gees-5] "Ultratop.be – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[6] "Tragedy in Canadian Disco Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[7] "Tragedy in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[tsort-8] Steve Hawtin; et al. "Song title 301 - Tragedy". Tsort.info. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

[9] "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). Infodisc.fr. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[10] "Tragedy in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 2 June 2013. 2nd result when searching "Tragedy"

[11] "The best-selling singles of 1979 in Italy". HitParadeItalia (it). Retrieved 2 June 2013.
4. Tragedy - The Bee Gees [#1]

[sc_Dutch40_Bee_Gees-12] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bee Gees" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.

[sc_Dutch100_Bee_Gees-13] "Dutchcharts.nl – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_Bee_Gees-14] "Charts.nz – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_Bee_Gees-15] "Norwegiancharts.com – Bee Gees – Tragedy". VG-lista.

[16] John Samson. "Tragedy in South African Chart". Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[17] Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). Billboard 23 June 1979. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

[sc_Sweden_Bee_Gees-18] "Swedishcharts.com – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Swiss_Bee_Gees-19] "Swisscharts.com – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Swiss Singles Chart.

[20] "1979 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 3rd March 1979". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[awards-21] "Spirits Having Flown awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[22] Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 26.

[23] "Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Archives. 17 March 1979. Retrieved 14 February 2015.

[sc_West_Germany_Bee_Gees-24] "Offiziellecharts.de – Bee Gees – Tragedy". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.

[25] "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[26] "Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 July 2017.

[27] "End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 May 2017.

[28] "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979". Retrieved 2 September 2018.

[29] "Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 22 December 1979. p. 27.

[30] Musicoutfitters.com

[31] "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, 29 December 1979". Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2017.

[CanadaBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-32] "Canadian single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Music Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2012.

[FranceBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-33] "French single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select BEE GEES and click OK.

[34] "Les Singles en Or :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2012.

[United_KingdomBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-35] "British single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Tragedy in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

[United_StatesBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-36] "American single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.

[37] ttps://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/steps-biggest-selling-singles-revealed__18480/

[38] ttps://www.dailyedge.ie/1990s-cover-versions-786647-Feb2013/

[forum.popjustice.com-39] ttps://forum.popjustice.com/threads/5-6-7-rate-the-steps-discography-rate-winner.66625/page-104