Heartbeat / Tragedy

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"Heartbeat / Tragedy"

Single by Steps
from the album Step One & Steptacular
Released	November 6, 1998 (UK) February 8, 1999 (Germany)
Format	Single
Genre	Pop
Length	4:24 / 4:31
Label	Jive Records
Writer(s)	Heartbeat: Jackie James Tragedy: Gibb,Gibb,Gibb
Producer(s)	Frampton, Waterman
Certification	Platinum
Chart positions
#1 (UK) #2 (Germany)
Steps singles chronology
"One For Sorrow" 1998	Heartbeat / Tragedy 1998	"Better Best Forgotten" 1999

"Heartbeat / Tragedy" was the fourth single released by British pop group Steps. "Heartbeat" written by Jackie James, of the two songs contained on the single "Heartbeat" reached the No.1 slot first after being the popular choice of radio stations in the UK. It was also the first ballad released as a single by the group. Unfortuately the song was accompanied by a dreadfully kitch video, where the group go on a rescue mission to save H from the ice queen, "Tragedy" written by the Bee Gees was generally considered to be the main reason for the huge singles success. It was music tv`s choice of song. The single unusually climbed up and down the pop charts for several weeks before hitting the top spot. It reached the No.1 spot in a very rare occurrence for the late 90's, when most singles debuted at the peak position, then fell out of the chart. The Tragedy video featured Lee & H sabotaging Faye, Lisa and Claire's weddings, before they perform the song's trademark dance routine at a wedding party. The group's actual families all took part in the video, and record producer Pete Waterman appears as the wedding DJ.

A dance step of putting both hands parallel to the sides of the head became the trademark move of the British group. "Heartbeat / Tragedy" has sold more copies than all three previous Steps singles combined. This single spent eighteen weeks in the top twenty and thirty weeks on the British charts.

[edit] Trivia

Lisa Scott-Lee apparently had a lot of trouble kicking the Ice Queen towards the end of the "Heartbeat" video, as the queen was played by a six foot two inch model (Lisa is five foot three).

Lisa Scott-Lee also later admitted that Heartbeat/Tragedy was the only Steps single she would've bought because out of all the songs they recorded they were the only two that she liked.

[edit] Music Videos

The video for "Heartbeat" is set in snowy surroundings. It begins Steps riding a sleigh while an evil Ice Queen has her sights set on H, who 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 miniature 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 the 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, Lee, and Clare easily take care of the guards (while H is busy freeing himself), and Lisa 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 boys sabotage all three weddings before they all go to a disco.