Heartbeat / Tragedy

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“Heartbeat / Tragedy”
“Heartbeat / Tragedy” cover
Single by Steps
from the album Step One & Steptacular
Released September 6, 1998
Format Single
Genre Pop
Length 4:24 / 4:31
Label Jive Records
Writer(s) Heartbeat: Jackie James
Tragedy: Barry Gibb
Maurice Gibb
Robin Gibb
Producer Frampton, Waterman
Certification Platinum
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, became the popular choice of radio stations in the United Kingdom, and was the first ballad released as a single by the group. 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 arguably became a trademark of the group. Unusually for the UK Singles Chart in the late 1990s, the single moved up and down the top 10 for several weeks before reaching number 1. "Heartbeat / Tragedy" sold more copies than all three previous Steps singles combined and spent a total of thirty weeks in the charts.

Contents

[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 Claire 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. The Church and Disco Scenes were filmed in All Saints Harrow Weald, and the adjoining Blackwell Hall. The group's actual families all took part in the video, and record producer Pete Waterman appears as the wedding DJ.

[edit] Track listings

[edit] CD

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

[edit] Cassette

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

[edit] Remixes

Tragedy (W.I.P. Reception Mix) - featured on "Stomp" single.

[edit] Trivia

  • 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.
  • Claire Richards has also said she suffers from a fear of heights.
Preceded by
"Chocolate Salty Balls" by Chef
UK Singles Chart number-one single
January 3, 1999 - 9 January
Succeeded by
"Praise You" by Fatboy Slim
Preceded by
'
UK Radio Airplay Chart
January 1, 1999 - January 21, 1999
Succeeded by
"Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring

[edit] See also