Heartbeat (Steps song)

"Heartbeat / Tragedy"
Single by Steps
from the album Step One & Steptacular
Released	6 November 1998
Format	Single
Recorded	1998
Genre	Pop
Length	4:24 / 4:31
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Heartbeat: Jackie James Tragedy: Barry Gibb Maurice Gibb Robin Gibb
Producer(s)	Frampton, Waterman
Certification	Platinum
Steps singles chronology
"One for Sorrow" (1998) "Heartbeat / Tragedy" (1998) "Better Best Forgotten" (1999)

"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 been sat in a drawer for years before he gave it to the band to record.

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. Steps ended 1998 with a bang when the single hit the No.1 spot after eight weeks on the chart. "Heartbeat / Tragedy" spent a total of thirty weeks in the charts, and sold more copies than all three previous Steps singles combined with 1.18 million copies sold in the UK.^[1]

Music videos

The 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 H; 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 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 able to free 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 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

CD

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

1. Tragedy (W.I.P. Reception Mix) [features elements from their first single, 5,6,7,8 - featured on "Stomp" single]
2. Tragedy (W.I.P Mix) [excludes sample of 5,6,7,8] - featured on the Last Dance ( CD 2)
3. Heartbeat (Simon Hill Mix) - No studio version exists

Charts

Year-end charts

See also

• List of number-one singles from the 1990s (UK)
• List of best-selling singles (UK)

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics