"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 U.S. Billboard Hot 100. 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 U.S. for two weeks before that song again returned to number one for an additional week.
In 1998 the song again reached the top of the UK singles chart, this time in the form of a cover version by Steps. 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. Several of these sounds were then mixed together creating one large boom heard on the record. The song is also playable on Rock Band 3.
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 #1 in the US).[2]
Charts and certifications
Chart performance
Steps cover
In 1998, Steps covered "Tragedy", releasing it as a double A-side with "Heartbeat". It debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, before climbing to the top spot in its eighth week, and achieving platinum status. A dance step of putting both hands parallel to the sides of the head became the trademark move of the British group.[citation needed] "Tragedy" has sold more copies than all three previous Steps singles combined.[citation needed] It spent eighteen weeks in the Top 20 and thirty weeks on the chart in total.[citation needed]
Charts
Other versions
See also
References
External links
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