Heartbeat (Steps song)

Infobox Single
Name = Heartbeat / Tragedy


Caption =
Artist = Steps
from Album = Step One & Steptacular
A-side =
B-side =
Released = September 6, 1998
Format = Single
Recorded =
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:24 / 4:31
Label = Jive Records
Writer = Heartbeat: Jackie James Tragedy: Barry Gibb Maurice Gibb Robin Gibb
Producer = Frampton, Waterman
Certification = Platinum
Chart position = * #1 (UK, VRG, New Zealand, Lebanon, Philippines)
* #2 (Germany, Ireland)
* #4 (Sweden)
* #8 (Belgium)
* #10 (Australia)
* #20 (Spain)
* #22 (Netherlands)
Last single = "One For Sorrow"
(1998)
This single = "Heartbeat / Tragedy"
(1998)
Next single = "Better Best Forgotten"
(1999)
Misc =

"Heartbeat / Tragedy" was 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 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.

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.

Track listings

CD

# Heartbeat - 4:24
# Tragedy - 4:31
# Heartbeat [Instrumental] - 4:24

Cassette

# Heartbeat - 4:24
# Tragedy - 4:31

Remixes

#Tragedy (W.I.P. Reception Mix) - featured on "Stomp" single
#Tragedy (W.I.P Reception Mix) [Without the 5678 lyrics] - featured on the Last Dance ( CD 2)
#Tragedy (Bell Mix)
#Heartbeat (Simon Hill Mix)
#Heartbeat (Pulse Remix)
#Heartbeat (Pulse Radio Edit)
#Heartbeat (Short Circuit Remix)
#Heartbeat (Pacemaker Mix)

See also

* List of Number 1 singles from the 1990s (UK)
* List of best-selling singles (UK)