Heartbeat (Steps song)
Encyclopedia
"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. Steps ended 1998 with a bang when the single hit the No.1 spot after eight weeks on the chart. "Heartbeat / Tragedy" sold more copies than all three previous Steps singles combined and spent a total of thirty weeks in the charts.
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, with the girls' fathers walking them down the aisle, and record producer Pete Waterman
appears as the wedding DJ.
(Includes fold out poster with the dance steps to "Tragedy"
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pop group Steps. "Heartbeat", written by Jackie James
Jackie James
Jackie James is a British singer, songwriter, keyboardist and record producer.James wrote the chart-topping, "Heartbeat" for the group Steps, and went on to write more songs for the group. She has also written songs for Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue...
was the first ballad released as a single by the group. The video for "Tragedy
Tragedy (song)
"Tragedy" is a song recorded by the Bee Gees, 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...
", originally a hit by the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
, 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" 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 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 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, with the girls' fathers walking them down the aisle, and record producer Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
appears as the wedding DJ.
US version
- Tragedy
- Stay With Me
(Includes fold out poster with the dance steps to "Tragedy"
Remixes
- Tragedy (W.I.P. Reception Mix) [features elements from their first single, 5,6,7,8 - featured on "Stomp" single]
- Tragedy (W.I.P Reception Mix) [excludes sample of 5,6,7,8] - featured on the Last Dance ( CD 2)
- Heartbeat (Simon Hill Mix)
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 10 |
| Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders) | 8 |
| Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia) | 27 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 24 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
2 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 4 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
End-of-year charts
| End of year chart (1998) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
13 |
| End of year chart (1999) | Position |
| Australian Singles Chart | 92 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
18 |
See also
- List of number-one singles from the 1990s (UK)
- List of best-selling singles (UK)