"Heartbeat" is a song by British pop group Steps, from their debut studio album Step One (1998). Issued as a double A-side with their cover of the 1979 Bee Gees single "Tragedy", it was released on 9 November 1998 as the fourth single off the album. "Heartbeat" was solely written by Jackie James, and it was the first ballad released as a single by the group. While promoting the 2012 Hit Factory Live event, Pete Waterman revealed that the song had sat in a drawer for years before he gave it to the band to record.
| "Heartbeat" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Steps | ||||
| from the album Step One | ||||
| A-side | "Tragedy" | |||
| Released | 9 November 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1998 | |||
| Studio | PWL (Manchester, England) | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 4:24 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Jackie James | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Steps singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Heartbeat" on YouTube | ||||
"Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" reached number one in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In the former country, it spent 30 weeks on the UK Singles Chart and sold more copies than all three previous Steps singles combined, with 1.21 million copies sold in the UK.[1] The music video for the song features the band trying to rescue member Ian "H" Watkins from the Ice Queen.
Music video
The music video for "Heartbeat" was directed by David Amphlett and is set in snowy surroundings. It begins with Steps riding a sleigh while an evil Ice Queen has her sights set on Ian "H" Watkins; she is watching an image 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 to 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 Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans and Claire Richards easily take care of the guards (while H is able to free himself), and Lisa Scott-Lee defeats the Ice Queen with a karate kick to the chin. The group then returns to the lodge for a Christmas party.
Track listings
UK and Australian CD single[2][3]
- "Heartbeat" – 4:24
- "Tragedy" – 4:31
- "Heartbeat" (instrumental) – 4:24
UK cassette single and European CD single[4][5]
- "Heartbeat" – 4:24
- "Tragedy" – 4:31
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Step One.[6]
Recording
- Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester in 1998
- Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester
- Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London
Vocals
- Lead vocals – Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Ian "H" Watkins
- Background vocals – Lee Latchford-Evans
Personnel
- Songwriting – Jackie James
- Production – Karl Twigg, Mark Topham, Pete Waterman
- Mixing – Pete Waterman, Dan Frampton
- Engineer – Chris McDonnell
- Drums – Chris McDonnell
- Keyboards – Karl Twigg, Mark Topham
Charts
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (BEA)[28] | Gold | 25,000* |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] | Platinum | 10,000* |
| Sweden (GLF)[30] | Gold | 15,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | 2× Platinum | 1,210,000[1] |
| United States | — | 98,000[32] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Version | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" | 9 November 1998 |
| [33] |