B-side "Kiss Me" Length 3:05 | Genre Pop, electronic Label 679 | |
Released November 29, 2004 (2004-11-29) (Europe) Writer(s) Annie, Svein Berge, Torbjørn Brundtland | ||
"Heartbeat" is a pop song written by Röyksopp and Norwegian singer Annie for Annie's 2004 debut album Anniemal. It was released with the title "My Heart Beat" as the album's second single in November 2004 (see 2004 in music). The lyrics of "Heartbeat" describe finding new love at a nightclub, surrounded by close friends. The song received acclaim from music critics.
Contents
"Heartbeat" was listed at #1 on Pitchfork Media's top 50 singles of 2004 and at #17 on its list of the top 500 songs of the 2000s. It was also featured in two scenes of Melissa P, an Italian movie based on the writer's first novel.
Composition
"Heartbeat" is a pop song composed in F-sharp minor. It is written in common time and moves at 128 beats per minute. The song uses a i-VI-iv-v chord progression. There is a key change in the chorus that puts the song in B minor before going back to F-sharp minor for the subsequent verse. Its lyrics narrate a night of going to clubs with friends. "Heartbeat" uses a drum beat which symbolizes a heartbeat and doubles its tempo when Annie's persona catches the attention of her romantic interest on the dancefloor.
Critical reception
"Heartbeat" received acclaim from music critics. Scott Plagenhoef's review for Pitchfork named it "the best song of the year" for being a "deceptively simple and surprisingly beautiful articulation of basic human need, beautifully encapsulating every element of human excitement". In his review for Rolling Stone magazine, Barry Walters remarked that the song "evokes your favorite punk/dance mash-up and betters it." For The Village Voice, Jody Rosen commented that the song's chorus "edges toward rock and a melody durable enough to withstand countless repeated listenings". Entertainment Weekly's Raymond Fiore referred to "Heartbeat" as an "indie-cred masterstroke".
"Heartbeat" ranked thirty-second on the 2004 Pazz & Jop list, a survey of several hundred music critics conducted by Robert Christgau. Pitchfork Media listed "Heartbeat" at the top of its list of the "Top 50 Singles of 2004", and called it "a perfect pop song". The publication then listed the song at #17 on their top 500 songs of the 2000s list. Pitchfork also included "Heartbeat" in its collection of The Pitchfork 500.
Formats and track listings
European CD single
(50467-6266-5; Released 29 November 2004)
- "My Heartbeat" (album version) – 3:05
- "My Heartbeat" (Röyksopp's Mindre Tilgjengelige remix) – 5:54
UK CD single #1
(679L091CD1; Released 21 February 2005)
- "Heartbeat" – 3:00
- "Heartbeat" (Alan Braxe remix) – 3:28
UK CD single #2
(679L091CD2; Released 21 February 2005)
- "Heartbeat" – 3:00
- "Heartbeat" (Maurice Fulton remix) – 6:12
- "Heartbeat" (Phones Maximo remix) – 4:23
- "Heartbeat" music video
U.S. Maxi-CD single
(62305-2; Released 10 May 2005)
- "Heartbeat" (album version) – 3:05
- "Heartbeat" (Röyksopp's Mindre Tilgjengelige remix) – 5:54
- "Heartbeat" (Maurice Fulton remix) – 6:12
- "Heartbeat" (Phones Maximo remix) – 4:23
- "Heartbeat" (Alan Braxe remix) – 5:43
- "Chewing Gum" (Mylo remix) – 5:53
- "Kiss Me" – 6:17