Format 7"
12"
CD | ||
B-side "Dancing Nowhere" "Shy Girl" Released June 24, 1986 (1986-06-24) Recorded 1985
Formula 1 Studios
La Habra, California Genre Hi-NRG
new wave
synthpop Length 3:58 (album version)
3:33 (7" version)
7:12 (12" version) | ||
"Two of Hearts" is a hit song recorded by American singer Stacey Q. Local singer Sue Gatlin, who originally intended to record the song herself, co-wrote the tune along with John Mitchell and Tim Greene. Although Gatlin did record her own version, Stacey Q released her version first, and it would become the latter's biggest hit.
Contents
Musically, "Two of Hearts" is a Hi-NRG song. It utilizes vocal sampling with the repetitive usage of the line "I Need You" in its hook. The lyrics of the song revolve around love and romance. "Two of Hearts" received positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the highest-selling singles of 1986. "Two of Hearts" was ranked number twenty-seven in VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s.
The accompanying music video was directed by Peter Lippman. It depicts Stacey Q dancing in front of a white background in various outfits and performing at a night club. "Two of Hearts" has been covered by a number of artists and has appeared in feature films such as Nowhere, Little Nicky, Party Monster and Hot Rod (where it was done to punchdance).
Background and recording
After the release of the album Playback (1983) with the band SSQ, Stacey Q began working with Jon St. James on her solo material. St. James brought her the song "Two of Hearts," suggesting that she record it. "Two of Hearts" was a tune St. James had initially produced for Sue Gatlin, who had co-written the song with John Mitchell and Tim Greene and recorded her own version. At first, Stacey Q refused to record a song written by someone else, but later she changed her mind and decided to record it.
Stacey Q's first recording of the tune was released by On The Spot Records in 1985 and featured on her self-titled debut EP from the same year. Meanwhile, Gatlin had recorded her own version of the tune, although it would not be released until the following year. Stacey Q's version was later taken by Atlantic Records, re-recorded, and released on January 4, 1986 as the lead single from Q's debut studio album Better Than Heaven, released later that year.