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Tragedy (Bee Gees song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Tragedy
| cover = Bee-Gees-Tragedy.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bee Gees
| album = Spirits Having Flown
| B-side = Until
| released = February 1979
| recorded = 1978
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dance-rock, disco
| length = 5:03
| label = RSO
| writer = Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
| producer = Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten, Karl Richardson
| prev_title = Too Much Heaven
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Love You Inside Out
| next_year = 1979
| misc =
}}
"'Tragedy'" is a song released by the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb, 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 US 'Billboard' Hot 100.
Origin
Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote this song and "Too Much Heaven" in an afternoon off from making the 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' movie, in which they were starring. In the same evening, they wrote "Shadow Dancing", which was performed by Andy Gibb (and reached number one in the US).[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5545 Tragedy Songfacts]
Though not originally in 'Saturday Night Fever', it has subsequently been added to the musical score of the West End version of the movie-musical. The song knocked "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor off the top spot in the US for two weeks before that song again returned to number one for an additional week. "Tragedy" was the second single out of the three released from the album to interrupt a song's stay at number one. In the US, it would become the fifth of six consecutive number-ones in a single year, tying the record with Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles for most consecutive number-ones in the US in a single year.
Reception
'Billboard Magazine' felt that the song had similar intensity to "Stayin' Alive" and that it had multiple vocal and instrumental hooks and "graceful" harmonies. 'Cash Box' said it has "vibrant arrangement of synthesizer, guitars, horns, solid beat and dramatic vocals."
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Sales and certifications
Steps version
{{Infobox song
| name = Tragedy
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Steps
| album = Steptacular
| A-side = Heartbeat
| B-side = "Stay with Me" (US)
| released =
| recorded = 1998
| studio = PWL (Manchester, England)
| genre = Pop
| length = 4:31
| label =
* Jive
* Ebul
| writer = Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
| producer =
* Andrew Frampton
* Pete Waterman
| prev_title = One for Sorrow
| prev_year = 1998
| title = Heartbeat
| title2 = Tragedy
| next_title = Better Best Forgotten
| next_year = 1999
| misc =
}}
"'Tragedy'" is a song by British pop group Steps. Issued as a double A-side with "Heartbeat", it was released on 9 November 1998. Initially not included on any album, the song was later included on their second album, 'Steptacular'. "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. The video for "Tragedy", originally a hit written and performed 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 became a trademark of the group.
Critical reception
Scottish newspaper 'Aberdeen Evening Express' stated that Steps "did such a sparkling remake" of the song, noting that it "gets ['Steptacular'] off to a discotastic start".'Aberdeen Evening Express'. 6 October 1999. p. 26. Retrieved 28 November 2020. AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien described it as a "triumphant cover". Lucas Villa from AXS wrote that Claire, Faye and Lisa's "powerful performances (coupled with that iconic hands dance step) made "Tragedy" an undeniable dance floor anthem." A reviewer from 'Daily Record' commented, "Once again, Steps have come up with a catchy tune and the reworking of Tragedy has clubbers mimicking the band's dance techniques.""Chart Slot". 'Daily Record'. 22 January 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020.Music video
The music video for "Tragedy" was directed by David Amphlett. It starts with a Doraemon-shaped alarm clock ringing and sees Faye, Claire, and Lisa getting married. The lads, Lee and H, sabotage all three weddings before they all go to a disco. The church and disco scenes were filmed in All Saints' Church, Harrow Weald, London and the adjoining Blackwell Hall, respectively. The external location shots of the boys leaving their house and driving were filmed in Blackheath, South London. 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.Track listings
'UK and Australian CD single'# "Heartbeat" 4:24
# "Tragedy" 4:31
# "Heartbeat" (instrumental) 4:24
'UK cassette single and European CD single'
# "Heartbeat" 4:24
# "Tragedy" 4:31
'US CD and cassette single'
# "Tragedy" (LP version) 4:30
# "Stay with Me" 4:04
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of 'Steptacular'.'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
* Background vocals Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian "H" Watkins
'Personnel'
* Songwriting Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb
* Production Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Pete Waterman
* Mixing Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman
* Engineer Chris McDonnell
* Drums Chris McDonnell
* Keyboards Karl Twigg
* Guitars Mark Topham
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
Foo Fighters version
In 2021, American rock band Foo Fighters, under their alter ego, the 'Dee Gees', covered the song for their album 'Hail Satin'.
See also
*List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1979 (U.S.)
*List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom
*List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1970s
References
Category:1979 singles
Category:1998 singles
Category:2021 songs
Category:Bee Gees songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Disco songs
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:RSO Records singles
Category:Songs written by Barry Gibb
Category:Songs written by Maurice Gibb
Category:Songs written by Robin Gibb
Category:Song recordings produced by Barry Gibb
Category:Song recordings produced by Robin Gibb
Category:Song recordings produced by Maurice Gibb
Category:Steps (group) songs
Category:Foo Fighters songs
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:1979 songs
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
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