Heartbeats (The Knife song) explained

Heartbeats
Cover:	TheKnifeHeartbeats.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	the Knife
Album:	Deep Cuts
Released:	27 December 2002 (original release) 4 October 2004 (re-release)^[1]
Recorded:	2002
Genre:	Synthpop electropop techno^[2]
Length:	3:51
Label:	Rabid V2
Producer:	Karin Dreijer Olof Dreijer
Prev Title:	Nedsvärtning
Prev Year:	2002
Next Title:	You Take My Breath Away
Next Year:	2003

"Heartbeats" is a song by Swedish electronic music duo the Knife. It was released in Sweden on 27 December 2002 as the lead single from their second studio album Deep Cuts (2003) and re-released on 4 October 2004.

The song was listed at number 15 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s and at number 87 on Rolling Stones top 100 songs of the 2000s. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 95 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".^[3] Adjectives used to describe the music were "haunting" and "electro". In Robert Dimery's book 1000 Songs: You Must Hear Before You Die, it was said: "The Stockholm siblings' love of synth pop, minimal beats and electronica create together a moving masterpiece. Singer Karin Dreijer's hypnotic vocals recall both Björk and Siouxsie Sioux with her icy delivery of magical lines".^[4]

The song has been covered by many acts such as José González, Royal Teeth, Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Amason and Ellie Goulding.^[5]

Critical reception

The song has received critical acclaim since its release. MusicOMH said that the song's "emotive lyrics merge with forward thinking production to create one of the most exciting electronica releases of the year", and Contactmusic.com stated the song had "clever synth beats and Björkesque vocals" with the ability to "instil some fun and nostalgia into music."^{[6] [7]} Gigwise.com said that the song was "perhaps one of the most hypnotic and haunting electronic songs of recent times, [...] innately infectious from the outset."^[8] Several reviews commented that the song had a 1980s feel.^{[6] [7]}

Track listings

• UK CD

1. "Heartbeats" (original) – 3:53
2. "Heartbeats (Rex the Dog Remix)" – 6:12
3. "Heartbeats (The Knife Techno Remix)" – 2:47
4. "Afraid of You" – 3:48

• UK 12-inch vinyl

1. "Heartbeats" (original) – 3:53
2. "Heartbeats (Style of Eye Remix)" –
3. "Heartbeats (Rex the Dog Remix)" – 6:12
4. "Heartbeats (The Knife Techno Remix)" – 2:47

Personnel

• Christoffer Berg – mixing
• Rex the Dog – re-mixing, producer
• Linus Eklow – re-mixing

José González version

Heartbeats
Cover:	José González - Heartbeats.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	José González
Album:	Veneer
Length:	2:40
Label:	Peacefrog Imperial
Producer:	José González
Next Title:	Crosses
Next Year:	2006

Argentine-Swedish singer-songwriter José González covered "Heartbeats" for his debut studio album, Veneer (2003), and released as its lead single in January 2006. In contrast to the electronic, synth-based original, González's cover features only an acoustic classical guitar.^[10] The song peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart following its use in an advertisement for the Sony Bravia television in November 2005, in which countless colorful balls bounce down the streets of Russian Hill in San Francisco.^{[11] [12]}

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	9 January 2006			^[15]
Australia	20 February 2006	CD		^[16]

Notes and References

1. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 33. 2 October 2004.
2. Web site: Mark. Pytlik. The Knife: Silent Shout Album Review. . February 13, 2006. April 29, 2023.
3. Web site: 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years . Nme.Com . 22 August 2012.
4. Book: McLearon, Olivia. Robert . Dimery . 2015 . 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. The Knife - "Heartbeats. Universe. New York. 826.
5. Web site: The one song TV shows always use to make us cry. Gallucci. Nicole. Mashable. en. 28 January 2019.
6. Web site: Kutchinsky . Serena. The Knife - Heartbeats (Rabid) . MusicOMH. 15 September 2008.
7. Web site: Tomlinson . Katherine. The Knife - Heartbeats - Single Review . Contactmusic.com. 15 September 2008.
8. Web site: The Knife - Heartbeats (Live). Gigwise.com. 15 September 2008. 13 June 2007.
9. Web site: Chart Log UK : Alex K – Kyuss . 19 June 2010. Zobbel.
10. Book: The Knife - Heartbeats . 1000 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die . Cassell Illustrated . 19 September 2010. 978-0789320896.
11. Web site: Sony Bravia commercial. YouTube. live. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/0_bx8bnCoiU. 12 December 2021. 10 October 2012.
12. Web site: Week Ending January 21st 2006. Masterton. James. James Masterton. Chart Watch UK. 15 January 2006. 7 March 2022.
13. Web site: Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online . 25 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130409070628/http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/notowania/?numer=1261 . 9 April 2013 . dead .
14. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006. Official Charts Company. 20 October 2018.
15. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 17. 7 January 2006.
16. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 20th February 2006. ARIA. 26. 20 February 2006. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060409140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20060410-0000/issue833.pdf. 9 April 2006. 12 November 2021.