Heart (Pet Shop Boys song)
"Heart" | ||||
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Single by Pet Shop Boys | ||||
from the album Actually | ||||
B-side | "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" | |||
Released | 21 March 1988[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Pet Shop Boys singles chronology | ||||
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"Heart" is a song by English
Background
Written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, "Heart" was the fourth and final single from the duo's second studio album, Actually. A new mix different to the album version was released as a single in March 1988, ascending to the top of the charts to become the duo's fourth—and, to date, last—UK number-one single. It was also successful across Europe.
The genesis of the song goes back to the sessions for the duo's first album
The lyrics are more traditional than most Pet Shop Boys songs, being a straightforward declaration of love—a characteristic common in many pop songs. On the commentary of the Pet Shop Boys' live video album Cubism, Tennant reveals that the "oh – ah – oh'oh ah" refrain which repeats throughout the song features the vocals of himself, Pavarotti and Wendy Smith (of Prefab Sprout).
According to Tennant they were inspired by the song "I Like You" by Phyllis Nelson, which was produced by Shep Pettibone, who did a remix of "Heart".[4]
The album version of "Heart" was recorded with producer Andy Richards, and was mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. The single remix is an edit of Richards' version with the use of wah-wah guitar, giving the song more of a 1970s sound.
Despite topping the UK chart for three weeks and being a worldwide success, the duo themselves tend to dismiss it, with Lowe stating in 2001: "It just shows that chart positions aren't the be all and end all. 'Heart' isn't in the same league as 'Being Boring'." However, many fans regard the song highly and Pet Shop Boys like it enough to have performed the song on their 1989 tour, the Fundamental world tour in 2006 and 2007 as well as their Pandemonium tour in 2009–2010.
When included on the retrospective PopArt: The Hits collection, the album version of the track was used for the UK release rather than the hit single mix, the reason for this is unknown. The single mix was included on the US release.
Critical reception
In his review of the single, Jonh Wilde from
Music video
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2019) |
Directed by Jack Bond, director of the band's 1987 film It Couldn't Happen Here, the music video for "Heart" is based on the 1922 film Nosferatu. The video opens with Tennant and his bride (played by model Danijela Čolić Prižmić) being driven to a castle with Lowe as his chauffeur. As he goes to bed with his bride, the vampire, played by Ian McKellen, spies them. Later, he seduces the bride and bites her. Finally, Lowe drives Nosferatu and his bride away, leaving Tennant to stare bitterly after them from a castle window. The video was shot in Mokrice Castle, Slovenia, then one of the Yugoslavia republics.[4]
Track listings
- 7-inch: Parlophone / R 6177 (UK)
- "Heart" – 4:16
- "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" – 4:53
- 12-inch: Parlophone / 12 R 6177 (UK)
- "Heart" (disco mix) – 8:27
- "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" – 4:53
- "Heart" (dance mix) – 6:08
- also released on cassette (TCR 6177) and CD (CDR 6177)
- 12-inch: Parlophone / 12 RX 6177 (UK)
- "Heart" (12-inch remix) – 8:55
- "Heart" (dub mix) – 5:15
- "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" – 4:53
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ a b "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ a b Raggett, Ned. ""Heart" review". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Songfacts. "Heart by Pet Shop Boys - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ Wilde, Jonh (26 March 1988). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- NME. p. 17. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ Dee, Johnny (26 March 1988). "45". Record Mirror. p. 37. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Hamilton, James (9 April 1988). "DJ Directory". Record Mirror. p. 37. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8663." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- OCLC 29800226– via World Radio History.
- ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- Les classement single. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Pet Shop Boys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Pet Shop Boys" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". VG-lista. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ Currin, Brian. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts P". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1988 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ISSN 0033-7064– via World Radio History.
- OCLC 29800226– via World Radio History.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1988". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1988". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ISSN 0265-1548– via World Radio History.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
Notes
- "Interviews: Pet Shop Boys". This is not retro. March 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- Heath, Chris (2001). "Heart". In Actually / Further Listening 1987–1988 [CD liner notes]. London: Pet Shop Boys Partnership.
- Longmire, Ernie and Steffen Gärtner (1989–2006). "Pet Shop Boys: Heart" (TXT). Gardner's Pet Shop Boys Discography. Gardner Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
- Raggett, Ned. "Heart". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2006.