"Heartbeats" | ||||
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Single by The Knife | ||||
from the album Deep Cuts | ||||
Released | 27 December 2002 (original release) 4 October 2004 (re-release) |
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Format | CD, 12" | |||
Recorded | 2002 | |||
Genre | Synthpop, electropop, alternative dance | |||
Length | 3:51 | |||
Label | Rabid, V2 | |||
Writer(s) | Karin Dreijer Andersson, Olof Dreijer | |||
The Knife singles chronology | ||||
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"Heartbeats" | ||||
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Single by José González | ||||
from the album Veneer | ||||
Released | January 2006 | |||
Format | CD, digital download | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Genre | Acoustic, indie folk | |||
Length | 2:40 | |||
Label | Imperial | |||
Writer(s) | Karin Dreijer Andersson, Olof Dreijer | |||
José González singles chronology | ||||
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"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 #15 on Pitchfork Media's top 500 songs of the 2000s and at #87 on Rolling Stone's 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".
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 Andersson's hypnotic vocals recall both Björk and Siouxsie Sioux with her icy delivery of magical lines".
The song was covered by many acts such as José González, Scala & Kolacny Brothers and Ellie Goulding.
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." 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." Several reviews commented that the song had an 1980s feel.
The remix by Rex the Dog was described by MusicOMH as "a masterful reworking that fits it up nicely for the dancefloor".
The song was covered by Argentinian-Swedish singer-songwriter José González 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 guitar. The song peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.