Two of Hearts (song)

"Two of Hearts" is a song by American singer Stacey Q from her debut studio album, Better Than Heaven (1986). Sue Gatlin co-wrote the song along with John Mitchell and Tim Greene. Although Gatlin did record her own version, Stacey Q released her version first and it would become her biggest hit.

"Two of Hearts"
Single by Stacey Q
from the album Better Than Heaven
B-side	"Dancing Nowhere" "Shy Girl"
Released	June 13, 1986
Recorded	1985
Studio	Formula 1 (La Habra, California)
Genre	Hi-NRG[1][2]
Length	3:59
Label	On the Spot Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	John Mitchell Tim Greene Sue Gatlin
Producer(s)	Jon St. James
Stacey Q singles chronology
"Shy Girl" (1985) "Two of Hearts" (1986) "We Connect" (1986)

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 song's lyrics revolve around love and romance. "Two of Hearts" received positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success around the globe. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 in mid-July 1986,[3] breaking into the top 40 in mid-August[4] and peaking at number three during the autumn of that same year to become one of the highest-selling singles of 1986.[5] "Two of Hearts" was ranked number 27 on VH1's "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s".

The accompanying music video for "Two of Hearts" was directed by Peter Lippman. It depicts Stacey Q dancing in front of a white background in various outfits and performing at a nightclub. "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). It has also been featured as a ringtone in the 2020 TV series "The Flight Attendant".

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 initially produced for Sue Gatlin, who co-wrote the song with John Mitchell and Tim Greene, recording her own version.[6] At first, Stacey Q refused to record a song written by someone else, but later she changed her mind and decided to record it.[7]

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 and re-recorded to be released as the lead single from Q's debut studio album Better Than Heaven (1986).

Cover versions

• Japanese singer Yōko Nagayama covered the song in Japanese in her 1986 album Venus.
• Vietnamese singer Ngoc Tuyet covered the song, but titled "Đoi Tim Nong Say" in the fall of 1986.
• Kelly Osbourne's cover of the song appears as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of her 2005 album Sleeping in the Nothing.
• Brad Walsh released a version in 2006.
• Purple Crush released a version in 2007.
• In 2007, the Korean pop group Wonder Girls sampled "Two of Hearts" in their single "Tell Me", produced by JYP Entertainment.[8]
• Norwegian singer Annie covered the song in 2008.
• Akina Nakamori covered the song in her 2017 cover album Cage.[9]

Track listings

US 7-inch single (On the Spot Records)[10] "Two of Hearts" (7" Version) – 3:33 "Shy Girl" – 3:43 US 12-inch single (On the Spot Records)[11] "Two of Hearts" (European Mix) – 7:29 "Two of Hearts" (Dance Mix) – 6:00 "Two of Hearts" (Radio Edit) – 3:45 "Stacey's Dream (A Capella) – 2:35

US 7-inch single (Atlantic Records)[12] "Two of Hearts" (Radio Edit) – 3:58 "Dancing Nowhere" – 3:43 US 12-inch single (Atlantic Records)[13] "Two of Hearts" (Vocal / European Dance Mix) – 6:00 "Two of Hearts" (Instrumental) – 4:39 "Two of Hearts" (Vocal / Radio Edit) – 3:58 "Stacey's Dream (A Capella) – 2:32

Credits and personnel

• Stacey Q – vocals
• Jon St. James – production, keyboards
• Rich West – keyboards
• Skip Hahn – keyboards
• Karl Moet – drums
• Jeff C. Fishman – associate production
• William J. Walker – associate production
• Lester Cohen – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[14][15] 7 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 24 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] 1 Canada (The Record)[15] 2 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[18] 20 France (SNEP)[19] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 4 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[21] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 19 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[24] 87 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 3 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[26] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 56 US Cash Box Top 100[28] 7 West Germany (Official German Charts)[29] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[30] 72 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[31] 31 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 42 US Billboard Hot 100[33] 51 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[34] 39 US Cash Box Top 100[35] 64 Chart (1987) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[36] 80 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[37] 20

References

1. "100 Greatest Dance Songs". Slant Magazine. January 30, 2006. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
2. Maura (October 2, 2008). "Annie Plays Her Trump Card". Idolator. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
3. "Billboard". July 5, 1986. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
4. "Billboard". August 16, 1986. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
5. "Billboard". December 27, 1986. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
6. Sue Gatlin - "Two of Hearts" @YouTube.com Retrieved 10-8-2016.
7. "Back to the 80s: Interview with Stacey Q", Kickin' it Old School, April 22, 2014.
8. WONDER GIRLS AT NINE: THE UPS AND DOWNS OF K-POP’S ENDURING GIRL GROUP popcrush February 8, 2016
9. "Cage | 中森明菜". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
10. Two of Hearts (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. On The Spot Records / NRS. 1986. NRS 110.CS1 maint: others (link)
11. Two of Hearts (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. On The Spot Records / NRS. 1986. NRS 116.CS1 maint: others (link)
12. Two of Hearts (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. Atlantic Records. 1986. 7-89381.CS1 maint: others (link)
13. Two of Hearts (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. Atlantic Records. 1986. 0-86797.CS1 maint: others (link)
14. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 290. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
15. "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 98 no. 50. December 13, 1986. p. Y-21. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
16. "Austriancharts.at – Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
17. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0862." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
18. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4 no. 6. February 14, 1987. p. 15. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
19. "Lescharts.com – Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
20. "Charts.nz – Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
21. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts Q". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
22. "Swedishcharts.com – Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
23. "Swisscharts.com – Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
24. "Stacey Q: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
25. "Stacey Q Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
26. "Stacey Q Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
27. "Stacey Q Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
28. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 25, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
29. "Offiziellecharts.de – Stacey Q – Two of Hearts". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
30. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report (650). December 29, 1986 – via Imgur.
31. "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45 no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0315-5994 – via Library and Archives Canada.
32. "Top Selling Singles of 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
33. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
34. "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
35. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 27, 1986. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
36. "National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report (701). December 28, 1987 – via Imgur.
37. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1987". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 11, 2018.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics