Tragedy (Bee Gees song)

"Tragedy"
"Tragedy"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Spirits Having Flown
B-side	"Until"
Released	February 1979
Recorded	1978
Genre	Dance-rock[1] * disco
Length	5:03
Label	RSO
Songwriter(s)	Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)	Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten, Karl Richardson
Bee Gees singles chronology
Music video
	"Tragedy (Live in Las Vegas, 1997 - One Night Only)" on YouTube

"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).[2]

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.[3] Cash Box said it has "vibrant arrangement of synthesizer, guitars, horns, solid beat and dramatic vocals."[4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5]	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6]	3
Canadian RPM Disco Singles[7]	7
Canadian RPM Top Singles[8]	1
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[9]	1
France (SNEP)[10]	1
Ireland (IRMA)[11]	1
Italy (FIMI)[12]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13]	4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14]	5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15]	1
Norway (VG-lista)[16]	4
South African Chart[17]	2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19]	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20]	2
UK (Official Charts Company)[21]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[22]	1
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[23]	19
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[22]	22
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[22]	44
US Cash Box[24]	1
US Record World Singles[9]	1
West Germany (Official German Charts)[25]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[26]	37
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[27]	18
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[28]	33
Canada RPM Top Singles[29]	12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30]	45
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31]	37
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32]	15
South Africa [33]	14
UK Singles (OCC)[34]	15
US Billboard Hot 100[35]	16
US Cash Box[36]	19
West Germany (Official German Charts)[37]	30

Sales and certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[38]	Platinum	150,000^{^}
France (SNEP)[39]	Gold	821,000[40]
Japan	—	100,000[41]
United Kingdom (BPI)[42]	Gold	500,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)[43]	Platinum	2,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notable cover versions

In 1998, Steps covered "Tragedy", releasing it as a double A-side with "Heartbeat". It debuted at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, before climbing to the top spot in its eighth week, and achieving platinum status. It is their best-selling single[44] and is considered their signature song.[45] In 2021, American rock band Foo Fighters, under their alter ego, the 'Dee Gees', covered the song for their album Hail Satin.[46]

References

Eder, Bruce. "Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
Tragedy Songfacts
"Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 3 February 1979. p. 86. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
"CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 3 February 1979. p. 18. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
"Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
"Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
"Tragedy in Canadian Disco Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
"Tragedy in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
Steve Hawtin; et al. "Song title 301 - Tragedy". Tsort.info. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
"Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). Infodisc.fr. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
"Tragedy in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 2 June 2013. 2nd result when searching "Tragedy"
"The best-selling singles of 1979 in Italy". HitParadeItalia (it). Retrieved 2 June 2013.
4. Tragedy - The Bee Gees [#1]
"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
"Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
"Bee Gees – Tragedy". Top 40 Singles.
"Bee Gees – Tragedy". VG-lista.
John Samson. "Tragedy in South African Chart". Retrieved 2 June 2013.
Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). "Billboard 23 June 1979". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
"Bee Gees – Tragedy". Singles Top 100.
"Bee Gees – Tragedy". Swiss Singles Chart.
"1979 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 3rd March 1979". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
"Spirits Having Flown awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 26.
"Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Archives. 17 March 1979. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
"Offiziellecharts.de – Bee Gees – Tragedy". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
"Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
"Jahreshitparade Singles 1979". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
"Jaaroverzichten 1979". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
"Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
"Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1979". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
"End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
"Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
"Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 22 December 1979. p. 27.
Musicoutfitters.com
"Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, 29 December 1979". Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
"Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
"Canadian single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Music Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
"French single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select BEE GEES and click OK.
"Les Singles en Or" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
Hartz, Peter (17 February 1979). "Bee Gees's Spirits Having Flown' LP Debuts #4 Bullet" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
"British single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
"American single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
"Steps' biggest selling singles revealed".
"11 cover versions that prove the 1990s ruined music · the Daily Edge".
Gallagher, Alex (20 July 2021). "Stream Foo Fighters' new album as disco alter-ego The Dee Gees, 'Hail Satin'". nme.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] Eder, Bruce. "Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2020.

[2] Tragedy Songfacts

[3] "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 3 February 1979. p. 86. Retrieved 9 July 2020.

[cb-4] "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 3 February 1979. p. 18. Retrieved 1 January 2022.

[sc_Austria_Bee_Gees-5] "Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Flanders_Bee_Gees-6] "Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[7] "Tragedy in Canadian Disco Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[8] "Tragedy in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[tsort-9] Steve Hawtin; et al. "Song title 301 - Tragedy". Tsort.info. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

[10] "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). Infodisc.fr. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[11] "Tragedy in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 2 June 2013. 2nd result when searching "Tragedy"

[12] "The best-selling singles of 1979 in Italy". HitParadeItalia (it). Retrieved 2 June 2013.
4. Tragedy - The Bee Gees [#1]

[sc_Dutch40_-13] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.

[sc_Dutch100_Bee_Gees-14] "Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_Bee_Gees-15] "Bee Gees – Tragedy". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_Bee_Gees-16] "Bee Gees – Tragedy". VG-lista.

[17] John Samson. "Tragedy in South African Chart". Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[18] Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). "Billboard 23 June 1979". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

[sc_Sweden_Bee_Gees-19] "Bee Gees – Tragedy". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Swiss_Bee_Gees-20] "Bee Gees – Tragedy". Swiss Singles Chart.

[21] "1979 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 3rd March 1979". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[awards-22] "Spirits Having Flown awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 June 2013.

[23] Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 26.

[24] "Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Archives. 17 March 1979. Retrieved 14 February 2015.

[sc_West_Germany_Bee_Gees-25] "Offiziellecharts.de – Bee Gees – Tragedy". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.

[26] "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[27] "Jahreshitparade Singles 1979". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 February 2022.

[28] "Jaaroverzichten 1979". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 February 2022.

[29] "Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2017.

[30] "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 February 2022.

[31] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1979". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 24 February 2022.

[32] "End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 May 2017.

[33] "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979". Retrieved 2 September 2018.

[34] "Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 22 December 1979. p. 27.

[35] Musicoutfitters.com

[36] "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, 29 December 1979". Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2017.

[37] "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 24 February 2022.

[CanadaBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-38] "Canadian single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Music Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2012.

[FranceBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-39] "French single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Select BEE GEES and click OK.

[40] "Les Singles en Or" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2012.

[41] Hartz, Peter (17 February 1979). "Bee Gees's Spirits Having Flown' LP Debuts #4 Bullet" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved 30 January 2022.

[United_KingdomBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-42] "British single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012.

[United_StatesBee_GeesTragedysingleCertRef-43] "American single certifications – Bee Gees – Tragedy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012.

[44] "Steps' biggest selling singles revealed".

[45] "11 cover versions that prove the 1990s ruined music · the Daily Edge".

[46] Gallagher, Alex (20 July 2021). "Stream Foo Fighters' new album as disco alter-ego The Dee Gees, 'Hail Satin'". nme.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.