Beat Again
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Beat Again
| cover = Jls beat again.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = JLS
| album = JLS
| B-side = Umbrella
| released = 12 July 2009
| recorded = 2009
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = * Pop
- R&B{{cite web|author=Released on Monday, 9 November 2009 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a186356/jls-jls.html |title=Music - Album Review - JLS: 'JLS' |website=Digital Spy |date=2009-11-09 |access-date=2020-12-24}}
| length = 3:19
| label = Epic
| writer = * Wayne Hector
| producer = Steve Mac
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Everybody in Love
| next_year = 2009
}}
"Beat Again" is the debut single by English boy band JLS. It was released on 12 July 2009 as the lead single from their self-titled debut studio album JLS (2009).{{cite web |url=http://www.jlsofficial.com/newsdiary/post/beat-again-download-now/ |title=Beat Again – DOWNLOAD NOW |date=12 July 2009 |publisher=Epic Records |access-date=12 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809143040/http://www.jlsofficial.com/newsdiary/post/beat-again-download-now |archive-date=9 August 2009}} The song was written by Wayne Hector and Steve Mac and produced by Mac. The song's B-side is a cover of "Umbrella" by Rihanna, which JLS covered during the semi-finals of the fifth series of The X Factor in December 2008.
The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. It also peaked at number three in the Republic of Ireland. It has sold over 574,000 copies in the United Kingdom as of August 2018 making it the band's best-selling song. As of 2021, "Beat Again" has sold 843,426 in the UK.{{cite magazine|title=JLS target streaming breakthrough as reunion boosts live business|url=https://www.musicweek.com/interviews/read/jls-target-streaming-breakthrough-as-reunion-boosts-live-business/084508|magazine=Music Week|first=Andre|last=Paine|date=December 2, 2021|access-date=March 14, 2025|url-access=subscription}}
Background and composition
After finishing as runners-up to Alexandra Burke on the fifth series of The X Factor in December 2008, JLS signed a record deal with Epic Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/4296986/X-Factor-runners-up-JLS-sign-recording-deal-with-Epic.html|title=X-Factor runners up JLS sign recording deal with Epic|date=20 January 2009|work=Telegraph.co.uk}} Epic managing director Nick Raphael said, "JLS are the best boy band to emerge from a TV talent show. The band already have an incredible fan base, and I look forward to launching their recording career."
"Beat Again" was unusual for being a debut single from reality show contestant in that was not a cover version, following in the footsteps of Girls Aloud, Shayne Ward and Leona Lewis. Instead, this song written especially for JLS by Wayne Hector and Steve Mac. The song was originally titled 'No Beat' and supposedly took only two hours to write.{{cite web |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Steve_Mac_Interview.html |title=Interview With Steve Mac |publisher=HitQuarters |date=12 April 2010 |access-date=13 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314061742/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Steve_Mac_Interview.html |archive-date=14 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} Mac himself had originally presented the song to Nick Raphael, JLS' A&R at Epic Records, as a potential single.[http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Wayne_Hector_Interview.html "Interview With Wayne Hector"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313072248/http://hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_wayne_hector_interview.html |date=13 March 2016 }}, HitQuarters, 1 February 2010. "Beat Again" is written in the key of A-flat minor. Raphael had originally been looking for a ballad in the vein of Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" and had in fact already asked Mac for another "Flying Without Wings". However, according to co-writer Wayne Hector, Raphael's response upon hearing the new song was, "this is the single. I can feel it. It's fantastic." Raphael had supposedly originally intended "Everybody in Love" to be the lead single but changed his mind at the last minute.
Critical reception
To date, "Beat Again" has garnered mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Giving the single three stars, Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy noted that JLS "have at least broken with X Factor convention on their debut single". Fletcher also drew positive comparisons to work by American R&B artist Ne-Yo. However, the reviewer went on to say the single is "cheesier than a Jennifer Aniston rom-com".{{cite web| url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a163954/jls-beat-again.html| title=JLS: 'Beat Again'| author=Fletcher, Alex| website=Digital Spy| access-date=9 July 2009}} Another review, giving the single three stars out of five, said "Beat Again seems to lack originality".{{cite web| url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/reviews/Steve+Appleton+Reviews+JLS+Beat+Again-8801.html| title=Steve Appleton Reviews: JLS – Beat Again| publisher=FemaleFirst| author=Appleton, Steve| date=2 July 2009| access-date=9 July 2009}} It was included on the Popjustice song of the day.{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3693&Itemid=279|title=Song of the Day – JLS — "Beat Again| publisher=Popjustice|access-date=9 July 2009}} The Daily Record wrote that the single had "the R&B electro sass of Justin Timberlake or Rihanna [and] will surprise many".
Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 69 in their list of 75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time in 2020.{{cite web|title=75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-1033317/jls-beat-again-2009-146100/|website=Rolling Stone|date=July 24, 2020|access-date=May 21, 2021}}
Chart performance
"Beat Again" made its chart debut on the Billboard Euro Digital Tracks chart at number 13,{{cite web| url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jls|chart=Euro Digital Tracks}}| title=Euro Digital Tracks – Beat Again – Chart Listing For The Week Of July 25, 2009| work=Billboard| publisher=Nielsen Business Media | access-date=16 July 2009}} and on the Euro Digital Songs at number 19.{{cite web| url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jls|chart=Euro Digital Songs}}| title=Euro Digital Songs – Beat Again – Chart Listing For The Week Of Jul 25 2009| work=Billboard| publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc | access-date=16 July 2009}} The song debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number four.{{cite web| url=http://acharts.us/ireland_singles_top_50/2009/29| title=Irish Singles Chart – week 29 (2009)| publisher=aCharts.us| access-date=17 July 2009 }} The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web| url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE56I1XQ20090719| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722142936/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE56I1XQ20090719| url-status=dead| archive-date=22 July 2009|title=X-Factor's JLS make No. 1 with debut "Beat Again"|last=Baker|first=Luke|date=19 July 2009|work=Reuters|access-date=19 July 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/the-charts-jls-debut-single-goes-790255|title=The Charts: JLS debut single goes straight to number one|author=mirror Administrator|date=19 July 2009|work=Daily Mirror}} It sold 106,299 copies in its first week on sales, making it the second fastest-selling single of 2009, behind Dizzee Rascal's "Bonkers".{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/michael-jackson/46196|title=JLS score Number One debut|date=19 July 2009|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|access-date=19 July 2009}} "Beat" Again" has sold over 574,000 copies in the UK as of July 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-charts-flashback-2009-jls-beat-again__7662/|title=Official Charts Flashback 2009: JLS – Beat Again|date=26 July 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company}} The song was also released in the United States in July 2009, but failed to chart or garner commercial interest.
The song won Best British Single at the MOBO Awards 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a179933/jls-n-dubz-beyonce-win-two-mobo-awards.html|title=JLS, N-Dubz, Beyoncé win two MOBO Awards|work=Digital Spy}} and 2010 BRIT Awards.
Music video
The music video was shot in May 2009 and released on 4 June 2009. It features various scenes of JLS dancing to the song in front of blue, red, yellow and green lights, all of which represent the different band members. The dance choreography involves moves revolving around heartbeats, alluding to the title "Beat Again".{{cite web| url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/jls/video/beat-again| title=Beat Again music video| publisher=Music Television| access-date=12 July 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090622171420/http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/jls/video/beat-again| archive-date= 22 June 2009 | url-status= dead}}
Track listing
- "Beat Again" – 3:19
- "Umbrella" – 4:21
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Chart (2009) ! Peak |
| Bulgaria (Nielsen Airplay){{cite web|title=Bulgaria Airplay Top 5|publisher=Bulgarian Association of the Music Producers|url=http://www.bamp-bg.org/en/2009-07-08-09-48-53/nmc-charts/175-week46-0911-15112009.html|access-date=20 December 2009}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
|align="center"|2 |
| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine|title=Hits of the World: European Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|volume=121|issue=30|page=47|date=1 August 2009}}
|align="center"|6 |
| {{single chart|Ireland|3|year=2009|week=31}} |
| {{single chart|Romaniatvairplay|1|year=2009|week=50|song=Beat Again|artist=JLS|access-date=3 July 2018|publish-date=7 December 2009}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|1|date=20090719}} |
| {{single chart|UK|1|date=20090719}} |
=Year-end charts=
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}
Certifications
Release history
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{JLS}}
{{Brit British Single}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Brit Award for British Single
Category:Songs written by Wayne Hector
Category:Songs written by Steve Mac
Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Mac
Category:Number-one singles in Scotland