Two of Hearts (song)

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"Two of Hearts"
Single by Stacey Q
from the album Better Than Heaven
B-side
  • "Dancing Nowhere"
  • "Shy Girl"
Released1986
StudioFormula 1 (La Habra, California)
GenreHi-NRG[1][2][3]
Length3:57
Label
Songwriter(s)John Mitchell
Producer(s)
Stacey Q singles chronology
"Shy Girl"
(1985) 		"Two of Hearts"
(1986) 		"We Connect"
(1986)
Music video
"Two of Hearts" on YouTube

"Two of Hearts" is a song by American singer Stacey Q, first issued as an independent 12-inch dance club single by On the Spot Records, then picked up by Atlantic after achieving regional sales.[4] Written by John Mitchell, the song was Stacey Q's biggest hit; its global sales success fueled the recording of her debut album Better Than Heaven (1986), which included the song.[5]

Background and recording[edit]

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. At first, Stacey Q refused to record a song written by someone else, but later she changed her mind.[6] The single was co-produced by St. James who owned the recording studio, William Walker, and nightclub deejay Jeff Fishman. The artist and producers promoted the single, especially to Latin music audiences in Los Angeles and Miami. The song was picked up by Atlantic Records to be released as the lead single from Q's debut studio album Better Than Heaven (1986). They recorded the album in three weeks while the song was climbing the charts.[4]

The song was prominently featured in the Facts of Life episode "Off-Broadway Baby" in which Stacey Q appeared as the character Cinnamon, a teenage singer largely modeled on herself; the episode ends with her performing the song in a radio station's sound booth.[7]

Lyrics and music[edit]

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,[8] breaking into the top 40 in mid-August[9] and peaking at number three during the autumn of that same year to become one of the highest-selling singles of 1986.[10] "Two of Hearts" was ranked number 27 on VH1's "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s", although follow-up single "We Connect" was a minor hit on the Hot 100 (peaking at #35).

Music video[edit]

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 Stacey Q also performed the song on a season eight episode of The Facts Of Life. The song was used as the ringtone of the protagonist in the HBO Max series “The Flight Attendant.”

Critical reception[edit]

Jerry Smith of the Music Week magazine described "Two of Hearts" a "bright bubbly track" he deemed "instantly memorable" and "entertaining" thanks to its "lively disco beat and slick pop vocal".[11] In a review published in Smash Hits, Dave Rimmer considered that the song is a "fine example of the kind of mechanical dance music that sounds brilliant in dodgy Greek discos on holidays".[12]

Track listings[edit]

Credits and personnel[edit]

  • 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

Usage in media[edit]

The song was featured in the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, being performed by contestants Sonique and Morgan McMichaels in a "lipsync for your life".

Charts[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Billboard". October 18, 1986.
  2. ^ "100 Greatest Dance Songs". Slant Magazine. January 30, 2006. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  3. ^ Maura (October 2, 2008). "Annie Plays Her Trump Card". Idolator. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Chin, Brian (October 18, 1986). "Stacey Q Has A Hit, But Is It Disco?". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 42. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510.
  5. ^ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  6. ^ "Back to the 80s: Interview with Stacey Q", Kickin' it Old School, April 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "Stacey Q: You Wrote The Book". Stacey-Q.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2007.
  8. ^ "Billboard". July 5, 1986. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. ^ "Billboard". August 16, 1986. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. ^ "Billboard". December 27, 1986. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  11. ^ Smith, Jerry (September 20, 1986). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved September 8, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ Rimmer, Dave (December 31, 1986 – January 13, 1987). "Singles reviewed by Dave Rimmer" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 8, no. 27. p. 44. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ Two of Hearts (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. On The Spot Records / NRS. 1986. NRS 110.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Two of Hearts (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. On The Spot Records / NRS. 1986. NRS 116.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Two of Hearts (US 7-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. Atlantic Records. 1986. 7-89381.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Two of Hearts (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Stacey Q. Atlantic Records. 1986. 0-86797.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 50. December 13, 1986. p. Y-21. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0862." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  21. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 6. February 14, 1987. p. 15. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  22. ^ "Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  23. ^ "Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  26. ^ "Stacey Q. – Two of Hearts". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  27. ^ "Stacey Q: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  28. ^ "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 13, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved September 8, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  29. ^ "Stacey Q Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  30. ^ "Stacey Q Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  31. ^ "Stacey Q Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  32. ^ "Stacey Q Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  33. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 25, 1986". Cash Box. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  34. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Stacey Q – Two of Hearts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  35. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 29, 1986 – via Imgur.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  37. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  38. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  39. ^ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  40. ^ "1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Dance Sales Singles/Albums". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-26. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  41. ^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 27, 1986. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  42. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report. No. 701. December 28, 1987 – via Imgur.
  43. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1987". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
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