How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

The classic song by Swedish outfit, The Knife. It was later covered by José González, which further cemented the song’s place as an iconic synth-pop track.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What has the media said about the song?
Genius Answer

In 2018, NPR ranked this as the #35 greatest song by a female or nonbinary artist in the 21st century, saying:

One of the century’s first perfect — and weirdest — love songs came by way of Swedish sister-brother duo Karin and Olof Dreijer. ‘Heartbeats’ was as mysterious as its creators, who were known for wearing masks on stage and eschewing pop convention in both their music and business practices. But underneath its cool, electronic veneer, the song tapped into all-too-human feelings of uncertainty and the intrigue of new romance — perhaps a forbidden one. José González’s acoustic distillation (which became a hit in its own right) shed light on its universality, but the rawness of the original remains its essence. Even misfits and outsiders yearn to connect.

Comments