Beat Again

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title: "Beat Again" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2009-debut-singles", "brit-award-for-british-single", "jls-songs", "songs-written-by-wayne-hector", "songs-written-by-steve-mac", "song-recordings-produced-by-steve-mac", "number-one-singles-in-scotland", "uk-singles-chart-number-one-singles", "2009-songs", "epic-records-singles"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_Again" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

Field	Value
name	Beat Again
cover	Jls beat again.png
type	single
artist	JLS
album	JLS
B-side	Umbrella
released	12 July 2009
recorded	2009
genre	* Pop
* R&B{{cite web	author
length	3:19
label	Epic
writer	* Wayne Hector
producer	Steve Mac
next_title	Everybody in Love
next_year	2009
misc
::

R&B | length = 3:19 | label = Epic | writer = * Wayne Hector
Steve Mac | producer = Steve Mac | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Everybody in Love | next_year = 2009 | misc =

"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). 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.

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. 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. Mac himself had originally presented the song to Nick Raphael, JLS' A&R at Epic Records, as a potential single. "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". Another review, giving the single three stars out of five, said "Beat Again seems to lack originality". It was included on the Popjustice song of the day. 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.

Chart performance

"Beat Again" made its chart debut on the Billboard Euro Digital Tracks chart at number 13, and on the Euro Digital Songs at number 19. The song debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number four. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart. 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". "Beat" Again" has sold over 574,000 copies in the UK as of July 2018. 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 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".

Track listing

"Beat Again" – 3:19
"Umbrella" – 4:21

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (2009) | Peak position | |---|---| | Bulgaria (Nielsen Airplay) | 2 | | Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) | 6 | | UK Airplay (Music Week) | 1 | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (2009)	Position	Chart (2010)	Position
UK Singles Chart	16
Romanian Top 100	71
::

Certifications

Release history

::data[format=table]

Region	Date	Format	Label
Ireland	12 July 2009	Digital download, CD single	Sony Music, Epic Records
url=http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=220;1;312;-1;207&sku=978867#anchorSpecialFeatures	title=JLS – Beat Again – single	publisher=HMV	access-date=9 July 2009}}
United States	14 July 2009	Epic Records
Australia	31 July 2009	Sony Music, Epic Records
::

References

Released on Monday, 9 November 2009. (2009-11-09). "Music - Album Review - JLS: 'JLS'".
(12 July 2009). "Beat Again – DOWNLOAD NOW". [[Epic Records]].
Paine, Andre. (December 2, 2021). "JLS target streaming breakthrough as reunion boosts live business".
(20 January 2009). "X-Factor runners up JLS sign recording deal with Epic". Telegraph.co.uk.
(12 April 2010). "Interview With Steve Mac". [[HitQuarters]].
link. (13 March 2016 , ''HitQuarters'', 1 February 2010.)
Fletcher, Alex. (8 July 2009). "JLS: 'Beat Again'".
Appleton, Steve. (2 July 2009). "Steve Appleton Reviews: JLS – Beat Again". FemaleFirst.
"Song of the Day – JLS — "Beat Again". [[Popjustice]].
(July 24, 2020). "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time".
"Euro Digital Tracks – Beat Again – Chart Listing For The Week Of July 25, 2009". [[Nielsen Business Media]].
"Euro Digital Songs – Beat Again – Chart Listing For The Week Of Jul 25 2009". Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
"Irish Singles Chart – week 29 (2009)". aCharts.us.
Baker, Luke. (19 July 2009). "X-Factor's JLS make No. 1 with debut "Beat Again"". Reuters.
mirror Administrator. (19 July 2009). "The Charts: JLS debut single goes straight to number one". [[Daily Mirror]].
(19 July 2009). "JLS score Number One debut". [[IPC Media]].
(26 July 2018). "Official Charts Flashback 2009: JLS – Beat Again". Official Charts Company.
(October 2009). "JLS, N-Dubz, Beyoncé win two MOBO Awards". Digital Spy.
"Beat Again music video". [[Music Television]].
(October 2023). "Bulgaria Airplay Top 5". Bulgarian Association of the Music Producers.
(1 August 2009). "Hits of the World: European Hot 100".
(1 August 2009). "Top 50 Airplay Chart".
"Topul celor mai difuzate piese în România în 2010". [[România Liberă]].
"Beat Again – single (Ireland)". [[iTunes]]. [[Apple Inc.]].
"JLS – "Beat Again" – single". [[iTunes]]. [[Apple Inc.]].
"Beat Again – MP3 EP". [[Play.com]].
"JLS – Beat Again – single". [[HMV]].
"Beat Again > Overview". [[AllMusic]]. [[Macrovision]].
"JLS discography". Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
"Sanity.com.au – JLS: Beat Again".

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