A Different Beat (song)

"A Different Beat" is a song by Irish boy band Boyzone from their second studio album of the same name (1996). The song was written by Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy, Martin Brannigan, and Ray Hedges, and it was produced by Hedges with additional production by Trevor Horn on the radio edit. It was released as the album's second single on 2 December 1996 by Polydor Records, becoming their only UK number-one hit to be co-written by members of the group.

"A Different Beat"
Single by Boyzone
from the album A Different Beat
B-side	"Angel"
Released	2 December 1996 (1996-12-02)[1]
Length	4:10 (album version) 3:34 (radio edit)
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy, Martin Brannigan, Ray Hedges
Producer(s)	Ray Hedges, Trevor Horn
Boyzone singles chronology
"Words" (1996) "A Different Beat" (1996) "Isn't It a Wonder" (1997)
Music video
"A Different Beat" on YouTube

In a 2025 interview band member Keith Duffy explained how the song was inspired and written to emulate Take That's 1995 hit "Never Forget" as an anthemic sounding closing song for the group's own concert finales.^[2]

Critical reception

A reviewer from Music Week rated the song four out of five, describing it as a "dramatic epic, enriched by African chants".^[3] Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times viewed it as "anthemic".^[4]

Track listings

• UK CD1 and Australian CD single^[5]

1. "A Different Beat" (radio edit) – 3:34
2. "Angel" – 3:45
3. "A Different Beat" (remix) – 6:10

• UK CD2^[6]

1. "A Different Beat" (radio edit) – 3:34
2. "Angel" – 3:45
3. "Key to My Life" (live at Wembley) – 4:12
4. "A Different Beat" (remix) – 6:10

• UK cassette and European CD single^[7][8]

1. "A Different Beat" (radio edit) – 3:52 (3:24 on European CD)
2. "Angel" – 3:45

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 42 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 37 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[11] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 18 Europe (European Hit Radio)[13] 28 Germany (GfK)[14] 31 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 36 Ireland (IRMA)[16] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[17] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 78 Scotland (OCC)[19] 1 Spain (Top 40 Radio)[20] 24 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position UK Singles (OCC)[22] 53

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[23]	Silver	200,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.