"Heart Beat" is a song by Japanese duo Yoasobi. It was released as a single on December 26, 2023, by Sony Music Entertainment Japan, served as the theme for the seventh iteration of annual television special18Fes. A theme of "heartbeat", the song was written by Ayase and based on messages, essays, and video submissions from the program's 1,000 teenage participants.
On June 12, 2023, NHK announced the seventh iteration of television special18Fes collaborated with Yoasobi, where they solicited message or performance videos under the theme of "heartbeat" from 1,000 teenagers between 17 and 20 years old in Japan, to create music based on those videos, scheduled for filming in November with those teenagers.[1][2] Shortly after the broadcast the day before, the song, titled "Heart Beat" was available for digital music and streaming platforms on December 26.[3] Lyrically, the song shows positive feelings and attitudes of trying new things to move forward despite the anxiety inside.[4]
An accompanying music video for "Heart Beat" premiered on December 26, 2023, the same day as the release, at 20:00 JST. Directed by Atsushi Makino, who previously directed the duo's "Gunjō" music video (2020), it depicts facing yourself, while struggling to find true identity via puppet show and blacklights.[5]
Yoasobi gave the debut performance of "Heart Beat" at 18Fes on December 25, alongside band members and 1,000 selected teenagers.[6] Besides 18Fes, Yoasobi included the song on the setlist for their Pop Out Zepp Tour.[7] Since February 2024, Mizuho Bank used "Heart Beat" for the "New Life Support" advertising campaign by a music video illustrated by manga artist Tina Yamashina, which first premiered on screens at Shibuya Crossing,[4] as well as television advertisement.[8]
