"Beat of My Heart" is a song by American actress and singer Hilary Duff from her first compilation album Most Wanted (2005). It was written by Duff and the Dead Executives, a record production team consisting of Jason Epperson, Joel and Benji Madden. Along with the three other new songs on Most Wanted, "Beat of My Heart" was crafted with the intention of having a "totally different sound" from Duff's previous material. It is an up-tempo new wave-inspired electropop song that incorporates elements of bubblegum pop in its production. Lyrically, "Beat of My Heart" can be interpreted in many ways. For Duff, it tells the story of a woman "com[ing] out of her shell again" after a bad break-up. Following the success of previous single, "Wake Up", "Beat of My Heart" was issued as the second international single from Most Wanted. It was released in Australia by Festival Mushroom Records on December 11, 2005, and in several European countries on March 6, 2006, by Angel Records. The single was a moderate commercial success. It managed to chart in four countries, reaching its highest position in Italy, where it peaked at number eight. In addition, it reached the top 20 in Australia and Spain and the low-end of the chart in Switzerland. Critical reaction to "Beat of My Heart" was generally mixed, with many criticizing the song for being repetitive and childish, while others gave it credit for presenting an easy-to-listen-to sound. The accompanying music video for "Beat of My Heart" was directed by Phil Harder. The music video, which paid homage to Bond girls, debuted a "more mature" image of Duff. It emulates the title sequences of James Bond films from the 1960s to present-day, high-tech 3D designs. Duff has performed "Beat of My Heart" live on all of her concert tours since its inception. A pre-recorded performance of the song was played during the 2006 edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, which would later become a regular feature during future editions of the program. The song and video were parodied on the American sketch comedy series Mad TV. The parody satirizes Duff's thinness and Hollywood's obsession with body image. Background and development On May 20, 2005, MTV News reported that Hilary Duff would be releasing a new album in August, comprising previously released tracks and four new recordings. The following month, in an interview with MTV News,