What do the "Beats" in Angel Beats! mean?


I am not sure if "Beats" refer to "heart beats" or "music beats". What does
the title mean as a whole?




This will include spoilers from later in the show, for anyone not wanting to
spoil, please don't read my answer, just know that it in fact is both of the
suggestions @An hoa has.

**It's both Heart Beats and Music Beats**

* * *

> Your assumptions of it being one or both of the two suggested is correct, as
> the title as a whole is a play on the fact that the whole show revolves
> around a character Otonashi who's heart was given away, to the girl Kanade,
> after he had died. (or Tenshi, for those of you who don't like her actual
> name).  
>

* * *

> In the end of the show we see that Kanade thanked Otonashi for giving her
> the heart she had used to carry on living. She had always wanted to thank
> him for the **beating** heart she had been given, as hers was no good.  
>

* * *

> We all realized that it was referring to the beat of the song, as well
> however from the get go, due to the catchy rythm of the OP. So it's natural
> to think that that was the reasoning. However it IS both.  
>

* * *

> The title literally means **_The beating of Kanade's heart_**  
>  
>  As we know **Kanade is known as Tenshi** which directly **translates to
> Angel.**




This will include spoilers from later in the show, for anyone not wanting to
spoil, please don't read my answer, just know that it in fact is both of the
suggestions @An hoa has.

**It's both Heart Beats and Music Beats**

* * *

> Your assumptions of it being one or both of the two suggested is correct, as
> the title as a whole is a play on the fact that the whole show revolves
> around a character Otonashi who's heart was given away, to the girl Kanade,
> after he had died. (or Tenshi, for those of you who don't like her actual
> name).  
>

* * *

> In the end of the show we see that Kanade thanked Otonashi for giving her
> the heart she had used to carry on living. She had always wanted to thank
> him for the **beating** heart she had been given, as hers was no good.  
>

* * *

> We all realized that it was referring to the beat of the song, as well
> however from the get go, due to the catchy rythm of the OP. So it's natural
> to think that that was the reasoning. However it IS both.  
>

* * *

> The title literally means **_The beating of Kanade's heart_**  
>  
>  As we know **Kanade is known as Tenshi** which directly **translates to
> Angel.**

