Heaven Is a Place on Earth

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“Heaven Is a Place on Earth”
Single by Belinda Carlisle from the album Heaven on Earth
Released	September 18, 1987
Format	CD single, 7" single, 12" single
Recorded	1987
Genre	Soft rock
Length	4:06
Label	MCA Records
Writer(s)	Rick Nowels, Ellen Shipley
Producer	Rick Nowels
Certification	Silver (BPI)
Belinda Carlisle singles chronology
"Since You've Gone" (1986) "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" (1987) "I Get Weak" (1988)

"Heaven Is a Place on Earth" is a song recorded by Belinda Carlisle, the lead singer of The Go-Go's. Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, it hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 5, 1987, becoming Carlisle's only U.S. chart-topper with or without The Go-Go's ("We Got the Beat" and "I Get Weak" each hit #2 & Vacation made #8 in 1982). A month later it hit Number One on the UK singles chart and held the spot for two weeks. The song reached number one in the Swiss chart, number 3 in Germany, and 6 in Italy.

The lyrics of the song describe a woman's feelings (presumably) for a man, and how her love has made her realize that "heaven is a place on earth," and that the two of them together will create Heaven on earth. She also admits she has just begun to understand life, and that while she had fears, "I'm not afraid, any more."

[edit] Track listing

1. "Heaven Is a Place on Earth"
2. "We Can Change"
3. "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" (Heavenly version)
4. "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" (A cappella version)

[edit] Music video

The promotional video was directed by Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton and features an appearance of Carlisle's husband Morgan Mason. Carlisle appeared wearing a strapless top and later changed to a black off-the-shoulder blouse.

[edit] Production

Carlisle's backup vocalists on the track include songwriters Nowels and Shipley as well as Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas. It also featured Thomas Dolby on keyboards.

 Music sample:

Belinda Carlisle "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" (1987)

25 second sample from Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven Is a Place on Earth"

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

[edit] In the media

• "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" was used in Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay as they explored Amsterdam.
• "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" was used at the end of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.
• "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" was also used in the gay bar scene of American Wedding.
• "Heaven Is a Place on Earth (German Election Mix)" was featured in Dance Dance Revolution: SuperNOVA, with the artist listed as JULIA

[edit] Cover Versions

• Numerous dance versions of the song have been released by different artists over the years, including Soda Club, Becky Baeling on her debut 2003 album Becstasy, Virus Incorporation, DJ Lhasa, Julia, Ruudaman feat. I-Witness, Spinderella, Twilight, and Ultra Flirt.
• Pop punk band Student Rick also covered the song.
• There was also an acapella version covered by a vocal group called the Jackson Jills from Tufts University in Massachusetts.
• Ashley Tisdale has recorded a cover of this song along with the Cyndi Lauper song "Time After Time", Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)", Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" and Cathy Dennis' "Too Many Walls" for a promotion for Degree Girl and her EP.

[edit] Sampling

• A looped sample of the song's opening chorus (also played backwards) was used in live appearances of the composition "Halcyon + On + On" by the British electronic music duo Orbital. It has been documented on a 2007 album Orbital: Live at Glastonbury 1994-2004.