Heaven (Emeli Sandé song)

"Heaven"
Single by Emeli Sandé
from the album Our Version of Events
B-side
Released 12 August 2011
Format
Genre

[1][2]

Length 4:12
Label Virgin
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Mike Spencer
Emeli Sandé chronology
"Never Be Your Woman"
(2010)		 "Heaven"
(2011)		 "Read All About It"
(2011)

"Heaven" is the debut single from Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. It was released by Virgin Records after she signed a record deal with the label after the success of single "Never Be Your Woman" which Sandé was featured as a guest artist. It was also the first release from Sandé's debut album, Our Version of Events, on 14 August 2011. The single was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist in June 2011. The song was also crowned record of the week by the station’s daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton.[3] The single is written by Sandé, Naughty Boy, Craze and Hoax, with producer Mike Spencer.

The song gained all positive reviews from critics; Digital Spy said that the song is a mixture of pacey house beats, mellow strings (arranged by Cliff Masterson) and Mark Ronson-esque horn sections.[4] The song was also compared to Leona Lewis (whom Sandé has written tracks for) and Yasmin. One critic said that the song was ticking all the good boxes in modern urban music."[1] Critics also said that the song "stunned" them when they heard the song. The single was released accompanied by a music video, which was filmed in London, United Kingdom which premiered on August 22, 2011 on Emeli Sandé's official YouTube account. Throughout the video the music has scenes of Sandé singing to the sky, and standing outside of a Cathedral, there are also many shots where Mary, the mother of Jesus' statue is seen in the video. The single was released via digital download and 7" vinyl on 14 August and 15 August 2011, respectively. The single was made to pre-order several weeks before it was released on iTunes.[5]

Background and composition

"Heaven is getting on all the playlists and I’m really happy. It is on the A-list at Radio 1, which is amazing. Heaven has also topped the Shazam chart, which is based on millions of daily requests for the names of songs played on the radio and in bars and clubs."

—Emeli Sandé[6]

"Heaven" was confirmed to be the first released as Sandé's attempt as a solo artist and the first single from Our Version of Events. She signed a joint record deal between Virgin Records and EMI Records.[7] The deal came across after she featured on rapper Wiley's single, "Never Be Your Woman", released by Virgin Records and the single had chart-success charting at number-eight on the UK Singles Chart. Sandé had several meetings with record companies to secure a deal to release music.[7] The song was written by Emeli Sandé herself, longtime collaborator Naughty Boy, and Craze and Hoax.

She was a medical student and studied at Glasgow University. She revealed that her education was the most important thing to her, as if her music career was to fail, she would have a career to drop back to. She revealed that her manager, Adrian Sykes waited since she was 16 to finally record a debut album.[7] She later announced that she would begin recording her debut album once her education was competed (stating this when she was about to study her fourth year at university).[7] After her fourth year, she passed her medical exams and she began recording her first album, with "Heaven" being picked as the lead single from the album. She announced that the single topped the Shazam charts for weeks, saying that people just want to know "what it is they are hearing, which is really exciting."[6]

In an interview with Digital Spy Sandé discussed the background of the song; "A lot of people when they first hear it immediately think early '90s, that kind of era, strings with the 'Funky Drummer' underneath them, quite epic sounding I guess. The song was written after a very long conversation I had with [producer] Naughty Boy. We got into a very deep conversation about religion and how to be good – what we all try to do in this day and age and how difficult it is. He said, 'I guess you just have to keep your heart clean' and that sparked the whole song. It was done really quickly and we knew it was a special one as soon as it was done."[8]

Reception

Critical reception

Digital Spy said that the song is a mixture of pacey house beats, mellow strings and Ronson-esque horn sections.[4] The song was also crowned "Record of the Week" by BBC Radio 1 playlist daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton.[3] This Must be Pop said the single has the vocals of Leona Lewis and Yasmin's beat. They went onto say; "The track starts quite pleasantly but gets better as it goes on and gradually gets more dramatic. It's a good example of a style that's currently in vogue, but I don't see it doing any better than her competitors."[9] Robot Pigeon said that the song "stunned" them when heard the song. Saying; "drum'n'bass meets gospel (Friday nights meet Sunday mornings) pop giant. It's a spine tingling track that showcases an enormous vocal talent while at the same time ticking all the good boxes in modern urban music."[1] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review stating: "Judging by 'Heaven', it's a crime that she didn't put her solo career into action years ago. "Oh heaven, I wake with good intentions/ But the day it always lasts too long," she preaches over a familiar trip-hop beat with a seasoned vocal that a Robin S or Ultra Naté wouldn't cock a snook at. The result sounds like a lost club classic from the '90s, though by the time the euphoric, string-laden chorus kicks in, you'll be too busy with your fists in the air to notice."[2]

Chart performance

The song first appeared to be having chart success after thousands pre-ordering the single on iTunes. The song debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number forty. However, despite a low chart position in Ireland, "Heaven" debuted at number-two on the UK Singles Chart with sales of 63,659.[10] This song went onto chart at number-twenty nine in Ireland weeks later. The song also appeared at the top of the chart on the UK Dance Chart, as well as charting at number-three on the Scottish Singles Chart. After Sandé's early January 2012 appearance on the Italian X Factor final, where she sang the song with the runner-up group I Moderni, "Heaven" cracked into the top ten at number ten from number fifty on the official FIMI chart. In Denmark, the song archived similar success after being performed by contestants in the two singing competitions X Factor and The Voice of Denmark. It subsequently debuted at peaked at number three on 17 February 2012.[11]

Music video

"It is amazing, I have had friends text or call me to say they have seen it."

—Emeli Sandé on new music video[12]

A music video to accompany the release of "Heaven" was first released onto YouTube on 22 July 2011 at a total length of four minutes and fifteen seconds.[13] It was confirmed that Jake Nava directed the music video for the song.[12] Nava has previously worked with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj. Sandé confirmed that the music video would be released on 22 July 2011. The music video was filmed in Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom. The beginning of the music video shows Sandé sitting at a window in a house, the scene later changes a number of times to different people; the people who are looking upset. As she starts singing the chorus, singing "oh heaven" it shows Sandé singing and a view of the clouds in the sky. Throughout the music video there are various shots of Sandé around different towns and places in London. There are often shots of people saying prayers, and carrying a statue of Mary and a Cross resembling heaven and God; there are also shots of Sandé standing and singing outside a cathedral.

Live performances

Sandé is one of dozens of acts playing the two-day Belladrum festival, a sold out show with a capacity of 12,000.[6] She also performed the song on Jools Holland. The song was also featured during the London 2012 opening ceremony at the end of the Digital Age section after the recognition of Tim Berners-Lee.

Track listing

Digital single[5]
  1. "Heaven" – 4:12
  2. "Heaven" (Instrumental) – 4:13
  3. "Heaven" (PYRAMID Remix) – 5:37
  4. "Heaven" (Live From Angel Studios) – 3:17
  5. "Easier In Bed" (Acoustic Version) (Written by Sandé & Chris Loco) – 3:14
  6. "Kill the Boy" (Live From Angel Studios) (Written by Sandé) – 4:00
Digital Remixes EP[14]
  1. "Heaven" (Nu:Tone Remix) – 6:09
  2. "Heaven" (We Don't Belong In Pacha Remix) – 6:25
  3. "Heaven" (Mojam Remix) – 4:05
  4. "Heaven" (Stripped) – 3:42
7" vinyl[15]
  1. "Heaven" – 4:14
  2. "Easier In Bed" (Acoustic Version) – 3:16

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2011–12) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Hitseekers Chart[16] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 23
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[18] 2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[11] 3
Germany (Media Control Charts)[19] 63
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 29
Italy (FIMI)[21] 10
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[22] 9
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[23] 69
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[24] 3
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] 23
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 2
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[27] 1
UK Official Streaming Chart Top 100[28] 90

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Italy (FIMI)[29] Gold 15,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 400,000^
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[31] Gold 900,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Release date Format(s)
Ireland 12 August 2011[32] Digital download
United Kingdom 14 August 2011[33]
United States 31 January 2012[34]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Robot Pigeon reviews Heaven". Robot Pigeon. 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Robert Copsey. "Emeli Sandé: 'Heaven'". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 ""Heaven" crowned record of the week". The Press and Journal. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Digital Spy reviews Heaven". Deadline. 2011-08-01. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Heaven on iTunes". iTunes. 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Emeli talks about working with Boyle, Lewis and Lloyd". Daily Record. 2011-08-02. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Sande signs record deal with EMI and Virgin". Deadline. 2010-08-15. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  8. ↑ Mayer Nissim. "Emeli Sandé interview: 'I want to give my best songs away'". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk.
  9. ↑ "This Must be Pop reviews Heaven". This Must Be Pop. 2011-06-18. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  10. ↑ http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/nero-top-albums-chart-as-wretch-32-leads-singles/046492
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Danishcharts.com – Emeli Sandé – Heaven". Tracklisten. Hung Medien.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Emeli talks about her new music video". Evening Express. 2011-08-04. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  13. ↑ "Emeli Sande – Heaven (Official Video)". YouTube. 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  14. ↑ "Heaven on iTunes". iTunes. 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  15. ↑ "Emeli Sandé Store". https://shop.emelisande.com''. EMI. 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  16. ↑ "ARIA Report 1144" (PDF). http://pandora.nla.gov.au''. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Emeli Sandé – Heaven" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Emeli Sandé – Heaven" (in French). Ultratip. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  19. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Emeli Sande > Heaven – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  20. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 34, 2011". Irish Singles Chart.
  21. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Emeli Sandé – Heaven". Top Digital Download. Hung Medien.
  22. ↑ "Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Emeli Sandé – Heaven" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  24. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2011-08-27". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  25. ↑ "spanishcharts.com – Emeli Sandé – Heaven". Canciones Top 50. Hung Medien.
  26. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2011-08-27" UK Singles Chart.
  27. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2011-08-27" UK Dance Chart.
  28. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/official-streaming-chart/
  29. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Emeli Sandé – Heaven" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Emeli Sandé in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  30. ↑ "British single certifications – Emeli Sandé – Heaven". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Heaven in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  31. ↑ "Certificeringer - Emeli Sandé - Heaven" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  32. ↑ "Heaven – iTunes (Ireland)". Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  33. ↑ "Heaven – EP by Emeli Sandé iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  34. ↑ "Heaven – iTunes (United States)". Retrieved 2012-02-01.

External links