Floating in Heaven
{{Infobox song
| name = Floating in Heaven
| cover = Floating-In-Heaven 3000x3000 RGB-820x820.webp
| type = single
| artist = Brian May and Graham Gouldman
| genre = Rock, pop
| length = 3:30
| label = Duck Productions Ltd, Universal International Music B.V.
| writer = Graham Gouldman
| producer =
- Brian May
- Graham Gouldman
- Graeme Pleeth
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Brian May
| type = single
| prev_title = Panic Attack 2021 (It's Gonna Be Alright)
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Floating in Heaven
| year = 2022
}}{{Extra chronology
| artist = Graham Gouldman
| type = single
| prev_title = Dancing Days
| prev_year = 2000
| title = Floating in Heaven
| year = 2022
}}
{{external music video|{{YouTube|
hOTFcnexJBg|"Floating in Heaven"}}}}
}}
"Floating in Heaven" is a song by astrophysicist and guitarist Brian May (of Queen), and singer and bassist Graham Gouldman (of 10cc). It was released on 12 July 2022{{Citation |title=Floating In Heaven | date=11 July 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJGAzp_NEXA |language=en |access-date=2022-07-13}}{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=PRESS: Brian May & Graham Gouldman launch tribute song to JWST |url=https://brianmay.com/brian-news/2022/07/press-brian-may-graham-gouldman-launch-tribute-song-to-jwst/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=brianmay.com |language=en-GB}} on digital streaming platforms including a music video on the official Queen YouTube channel,{{Citation |title=Brian May - Floating in Heaven (Official Video) | date=12 July 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOTFcnexJBg |language=en |access-date=2022-07-13}} the full song and instrumental{{Citation |title=Floating In Heaven (Instrumental) | date=11 July 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b09sTdWlDg |language=en |access-date=2022-07-13}} released under the Graham Gouldman - Topic channel.
Background
The song was created in response to photos from the James Webb Space Telescope being released, showing the first photos of space that it sent to Earth.{{Cite news |date=2022-07-12 |title=James Webb: Nasa space telescope delivers spectacular pictures |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62140044 |access-date=2022-07-13}} May, who is also an astrophysicist, said "There is nothing more exciting in a world of exploration than going to a place about which you know nothing,” and “The sky's the limit for what we could find out."{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Corey|title=Hear Brian May's New Space-Inspired Song 'Floating in Heaven' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/brian-may-floating-in-heaven/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=12 July 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brian May and Graham Gouldman launch tribute song to James Webb Space Telescope |url=https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/national/20274141.brian-may-graham-gouldman-launch-tribute-song-james-webb-space-telescope/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=North Wales Pioneer |date=12 July 2022 |language=en}} The song's release coincided with the showing of the first images of space being sent to Earth.{{Cite web |last=Peacock |first=Tim |date=2022-07-12 |title=Brian May Joins Graham Gouldman For Exclusive New Track, 'Floating In Heaven' |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/brian-may-graham-gouldman-floating-heaven/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}
A short video of May and Gouldman had been released in March 2022 on May's social media,{{Citation |title=Brian May and Graham Gouldman in Brian's Studio - 24/03/2022 | date=24 March 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4_WKQKnpPc |language=en |access-date=2022-07-13}} teasing a collaboration.
The song was written by Gouldman, with May contributing guitars and vocals. The song features descriptive and astronomical lyrics, the first verse features It’s time for me to say goodbye and search for past is new / Our future lies above the clouds, above the sky so blue / I’ve never seen the moon so white / I’ve never seen the sun so bright / I’m floating in heaven / I’m so high.”{{Cite web |last=Koe |first=Crystal |date=2022-07-13 |title=Brian May collabs with Graham Gouldman on new space-inspired song Floating In Heaven |url=https://guitar.com/news/music-news/brian-may-collab-graham-gouldman-space-song-floating-in-heaven-nasa-james-webb/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Guitar.com {{!}} All Things Guitar |language=en-GB}}
Music video
The music video was directed by Jake McBride and features a sample of a NASA countdown while showing archival footage of various space rockets being launched before the music starts, the rest of the music video features videos of the James Webb Space Telescope with videos and pictures of May and Gouldman being overlaid on the video.
An alternative video was uploaded by the Space Telescope Science Institute channel. The video consists of pictures taken by the telescope.File:The_James_Webb_Space_Telescope_(32787358967).jpg in operation ]]
Personnel
Per YouTube descriptions{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=EarthSky {{!}} Floating in Heaven: Rock's tribute to Webb's new images |url=https://earthsky.org/space/floating-in-heaven-rocks-tribute-to-webbs-new-images/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=earthsky.org |language=en-US}}{{Citation |title=JWST image video for 'Floating in Heaven' by Graham Gouldman and Brian May | date=12 July 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHaJ4jVtPes |language=en |access-date=2022-07-14}}
= Song credits =
- Graham Gouldman – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, drum programming, guitar, Gizmotron, production
- Brian May – guitar, backing vocals, production
- Graeme Pleeth – Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer, production, engineer
- Justin Shirley-Smith – mixer
- Kris Fredriksson – additional engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering engineer
= Music video credits =
- Jake McBride – director
- Simon Lupton – producer
- Duck Productions Ltd. – production company