Heaven (Bryan Adams song)

Adams had played over 100 dates with Journey during 1983, serving as the opening act on their Frontiers Tour. During that time, he and Jim Vallance co-wrote "Heaven", which was inspired by Journey's hit "Faithfully". It was recorded at the Power Station in New York City on June 6 and 7, 1983.{{cite news|title=Album notes for Anthology by Dave Marsh (CD booklet). A&M Records (A&M 5613).|date=October 18, 2005}} Halfway through the recording session, drummer Mickey Curry – who had warned Adams about his limited availability that day – announced that he had to leave since he had committed in advance to a Hall & Oates session. Since the recording session for "Heaven" was running behind schedule, Adams called Journey drummer Steve Smith, who happened to be in New York City at the time and he filled Curry's drumming position. The song first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1983 film, A Night in Heaven, although it was not released as a single at that time.

Adams was unconvinced that "Heaven" was suitable for his next studio album, Reckless, a feeling that was echoed by producer Jimmy Iovine, who was working with Adams at the time. Iovine thought the song was too 'light' for the album and recommended that Adams not include it. But at the last moment, Adams changed his mind.{{cite web|url=http://www.jimvallance.com/01-music-folder/songs-folder-may-27/pg-song-adams-heaven.html |title=Heaven |publisher=JimVallance.com |access-date=May 7, 2004 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040507014646/http://www.jimvallance.com/01-music-folder/songs-folder-may-27/pg-song-adams-heaven.html |archive-date=May 7, 2004 }}

For All Music Guide, Stewart Mason called the song "the power ballad that transcends the inherent cheesiness of the style to become a genuinely effective single." Mason also praised the "solid melody" and "appropriately bombastic arrangement...over which Adams delivers his most effective vocal performance ever."{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808142846/http://www.allmusic.com/song/heaven-t2547980|archive-date=August 8, 2011|title=Heaven - Bryan Adams - Song Review|publisher=All Music Guide|last=Mason|first=Stewart|url=http://www.allmusic.com:80/song/heaven-t2547980|access-date=January 15, 2019|url-status=live}}

In 1984, "Heaven" won the Procan Award (Performing Rights Organization of Canada) for Canadian radio airplay, in 1985, it won the BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) Citation of Achievement for U.S. radio airplay and ten years later, it won a Socan Classics Award for more than 100,000 Canadian radio performances.

"Heaven" first appeared on the A Night in Heaven soundtrack album in 1983 and received substantial airplay on album-oriented rock radio stations, reaching the number nine on Billboard{{'}}s Top Tracks chart in February 1984. It was released as the third single from the album Reckless in April 1985 and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the highest-charting single from "Reckless". The song also re-entered the Top Rock Tracks chart at that time, peaking at number 27. "Heaven" also peaked at number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart during its second run, becoming Adams' second single to reach that chart after "Straight from the Heart" in 1983, and his biggest AC hit until 1991.

In Canada, "Heaven" reached number 11 on the RPM Singles Chart.

The song was also released in Australia, Europe, and New Zealand in 1985. "Heaven" peaked at number 38 in the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/ |title=Bryan Adams |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=October 3, 2008}} In several mainland European countries, "Heaven" was the first hit for Adams. "Heaven" reached the top 10 in Sweden and Norway and then the top 20 in Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, and Sweden, it was a moderate top hundred success in Germany where it peaked at number 62. In Australia, it peaked at number 12.

There were two videos, one shot at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and directed by Steve Barron.{{cite web

| url=http://www.clipland.com/Summary/944433655/

| title=Steve Barron - Heaven

| publisher=Clipland

| access-date=June 24, 2008 }} That video includes appearances by Lysette Anthony, Garwin Sanford and Anthony Harrison. The second video was shot at the Apollo Theatre in London, England, and features Adams singing the song in a live concert setting; behind him, stacked video monitors show his band playing along. Video monitors also occupy each seat of the otherwise empty theater. At the end it is all revealed to be a dream of Adams. The video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography.{{cite news

|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1985/

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830021739/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1985/

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=August 30, 2008

|title=VMA - 1985

|work=MTV

|access-date= October 3, 2008}}

All live tracks were recorded at the Hollywood Palladium on February 1, 1985.

• US 7-inch (A&M 2729)

1. "Heaven"
2. "Heaven" (live)

• UK 7-inch (A&M AM256)

1. "Heaven"
2. "Diana"

• UK 12-inch (A&M AMY256)

1. "Heaven"
2. "Diana"
3. "Heaven" (live)
4. "Fits Ya Good"

• Bryan Adams – Vocals, Piano
• Keith Scott – Electric Guitar
• Rob Sabino – Synthesizers
• Steve Smith – Drums
• Jim Vallance – Tambourine
• Dave Taylor – Bass

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Heaven"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Heaven|award=Platinum|relyear=1985|certyear=2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Heaven|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=1985}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Heaven|award=Platinum|certyear=2020|relyear=1985|id=14278|access-date=August 20, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Heaven|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=2021|id=8804}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Heaven|award=Platinum|relyear=1985|certyear=2024|id=bryan-adams-heaven|access-date=March 6, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Bryan Adams|title=Heaven|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|id=2815-270-1|access-date=February 11, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Heaven

| cover = DJ Sammy & Yanou - Heaven Cover.jpg

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = DJ Sammy and Yanou featuring Do

| album = Heaven

| B-side = The Blue

| released = {{start date|2001|11|21}}

| recorded =

| genre = * Eurodance{{cite news|first= Bob |last= Stanley |title= Sixty years of the UK charts |newspaper= The Guardian |date= November 13, 2012 |access-date= September 15, 2017 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/13/sixty-years-uk-charts}}{{cite magazine|title= Gray Celebrates Big 'Day' On U.K. Album Chart |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/73593/gray-celebrates-big-day-on-uk-album-chart |magazine= Billboard |date= November 4, 2002 |access-date= September 15, 2017}}

• EDM{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Bryan Adams' "Heaven|website= Stereogum |date= October 9, 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2101608/the-number-ones-bryan-adams-heaven/columns/the-number-ones/|accessdate= August 2, 2023}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=52}}

| label = * Urban

• Data
• Ministry of Sound

| writer = * Bryan Adams

• Jim Vallance

| producer = * DJ Sammy

• Yanou

| chronology = DJ Sammy singles

| prev_title = In 2 Eternity

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Sunlight

| next_year = 2002

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Yanou

| type = single

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title = Heaven

| year = 2001

| next_title = On & On

| next_year = 2003

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Do

| type = single

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| title = Heaven

| year = 2001

| next_title = Heaven

| next_version = unplugged

| next_year = 2002

}}

{{External music video|1={{YouTube|kyhzZZHK_mc|"Heaven"}}}}

}}

Spanish DJ Sammy and German DJ Yanou recorded a dance cover of "Heaven" with vocals from Dutch singer Do. It was initially released on November 21, 2001, as the first single from DJ Sammy's second studio album of the same name (2002).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/where-are-they-now-2002-daniel-bedingfield-dirty-vegas-khia-1235048704/|title=Where Are They Now? Catching Up With 2002 Stars Daniel Bedingfield, Dirty Vegas, Khia, Phantom Planet & DJ Sammy|last1=Unterberger|first1=Andrew|last2=Daw|first2=Robbie|date=March 24, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}

The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100. On October 28, 2009, over seven years after its release, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over 500,000. It has also been certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streams of over 1,200,000 units.

The music video was directed by Oliver Bradford. It features Yanou, DJ Sammy and Do viewed briefly from a television. The video features two Asian girls, androgynous people and a Black man. It featured a family of four. There is a second version, with extended scenes of a stationary Do singing and no scenes of Yanou.

Do performed the song with Westlife live in 2002 in the UK, and also with Westlife at the TMF Awards in 2003.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4lgyx|title=Dailymotion|website=www.dailymotion.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2n9u1UnP_A|title=Westlife & Do - Heaven | Live at TMF Awards | The Music Factory|date=February 12, 2024|via=YouTube}} Do also performed the song several times together with Bryan Adams, in the Netherlands and Germany.

Spanish maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Heaven|others=DJ Sammy, Yanou|year=2001|type=Spanish maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Vale Music, Super M Records|id=VLCDMX814-4}}

1. "Heaven" (S'N'Y mix radio edit) – 3:54
2. "Heaven" (S'N'Y mix extended) – 5:16
3. "Heaven" (Green Court remix) – 8:27
4. "Heaven" (Simon & Shaker remix) – 9:01
5. "Heaven" (Commander Tom remix) – 6:35
6. "Heaven" (Anastasia remix) – 10:51
7. "Heaven" (Yanou's Candlelight mix) – 4:02
8. "The Blue" – 7:00

UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Heaven|others=DJ Sammy, Yanou|year=2002|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Data Records, Ministry of Sound|id=DATA45CDS}}

1. "Heaven" (radio edit)
2. "Heaven" (original mix)
3. "Heaven" (Flip and Fill remix)
4. "Heaven" (CD-ROM video)

US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Heaven|others=DJ Sammy, Yanou|year=2002|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Robbins Entertainment|id=76869-72057-2}}

1. "Heaven" (radio version) – 3:55
2. "Heaven" (extended mix) – 5:15
3. "Heaven" (Green Court remix) – 6:19
4. "Heaven" (Commander Tom remix) – 6:35
5. "Heaven" (Anastasia remix) – 10:50
6. "Heaven" (Simon & Shaker remix) – 9:00

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Heaven"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2002}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|title=Heaven|artist=DJ Sammy|relyear=2001|region=France|award=Gold|certyear=2004}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Norway|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2002|nosales=true|access-date=April 7, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|title=Heaven|artist=DJ Sammy & Yanou ft Do|relyear=2001|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=2|id=2815-2937-1|certyear=2022|access-date=December 2, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|title=Heaven|artist=DJ Sammy|relyear=2001|region=United States|award=Gold|certyear=2009|digital=true|refname=RIAA}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Heaven

| version = unplugged

| cover = Do - Heaven (candelight mix).jpg

| caption = Single cover for the Candlelight Mix

| border =

| type = single

| artist = Do

| album = Do

| B-side = "On and On" (piano mix)

| released = {{Start date|2003}}

| recorded =

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=04}}

| label = Patriott

| writer =

• Bryan Adams
• Jim Vallance

| prev_title = Heaven

| prev_year = 2001

| next_title = Love Is Killing Me

| next_year = 2004

| misc =

{{External music video|{{YouTube|pePOBbWEqy4|"Heaven" (Candlelight Mix)}}}}

}}

Because of the Eurodance version's popularity, a stripped-down "Candlelight Mix" ballad version was made and sung by Do, and received airplay on adult contemporary radio stations as well as contemporary hit radio stations.

An unauthorized remix of the Candlelight Mix was made by KKXX in Bakersfield, California to commemorate the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks, featuring a kindergarten-aged girl telling the story of her father's death in the attacks, interspersed with the original chorus. While the monologue is based on a true story, the girl was actually the daughter of a former KISS FM program director, who was reading off a script and did not know about the attacks at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gvn85q/dj-sammy-heaven-op-ed|title= Remembering "Heaven" by DJ Sammy, the Soundtrack to Every Forgotten Holiday Romance|last=Glencross|first=Tom|publisher=Vice News|date=October 17, 2016|access-date=January 3, 2019}}

{{Clear}}

• Her Smell, a film that includes a rendition of "Heaven" performed by Elisabeth Moss
• "The Way Back" by Zach Bryan, a song that interpolates "Heaven"

{{Reflist}}

{{Bryan Adams}}

{{DJ Sammy}}

{{Do (singer)}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heaven (Bryan Adams Song)}}

Category:1983 songs

Category:1985 singles

Category:2001 debut singles

Category:2002 singles

Category:2003 singles

Category:Bryan Adams songs

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Rock ballads

Category:DJ Sammy songs

Category:Do (singer) songs

Category:Eurodance songs

Category:House music songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Music videos directed by Steve Barron

Category:Songs written by Jim Vallance

Category:Songs written by Bryan Adams

Category:A&M Records singles

Category:Ministry of Sound singles

Category:Data Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Clearmountain

Category:Songs about death

Category:1980s ballads

Category:2000s ballads

Category:Heaven in popular culture