Heaven (The Chimes song)
{{Short description|1989 single by the Chimes}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Heaven
| cover = Heaven_(The_Chimes_song).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Chimes
| album = The Chimes
| released = {{start date|1989|11|20|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=45|date=18 November 1989}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = House
| length = 3:51
| label = CBS
| writer = Pauline Henry, Mike Peden, James Locke
| producer = The Chimes
| prev_title = 1-2-3
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
| next_year = 1990
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|HmMr5u7cl3U|"Heaven"}}}}
}}
"Heaven" is a song by Scottish band the Chimes, released on 20 November 1989 by CBS as the second single from their only album, The Chimes (1990). It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, staying at the top for one week. The song also peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, but failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. "Heaven" also reached number 24 on the UK Singles Chart and number five in New Zealand.
Critical reception
Bill Coleman of Billboard complimented the song as "tasty" and "an even stronger club offering", than the band's debut single, "1-2-3". He felt that vocalist Pauline Henry's delivery "sends shivers and has been called by one colleague "the Candi Staton of the '90's"."{{cite magazine|first= Bill |last= Coleman |title= Dance Trax: The Beloved's 'Happiness' Breaks Out All Over |magazine= Billboard |date= 17 March 1990 |page= 31 |access-date= 14 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-03-17.pdf}} Paul Lester from Melody Maker declared the song as "brilliant", adding that "Heaven" "should give the Chimes their second visit to Top of the Pops".{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Lester|work=Melody Maker|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52198955459/|date=22 September 1990|access-date=24 February 2023}} Music & Media wrote that this self-produced and self written soul number has a house rhythm track and an "excellent" vocal performance. The reviewer added, "The record sparkles with gospel energy and the inclusion of an unexpectedly messy piano is great. Give it a play."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-12-09.pdf|title=Previews: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=9 December 1989|page=12|access-date=25 September 2020}} When re-released in 1990, the magazine stated that "following up their massive "I Still Haven't Found...", this electryfing act brings us more house-pulsed dance. Soulful vocals and a rocking piano riff."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-10-13.pdf|title=Previews: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=13 October 1990|page=18|access-date=19 February 2020}}
Nick Robinson from Music Week commented on the re-release, "This time the funky drum, subtle piano and wailing vocal track should make a sizeable dent in the pop chart, building on the success of "Still Haven't Found.." earlier this year."{{cite magazine|first= Nick |last= Robinson |title= Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 29 September 1990 |page= 21 |access-date= 31 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1990/MW-1990-09-29.pdf}} Helen Mead from NME complimented its "stomping smash and grab", declaring it as "a track that couldn't have been any more perfect for the club climate if they'd got Adamski in on keyboards."{{cite magazine|first=Helen|last=Mead|work=NME|title=Long Play|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52130141119/|date=9 June 1990|access-date=24 February 2023}} Daniele Davoli of Black Box reviewed "Heaven" for Number One, saying, "It's really nice. It seems to be like a true sound — when you close your eyes you see the song in the same way. It's not a refined song but it's full of feeling and that's the stuff I like. They're going to have a heavy success."{{cite magazine|first=Davoli|last=Daniele|title=Singles: Single of the Week|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/32623168107/in/album-72157707797606215/|magazine=Number One|date=29 November 1989|page=43|accessdate=2 January 2023}} Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits noted Henry's "remarkable voice", declaring the track as "classy".{{cite magazine|first=Miranda|last=Sawyer|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/25645009067/in/album-72157693156746214/|title=Review: LPs|magazine=Smash Hits|issue=300|page=60|date=30 May 1990|access-date=9 March 2020|author-link=Miranda Sawyer}} Steven Daly from Spin concluded, "1990 won't yield many records better than the Chimes' go-for-broke paean to sexual congress "Heaven"..."{{cite magazine|first=Steven|last=Daly|title=Singles|magazine=Spin|date=August 1990|page=84|accessdate=23 January 2023|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=otG9qgDiY1cC}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Mini CD single
| total_length = 14:43
| title1 = Heaven
| note1 = heavy club
| writer1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| length1 = 5:45
| title2 = Heaven
| note2 = alternative 12-inch mix
| writer2 =
| lyrics2 =
| music2 =
| length2 = 4:26
| title3 = So Much in Love
| note3 = extended demo version
| writer3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| length3 = 4:32
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1990) !Position |
| scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1990: Top Dance Club Play Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=102|issue=51|page=YE-31|date=22 December 1990}}
|34 |
|---|
{{col-end}}