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Heaven for Everyone#Queen version

{{Short description|1988 single by the Cross}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Heaven for Everyone

| cover = Heaven for everyone - singlecover.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Artwork for German release

| type = single

| artist = the Cross

| album = Shove It

| B-side =

  • "Love on a Tightrope"
  • "Contact"

| released = 1988

| recorded = 1987–1988

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Rock

| length = 5:08

| label = Parlophone

| writer = Roger Taylor

| producer =

| prev_title = Shove It

| prev_year = 1988

| next_title = Manipulator

| next_year = 1989

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|G7oCFCDR4NA|"Heaven for Everyone"}}}}

}}

"Heaven for Everyone" is a song written by British rock band Queen drummer Roger Taylor. It originally appeared on his side project the Cross's album Shove It, with Freddie Mercury as a guest vocalist, and it is the album's fourth track. It was reworked with Queen's music and appeared in their fifteenth and final studio album, Made in Heaven (1995), where it was the seventh track, and was released as the first single by Parlophone—four years after Mercury's death—and became a chart hit. In 1999, Queen's version was included on their compilation album Greatest Hits III.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r443580|pure_url=yes}} Queen - Greatest Hits III]. Allmusic. Retrieved 25 April 2021

Background and writing

Some reports have Taylor writing the song in 1986 as part of Queen's A Kind of Magic album sessions, after their work on Highlander was complete. If he did, the song was not used, or was incomplete when the album was finished.

When Taylor started working on the album Shove It, he recruited Freddie Mercury to record backing vocals. Two versions were recorded, one with Mercury doing backing to Taylor's lead vocals, and another with Mercury singing lead. The backing track of each was rerecorded as well, instead of the two lead vocals being recorded over the same instrumental backing. The Taylor-vocal version is about twenty seconds longer than the Mercury-vocal version.

The Cross versions also feature a spoken intro by Taylor, as well as a spoken refrain in the middle. The refrain in the Taylor vocal has an extra lyric not sung in the Mercury-vocal version (though it appears in the printed lyrics). Both versions end with Taylor saying "And that. Is the end. Of this section."

The UK edition of the album Shove It featured Mercury's vocal version, while the UK single featured Taylor's vocal version. In the US, the album featured Taylor's vocal version and neither were released as a single.

The song, Taylor noted, "had some good stuff about love and dignity; the usual antiwar thing."{{cite magazine|first= Paul |last= Elliot |title= The show must go on |magazine= Classic Rock |issue= 188 |date= September 2013 |page= 35}}

Music video

The music video was directed by Diebel/Myers in a former gasworks (location of the London O2 Arena), filmed in early 1988. For the Cross version it involved Taylor singing the song on a beach-like setting, while elderly people walked past the band and climbed up ladders to reach heaven.

Track listings

Track listings are sourced from ultimatequeen.co.uk.{{cite web |title=The Cross Singles Discography |url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/the-cross/discography/singles.htm#Heaven%20For%20Everyone |website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}

UK 7-inch single

  1. "Heaven for Everyone" (Roger Taylor vocals)
  2. "Love on a Tightrope"

UK 12-inch single

  1. "Heaven for Everyone" (Roger Taylor vocals)
  2. "Love on a Tightrope"
  3. "Contact"

Personnel

Queen version

{{Infobox song

| name = Heaven for Everyone

| cover = Hfeuk1.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Artwork for UK release

| type = single

| artist = Queen

| album = Made in Heaven

| B-side = "It's a Beautiful Day"{{cite web |title=Queen UK Singles Discography 1992-2017 |url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/discography/singles-3.htm#Heaven%20For%20Everyone |website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}

| released = {{start date|1995|10|23|df=y}}

| recorded = 1987

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Rock

| length =

  • 5:36 (album version)
  • 4:37 (single version)

| label =

| writer = Roger Taylor

| producer = Queen

| prev_title = These Are the Days of Our Lives

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = A Winter's Tale

| next_year = 1995

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|yI8lrvKLzg0|"Heaven for Everyone"}}}}

}}

After Freddie Mercury's death, as Queen prepared to complete their posthumous album, Made in Heaven, this song was selected to be re-done by the band as a Queen song. The lead vocal Mercury recorded in 1987 was given a new backing track and new backing vocals. A significant difference between the Cross versions and the Queen version is that there's no spoken introduction, refrain or "end" as done by Taylor on the original.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} Queen's version reached number two on the UK Singles Chart while peaking at number one in Hungary and becoming a top-10 hit in several other European nations.

=Critical reception=

A reviewer from Music Week rated Queen's version of the song four out of five, adding, "Four years in the making, Freddie Mercury's final work has resurfaced with the long-awaited album Made in Heaven due in November, from which comes this emotional ballad with all the signs of a big hit."{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= Reviews: Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 14 October 1995 |page= 25 |accessdate= 13 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-10-14.pdf}} John Robinson from NME wrote, "Brought back to life for you by the miracles of modern financial practice, this has the air of a single whose video will comprise either slow motion footage of Sir Fred playing 'Hammer to Fall' at Live Aid, or by slow motuin footage of children playing happily on the facilities — swings, possibly a roundabout — thoughtfully provided by the borough in a municipal park. There is also, however, an awful undercurrent of 'Christmas single that won't die, but will be sung by rugby footballers forever' about this, as well as an awful guitar solo from Poodle May.'"{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Robinson|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53581831638/|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=28 October 1995|page=51|access-date=17 March 2024}} Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave it a top score of five out of five, saying, "During the last year of his life only his voice remained unaffected — and, blimey, it's good. Completed after his death this record is a fairly average song elevated into brilliance by a chorus the entire pop world would give their left arm for. Just great."{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Frith|url=https://sites.google.com/view/smash-hits-remembered-1994-5/home/1995/441-25th-october-7th-november-1995|title=Singles|work=Smash Hits|date=25 October 1995|page=64|access-date=16 February 2025|author-link=Mark Frith}}

=Music video=

File:Méliès, Le voyage a travers l'impossible1904 colorizée 20.jpg appears in Queen's 1995 music video for the song.]]

Queen's music video for the song commemorates Mercury. It was directed by British director David Mallet and released in 1995.{{cite book |last1=Purvis |first1=Georg |title=Queen: Complete Works |date=2007 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn |page=165}}[http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/videos/queenpromo.htm Queen Promo Videos: Heaven For Everyone] Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 14 November 2011 The video opens with images of the graffiti covered walls of Mercury's home, Garden Lodge, Kensington, before showing footage from the films A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune, 1902), The Impossible Voyage (Le Voyage à travers l'impossible, 1904) and The Eclipse, or the Courtship of the Sun and Moon (L'éclipse du soleil en pleine lune, 1907) by Georges Méliès.

A second music video for the song, directed by Simon Pummell was included on the Made in Heaven: The Films VHS and features Cypriot-Australian performance artist Stelarc operating a robotic "third hand" to symbolise a new era of man and machine.{{cite web |url=https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/245746 |title=UK: British rock band, Queen, produce a series of short films |publisher=Thomson Reuters |date=31 October 1995 |access-date=7 November 2018}}

=Track listings=

Track listings are sourced from ultimatequeen.co.uk.{{Cite web|title=Queen UK Singles Discography 1992-2017|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/discography/singles-3.htm#Heaven%20For%20Everyone|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}

UK CD 1

  1. "Heaven for Everyone" (single version) – 4:37
  2. "It's a Beautiful Day" (single version) – 3:57{{Cite web|title=Queen "Made In Heaven" album and song lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/made-in-heaven.htm#It%27s%20A%20Beautiful%20Day|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
  3. "Heaven for Everyone" (album version) – 5:36

UK CD 2

  1. "Heaven for Everyone" (single version) – 4:37
  2. "Keep Yourself Alive" – 3:46{{Cite web|title=Queen "Queen" album and song lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/queen.htm#Keep%20Yourself%20Alive|access-date=11 December 2020|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
  3. "Seven Seas of Rhye" – 2:46{{Cite web|title=Queen "Queen II" album and song lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/queen-ii.htm#Seven%20Seas%20Of%20Rhye|access-date=11 December 2020|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
  4. "Killer Queen" – 2:59{{Cite web|title=Queen "Sheer Heart Attack" album and song lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/sheer-heart-attack.htm#Killer%20Queen|access-date=11 December 2020|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}

UK 7-inch

:A. "Heaven for Everyone" (single version) – 4:37

:B. "Heaven for Everyone" (album version) – 5:36

UK cassette

  1. "Heaven for Everyone" (single version) – 4:37
  2. "It's a Beautiful Day" (single version) – 3:57

US CD single

  1. "Heaven for Everyone" (single version) – 4:37
  2. "Soul Brother" (recorded in 1981) – 3:36{{Cite web|title=Queen "Hot Space" album and song lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/hot-space.htm#Soul%20Brother|access-date=11 December 2020|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}

=Personnel=

Personnel are sourced from AllMusic.{{cite news |title=Heaven for Everyone |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/heaven-for-everyone-mw0001016201 |access-date=27 April 2019 |agency=AllMusic}}

=Charts=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1995)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|15|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Austria|4|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Flanders|8|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|4|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-11-18.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=46|page=27|date=18 November 1995|access-date=3 February 2020}}

|5

{{single chart|Finland|5|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|France|8|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Germany|15|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|songid=3112|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Hungary (Mahasz){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-11-18.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=46|page=29|date=18 November 1995|access-date=16 February 2020}}

|1

scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2932783#page/n25/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (28.10. '95 – 3.11. '95)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=26|date=28 October 1995|access-date=1 October 2019}}

|3

{{single chart|Ireland2|7|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi)

|4

scope="row"|Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-11-18.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=46|page=39|date=18 November 1995}}

| 3

{{single chart|Dutch40|3|year=1995|week=45|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|25|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Norway|18|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Scotland|2|date=19951104|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Sweden|29|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|9|artist=Queen|song=Heaven for Everyone|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UK|2|date=19951104|rowheader=true}}

{{col-2}}

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1995)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/aBqgAcE.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995|publisher=ARIA|access-date=3 March 2016}}

|100

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1995|title=Jaaroverzichten 1995|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=18 April 2010}}

|69

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1995|title=Rapports annuels 1995|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=18 April 2010}}

|52

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-12-23.pdf|title=Music & Media 1995 in Review – Year End Sales Charts|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=51/52|page=14|date=23 December 1995|access-date=3 February 2020}}

|43

scope="row"|France (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-singles-annee/?annee=1995|title=Tops de L'année {{!}} Top Singles 1995|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=26 July 2020}}

|67

scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2935413?iabr=on#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1995|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=16|date=2 January 1996|access-date=30 May 2020}}

|36

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1995|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1995|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=31 January 2022}}

|73

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1995&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=6 April 2018}}

|32

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1995|magazine=Music Week|page=9|date=13 January 1996}}

|41

{{col-end}}

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Queen|title=Heaven for Everyone|award=Gold|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|access-date=2 November 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Queen|title=Heaven for Everyone|award=Silver|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|id=2817-1614-1|access-date=26 July 2020}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|23 October 1995

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|Parlophone

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-10-21.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=21 October 1995|access-date=29 June 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|13 December 1995

|CD

|EMI

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/60447/products/265883/1/|title=クイーン {{!}} ヘヴン・フォー・エヴリワン|trans-title=Queen {{!}} Heaven for Everyone|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=26 March 2025}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{YouTube|id=O4gGbIxhBJc|title=Official video (based on short film "Evolution")}}
  • [http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/made-heaven/#lyrics Lyrics at Queen official website]

{{Queen singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1980s ballads

Category:1988 songs

Category:1988 singles

Category:1995 singles

Category:Georges Méliès

Category:Hollywood Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by David Mallet (director)

Category:Number-one singles in Hungary

Category:Parlophone singles

Category:Queen (band) songs

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Songs written by Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)