Show Me Heaven#Tina Arena version

{{For|the 2009 Lili & Susie song|Show Me Heaven (Lili & Susie song)}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Show Me Heaven

| cover = ShowMeHeaven.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Maria McKee

| album = Days of Thunder Soundtrack

| B-side =

"Car Building" by Hans Zimmer
"Thunder Box" by Apollo Smile

| released = {{Start date|1990|6}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Soft rock

| length = 3:46

| label = Epic

| writer =

Maria McKee
Eric Rackin
Jay Rifkin

| producer = Peter Asher

| prev_title = To Miss Someone

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Breathe

| next_year = 1991

}}

"Show Me Heaven" is a song written by American singer and songwriter Maria McKee, Eric Rackin and Jay Rifkin, and recorded by McKee for the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder, released in June 1990. Produced by Peter Asher, the power ballad received favorable reviews from most music critics, reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and became the sixth-highest-selling single of 1990 in the UK. Additionally, the song became a worldwide hit, topping the charts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway and becoming a top-five hit in Australia, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. It has since been covered by numerous other artists, including Tina Arena.

Background

"Show Me Heaven" originated as "Secret Fire", a track written by Eric Rackin and Jay Rifkin for the soundtrack of Days of Thunder.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shortlist.com/news/maria-mckee-how-i-wrote-show-me-heaven|title=Maria McKee: How I wrote Show Me Heaven|date=July 25, 2016|website=Shortlist}} When Geffen contacted McKee in the hope she would record the song, the singer dismissed the idea, but the label insisted they send her the demo tape for consideration.{{cite news|last=Mayo|first=Simon|date=January 23, 1991|title=It was a bit touch and go for Maria|newspaper=Reading Evening Post}} On hearing the demo, McKee felt the lyrics were "appalling". She told Simon Mayo in 1991: "I liked the melody but I said I'd only do it if I could change the lyrics." McKee's demand was initially refused, but she was later given permission to rewrite the lyrics.

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal described the song as "more heaven" from the former Lone Justice singer, complimenting her vocals as "superbly lazy, yet faultless"."Maria McKee Show Me Heaven". Aberdeen Press and Journal. September 6, 1990. page 7. Jeffery Kennedy from Bay Area Reporter felt it was a "blatant Hollywood hyperballad that perfectly showcased her gilded throat".{{cite magazine|first= Jeffery |last= Kennedy |title= Ladies Launching |magazine= Bay Area Reporter |date= May 13, 1993 |page= 41 |access-date= April 24, 2020 |url= https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=BAR19930513.1.41}} Larry Flick from Billboard stated that it's a "delicate, well-sung ballad that could give the long-overlooked McKee her first bonafide hit."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= September 1, 1990 |page= 73 |access-date= October 27, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB1990.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} A reviewer from Cashbox viewed the singer as the "lost goddess of the pop airwaves", remarking her "heartachingly lovely jewel of a voice [that] can squeeze diamonds out of the coal-black grooves of a record."{{cite magazine|title= Pop Reviews: Singles |magazine= Cashbox |date= September 8, 1990 |page= 18 |access-date= October 27, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1990/CB-1990-09-08.pdf}} Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly called the song "affecting".{{cite magazine|first=Greg|last=Sandow|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/04/05/days-thunder-2/|title=Days of Thunder|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 5, 2002|access-date=February 26, 2020|author-link=Greg Sandow}} Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger declared it as a "post-Madonna power ballad", adding that McKee "can belt, but she's most comfortable away from the chorus, giving "Show Me Heaven" a more tender and dynamic performance."{{cite web|url=http://freakytrigger.co.uk/popular/2011/02/maria-mckee-show-me-heaven/#more-20476|title=Maria McKee – "Show Me Heaven"|publisher=Freaky Trigger|date=February 1, 2011|access-date=March 6, 2020}} Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report constated that "there aren't many singers on the planet who can outdo Maria's remarkable vocal range. It was her voice that first endeared me to her band Lone Justice. Now as a soloist, she puts all that special ability to the test on the heart-stopping love theme from the Tom Cruise film, Days of Thunder. A couple of listens won me over."{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Sholin|title=Gavin Picks > Singles|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=1821|date=August 24, 1990|page=48|access-date=April 17, 2018|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/90/Gavin-1990-08-24.pdf}}

David Giles from Music Week felt that McKee's "powerful voice endows a fairly ordinary MOR soft rock song with a certain piquancy that lifts it well above the average soundtrack song."{{cite magazine|first= David |last= Giles |title= Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= September 15, 1990 |page= 21 |access-date= October 31, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1990/MW-1990-09-15.pdf}} Gene Sandbloom from The Network Forty praised the singer's "tremendous voice and stage presence", naming the song "one of the most memorable ballads of the year." He added, "Before you even get to the chorus, you know this is the kind of heart warming song that can't miss bringing in across the board demos come weekly music research time. If you missed the film, don't worry. If you didn't like McKee's past work, forget it. This is one of those magic moments when everything falls perfectly into place, and you'll realize it with one listen."{{cite magazine|first=Gene|last=Sandbloom|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-Network-40/90/Network-40-1990-08-24.pdf|title=Top 40: Music Meeting|magazine=The Network Forty|date=August 24, 1990|page=24|access-date=March 21, 2020}} Stuart Bailie from NME named it "Single of the Week", viewing it as "a deal more sophisticated" than her debut as a solo artist the year before.{{cite magazine|first=Stuart|last=Bailie|magazine=NME|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52193899373/|date=September 8, 1990|access-date=February 24, 2023}} Another editor, Mark Ramshaw, described it as "floaty".{{cite web|first= Mark |last= Ramshaw |title= Maria McKee – Life Is Sweet |url= http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000052reviews.html |work= NME |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000817192544/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000052reviews.html |access-date= November 24, 2020|archive-date= August 17, 2000 }} John Wirt from The News-Journal complimented it as a "stunning love song with bite."{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Wirt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FP4pAAAAIBAJ|title=Album review: Days Of Thunder - Various artists|magazine=The News-Journal|date=June 29, 1990|page=26|access-date=March 11, 2020}} Sunday Tribune's reviewer praised it as a "Californian voice of an angel"."Pick of the arts in 1990". Sunday Tribune. December 30, 1990. page 27.

Chart performance

"Show Me Heaven" spent four weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart, ending the year as the country's sixth highest-selling single, and is McKee's only UK number-one as a performer (although the song "A Good Heart"—written by her—was a UK number-one for Feargal Sharkey in November 1985). The power ballad{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/go/44642|title=24 of the Biggest and Best Movie Power Ballads|website=Den of Geek}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} had even greater success in Norway, topping the Norwegian Singles Chart for 10 weeks. The track was also a number-one success in Belgium and the Netherlands.

"Show Me Heaven" failed to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 but did reach number 28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, "Show Me Heaven" reached number 69 on the RPM Top Singles chart and number 30 on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. Elsewhere, the single reached number two in Ireland and Sweden, number three in Australia, number four in Switzerland, and the top 20 in Austria, Germany and New Zealand.

Track listings

{{Track listing

| headline = 7-inch single, UK (1990){{cite AV media notes|title=Show Me Heaven|others=Maria McKee|year=1990|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Epic Records|id=656303 7}}

| title1 = Show Me Heaven

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Car Building

| note2 = by Hans Zimmer

| length2 = 2:36

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 12-inch and cassette single, UK (1990){{cite AV media notes|title=Show Me Heaven|others=Maria McKee|year=1990|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Epic Records|id=656303 8}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Show Me Heaven|others=Maria McKee|year=1990|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Epic Records|id=656303 4}}

| title1 = Show Me Heaven

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Thunder Box

| note2 = by Apollo Smile

| length2 = 3:46

| title3 = Car Building

| note3 = by Hans Zimmer

| length3 = 2:26

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD single, UK (1990){{cite AV media notes|title=Show Me Heaven|others=Maria McKee|year=1990|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Epic Records|id=656303 2}}

| title1 = Show Me Heaven

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Thunder Box

| note2 = by Apollo Smile

| length2 = 3:46

| title3 = Car Building

| note3 = by Hans Zimmer

| length3 = 2:36

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD single, Australia (1990){{cite AV media notes|title=Show Me Heaven|others=Maria McKee|year=1990|type=Australian CD single disc notes|publisher=Epic Records|id=656325 2}}

| title1 = Show Me Heaven

| length1 = 3:54

| title2 = Thunder Box

| note2 = by Apollo Smile

| length2 = 3:46

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = CD maxi (mini), Europe (1990){{cite AV media notes|title=Show Me Heaven|others=Maria McKee|year=1990|type=European mini maxi-CD single disc notes|publisher=Epic Records|id=656303 3}}

| title1 = Show Me Heaven

| length1 = 3:46

| title2 = Car Building

| note2 = by Hans Zimmer

| length2 = 2:35

| title3 = Hearts in Trouble

| note3 = by Chicago—radio edit

| length3 = 4:00

}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-01-12.pdf\|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=8\|issue=2\|page=29\|date=January 12, 1991\|access-date=March 22, 2018}} \|9
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1990–1991) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|3\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019\|refname="charts"}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|15\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Flanders\|1\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|69\|chartid=9171\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019\|refname="can"}}
{{single chart\|Canadaadultcontemporary\|30\|chartid=9165\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019\|refname="canac"}}
scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-10-13.pdf\|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=7\|issue=41\|page=11\|date=October 13, 1990\|access-date=March 12, 2020}} \|2
scope="row"\|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book\|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=167\|first=Timo\|last=Pennanen\|year=2021\|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021\|section=Maria McKee\|page=167\|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava\|location=Helsinki\|access-date=July 3, 2022\|language=fi}} \|22
scope="row"\|France (SNEP){{cite web\|url=https://laurentpons.com/charts/france/top100tmp1539.htm\|title=Official French Charts Weekly TOP 100 Archive\|publisher=Laurentpons\|language=fr\|access-date=February 26, 2024}} \|41
{{single chart\|Germany\|12\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|songid=2190\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
scope="row"\|Iceland (Dagblaðið Vísir){{cite magazine\|date=2 November 1990\|title=Ísland Listinn\|url=https://timarit.is/page/2577391?iabr=on#page/n24/mode/2up/search/%22show%20me%20heaven%22\|magazine=DV\|page=33\|issn=1021-8254}} \|align="center"\|2
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|2\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019\|refname="ire"}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|1\|year=1990\|week=46\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|1\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|12\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Norway\|1\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
scope="row"\|Portugal (AFP)Portuguese Charts Archive. 1 December 1990. \|align="center"\|8
{{single chart\|Sweden\|2\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|4\|artist=Maria McKee\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|UK\|1\|date=19900929\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019\|refname="uk"}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultcontemporary\|28\|artist=Maria McKee\|rowheader=true\|refname="usac"}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1990) !Position
scope="row"\|Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://i.imgur.com/vc5Ooqg.png\|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)\|publisher=ARIA\|via=Imgur\|access-date=July 28, 2019}} \|67
scope="row"\|Belgium (Ultratop){{cite web\|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1990\|title=Jaaroverzichten 1990\|publisher=Ultratop\|language=nl\|access-date=July 28, 2019}} \|42
scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf\|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1990\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=7\|issue=51\|page=60\|date=December 22, 1990\|access-date=March 12, 2020}} \|46
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web\|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1990\|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1990\|publisher=Dutch Top 40\|access-date=March 31, 2020}} \|16
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1990&cat=s\|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990\|publisher=MegaCharts\|language=nl\|access-date=July 28, 2019}} \|23
scope="row"\|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web\|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm\|title=Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar\|publisher=Grammotex\|language=sv\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216102929/http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm\|archive-date=February 16, 2001\|access-date=April 7, 2025}} \|12
scope="row"\|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine\|title=1990 Top 100 Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|publisher=Spotlight Publications\|location=London, England\|page=41\|date=March 2, 1991}} \|6

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

!Chart (1990)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/vc5Ooqg.png|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur|access-date=July 28, 2019}}

|67

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1990|title=Jaaroverzichten 1990|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=July 28, 2019}}

|42

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1990|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|issue=51|page=60|date=December 22, 1990|access-date=March 12, 2020}}

|46

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1990|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1990|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 31, 2020}}

|16

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1990&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=July 28, 2019}}

|23

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216102929/http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|archive-date=February 16, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

|12

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=1990 Top 100 Singles|magazine=Music Week|publisher=Spotlight Publications|location=London, England|page=41|date=March 2, 1991}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1991) !Position
scope="row"\|Australia (ARIA){{cite book\|last=Ryan\|first=Gavin\|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010\|year=2011\|publisher=Moonlight Publishing\|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}} \|55
scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-12-21.pdf\|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1991\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=8\|issue=51–52\|page=21\|date=December 21, 1991\|access-date=March 12, 2020}} \|53
scope="row"\|Germany (Media Control){{cite web\|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1991\|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991\|publisher=GfK Entertainment\|language=de\|access-date=July 28, 2019}} \|97
scope="row"\|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web\|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm\|title=Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar\|publisher=Grammotex\|language=sv\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010225020647/http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm\|archive-date=February 25, 2001\|access-date=April 7, 2025}} \|45
scope="row"\|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1991\|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991\|language=de\|access-date=July 28, 2019}} \|24

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

!Chart (1991)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}

|55

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-12-21.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1991|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=51–52|page=21|date=December 21, 1991|access-date=March 12, 2020}}

|53

scope="row"|Germany (Media Control){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1991|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=July 28, 2019}}

|97

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010225020647/http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|archive-date=February 25, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

|45

scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1991|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991|language=de|access-date=July 28, 2019}}

|24

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Maria McKee|title=Show Me Heaven|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=September 4, 2022|source=book|refname=ARIA|id=182}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Maria McKee|title=Show Me Heaven|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=2025|id=15881-5048-1|access-date=March 12, 2020}}

Tina Arena version

{{Infobox song

| name = Show Me Heaven

| cover = Tina Arena Show Me Heaven single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Tina Arena

| album = Don't Ask

| B-side = {{ubl|"Message"|"Greatest Gift"|"Chains"}}

| released = {{start date|1995|11|20}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{ubl|{{Duration|m=3|s=32}} (single version)|{{Duration|m=4|s=20}} (album version)}}

| label = Columbia, Epic

| writer = Maria McKee, Eric Rackin, Jay Rifkin

| producer = Peter Asher

| prev_title = Wasn't It Good

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = Burn

| next_year = 1997

}}

Australian singer Tina Arena released her version of "Show Me Heaven" as the fifth single from her third studio album, Don't Ask (1994), on November 20, 1995. Although it was not released in her home country, her version of the song reached number 29 in the United Kingdom, number 33 in New Zealand and number 78 in Germany. It also peaked at number three on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number 52 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart.

=Critical reception=

Larry Flick from Billboard viewed Arena's version of "Show Me Heaven" as "a stirring rendition". He stated that "Arena has the voice and attitude to match the bombast of McKee's performance, but she wisely opts for a slow and stylish ascension to the song's requisite thunderclap climax. Actually, Arena sounds like a baby Celine Dion throughout much of this fine single—which is not necessarily a bad thing."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-06-22.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=June 22, 1996|page=86|accessdate=November 28, 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}} Daina Darzin from Cash Box said it "suggests Arena is more like Australia’s answer to Mariah Carey. Her lush, gently crescendoing take on Maria McKee’s 1990 hit should impact Adult Contemporary stations like that giant spaceship in the previews of Independence Day."{{cite magazine|first=Daina|last=Darzin|title=Pop Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1996/CB-1996-06-29.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|date=June 29, 1996|page=7|accessdate=November 12, 2022}} James Masterton for Dotmusic felt that Arena's version "stays fairly faithful to the original, the powerful song suiting her voice quite well. Having said that it fails to add much to the song, a good though it is, the track is unlikely to emulate the feats of the original."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending December 2nd 1995|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1995/week-ending-december-2nd-1995|website=Chart Watch UK|date=November 26, 1995|accessdate=October 4, 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as "soulful", noting that it "has a Whitney Houston style intro, but very soon Miss Arena makes it clear that her own voice is much warmer, a fact emphasised by the gospel harmonies of the background singers."{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= Music & Media |date= December 9, 1995 |page= 7 |accessdate= May 19, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-12-09.pdf}}

=Charts=

scope="row"\|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite web\|url=http://thunder.prohosting.com/~euro100/archive/1995/euro9549.txt\|title=Tina Arena – Show Me Heaven\|publisher=Eurochart\|access-date=July 7, 2010\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922222317/http://thunder.prohosting.com/~euro100/archive/1995/euro9549.txt\|archive-date=September 22, 2010}} \|87
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1995–1996) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Canadaadultcontemporary\|52\|chartid=3049\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|78\|artist=Tina Arena\|song=Show Me Heaven\|songid=122982\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|33\|artist=Tina Arena\|song=Show Me Heaven\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|29\|date=19951202\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|UK\|29\|date=19951202\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 28, 2019\|refname="uktina"}}
{{single chart\|Billboardbubbling100\|3\|artist=Tina Arena\|rowheader=true}}

=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 \|{{start date\|1995\|11\|20}} \|{{hlist\|CD\|cassette}} \|Columbia \|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-11-18-I.pdf\|title=New Releases: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=39\|date=November 18, 1995\|access-date=August 17, 2021}}
scope="row"\|United States \|{{start date\|1996\|6\|25}} \|Contemporary hit radio \|Epic \|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-06-21.pdf\|title=Selected New Releases\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1151\|page=43\|date=June 21, 1996\|access-date=August 17, 2021}}

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

|{{start date|1995|11|20}}

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|Columbia

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-11-18-I.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=39|date=November 18, 1995|access-date=August 17, 2021}}

scope="row"|United States

|{{start date|1996|6|25}}

|Contemporary hit radio

|Epic

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-06-21.pdf|title=Selected New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1151|page=43|date=June 21, 1996|access-date=August 17, 2021}}

Other cover versions

In 1993, Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander released a version of the song on his self-titled debut solo album. Zander's version was issued as a single and features McKee on backing vocals.{{cite magazine|last=Flick|first=Larry|date=November 13, 1993|title=Single reviews|magazine=Billboard}}
Laura Branigan recorded the song and featured it as one of two new tracks on her 1995 greatest hits album, The Best of Branigan.{{Citation|last=Branigan, Laura.|title=The best of Branigan : greatest hits|orig-year=1995|year= 2007|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/137341468|publisher=Atlantic Catalog Group|oclc=137341468|access-date=April 28, 2020}}
A dance version of "Show Me Heaven" by Chimira peaked at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart in 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Too%20Real |title=Chimera - Show Me Heaven |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=October 18, 2009}}
Another dance version of the song, by Saint (featuring Suzanna Dee), peaked at number 36 in 2003.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/I%20Live%20For%20Speed |title=Saint Featuring Suzanna Dee - Show Me Heaven |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=October 18, 2009}}
In 2017, Ane Brun released a version of the song on her all-covers album, Leave Me Breathless.{{Cite web |title=Ane Brun - Leave Me Breathless |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/22406998-Ane-Brun-Leave-Me-Breathless- |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=Discogs|date=October 6, 2017 }}