Filling up with Heaven
Encyclopedia
“Filling up with Heaven” is a song by the British synthpop
group The Human League
. It is taken from the Octopus
album of 1995.
“Filling up with Heaven” was the third and final single to be taken from the Octopus album. It was jointly written by lead singer Philip Oakey
and Producer Ian Stanley
(formerly of Tears for Fears
). It was released on 11 June 1995; after the success of the previous two singles it was expected to equal the chart position of Tell Me When
and One Man in My Heart
. But unlike the two previous singles it was not play listed by BBC Radio 1
and received minimal national airplay, affecting sales. The single eventually peaked at number 36 in the UK singles chart, spending a total of two weeks in the charts.
The music video
for "Filling Up with Heaven" was filmed on a low budget and in a minimalist studio (London's Limehouse Studios), unlike the other music videos for Octopus
which were higher end. With rich saturated background colours. It features a series of sweeping steadicam
shots of Philip Oakey, with a mainly seated Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall
. It is the only one of the Human League’s music videos which Susan Ann Sulley has a long blonde pony tail hairstyle, for the previous two she has short hair, suggesting that she had hair extensions for the video.
For the instrumental sections a continual sweeping loop of Neil Sutton
playing keyboards is featured. Post production the video was intentionally stylized by deeply enriching the colors and reducing the pixel resolution, giving a digital smudge effect (as illustrated).
A licensing fee dispute between EastWest and Virgin Records would prevent the video from being featured on the 2003 Very Best of The Human League DVD
. The video is now rarely seen compared to the band's other music videos.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
. It is taken from the Octopus
Octopus (Human League album)
Octopus is the seventh full-length studio album recorded by British synthpop band The Human League. It was produced by former Tears for Fears keyboardist Ian Stanley and released by EastWest Records in 1995. It was the first new album from the Human League in five years after the termination of...
album of 1995.
“Filling up with Heaven” was the third and final single to be taken from the Octopus album. It was jointly written by lead singer Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey
Philip Oakey is an English composer, singer, songwriter and producer.He is best known as the lead singer, frontman and co-founder of the famous English synthpop band The Human League. He has also had an extensive solo music career and collaborated with numerous other artists and producers...
and Producer Ian Stanley
Ian Stanley
Ian Stanley is an English musician, songwriter and record producer...
(formerly of Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
). It was released on 11 June 1995; after the success of the previous two singles it was expected to equal the chart position of Tell Me When
Tell Me When
"Tell Me When" is a song by the British synthpop group The Human League. Written jointly by lead singer Philip Oakey and Paul C. Beckett, it was recorded at 'Human League Studios', Sheffield in 1994...
and One Man in My Heart
One Man in My Heart
"One Man in My Heart" is a song recorded by British synthpop band The Human League. It was released as the second single from the band's album Octopus...
. But unlike the two previous singles it was not play listed by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and received minimal national airplay, affecting sales. The single eventually peaked at number 36 in the UK singles chart, spending a total of two weeks in the charts.
Music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Filling Up with Heaven" was filmed on a low budget and in a minimalist studio (London's Limehouse Studios), unlike the other music videos for Octopus
Octopus (Human League album)
Octopus is the seventh full-length studio album recorded by British synthpop band The Human League. It was produced by former Tears for Fears keyboardist Ian Stanley and released by EastWest Records in 1995. It was the first new album from the Human League in five years after the termination of...
which were higher end. With rich saturated background colours. It features a series of sweeping steadicam
Steadicam
A Steadicam is a stabilizing mount for a motion picture camera that mechanically isolates it from the operator's movement, allowing a smooth shot even when moving quickly over an uneven surface...
shots of Philip Oakey, with a mainly seated Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall is an English singer; best known as one of the two female vocalists of the veteran English synthpop band The Human League.Born and raised in Sheffield, England...
. It is the only one of the Human League’s music videos which Susan Ann Sulley has a long blonde pony tail hairstyle, for the previous two she has short hair, suggesting that she had hair extensions for the video.
For the instrumental sections a continual sweeping loop of Neil Sutton
Neil Sutton
Neil Sutton is a long term associate member of the veteran British synthpop group The Human League. He is best known as the on stage and studio keyboard player, but also has written various lyrics and composed instrumental tracks for the band and has numerous Human League album credits.His...
playing keyboards is featured. Post production the video was intentionally stylized by deeply enriching the colors and reducing the pixel resolution, giving a digital smudge effect (as illustrated).
A licensing fee dispute between EastWest and Virgin Records would prevent the video from being featured on the 2003 Very Best of The Human League DVD
The Very Best of the Human League (DVD)
The Very Best of the Human League is a DVD by veteran British Synthpop group The Human League, containing most of the band’s music videos recorded up to that point, digitally re-mastered...
. The video is now rarely seen compared to the band's other music videos.
Versions
- CD 1 1995, East West (YZ944CD1)
- Filling Up With Heaven
- Filling Up With Heaven (Neil Mclellan Vocal Mix)
- John Cleese; Is He Funny? (ULA Remix)
- John Cleese; Is He Funny? (Self Preservation Society House Mix)
- CD 2 1995, East West (YZ944CD2)
- Filling Up With Heaven (Hardfloor Vocal Remix)
- Filling Dub With Heaven (Hardfloor Remix)
- Filling Up With Heaven (Neil Mclellan Club Mix)
- Filling Up With Heaven (ULA Remix)
External links
- http://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/filling_up_with_heaven.htm