Heaven (Emeli Sandé song)
Encyclopedia
"Heaven" is the debut single from Scottish
recording artist Emeli Sandé
. It was released by Virgin Records
after she signed a record deal with the label after the success of single "Never Be Your Woman
" which Sandé was featured as a guest artists. It will also be the first release from Sandé's first debut album, Our Version of Events, on August 14 2011. The single was added to BBC Radio 1
's playlist in June 2011. The song has also been crowned record of the week by the station’s daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton
. The single is written by Sandé, Naughty Boy, Craze and Hoax, with producer Mike Spencer
.
The song gained all positive reviews from critics; Digital Spy
said that the song is a mixture of pacey house beats, mellow strings and Ronson-esque horn sections. The song was also compared to Leona Lewis
(whom Sandé has wrote tracks for) and Yasmin
. One critic said that the song was ticking all the good boxes in modern urban music." Critics also said that the song "stunned" them when they heard the song. The single was released accompanied by a music video
, which was filmed in London
, United Kingdom
which premiered on August 22, 2011 on Emeli Sandé's official YouTube
account. Throughout the video the music has scenes of Sandé singing to the sky, and standing outside of a Cathedral
, there are also many shots where Mary, the mother of Jesus
' statue is seen in the video. The single was released via Digital download
and 7" vinyl on 14 August and 15 August 2011, respectively. The single was made to pre-order several weeks before it was released on iTunes
.
and EMI Records
. The deal came across after she featured on rapper, Wiley
's single; "Never Be Your Woman
" released by Virgin Records and the single had chart-success charting at number-eight on the UK Singles Chart
. There was a lot of speculation of what single Sandé would release after newspapers confirmed that "Daddy" (produced by Naughty Boys) would be released as the first official single from the album, however she rubbished the rumours. Sandé whom had several meeting with record companies to secure a deal to release music. The song was wrote by Emeli Sandé herself, longtime collaborator Naughty Boy, and Craze and Hoax.
She was a medical student and studied at Glasgow University. She revealed that her education was the most important thing to her, as if her music career was to fail, she would have a career to drop back to. She revealed that her manager, Adrian Sykes waited since she was 16 to finally record a debut album. She later announced that she would begin recording her debut album once her education was competed (stating this when she was about to study her fourth year at university). After her fourth year, she passed her medical exams and she began recording her first album, with "Heaven" being picked as the lead single from the album. She announced that the single topped the Shazam charts for weeks, saying that people just want to know "what it is they are hearing, which is really exciting.
In an interview with Digital Spy
Sandé discussed the background of the song; "A lot of people when they first hear it immediately think early '90s, that kind of era, strings with the 'Funky Drummer' underneath them, quite epic sounding I guess. The song was written after a very long conversation I had with [producer] Naughty Boy. We got into a very deep conversation about religion and how to be good - what we all try to do in this day and age and how difficult it is. He said, 'I guess you just have to keep your heart clean' and that sparked the whole song. It was done really quickly and we knew it was a special one as soon as it was done."
said that the song is a mixture of pacey house beats, mellow strings and Ronson-esque horn sections. The song was also crowned "Record of the Week" by BBC Radio 1
playlist daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton
. This Must be Pop said the single has the vocals of Leona Lewis
and Yasmin
's beat. They went onto say; "The track starts quite pleasantly but gets better as it goes on and gradually gets more dramatic. It's a good example of a style that's currenly in vogue, but I don't see it doing any better than her competitors." Robot Pigeon said that the song "stunned" them when heard the song. Saying; "drum'n'bass meets gospel (Friday nights meet Sunday mornings) pop giant. It's a spine tingling track that showcases an enormous vocal talent while at the same time ticking all the good boxes in modern urban music." Robert Copsey of Digital Spy
gave the song a positive review stating: "Judging by 'Heaven', it's a crime that she didn't put her solo career into action years ago. "Oh heaven, I wake with good intentions/ But the day it always lasts too long," she preaches over a familiar trip-hop beat with a seasoned vocal that a Robin S or Ultra Naté
wouldn't cock a snook at. The result sounds like a lost club classic from the '90s, though by the time the euphoric, string-laden chorus kicks in, you'll be too busy with your fists in the air to notice."
at number forty. However, despite a low chart position in Ireland, "Heaven" debuted at number-two on the UK Singles Chart
becoming Sandé's biggest chart succession to-date. The song also appeared at the top of the chart on the UK Dance Chart
, as well as charting at number-three on the Scottish Singles Chart.
on 22 July 2011 at a total length of four minutes and sixteen seconds. It was confirmed that Jake Nava
directed the music video for the song. Nava has previously worked with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys
, Kanye West
and Nicki Minaj
. Sandé confirmed that the music video would be released on July 22, 2011. The music video was filmed in Bethnal Green
, London
, United Kingdom
. The beginning of the music video shows Sandé sitting at a window in a house, the scene later changes a number of times to different people; the people whom are looking upset. As she starts singing the chorus, singing "oh heaven" it shows Sandé singing and a view of the clouds in the sky. Throughout the music video there are various shots of Sandé around different towns and places in London. There are often shots of people saying prayers, and carring a statue of Mary (mother of Jesus)
and a Cross resembling heaven and God; there are also shots of Sandé standing and singing outside of a Cathedral
.
Digital remix single
7" vinyl
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
recording artist Emeli Sandé
Emeli Sandé
Adele Emeli Sandé , known by her stage name Emeli Sande, is a Scottish R&B and Soul recording artist and songwriter, from Aberdeen, Scotland...
. It was released by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
after she signed a record deal with the label after the success of single "Never Be Your Woman
Never Be Your Woman
"Never Be Your Woman" is a 2010 single from British rapper Wiley featuring singer Emeli Sandé from the upcoming compilation album by producer Naughty Boy. It samples music from White Town's 1997 number-one single Your Woman, which in turn features a trumpet line taken from "My Woman" by Al Bowlly...
" which Sandé was featured as a guest artists. It will also be the first release from Sandé's first debut album, Our Version of Events, on August 14 2011. The single was added to 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...
's playlist in June 2011. The song has also been crowned record of the week by the station’s daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
. The single is written by Sandé, Naughty Boy, Craze and Hoax, with producer Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer is an English record producer.Mike Spencer is primarily known for his production work with successful commercial pop acts such as Jamiroquai, Kylie Minogue and Newton Faulkner....
.
The song gained all positive reviews from critics; Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
said that the song is a mixture of pacey house beats, mellow strings and Ronson-esque horn sections. The song was also compared to Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
(whom Sandé has wrote tracks for) and Yasmin
Yasmin (musician)
Yasmin Zarine Shahmir , who performs under the mononym Yasmin, is a British DJ and singer-songwriter. She is signed to record label Levels Entertainment, an imprint of Ministry of Sound and began her singing career in October 2010 when she appeared on rapper Devlin's single "Runaway"...
. One critic said that the song was ticking all the good boxes in modern urban music." Critics also said that the song "stunned" them when they heard the song. The single was released accompanied by a 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...
, which was filmed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which premiered on August 22, 2011 on Emeli Sandé's official YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account. Throughout the video the music has scenes of Sandé singing to the sky, and standing outside of a Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, there are also many shots where Mary, the mother of Jesus
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
' statue is seen in the video. The single was released via Digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
and 7" vinyl on 14 August and 15 August 2011, respectively. The single was made to pre-order several weeks before it was released on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
Background and composition
"Heaven" was confirmed to be the first released as Sandé's attempt as a solo artist and the first single from Our Version of Events. She signed a joint record deal between Virgin RecordsVirgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
and EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
. The deal came across after she featured on rapper, Wiley
Wiley (rapper)
Richard Kylea Cowie , better known by his stage name Wiley is a prolific British music producer, MC and recording artist, and rapper with roots from Trinidad...
's single; "Never Be Your Woman
Never Be Your Woman
"Never Be Your Woman" is a 2010 single from British rapper Wiley featuring singer Emeli Sandé from the upcoming compilation album by producer Naughty Boy. It samples music from White Town's 1997 number-one single Your Woman, which in turn features a trumpet line taken from "My Woman" by Al Bowlly...
" released by Virgin Records and the single had chart-success charting at number-eight on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. There was a lot of speculation of what single Sandé would release after newspapers confirmed that "Daddy" (produced by Naughty Boys) would be released as the first official single from the album, however she rubbished the rumours. Sandé whom had several meeting with record companies to secure a deal to release music. The song was wrote by Emeli Sandé herself, longtime collaborator Naughty Boy, and Craze and Hoax.
She was a medical student and studied at Glasgow University. She revealed that her education was the most important thing to her, as if her music career was to fail, she would have a career to drop back to. She revealed that her manager, Adrian Sykes waited since she was 16 to finally record a debut album. She later announced that she would begin recording her debut album once her education was competed (stating this when she was about to study her fourth year at university). After her fourth year, she passed her medical exams and she began recording her first album, with "Heaven" being picked as the lead single from the album. She announced that the single topped the Shazam charts for weeks, saying that people just want to know "what it is they are hearing, which is really exciting.
In an interview with Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
Sandé discussed the background of the song; "A lot of people when they first hear it immediately think early '90s, that kind of era, strings with the 'Funky Drummer' underneath them, quite epic sounding I guess. The song was written after a very long conversation I had with [producer] Naughty Boy. We got into a very deep conversation about religion and how to be good - what we all try to do in this day and age and how difficult it is. He said, 'I guess you just have to keep your heart clean' and that sparked the whole song. It was done really quickly and we knew it was a special one as soon as it was done."
Critical reception
Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
said that the song is a mixture of pacey house beats, mellow strings and Ronson-esque horn sections. The song was also crowned "Record of the Week" 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...
playlist daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
. This Must be Pop said the single has the vocals of Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
and Yasmin
Yasmin (musician)
Yasmin Zarine Shahmir , who performs under the mononym Yasmin, is a British DJ and singer-songwriter. She is signed to record label Levels Entertainment, an imprint of Ministry of Sound and began her singing career in October 2010 when she appeared on rapper Devlin's single "Runaway"...
's beat. They went onto say; "The track starts quite pleasantly but gets better as it goes on and gradually gets more dramatic. It's a good example of a style that's currenly in vogue, but I don't see it doing any better than her competitors." Robot Pigeon said that the song "stunned" them when heard the song. Saying; "drum'n'bass meets gospel (Friday nights meet Sunday mornings) pop giant. It's a spine tingling track that showcases an enormous vocal talent while at the same time ticking all the good boxes in modern urban music." Robert Copsey of Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
gave the song a positive review stating: "Judging by 'Heaven', it's a crime that she didn't put her solo career into action years ago. "Oh heaven, I wake with good intentions/ But the day it always lasts too long," she preaches over a familiar trip-hop beat with a seasoned vocal that a Robin S or Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté is an American house music, Dance-pop and sometimes R&B musician who has achieved a respectable amount of success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free" and "If You Could Read My Mind" as part of Stars on 54....
wouldn't cock a snook at. The result sounds like a lost club classic from the '90s, though by the time the euphoric, string-laden chorus kicks in, you'll be too busy with your fists in the air to notice."
Chart performance
The song first appeared to be having chart success after thousands pre-ordering the single on iTunes. The song first debuted on the Irish Singles ChartIrish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
at number forty. However, despite a low chart position in Ireland, "Heaven" debuted at number-two on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
becoming Sandé's biggest chart succession to-date. The song also appeared at the top of the chart on the UK Dance Chart
UK Dance Chart
The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital...
, as well as charting at number-three on the Scottish Singles Chart.
Music video
A music video to accompany the release of "Heaven" was first released onto YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on 22 July 2011 at a total length of four minutes and sixteen seconds. It was confirmed that Jake Nava
Jake Nava
Jake Nava was born on 17 August and grew up in northern London. He currently lives in eastern London.He graduated from the University of WestministerJake Nava is an English-born music video and film director.-Filmography:MUSIC VIDEOS...
directed the music video for the song. Nava has previously worked with Beyoncé, Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
, Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
and Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj , better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj; ), is a Trinidadian-born American recording artist...
. Sandé confirmed that the music video would be released on July 22, 2011. The music video was filmed in Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The beginning of the music video shows Sandé sitting at a window in a house, the scene later changes a number of times to different people; the people whom are looking upset. As she starts singing the chorus, singing "oh heaven" it shows Sandé singing and a view of the clouds in the sky. Throughout the music video there are various shots of Sandé around different towns and places in London. There are often shots of people saying prayers, and carring a statue of Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
and a Cross resembling heaven and God; there are also shots of Sandé standing and singing outside of a Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
.
Track listing
Digital single- "Heaven" - 4:12
- "Heaven" (Instrumental) - 4:13
- "Heaven" (Live From Angel Studios) - 3:17
- "Easier In Bed" (Acoustic Version) - 3:14
- "Kill the Boy" (Live From Angel Studios) - 4:00
Digital remix single
- "Heaven" (Nu:Tone Remix) - 6:09
- "Heaven" (We Don't Belong In Pacha Remix) - 6:25
- "Heaven" (Mojam Remix) - 4:05
- "Heaven" (Stripped) - 3:42
7" vinyl
- "Heaven" - 4:14
- "Easier In Bed" (Acoustic Version) - 3:16
Live performances
She is one of dozens of acts playing the two-day Belladrum festival, which is sold out and has a capacity of 12,000.Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|
Release history
| Country | Release date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | August 14, 2011 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
| Ireland | August 12, 2011 | Digital download |