Heaven Can Wait (Michael Jackson song)
Encyclopedia
“Heaven Can Wait" is a song written by Michael Jackson, originally released on his 2001 studio album
Invincible. The song was written by Jackson, Teddy Riley, Andreao Heard, Nate Smith, Teron Beal, Eritza Laues and Kenny Quiller.
's 1999 album Finally
. However, while writing the song with Jackson, the singer asked Riley to give this song to him for he wanted that song, and needed that song in his life. Riley agreed with him and the song was listed in Michael's 2001 album Invincible. In an interview with Hip-Hop Wired, Riley talked about the recording sessions of the song: "What I did with Michael doing strings on 'Heaven Can Wait,' was like, we did the track first, that all took one day, and then the string section and then we did the guitar session and that's about three days. So the modern day is a little quick." After receiving a digital release on October 30, 2001, "Heaven Can Wait" was scheduled for release to radio stations across the United States, but was cancelled due to unspecified reasons.
s 'The Lady in My Life.'" Milena Brown of PRessure PR thought the song was "breathless", and "clearly did not get the same recognition it deserved". Bill Johnson from The Urban Daily thought "Heaven Can Wait" kept Invincible "simple and smooth that excel the most". Robert Hilburn of Los Angeles Times
said the song was "a tale about turning away an angel who comes to take him to heaven because he wants to stay with his darling, seem aimed at the lower end of 'N Sync's fan base -a difficult stretch for a man of 43." NME
gave a mixed review to the song, saying "around this point you realise that Jackson is no longer pioneering - this would be a good Usher ballad. It has classic 'if I should die tonight' love lyrics and swelling chords, but doesn't add up to all that much." On April 27, 2002, the song peaked at number seventy-two on Billboard
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
.
, originally lined up to their 1999 album Finally
. After being released by Jackson, their version did not make into the album. However, Riley stated in 2006 to re-make the song, for a new BLACKstreet album, but the new album did not finish until 2011. In a interview with The Urban Daily on December 12, 2010, Riley confirmed that the upcoming album from Blackstreet will feature a cover of "Heaven Can Wait". He said "Blackstreet is gonna do something incredible with that song."
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
Invincible. The song was written by Jackson, Teddy Riley, Andreao Heard, Nate Smith, Teron Beal, Eritza Laues and Kenny Quiller.
Background
The song was originally written by Teddy Riley for BLACKstreetBLACKstreet
Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
's 1999 album Finally
Finally (BLACKstreet album)
-Charts:...
. However, while writing the song with Jackson, the singer asked Riley to give this song to him for he wanted that song, and needed that song in his life. Riley agreed with him and the song was listed in Michael's 2001 album Invincible. In an interview with Hip-Hop Wired, Riley talked about the recording sessions of the song: "What I did with Michael doing strings on 'Heaven Can Wait,' was like, we did the track first, that all took one day, and then the string section and then we did the guitar session and that's about three days. So the modern day is a little quick." After receiving a digital release on October 30, 2001, "Heaven Can Wait" was scheduled for release to radio stations across the United States, but was cancelled due to unspecified reasons.
Reception
The song received mixed reviews from most music critics. Mark Anthony Neal of SeeingBlack.com praised the song, saying, "[Heaven Can Wait] features arguably one of Jackson's best vocal performance since ThrillerThriller (album)
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
s 'The Lady in My Life.'" Milena Brown of PRessure PR thought the song was "breathless", and "clearly did not get the same recognition it deserved". Bill Johnson from The Urban Daily thought "Heaven Can Wait" kept Invincible "simple and smooth that excel the most". Robert Hilburn of Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
said the song was "a tale about turning away an angel who comes to take him to heaven because he wants to stay with his darling, seem aimed at the lower end of 'N Sync's fan base -a difficult stretch for a man of 43." NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
gave a mixed review to the song, saying "around this point you realise that Jackson is no longer pioneering - this would be a good Usher ballad. It has classic 'if I should die tonight' love lyrics and swelling chords, but doesn't add up to all that much." On April 27, 2002, the song peaked at number seventy-two on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
.
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
72 |
Personnel
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley, Andreao Heard, Nate Smith, Teron Beal, Eritza Laues and Kenny Quiller
- Produced by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
- Co-Produced by Andreao Heard and Nate Smith
- Lead and background vocals by Michael Jackson
- Additional background vocals by Dr. Freeze and "Que"
- Orchestra arranged and conducted by Jeremy Lubbock
- Recorded and mixed by Teddy Riley, Bruce Swedien and George Mayers
- Digital editing by Teddy Riley and George Mayers
BLACKstreet Version
The song was also recorded by BLACKstreetBLACKstreet
Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
, originally lined up to their 1999 album Finally
Finally (BLACKstreet album)
-Charts:...
. After being released by Jackson, their version did not make into the album. However, Riley stated in 2006 to re-make the song, for a new BLACKstreet album, but the new album did not finish until 2011. In a interview with The Urban Daily on December 12, 2010, Riley confirmed that the upcoming album from Blackstreet will feature a cover of "Heaven Can Wait". He said "Blackstreet is gonna do something incredible with that song."