"Heaven" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released as the lead single from their thirteenth studio album, Delta Machine (2013). Written by Martin Gore and produced by Ben Hillier, the song was world-premiered on KROQ's morning show Kevin and Bean on 30 January 2013. The single was released digitally in most territories on 31 January 2013, and physically on 1 February.
In the United Kingdom, "Heaven" was released digitally on 17 March 2013 and physically the following day. The B-side "All That's Mine" was written by Dave Gahan and Kurt Uenala. An accompanying music video for "Heaven" was directed by Timothy Saccenti and premiered on VEVO on 1 February 2013.
In June 2013, the single was certified gold by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI), denoting downloads exceeding 15,000 units in Italy. Select Online, Week 22, Year 2013, then press Avvia la ricerca. In the UK, by contrast, the single reached #60, the first initial single from a Depeche Mode album to fail to reach the UK Top 40.Depeche Mode chart history
Background and composition According to Martin Gore in an interview, "'Heaven' was written on a piano. I had all the chords, and everything all worked out on the piano and the whole vocal melody, and the lyrics worked out before I went anywhere near a computer." Additionally, Andy Fletcher stated that the demo was not very different to the final besides the lead vocal being done by Dave Gahan instead of Gore.
Gahan has expressed his appreciation to the song in the same interview, expressing, "Of all the incredible songs that Martin has written over the years that I have been lucky enough to sing and perform, once in a while a song comes along—hopefully I'll write one of those myself one day—that's something I have to sing. It's something I want to sing." He further states, "To me, 'Heaven' is one of the reasons why I still make music."
Music video The music video for "Heaven" was directed by Timothy Saccenti and filmed in November 2012 at the Marigny Opera House, a former Catholic church in New Orleans's Faubourg Marigny. Previously, Saccenti had directed the "In-Studio Collage 2012" video for "Angel" that premiered at the band's press conference in Paris on 23 October 2012.
The video's look was inspired by Terrence Malick's 2011 film The Tree of Life, with its beautiful yet twisted, dark imagery. "Mainly it's a performance video, which we haven't done in a long time", Gahan stated. The video debuted on VEVO on 1 February 2013.
Track listing All tracks are written by Martin L. Gore, except where noted
This is the first Depeche Mode single since 1982 to drop the "BONG" prefix.
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from CD single liner notes."Heaven" (CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Columbia Records. 2013. 88765461572.
Christoffer Berg – programming Anton Corbijn – design, photography Flood – mixing Ben Hillier – production Rob Kirwan – mix engineering Ferg Peterkin – engineering Bunt Stafford-Clark – mastering Kurt Uenala – additional programming, vocal recording
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Heaven" Chart (2013) Peakposition US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard) 2
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for "Heaven" Chart (2013) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)92 Italy (FIMI)95 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)29
Release history +Release dates for "Heaven"RegionDateFormat(s)LabelFrance31 January 2013Digital downloadSony MusicGermany United StatesColumbia RecordsGermany1 February 2013Sony MusicUnited States 5 February 2013Columbia RecordsFrance 18 February 2013Sony MusicGermany22 February 201312" singleUnited States26 February 2013Columbia RecordsUnited Kingdom
17 March 2013Digital downloadSony Music18 March 2013
See also List of Billboard Dance Club Songs number ones of 2013
Notes
References
External links Single information from the official Depeche Mode website