Heaven (Niall Horan song)
"Heaven" | ||||
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Single by Niall Horan | ||||
from the album The Show | ||||
Released | 17 February 2023 | |||
Genre | Pop rock[1] | |||
Length | 3:06 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Niall Horan singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Heaven" on YouTube |
"Heaven" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Niall Horan, released through Capitol Records as the lead single from his third studio album The Show on 17 February 2023.
Background
[edit]In an statement to Rolling Stone, Horan said, "There's so much pressure for people to hit certain milestones by a certain age – you get married at this age, buy a house at that age, have kids at some other age [...] But I've never conformed to those ideas, and so I wanted to write about how we all should just focus on enjoying our lives and doing what feels right, instead of worrying about what might be expected of us."[2]
Composition
[edit]The song was originally published in the key of F major and starts with F(add2)/Gm/F/F5/G7sus/Bbsus2 chord progression with six intro bars. The song begins with the lyric: "Strange light revolves around you, you float across the room. Your touch is made of something heaven can't hold a candle to.".[3]
Promotion
[edit]In January 2023, fans received candles that depicted partly cloudy skies. The QR code on the candles' packaging sent fans to an interactive website (heavenwontbethesame.com) that showed a virtual version of the candle.[4] Over the course of the week, the candle would slowly melt.[5][6] When it finished melting, the outdoor setting from the song's music video appeared and there was new hidden content under a differently coloured shrub of flowers each day leading up to the song's release date. The content included a voice note from the song's writing process,[7] along with behind-the-scenes photos from the photo shoot of Horan's third album and the set of the music video.
In February 2023, Horan performed the "Heaven" chorus acoustically whilst appearing on the The Late Late Show with James Corden.[8] He appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and discussed writing the song at a writer's camp.[9][10] Horan released an acoustic version of "Heaven" on 10 March 2023,[11] which had been preceded one week earlier by a video released to YouTube of the acoustic version. Horan appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show on 11 March 2023.[12][13] On 17 March 2023, Horan performed the song at the White House's Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.[14][15][16] On 18 April 2023, Horan performed "Heaven" on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, in addition to a cover of Lizzy McAlpine's song "Ceilings".[17]
Music video
[edit]On 17 February 2023, Horan released a lyric video to "Heaven", which was produced by Katie Temkin.[18] On 24 February 2023, the official music video was released online. The video was directed by Dylan Knight.[19] Drummer Emilia Schmier features throughout.[20] The video shows Horan and Schmier playing in a room made out of red curtains; after the first chorus, Horan enters a door to a crowded party where young women dressed as nuns are seen amongst the crowd. The video alternates between the two settings. During the bridge of the song the room the party was in is empty and the walls pull away to reveal an outdoor setting with flowers and rolling hills.
Chart performance
[edit]One week after the single's release, "Heaven" debuted at number 4 on the Irish singles chart,[21] Horan's highest charting single in the country since 2017's "Slow Hands". In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number 18, peaking one week later at number 16,[22] and went on to spend 12 weeks in the UK Top 40.[23] In the Netherlands Heaven debuted at number 26. And after 13 weeks it reached number 8. In Sweden, "Heaven" debuted at number 54 on that country's singles chart.[24] In the United States, it debuted at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100[25] and peaked at number 62.[26] In Australia, the single peaked at number 30 on the country's ARIA Chart.[27]
One week after the single's release, the UK's Official Charts Company reported "Heaven" peaked at number 2 on the Official Trending Chart.[28]
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit] |
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[66] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[67] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[68] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV)[69] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 17 February 2023 | Original | Capitol | [71] | |
Italy | Radio airplay | Universal | [72] | ||
United States | 21 February 2023 | Contemporary hit radio | Capitol | [73] | |
27 February 2023 | Hot adult contemporary radio | [74] | |||
Various | 10 March 2023 |
|
Acoustic | Capitol | [75] |
14 April 2023 | Original | [76] |
References
[edit]- ^ Mylrea, Hannah (8 April 2023). "Niall Horan: "The last time I wrote an album I did less thinking"". NME. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Paul, Larisha (17 February 2023). "Niall Horan Enters His Certified Lover Boy Era on 'Heaven'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan 'Heaven' Sheet Music". 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Teases Third Album With 'Heaven'-ly Song Snippet, Mystery Boxes Sent to Fans". Billboard. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan's Third Studio Album Is Finally Becoming A Reality". iHeartRadio. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Teases New Album & Single With Cryptic Site: 'Heaven Won't Be The Same'". Capital FM. January 24, 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Heaven (voice note) on YouTube
- ^ Paul, Larisha (17 February 2023). "Niall Horan Makes Existential Connection Between Katy Perry and New Single 'Heaven' on 'Corden'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Hear more about the making of NiallOfficial's new single #Heaven, and the origins of his cardigan obsession". Twitter. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Reveals He 'Constantly' Speaks to One Direction as Collaboration Rumors Swirl". Rolling Stone. 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan - Heaven (Acoustic)". Apple Music. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Millar, Will (10 March 2023). "The Jonathan Ross Show: Who is on ITV show this week including Maya Jama, Niall Horan & James Acaster". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan - Heaven [Live] | The Jonathan Ross Show". YouTube. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (March 17, 2023). "Niall Horan Hangs Out With President Joe Biden at the White House for St. Patrick's Day". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Ted (March 17, 2023). "Niall Horan Performs At White House As Part Of Joe Biden-Leo Varadkar St. Patrick's Day Celebration". Deadline. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Hussey, Sinéad (18 March 2023). "Niall Horan's mother very proud after White House performance". RTÉ. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (19 April 2023). "Niall Horan's Soothing Rendition of Lizzy McAlpine's 'Ceilings' Will Ease All Your Troubles". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan - Heaven (lyric video)". YouTube. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Bowenbank, Starr (24 February 2023). "Niall Horan Gets a Dose of Reality in 'Heaven' Music Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (24 February 2023). "Niall Horan Journeys Toward Some Kind of 'Heaven' in New Music Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 24 February 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 03 March 2023 - 09 March 2023". Official Charts Company. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History". Official Charts. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Niall Horan – Heaven". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ @billboardcharts (27 February 2023). "@NiallOfficial's "Heaven" debuts at No. 63 on this week's #Hot100" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Niall Horan Billboard Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Smith, Carl (28 February 2023). "Pink's TRUSTFALL tops Official Trending Chart as Niall Horan and Mae Stephens make big gains". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ "Niall Horan – Heaven". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan – Heaven" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan – Heaven" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan – Heaven" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 17. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 9. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Jun 22, 2023". TopHit. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of March 8, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Latvijas radio stacijās spēlētākās dziesmas TOP 17. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ "OLT20 - Combined Chart - Week of Sunday April 30th, 2023". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ "2023 9-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan – Heaven" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Singel 2023 uke 09". VG-lista. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 15.04.2023–21.04.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 28.04.2023–04.05.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan – Heaven". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 23/04/2023" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. 23 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 9 (24 Feb - 2 Mar 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202326 into search. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan – Heaven". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Niall Horan Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Podsumowanie roczne – OLiA" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Niall Horan – Heaven" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Niall Horan – Heaven". Music Canada. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 September 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Heaven in the search box.
- ^ "British single certifications – Niall Horan – Heaven". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Heaven". Spotify. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ Bellone, Dario. "NIALL HORAN "Heaven" | (Radio Date: 17/02/2023)". radiodate.it (Press release) (in Italian). Radio Airplay Italia. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Heaven (Acoustic) - Single by Niall Horan". Apple Music (IRE). Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "Heaven" release formats:
- "Niall Horan Heaven CD Single". Niall Horan Official Store (UK). Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
"Heaven - CD Single" (in Spanish). Universal Music Spain. 14 April 2023. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
"CD Single Esclusivo Heaven di Niall Horan". Universal Music Shop (in Italian). Universal Music Italia. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023. - "Niall Horan Heaven 7" Single". Niall Horan Official Store (UK). Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
"Heaven – 7" Single" (in Spanish). Universal Music Spain. 14 April 2023. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
"Vinile 7" Single Esclusivo Heaven di Niall Horan". Universal Music Shop (in Italian). Universal Music Italia. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
- "Niall Horan Heaven CD Single". Niall Horan Official Store (UK). Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.