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For the 2009 Lili & Susie song, see Show Me Heaven (Lili & Susie song).

"Show Me Heaven"
Single by Maria McKee
from the album Days of Thunder Soundtrack
B-side
ReleasedJune 1990 (1990-06)
GenreSoft rock
Length3:46
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Peter Asher
Maria McKee singles chronology
"To Miss Someone"
(1989) 		"Show Me Heaven"
(1990) 		"Breathe"
(1991)

"Show Me Heaven" is a song written by American singer and songwriter Maria McKee, Eric Rackin and Jay Rifkin, and recorded by McKee for the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder, released in June 1990. Produced by Peter Asher, the power ballad[1] received favorable reviews from most music critics, reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and became the sixth-highest-selling single of 1990 in the UK. Additionally, the song became a worldwide hit, topping the charts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway and becoming a top-five hit in Australia, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. It has since been covered by numerous other artists, including Tina Arena.

Background

"Show Me Heaven" originated as "Secret Fire", a track written by Eric Rackin and Jay Rifkin for the soundtrack of Days of Thunder.[2] When Geffen contacted McKee in the hope she would record the song, the singer dismissed the idea, but the label insisted they send her the demo tape for consideration.[3] On hearing the demo, McKee felt the lyrics were "appalling".[2] She told Simon Mayo in 1991: "I liked the melody but I said I'd only do it if I could change the lyrics."[3] McKee's demand was initially refused, but she was later given permission to rewrite the lyrics.[2][3]

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal described the song as "more heaven" from the former Lone Justice singer, complimenting her vocals as "superbly lazy, yet faultless".[4] Jeffery Kennedy from Bay Area Reporter felt it was a "blatant Hollywood hyperballad that perfectly showcased her gilded throat".[5] Larry Flick from Billboard stated that it's a "delicate, well-sung ballad that could give the long-overlooked McKee her first bonafide hit."[6] A reviewer from Cashbox viewed the singer as the "lost goddess of the pop airwaves", remarking her "heartachingly lovely jewel of a voice [that] can squeeze diamonds out of the coal-black grooves of a record."[7] Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly called the song "affecting".[8] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger declared it as a "post-Madonna power ballad", adding that McKee "can belt, but she's most comfortable away from the chorus, giving "Show Me Heaven" a more tender and dynamic performance."[9] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report constated that "there aren't many singers on the planet who can outdo Maria's remarkable vocal range. It was her voice that first endeared me to her band Lone Justice. Now as a soloist, she puts all that special ability to the test on the heart-stopping love theme from the Tom Cruise film, Days of Thunder. A couple of listens won me over."[10]

David Giles from Music Week felt that McKee's "powerful voice endows a fairly ordinary MOR soft rock song with a certain piquancy that lifts it well above the average soundtrack song."[11] Gene Sandbloom from The Network Forty praised the singer's "tremendous voice and stage presence", naming the song "one of the most memorable ballads of the year." He added, "Before you even get to the chorus, you know this is the kind of heart warming song that can't miss bringing in across the board demos come weekly music research time. If you missed the film, don't worry. If you didn't like McKee's past work, forget it. This is one of those magic moments when everything falls perfectly into place, and you'll realize it with one listen."[12] Stuart Bailie from NME named it "Single of the Week", viewing it as "a deal more sophisticated" than her debut as a solo artist the year before.[13] Another editor, Mark Ramshaw, described it as "floaty".[14] John Wirt from The News-Journal complimented it as a "stunning love song with bite."[15] Sunday Tribune's reviewer praised it as a "Californian voice of an angel".[16]

Chart performance

"Show Me Heaven" spent four weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart,[17] ending the year as the country's sixth highest-selling single,[18] and is McKee's only UK number-one as a performer (although the song "A Good Heart"—written by her—was a UK number-one for Feargal Sharkey in November 1985). The power ballad[1] had even greater success in Norway, topping the Norwegian Singles Chart for 10 weeks. The track was also a number-one success in Belgium and the Netherlands.[19]

"Show Me Heaven" failed to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 but did reach number 28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[20] In Canada, "Show Me Heaven" reached number 69 on the RPM Top Singles chart and number 30 on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart.[21][22] Elsewhere, the single reached number two in Ireland and Sweden, number three in Australia, number four in Switzerland, and the top 20 in Austria, Germany and New Zealand.[23][19]

Track listings

7-inch single, UK (1990)[24]
No.TitleLength
1."Show Me Heaven"3:54
2."Car Building" (by Hans Zimmer)2:36
12-inch and cassette single, UK (1990)[25][26]
No.TitleLength
1."Show Me Heaven"3:54
2."Thunder Box" (by Apollo Smile)3:46
3."Car Building" (by Hans Zimmer)2:26
CD single, UK (1990)[27]
No.TitleLength
1."Show Me Heaven"3:54
2."Thunder Box" (by Apollo Smile)3:46
3."Car Building" (by Hans Zimmer)2:36
CD single, Australia (1990)[28]
No.TitleLength
1."Show Me Heaven"3:54
2."Thunder Box" (by Apollo Smile)3:46
CD maxi (mini), Europe (1990)[29]
No.TitleLength
1."Show Me Heaven"3:46
2."Car Building" (by Hans Zimmer)2:35
3."Hearts in Trouble" (by Chicago—radio edit)4:00

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Silver 200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Tina Arena version

"Show Me Heaven"
Single by Tina Arena
from the album Don't Ask
B-side
  • "Message"
  • "Greatest Gift"
  • "Chains"
ReleasedNovember 20, 1995 (1995-11-20)
Length
  • 3:32 (single version)
  • 4:20 (album version)
LabelColumbia, Epic
Songwriter(s)Maria McKee, Eric Rackin, Jay Rifkin
Producer(s)Peter Asher
Tina Arena singles chronology
"Wasn't It Good"
(1995) 		"Show Me Heaven"
(1995) 		"Burn"
(1997)

Australian singer Tina Arena released her version of "Show Me Heaven" as the fifth single from her third studio album, Don't Ask (1994), on November 20, 1995. Although it was not released in her home country, her version of the song reached number 29 in the United Kingdom, number 33 in New Zealand and number 78 in Germany. It also peaked at number three on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number 52 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard viewed Arena's version of "Show Me Heaven" as "a stirring rendition". He stated that "Arena has the voice and attitude to match the bombast of McKee's performance, but she wisely opts for a slow and stylish ascension to the song's requisite thunderclap climax. Actually, Arena sounds like a baby Celine Dion throughout much of this fine single—which is not necessarily a bad thing."[57] Daina Darzin from Cash Box said it "suggests Arena is more like Australia’s answer to Mariah Carey. Her lush, gently crescendoing take on Maria McKee’s 1990 hit should impact Adult Contemporary stations like that giant spaceship in the previews of Independence Day."[58] James Masterton for Dotmusic felt that Arena's version "stays fairly faithful to the original, the powerful song suiting her voice quite well. Having said that it fails to add much to the song, a good though it is, the track is unlikely to emulate the feats of the original."[59] Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as "soulful", noting that it "has a Whitney Houston style intro, but very soon Miss Arena makes it clear that her own voice is much warmer, a fact emphasised by the gospel harmonies of the background singers."[60]

Charts

Chart (1995–1996) Peak
position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[61] 52
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[62] 87
Germany (Official German Charts)[63] 78
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[64] 33
Scotland (OCC)[65] 29
UK Singles (OCC)[66] 29
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[67] 3

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom November 20, 1995 (1995-11-20)
  • CD
  • cassette
 Columbia [68]
United States June 25, 1996 (1996-06-25) Contemporary hit radio Epic [69]

Other cover versions

  • In 1993, Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander released a version of the song on his self-titled debut solo album. Zander's version was issued as a single and features McKee on backing vocals.[70]
  • Laura Branigan recorded the song and featured it as one of two new tracks on her 1995 greatest hits album, The Best of Branigan.[71]
  • A dance version of "Show Me Heaven" by Chimira peaked at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart in 1997.[72]
  • Another dance version of the song, by Saint (featuring Suzanna Dee), peaked at number 36 in 2003.[73]
  • In 2017, Ane Brun released a version of the song on her all-covers album, Leave Me Breathless.[74]

References

  1. ^ a b "24 of the Biggest and Best Movie Power Ballads". Den of Geek.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c "Maria McKee: How I wrote Show Me Heaven". Shortlist. July 25, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Mayo, Simon (January 23, 1991). "It was a bit touch and go for Maria". Reading Evening Post.
  4. ^ "Maria McKee Show Me Heaven". Aberdeen Press and Journal. September 6, 1990. page 7.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Jeffery (May 13, 1993). "Ladies Launching". Bay Area Reporter. p. 41. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Flick, Larry (September 1, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 73. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "Pop Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. September 8, 1990. p. 18. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Sandow, Greg (April 5, 2002). "Days of Thunder". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  9. ^ "Maria McKee – "Show Me Heaven"". Freaky Trigger. February 1, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  10. ^ Sholin, Dave (August 24, 1990). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1821. p. 48. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  11. ^ Giles, David (September 15, 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  12. ^ Sandbloom, Gene (August 24, 1990). "Top 40: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 24. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  13. ^ Bailie, Stuart (September 8, 1990). "Singles". NME. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  14. ^ Ramshaw, Mark. "Maria McKee – Life Is Sweet". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  15. ^ Wirt, John (June 29, 1990). "Album review: Days Of Thunder - Various artists". The News-Journal. p. 26. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
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  17. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
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  25. ^ Show Me Heaven (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Maria McKee. Epic Records. 1990. 656303 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ Show Me Heaven (UK cassette single sleeve). Maria McKee. Epic Records. 1990. 656303 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Show Me Heaven (UK CD single liner notes). Maria McKee. Epic Records. 1990. 656303 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Show Me Heaven (Australian CD single disc notes). Maria McKee. Epic Records. 1990. 656325 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Show Me Heaven (European mini maxi-CD single disc notes). Maria McKee. Epic Records. 1990. 656303 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  34. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Maria McKee". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 167. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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  37. ^ "Ísland Listinn". DV. November 2, 1990. p. 33. ISSN 1021-8254.
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  43. ^ Portuguese Charts Archive. 1 December 1990.
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  46. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)". ARIA. Retrieved July 28, 2019 – via Imgur.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
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  54. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991" (in German). Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  55. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 182.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – Maria McKee – Show Me Heaven". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  57. ^ Flick, Larry (June 22, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 86. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  58. ^ Darzin, Daina (June 29, 1996). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  59. ^ Masterton, James (November 26, 1995). "Week Ending December 2nd 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  60. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 9, 1995. p. 7. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  61. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3049." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  62. ^ "Tina Arena – Show Me Heaven". Eurochart. Archived from the original on September 22, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  63. ^ "Tina Arena – Show Me Heaven" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  64. ^ "Tina Arena – Show Me Heaven". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  65. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  66. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  67. ^ "Tina Arena Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  68. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 18, 1995. p. 39. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  69. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1151. June 21, 1996. p. 43. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  70. ^ Flick, Larry (November 13, 1993). "Single reviews". Billboard.
  71. ^ Branigan, Laura. (2007) [1995], The best of Branigan : greatest hits, Atlantic Catalog Group, OCLC 137341468, retrieved April 28, 2020
  72. ^ "Chimera - Show Me Heaven". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  73. ^ "Saint Featuring Suzanna Dee - Show Me Heaven". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  74. ^ "Ane Brun - Leave Me Breathless". Discogs. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_Me_Heaven

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