"Heaven" by Warrant

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  3974

Date:  07/22/1989

Debut:  78

Peak:  2

Weeks:  19

Genre:  Hard Rock, Glam Rock

Pop Bits:  This band headed up by singer/songwriter Jani Lane were doing well with their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. By July of '89 the LP had initially peaked in the Top 30 and gone gold. It was helped along by their debut single "Down Boys," which made the Pop Top 30 (#13 Rock). For their second single, the label chose to push out this power ballad. It would tip things into high gear for the band. The song would nearly top the Pop chart while getting to #3 Rock. It would sell well enough to go gold. The success of the tune turned the album around and it would end up at a new peak of #10. It would quickly go platinum and then double-platinum in January of '90.

ReduxReview:  This big, lighter waving ballad was the right song at the right time for Warrant. With glam metal in its heyday, this was a no-brainer for single release. It was an amped up pop tune with a sing-a-long chorus that would be an easy sell to mainstream radio. I thought it was fine at the time, but it didn't really catch my ear. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. I appreciate it a bit more today. It was a memorable tune and it only took a listen or two to realize that this was going to be a major hit.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Prior to joining Warrant, lead singer/songwriter Jani Lane and drummer Steven Sweet were in a band called Plain Jane. Originally formed in Florida, the band took a chance and moved to California in '84. They started to make a name for themselves on the Hollywood club circuit and along the way they recorded a few demo songs. When Lane and Sweet decided to join up with Warrant, the band chose to record one of the Plain Jane demo songs that Lane had written. That tune was called "Heaven" and it would go on to be the band's biggest hit. Another Plain Jane demo song that Lane had written, "Sad Theresa," would be recorded by Warrant for their 1992 album Dog Eat Dog.

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