"(Feels Like) Heaven" is a song by the Scottish new wave band

Fiction Factory Fiction Factory were a Scottish New wave music, new wave band from Perth, Scotland, Perth. Formed in 1982, they are best known for their single "(Feels Like) Heaven", which peaked at #6 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by Eddie Jo ...

, released on 30 December 1983 as the second single from their debut studio album, ''

Throw the Warped Wheel Out ''Throw the Warped Wheel Out'' is the debut studio album by the Scottish new wave band Fiction Factory. It was released in 1984 and included the UK and European hit single " (Feels Like) Heaven". The album failed to chart in the UK but was more s ...

'' (1984). The track was a hit in

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, reaching #2 on the singles chart. In the UK, it peaked at #6. Other chart positions include #10 in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, #12 in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, #14 in

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and #20 in

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

. The song is a regular feature on 1980s and new wave

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

s. The song was written by Kevin Patterson and Eddie Jordan shortly after they had formed Fiction Factory with Chic Medley. The lyric has been described by the band as "an anti-love song", while recognising that it has come to have a different meaning for different people. The song was referenced in

Ariel Pink Ariel Marcus Rosenberg ( ; born June 24, 1978), professionally known as Ariel Pink, is an American musician, singer, and songwriter whose work draws heavily from the popular music of the 1960s–1980s. His lo-fi aesthetic and home-recorded al ...

's 2017 single " Feels Like Heaven".

Background

Fiction Factory was formed in 1982 by vocalist Kevin Patterson, keyboardist Eddie Jordan and guitarist Chic Medley. The trio originally intended to write songs together for other artists rather than perform their own, but they received little record company interest until they formed a full band with the addition of bassist Graham McGreggor and drummer Mike Ogletree. "(Feels Like) Heaven" was written in 1982 and was one of the first songs that Jordan and Patterson wrote together. Speaking of the song, Patterson told '' Sounds'' in 1984, "I suppose to some it is milk pop and that was our intention – to write a commercial song that would get the companies interested. But it's not a very subtle song. It's not about loving somebody at all, it's about being loved by someone you absolutely despise."

Critical reception

On its release, Ian Birch of ''

Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand ...

'' wrote: "Imagine a smattering of H₂O,

China Crisis China Crisis are an English new wave and synth-pop band formed in Kirkby, near Liverpool, Merseyside in 1979 with a core of lead vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist/vocalist Eddie Lundon. Initially a politically charged post-punk band ...

and The Lotus Eaters with a clean-cut production. One to watch in '84." Tony Jasper of ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...

'' noted the song "has a fetching feel with a good blend of vocals and backing track". Frank Edmonds of the '' Bury Free Press'' gave the song an 8 out of 10 rating and described it as a "truly impressive and pleasing little number, with a relaxed, catchy melody". In the US, David Okamoto of ''

The Tampa Tribune ''The Tampa Tribune'' was a daily newspaper published in Tampa, Florida. Along with the competing ''Tampa Bay Times'', the ''Tampa Tribune'' was one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area. The newspaper also published a ''St. P ...

'' described it as "the song

Spandau Ballet Spandau Ballet ( ) were an English new wave band formed in Islington, London, in 1979. Inspired by the capital's post-punk underground dance scene, they emerged at the start of the 1980s as the house band for the Blitz Kids (New Romantics), ...

would kill for" and "one of the prettiest singles of the year".

Track listing

7" # "(Feels Like) Heaven" # "Everyone but You" 12" # "(Feels Like) Heaven" (Remix) # "Everyone but You" # "This Is"

Charts

Certifications

Dario G version

In 2003, the song was recorded by the English dance group

Dario G Dario G were an English dance music group formed in Cheshire, England, consisting of three DJs and producers – Scott Rosser, Paul Spencer, and Stephen Spencer (no relation) – and vocalist Ingfrid Straumstøyl. The group rose to prominence i ...

, titled "Heaven Is Closer (Feels Like Heaven)". The single reached the UK top 40, peaking at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart. It also charted in several other countries across Europe. This version mainly uses the "heaven is closer"

refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeated in poetry or in music">poetry.html" ;"title="Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeat ...

at the end of the original song as its hook.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:(Feels Like) Heaven 1983 songs 1983 singles 1984 singles 2003 singles Fiction Factory songs CBS Records singles