Even Heaven Cries
Encyclopedia
"Even Heaven Cries" is a pop
ballad recorded by German
pop trio Monrose
. It was penned by Robbie Nevil
, Lauren Evans
, Philip Denker, Jonas Jeberg, and Jens Lumholt for the group's debut studio album
, Temptation
(2006). Produced by Jeberg, the song was released as the album's second single on March 2, 2007 (see 2007 in music
) in German-speaking Europe
.
The track reached the top 10 in Germany
and Slovenia
and the top 20 in Austria
and Switzerland
. It also served as Monrose's competition song for the Grand Prix Vorentscheid
, the pre-selection show of the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest 2007
, where it eventually placed second with a total of 20 per cent of all 900,000 phone votes.
Nik Hafemann, "Even Heaven Cries" was one of the first songs on Temptation to be recorded by all six Popstars finalists during the album sessions in late October 2006. An early draft of the song was premiered by subsequent band member Mandy Capristo
and Popstars
finalists Katarzyna "Kati" Zinkiewicz and Romina Reinhardt in a one-time live version, specially-produced for the second last episode of the Popstars series on November 16, 2006; however, this version featured different addlips and vocal harmonies
from the one on the album. In the final episode of the show the song was staged again in various variants but also without being advertised as Monrose's second single then.
In January 2007, it was announced that either "Your Love Is Right Over Me," "Even Heaven Cries," or "Push Up on Me" would be the next single and Starwatch started a poll asking the fans to decide. However, "Even Heaven Cries" finished first with 47% of all votes and was eventually chosen as the group's second single. Thus, the song also served as the albums's competition song in the pre-selection show of the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest 2007
but to get a better result than the under deadline pressure mixed album version, the girls re-entered recording studios with Thorsten Brötzmann to re-record several parts of the song. However, the shortened single version of the song world-premiered on the ProSieben network's prime time boxing show ProSieben Fight Night on February 16, 2007.
The final trio has described the track as one of the "most sentimental" records on Temptation: "'Even Heaven Cries' is pure emotion and has always been one of our favourites on the album", Mandy Capristo
said in an interview with the band's official website. "This emotional ballad has still become more pathetic through its overwork." Senna Guemmour
called the song a personal concern: "It [the song] is a notice to signify to yourself! And that's so absolutely us!"
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The music video
for "Even Heaven Cries" was co-directed by Katja Kuhl and Moritz Krebs and entirely shot in Berlin-Spandau in early February 2007. It officially worldpremiered on February 22 on the band's official website, and received its first official airing on the German music television channel VIVA on February 23. The video, however, was not included into its music video rotation since Popstars broadcaster ProSieben wanted to promote the official video premiere with the start of second cycle of Germany's Next Topmodel on March 1 - almost one week after its initial first airing.
The video shows Monrose in a flowery garden, Bahar Kızıl sitting on a swing while Senna Guemmour is standing in front of a cherry tree and Mandy Capristo is shown sitting on a bench. Scenes of two harassed women and one father whose son smudged his apartment with yellow paint are cut in. They seem to despair but then the garden in which Monrose are placed turns out to be a glass globe that encourages the three tormented. The music video plays with two heavy contrasted worlds: On the one hand the glass globe which shows a gaudy fairylike dreamland but on the other hand the grey, drab, depressing world where injustice and grief happens. However the video attempts to convey what the song's lyrics say: There are always ups and downs in life you just have to be loyal to yourself and everything will become fine again.
at number 9 in December 2006, based solely on digital download
s whose numbers were pushed by several live performances by the end of the Popstars season. In February 2007 the confirmed single appeared a week early on the German Airplay Chart
, debuting at number 36. However, it took another four weeks until the song reached its peak position of number 16 on particular chart.
On March 16, 2007, "Even Heaven Cries" debuted at number 7 in Germany
, and number 19 in Austria
and Switzerland
. The following week the song jumped one spot to number 6 on the German Singles Chart and to number 17 in Austria, mainly due to increasing CD singles and digital sales following Monrose's live performance of the song on the Deutscher Vorentscheid, the pre-selection show for the ESC 2007, on March 8, 2007. Those two formats spawned two previously unreleased songs entitled "Diamonds and Pearls" and "Butt Butt."
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
ballad recorded by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pop trio Monrose
Monrose
Monrose was a German pop band, first established in November 2006. Formed on the fifth installment of the German adaption of the international television talent show Popstars on the ProSieben network, the trio consisted of singers and songwriters Mandy Capristo, Senna Guemmour, and Bahar...
. It was penned by Robbie Nevil
Robbie Nevil
Robert S. "Robbie" Nevil is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist. He is best known for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit, "C'est La Vie".-Life and career:...
, Lauren Evans
Lauren Evans
Lauren Evans is an American singer/songwriter responsible for penning hits by Alexandra Burke and Jordin Sparks.-Early life and career:Lauren Evans grew up in San Bernardino, CA, the daughter of a worship pastor, John Evans, of Maranatha! Music and Promise Keepers. She recorded several popular...
, Philip Denker, Jonas Jeberg, and Jens Lumholt for the group's debut studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, Temptation
Temptation (Monrose album)
Temptation is the debut studio album by German pop trio Monrose, released by Starwatch Music and Warner Music Group on December 8, 2006 in German-speaking Europe, following the band's formation on the television talent show Popstars....
(2006). Produced by Jeberg, the song was released as the album's second single on March 2, 2007 (see 2007 in music
2007 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
) in German-speaking Europe
German-speaking Europe
The German language is spoken in a number of countries and territories in West, Central and Eastern Europe...
.
The track reached the top 10 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and the top 20 in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It also served as Monrose's competition song for the Grand Prix Vorentscheid
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Germany selected the participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with a national selection in Hamburg on March 8, 2007. A total of three acts competed to go to Helsinki, the swing singer Roger Cicero, the girl group Monrose, and the singer/songwriter Heinz Rudolf Kunze. .The national...
, the pre-selection show of the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
, where it eventually placed second with a total of 20 per cent of all 900,000 phone votes.
Writing and recording
Commissioned by the band's A&R managerA&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Nik Hafemann, "Even Heaven Cries" was one of the first songs on Temptation to be recorded by all six Popstars finalists during the album sessions in late October 2006. An early draft of the song was premiered by subsequent band member Mandy Capristo
Mandy Capristo
Mandy Grace Capristo is a German singer who rose to fame as one of the founding members of the pop group Monrose. She was the only blonde girl in the group and was also the "strong voice" of Monrose as she sang almost all of the high notes in their songs...
and Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
finalists Katarzyna "Kati" Zinkiewicz and Romina Reinhardt in a one-time live version, specially-produced for the second last episode of the Popstars series on November 16, 2006; however, this version featured different addlips and vocal harmonies
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
from the one on the album. In the final episode of the show the song was staged again in various variants but also without being advertised as Monrose's second single then.
In January 2007, it was announced that either "Your Love Is Right Over Me," "Even Heaven Cries," or "Push Up on Me" would be the next single and Starwatch started a poll asking the fans to decide. However, "Even Heaven Cries" finished first with 47% of all votes and was eventually chosen as the group's second single. Thus, the song also served as the albums's competition song in the pre-selection show of the 52nd Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
but to get a better result than the under deadline pressure mixed album version, the girls re-entered recording studios with Thorsten Brötzmann to re-record several parts of the song. However, the shortened single version of the song world-premiered on the ProSieben network's prime time boxing show ProSieben Fight Night on February 16, 2007.
The final trio has described the track as one of the "most sentimental" records on Temptation: "'Even Heaven Cries' is pure emotion and has always been one of our favourites on the album", Mandy Capristo
Mandy Capristo
Mandy Grace Capristo is a German singer who rose to fame as one of the founding members of the pop group Monrose. She was the only blonde girl in the group and was also the "strong voice" of Monrose as she sang almost all of the high notes in their songs...
said in an interview with the band's official website. "This emotional ballad has still become more pathetic through its overwork." Senna Guemmour
Senna Guemmour
Senna Guemmour is a German singer-songwriter and a member of the pop group Monrose.- Early life :Guemmour was born in Frankfurt to an Algerian father and a Moroccan mother. She grew up in the housing estate of Frankfurt-Nordweststadt. Senna Guemmour's father died in 1992...
called the song a personal concern: "It [the song] is a notice to signify to yourself! And that's so absolutely us!"
Music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Even Heaven Cries" was co-directed by Katja Kuhl and Moritz Krebs and entirely shot in Berlin-Spandau in early February 2007. It officially worldpremiered on February 22 on the band's official website, and received its first official airing on the German music television channel VIVA on February 23. The video, however, was not included into its music video rotation since Popstars broadcaster ProSieben wanted to promote the official video premiere with the start of second cycle of Germany's Next Topmodel on March 1 - almost one week after its initial first airing.
The video shows Monrose in a flowery garden, Bahar Kızıl sitting on a swing while Senna Guemmour is standing in front of a cherry tree and Mandy Capristo is shown sitting on a bench. Scenes of two harassed women and one father whose son smudged his apartment with yellow paint are cut in. They seem to despair but then the garden in which Monrose are placed turns out to be a glass globe that encourages the three tormented. The music video plays with two heavy contrasted worlds: On the one hand the glass globe which shows a gaudy fairylike dreamland but on the other hand the grey, drab, depressing world where injustice and grief happens. However the video attempts to convey what the song's lyrics say: There are always ups and downs in life you just have to be loyal to yourself and everything will become fine again.
Chart performance
Although "Even Heaven Cries" was not officially released until March 2, 2007, it entered the German Download ChartMedia Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
at number 9 in December 2006, based solely on digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
s whose numbers were pushed by several live performances by the end of the Popstars season. In February 2007 the confirmed single appeared a week early on the German Airplay Chart
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
, debuting at number 36. However, it took another four weeks until the song reached its peak position of number 16 on particular chart.
On March 16, 2007, "Even Heaven Cries" debuted at number 7 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and number 19 in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The following week the song jumped one spot to number 6 on the German Singles Chart and to number 17 in Austria, mainly due to increasing CD singles and digital sales following Monrose's live performance of the song on the Deutscher Vorentscheid, the pre-selection show for the ESC 2007, on March 8, 2007. Those two formats spawned two previously unreleased songs entitled "Diamonds and Pearls" and "Butt Butt."
Formats and tracklistings
These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "Even Heaven Cries".- CD single
- "Even Heaven Cries" (Single Version 2007) - 2:57
- "Diamonds and Pearls" (written by Vincent Degiorgio, Tony Malm) - 3:36
- "Butt Butt" (written by Jasmine Baird, Alex JamesAlex James (musician)Professionally known as Alex James is an English musician, songwriter, journalist and cheesemaker. He is best known as the bass player and occasional vocalist of band Blur...
) - 3:01 - "Even Heaven Cries" (Jeo Mix) - 2:55
- "Even Heaven Cries" (Instrumental) - 2:56
- Digital single
- "Even Heaven Cries" (Single Version 2007) - 2:57
- "Butt Butt" - 3:01
- "Even Heaven Cries" (Jeo Mix) - 2:55
Credits and personnel
- Vocals: M. CapristoMandy CapristoMandy Grace Capristo is a German singer who rose to fame as one of the founding members of the pop group Monrose. She was the only blonde girl in the group and was also the "strong voice" of Monrose as she sang almost all of the high notes in their songs...
, S. GuemmourSenna GuemmourSenna Guemmour is a German singer-songwriter and a member of the pop group Monrose.- Early life :Guemmour was born in Frankfurt to an Algerian father and a Moroccan mother. She grew up in the housing estate of Frankfurt-Nordweststadt. Senna Guemmour's father died in 1992...
, B. KızılBahar KizilBahar Kızıl is a German singer-songwriter of Turkish descent, best known as one of the founding members of the pop group Monrose, which won the fifth season of the German version of Popstars. Bahar Kızıl is from a Turkish family from Antalya, and her first name, Bahar, means "spring" in Turkish... - WritersSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
: Philip Denker, Lauren Evans, Jonas Jeberg, Jens Lumholt, Robbie NevilRobbie NevilRobert S. "Robbie" Nevil is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist. He is best known for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit, "C'est La Vie".-Life and career:... - Producers: J. Jeberg, Thorsten Brötzmann (single version)
- All instrumentMusical instrumentA musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s: J. Jeberg
- MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
: J. Jeberg - Drum programming: Copenhaniacs
- Vocal recording: Claud Üblacker
- ArtworkCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
: Claudia Macias
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
17 |
| European Hot 100 Singles Eurochart Hot 100 Singles The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,... |
21 |
| German Singles Chart | 6 |
| Slovenian Airplay Chart | 3 |
| Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
19 |
End of Year Charts
| Year | Chart | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | German Singles Chart | #75 |