One Night in Heaven
Encyclopedia
One Night in Heaven is the sixth overall single from British band M People
and the first single from their second album Elegant Slumming
(1993). Written by Mike Pickering
and Paul Heard. Produced by M People
. It was released on 14 June 1993. The song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart
.
who sings backing vocals throughout.
The song is made up of a variety of key elements, most notably, the sequenced "brass bottle" synths at the intro and in the break. The melody line is guided by the moog bassline, programmed drumming and layered with high hat synths and a continuous beat. This is embodied by the progressive chords and additional chords during the choruses.
single to climb not once, but twice. It spent the first three weeks climbing from its introductory chart position of number 9 to 7 to then peak in its third week at number 6.
The single entered the chart at number 9 in the summer of 1993 with sales of 84,000 copies in its first week, but after one of two performances on Top of the Pops
made a steady ascent climbing to number 7 selling further 89,000 copies in each of the following two weeks and in its fourth week selling 98,000 copies to climb and peak at number 6 where it remained for another week afterwards. This meant the single sold 360,000 copies in a month.
This single spent a total of 11 weeks in the chart throughout the summer of 1993 leaving August 30, 1993.
One in Night in Heaven became a massive success Europe-wide, scoring Top 10 hits in Germany, France and Holland. On the dance chart M People were held off the top spot by Haddaway
’s What Is Love.
The song also reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the U.S. in 1994.
stations, BBC Radio 2
and even Radio 1
had added the song to their A-Lists. It became M People's first Airplay Chart Number 1 in the UK where it remained for two weeks. It then took another eleven weeks to leave the Airplay Top 75 which meant it was still being heavily played when its successor "Moving on Up
" was released to radio.
at the end of April 1993 and filmed over two days. It was the first M People
music video to be filmed abroad with a relatively larger budget. The premise was to introduce the band and show them singing along to the song and having fun. The band’s three members Heather Small
, Mike Pickering
and Paul Heard and the band’s percussionist Shovell (for the first time, who would later become full time member) are all featured in various scenes within popular tourist spots including Park Güell
and the Sagrada Família
both designed by Antoni Gaudí
.
, Bizarre Fruit
, Bizarre Fruit II tours as well as T in the Park
and Glastonbury
in 1994, it has been performed as the full length album version towards the end of the second half their shows (pre-encore).
From 1996 onwards they have performed the song with the David Morales Classic Mix intro found on Elegantly American. Snake Davis also no longer plays flute during the choruses.
and M People themselves created the Hi Gloss mixes. Further mixes of the single were created for the Elegantly American (EP) including mixes by David Morales.
CSS
7" Mini
12" Maxi
CD Maxi
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
and the first single from their second album Elegant Slumming
Elegant Slumming
Elegant Slumming is the second album by British house music band M People. It was released on 4 October 1993 charting and peaking at number 2 on the UK Album Chart and spent 87 weeks in the Top 75...
(1993). Written by Mike Pickering
Mike Pickering
Michael "Duncan" Pickering has DJed at The Haçienda's infamous "Nude" and "Hot" nights and later "Shine". He worked for Factory Records where he signed Happy Mondays, To Hell With Burgundy and James amongst others...
and Paul Heard. Produced by M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
. It was released on 14 June 1993. The song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Composition
The song was recorded at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London. The key refrain "One Night in Heaven, One Night in Heaven" is sung by vocalist Juliet RobertsJuliet Roberts
Juliet Roberts is a British jazz, rock and house music singer of Grenadian descent.-Career:She originally recorded as Julie Roberts in 1982, and performed on the 1983 Top 10 hit single, "It's Over" by the Funkmasters...
who sings backing vocals throughout.
The song is made up of a variety of key elements, most notably, the sequenced "brass bottle" synths at the intro and in the break. The melody line is guided by the moog bassline, programmed drumming and layered with high hat synths and a continuous beat. This is embodied by the progressive chords and additional chords during the choruses.
Chart Performance
Like the previous single, "One Night in Heaven" became the second consecutive single to enter the Top 10 and climb higher. It is the only M PeopleM People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
single to climb not once, but twice. It spent the first three weeks climbing from its introductory chart position of number 9 to 7 to then peak in its third week at number 6.
The single entered the chart at number 9 in the summer of 1993 with sales of 84,000 copies in its first week, but after one of two performances on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
made a steady ascent climbing to number 7 selling further 89,000 copies in each of the following two weeks and in its fourth week selling 98,000 copies to climb and peak at number 6 where it remained for another week afterwards. This meant the single sold 360,000 copies in a month.
This single spent a total of 11 weeks in the chart throughout the summer of 1993 leaving August 30, 1993.
One in Night in Heaven became a massive success Europe-wide, scoring Top 10 hits in Germany, France and Holland. On the dance chart M People were held off the top spot by Haddaway
Haddaway
Nestor Alexander Haddaway , better known by his stage name Haddaway, is a Trinidadian-German singer. He is most famous for his worldwide 1993 hit, "What Is Love".- Early life :...
’s What Is Love.
The song also reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the U.S. in 1994.
Airplay
"One Night in Heaven" was serviced to radio four weeks before physical release on 19 May as the follow-up to previous airplay Top 10 smash "How Can I Love You More (Mixes)". By the end of week one on airplay, the single had become the highest new entry being played 315 times on UK Radio placing it straight in at Number 58. All UK Independent Local RadioIndependent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
stations, BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
and even Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
had added the song to their A-Lists. It became M People's first Airplay Chart Number 1 in the UK where it remained for two weeks. It then took another eleven weeks to leave the Airplay Top 75 which meant it was still being heavily played when its successor "Moving on Up
Moving on Up
Moving on Up is the seventh overall single from British band M People and the second single from their second album Elegant Slumming . Written by Mike Pickering and Paul Heard. Produced by M People. It was released on 13 September 1993...
" was released to radio.
Music Video
The video was filmed in BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
at the end of April 1993 and filmed over two days. It was the first M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
music video to be filmed abroad with a relatively larger budget. The premise was to introduce the band and show them singing along to the song and having fun. The band’s three members Heather Small
Heather Small
Heather Small is a British soul singer, best known for being the lead singer in the Manchester based band M People. Her debut solo album was Proud in 2000...
, Mike Pickering
Mike Pickering
Michael "Duncan" Pickering has DJed at The Haçienda's infamous "Nude" and "Hot" nights and later "Shine". He worked for Factory Records where he signed Happy Mondays, To Hell With Burgundy and James amongst others...
and Paul Heard and the band’s percussionist Shovell (for the first time, who would later become full time member) are all featured in various scenes within popular tourist spots including Park Güell
Park Güell
Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914...
and the Sagrada Família
Sagrada Familia
The ' , commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí...
both designed by Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Spanish Catalan architect and figurehead of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style and are largely concentrated in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, notably his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.Much of Gaudí's work was...
.
Live Performances
In its original live incarnation, "One Night in Heaven" gets arguably one of the largest rapturous audience response, than any other single. During the Elegant SlummingElegant Slumming
Elegant Slumming is the second album by British house music band M People. It was released on 4 October 1993 charting and peaking at number 2 on the UK Album Chart and spent 87 weeks in the Top 75...
, Bizarre Fruit
Bizarre Fruit
- Release history :...
, Bizarre Fruit II tours as well as T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
and Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
in 1994, it has been performed as the full length album version towards the end of the second half their shows (pre-encore).
From 1996 onwards they have performed the song with the David Morales Classic Mix intro found on Elegantly American. Snake Davis also no longer plays flute during the choruses.
Remixes
Remixes of the single were provided by HarriHarri
Harri may refer to:*Guto Harri , a former BBC Chief Political Correspondent*Harri Anne Smith, a Republican member of the Alabama Senate*Harri Eloranta , a former Finnish biathlete...
and M People themselves created the Hi Gloss mixes. Further mixes of the single were created for the Elegantly American (EP) including mixes by David Morales.
Track listings
In the UK, the CD single does not contain the radio edit. At the time the radio edit was only made available on the 7" version of the single and on compilations.CSS
- “One Night In Heaven” (7" mix) 3.44
- “One Night In Heaven” (thee def radio mix)3.56
7" Mini
- “One Night In Heaven” (Master edit) 3.44
- “One Night In Heaven” (Hi Gloss dub) 5.56
12" Maxi
- "One Night In Heaven" (Master Mix)[1] 6.32
- "One Night In Heaven" (Harri's Dub) 7.54
- "One Night In Heaven" (Hi Gloss Mix) 6.22
- "One Night In Heaven" (Hi Gloss Dub) 5.56
- "One Night In Heaven" (Harri's Vocal) 7.07
CD Maxi
- "One Night In Heaven" (Master Mix)[1] 6.32
- "One Night In Heaven" (Harri's Dub) 7.54
- "One Night In Heaven" (Hi Gloss Mix) 6.22
- "One Night In Heaven" (Hi Gloss Dub) 5.56
- "One Night In Heaven" (Harri's Vocal) 7.07
Charts
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
6 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 12 |
| Australian ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... Singles Chart |
23 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 26 |
End of Year Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| 1993 | |
| UK Singles Chart | 41 |