Tears in Heaven
Encyclopedia
"Tears in Heaven" is a ballad
written by Eric Clapton
and Will Jennings
about the pain and loss Clapton felt following the death of his four-year-old son, Conor. Conor fell from a window of the 53rd-floor New York apartment of his mother's friend on March 20, 1991. Clapton, who arrived at the apartment shortly after the accident, was visibly distraught ever since. This is one of Clapton's most successful songs, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart in the U.S., featuring a classical guitar
as the lead instrument. The song also stayed three weeks as #1 on the American adult contemporary chart
in 1992
.
Will Jennings, who worked with Clapton on the song, was reluctant at first to help him write a personal song. The song was initially featured on the soundtrack to the film Rush
, followed by Unplugged
, and it won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year
, Record of the Year
and Male Pop Vocal Performance
at the 1993 Grammy Awards. It also won a MTV Video Music Award
for Best Male Video in 1992.
Clapton stopped playing it in 2004, as well as the song "My Father's Eyes
", with Clapton stating; "I didn't feel the loss anymore, which is so much a part of performing those songs. I really have to connect with the feelings that were there when I wrote them. They're kind of gone and I really don't want them to come back, particularly. My life is different now. They probably just need a rest and maybe I'll introduce them for a much more detached point of view."
Shortly after his single was released, he went on to the MTV Unplugged
series and recorded a new version of the song.
) were killed in a helicopter accident, and only seven months later came the death of his young son.
On March 20, 1991 his son, Conor, fell 53 stories to his death. After isolating himself for a period of time Clapton began working again, writing music for a movie about drug addiction called Rush
. Eric Clapton wrote the song “Tears in Heaven” for his son Conor which was released on the album Unplugged
. Unplugged topped charts and was nominated for nine Grammy Awards the year it was released. Though his grief was intense, Clapton made multiple public service announcements to raise awareness for childproofing windows and staircases.
In an interview with Daphne Barak
, Clapton stated "I almost subconsciously used music for myself as a healing agent, and lo and behold, it worked . . . I have got a great deal of happiness and a great deal of healing from music".
In an interview Will Jennings says:
".
and Sharon Osbourne
assembled an all-star cast to collaborate on Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven”. Sales from the recording benefited the Disasters Emergency Committee
’s Tsunami Earthquake appeal and the tsunami victims in Southeast Asia. The line up included; Gwen Stefani
, Pink
, Slash
, Steven Tyler
, Elton John
, Andrea Bocelli
, Katie Melua
, Josh Groban
, Robbie Williams
, and Rod Stewart
. Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne
also sang on the song.
Other recordings of "Tears in Heaven" include:
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
written by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and Will Jennings
Will Jennings
Wilbur H. "Will" Jennings is an American songwriter who is popularly known for writing the lyrics for "My Heart Will Go On", the theme for the film Titanic .-Life and education:...
about the pain and loss Clapton felt following the death of his four-year-old son, Conor. Conor fell from a window of the 53rd-floor New York apartment of his mother's friend on March 20, 1991. Clapton, who arrived at the apartment shortly after the accident, was visibly distraught ever since. This is one of Clapton's most successful songs, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart in the U.S., featuring a classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
as the lead instrument. The song also stayed three weeks as #1 on the American adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
in 1992
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
.
Will Jennings, who worked with Clapton on the song, was reluctant at first to help him write a personal song. The song was initially featured on the soundtrack to the film Rush
Rush (1991 film)
Rush is a 1991 American crime drama feature film, based on a novel written by Kim Wozencraft. A narcotics detective and his inexperienced partner go after an elusive drug dealer...
, followed by Unplugged
Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)
Unplugged is a live album by Eric Clapton released in 1992. It was recorded live in England for the MTV Unplugged series and includes both the hit single "Tears in Heaven" and a heavily reworked acoustic version of "Layla"....
, and it won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
, Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and Male Pop Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
at the 1993 Grammy Awards. It also won a MTV Video Music Award
1992 MTV Video Music Awards
The 1992 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 9, 1992, honoring the best music videos from June 16, 1991, to June 15, 1992. The show was hosted by Dana Carvey at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles....
for Best Male Video in 1992.
Clapton stopped playing it in 2004, as well as the song "My Father's Eyes
My Father's Eyes (song)
"My Father's Eyes" is a song written and performed by Eric Clapton and produced by Clapton himself and Simon Climie. It was released as a single in 1998 and was featured on the album Pilgrim. The song reached the top 40 and won a Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The song is...
", with Clapton stating; "I didn't feel the loss anymore, which is so much a part of performing those songs. I really have to connect with the feelings that were there when I wrote them. They're kind of gone and I really don't want them to come back, particularly. My life is different now. They probably just need a rest and maybe I'll introduce them for a much more detached point of view."
Shortly after his single was released, he went on to the MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
series and recorded a new version of the song.
Writing and inspiration
The years following 1990 were extremely turbulent for Clapton. In August 1990 his manager and two of his roadies (along with fellow musician Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
) were killed in a helicopter accident, and only seven months later came the death of his young son.
On March 20, 1991 his son, Conor, fell 53 stories to his death. After isolating himself for a period of time Clapton began working again, writing music for a movie about drug addiction called Rush
Rush (1991 film)
Rush is a 1991 American crime drama feature film, based on a novel written by Kim Wozencraft. A narcotics detective and his inexperienced partner go after an elusive drug dealer...
. Eric Clapton wrote the song “Tears in Heaven” for his son Conor which was released on the album Unplugged
Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)
Unplugged is a live album by Eric Clapton released in 1992. It was recorded live in England for the MTV Unplugged series and includes both the hit single "Tears in Heaven" and a heavily reworked acoustic version of "Layla"....
. Unplugged topped charts and was nominated for nine Grammy Awards the year it was released. Though his grief was intense, Clapton made multiple public service announcements to raise awareness for childproofing windows and staircases.
In an interview with Daphne Barak
Daphne Barak
Daphne Barak is an Israeli-American interviewer whose subjects have included film and music celebrities, royalty, world leaders, and international personalities.-External links:*...
, Clapton stated "I almost subconsciously used music for myself as a healing agent, and lo and behold, it worked . . . I have got a great deal of happiness and a great deal of healing from music".
In an interview Will Jennings says:
"Eric and I were engaged to write a song for a movie called Rush. We wrote a song called 'Help Me Up' for the end of the movie... then Eric saw another place in the movie for a song and he said to me, 'I want to write a song about my boy.' Eric had the first verse of the song written, which, to me, is all the song, but he wanted me to write the rest of the verse lines and the release ('Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees...'), even though I told him that it was so personal he should write everything himself. He told me that he had admired the work I did with Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
and finally there was nothing else but to do as he requested, despite the sensitivity of the subject. This is a song so personal and so sad that it is unique in my experience of writing songs." – Will Jennings
Reception
In 2004, "Tears in Heaven" was ranked number 362 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All TimeThe 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
".
Charts
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Top Singles (RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... ) |
1 |
| Canadian Adult Contemporary (RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... ) |
1 |
| Ireland (Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... ) |
1 |
Other performances
In 2005, Ozzy OsbourneOzzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
assembled an all-star cast to collaborate on Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven”. Sales from the recording benefited the Disasters Emergency Committee
Disasters Emergency Committee
The Disasters Emergency Committee is an umbrella group comprising fourteen UK charities. These charities are all associated with disaster related issues such as providing clean water, humanitarian aid and medical care....
’s Tsunami Earthquake appeal and the tsunami victims in Southeast Asia. The line up included; Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
, Pink
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
, Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
, Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, Katie Melua
Katie Melua
Ketevan "Katie" Melua is a British-Georgian singer, songwriter and musician. She moved to Northern Ireland at the age of eight and then to England at fourteen. Melua is signed to the small Dramatico record label, under the management of composer Mike Batt, and made her musical debut in 2003...
, Josh Groban
Josh Groban
Joshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His four solo albums have been certified at least multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country...
, Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
, and Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
. Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne...
also sang on the song.
Other recordings of "Tears in Heaven" include:
- Joshua RedmanJoshua RedmanJoshua Redman is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who records for Nonesuch Records. He won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 1991.-Biography:...
on his 1993 album "WishWish (Joshua Redman album)-Track listing:# "Turnaround" - 6:24# "Soul Dance" - 6:33# "Make Sure You're Sure" - 5:26# "The Deserving Many" - 5:40# "We Had a Sister" - 5:47...
". - On his 1993 album Devotion, saxophonistSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Warren Hill performed this song. - Sharon OsbourneSharon OsbourneSharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
organized several singers, including her husband Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and daughter Kelly OsbourneKelly OsbourneKelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne...
, perform this song after the Indian Ocean Tsunami. - Paul AnkaPaul AnkaPaul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
on his 2005 album Rock SwingsRock SwingsRock Swings is an album by Paul Anka. Recorded in November 2004 and released on May 31, 2005 in Canada and June 7, 2005 in the United States, it contains swing jazz covers of popular rock and pop songs from the 1980s and 1990s....
. - Declan GalbraithDeclan GalbraithDeclan John Galbraith is an English singer. He is best known for his 2002 hit single, "Tell Me Why", which peaked at #29 in the UK Singles Chart.-Early influence:...
on his 2006 album Thank YouThank You (Declan Galbraith album)Thank You is an album by singer Declan Galbraith, released on 1 December 2006 in Germany.It is Galbraith's second album, a compilation of classic songs assembled and sung by him.-Track listing:# "An Angel" – 3:44# "Love of My Life" – 2:36...
. - CokoCokoCheryl Elizabeth "Coko" Clemons is an American gospel and R&B singer, and lead singer of R&B group Sisters With Voices .-Musical career:...
of SWVSWVSisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
and her mother Lady Tibba Gamble covered it(duet) in 2001 on the album Rhythm & Spirit "Love Can Build A Bridge" - Aaron Hall of GuyGuy (band)Guy are a hip hop, R&B and soul band most closely associated with the new jack swing style of the 1980s and 1990s.-Origins :Guy was formed in Harlem, New York in 1987 by R&B singer-songwriters Aaron Hall, young musician/record producer Teddy Riley and Timmy Gatling...
& K-Ci Hailey of JodeciJodeciJodeci is an American band, whose repertoire includes R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. The group consists of two pairs of brothers from Hampton, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina: Cedric & Joel Hailey and Donald & Dalvin DeGrate, all respectively known by their stage names: K-Ci & Jojo,...
on his album " Adults OnlyAdults OnlyAdults Only is the first album recorded by Ray Dorset, also known as Mungo Jerry, with his German blues band. Some of the songs are blues standards that have been in his set for several years, others are new recordings of numbers from the Mungo back catalogue, including "I Just Can't Say Goodbye",...
" - Jeff BerlinJeff BerlinJeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
on his 1997 album Taking Notes. - AdeazeAdeaze- Studio albums :-Singles:-References:*Jewell, Stephen. . New Zealand Musician Magazine. Retrieved October 20, 2006.-External links:**...
on their " Always and for RealAlways and For RealAlways and for Real is the debut album of New Zealand R&B group, Adeaze released in 2004. The most successful single from the album is Getting Stronger featuring Aaradhna...
" album released in 2004 from Dawn Raid EntertainmentDawn Raid EntertainmentDawn Raid Entertainment is a record label based in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, in New Zealand. It has signed many New Zealand Hip-hop and R&B artists such as Savage, Adeaze, Aaradhna, The Deceptikonz, Devolo and Ill Semantics.... - GregorianGregorian (band)Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.- Band history :...
on their " Masters of ChantMasters of ChantMasters of Chant is the second album by Gregorian, released in 1999. It is the first Masters of Chant album.In 2008 Barnes & Noble/Curb Records released a Gregorian compilation album with the Masters of Chant name, containing tracks from various Masters of Chant albums.- Track listing :# "Brothers...
" album released in 1999 by Edel MusicEdel Music-History:Edel Music was founded in 1986 by Michael Haentjes in Germany as a mail order record company selling mostly soundtracks. With artists such as Scooter, SASH!, Holly Johnson and many others, it became a very successful pop music label... - LoonaLoonaMarie-Jose van der Kolk also known by her stage names Loona and Carisma, is a Dutch singer, songwriter and dancer. She is most noted for her collaboration with DJ Sammy, and performing as a duo under the stage name of DJ Sammy feat. Carisma...
on her "Wind of Time" album released in 2004 by Zeitgeist Rekords - SadikiSadikiHenry Buckley, Jr. aka Sadiki previously known as Pancho Kryztal , is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter and producer.-Early life:He was born Henry Buckley Jr., in Rollington Town, Kingston, Jamaica...
on his "Lifeline" album released in 2010 by Joe Fraser Records - Emmerson NogueiraEmmerson NogueiraEmmerson Nogueira is a Brazilian guitarist and songwriter notable for releasing only cover albums, containing acoustic versions of several internationally famous English-speaking songs...
on his " Versão AcústicaVersão AcústicaVersão Acústica is a Brazilian Acoustic rock band formed by Emmerson Nogueira. The band performs with him on stageand on studio for the release of his albums and DVDs.- Members :* Emmerson Nogueira – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar...
" album released in 2001 by Sony BMG Music EntertainmentSony BMG Music EntertainmentSony BMG Music Entertainment was a recorded music company, which was a 50–50 joint venture between the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG... - The ChoirboysThe Choirboys (boyband)The Choirboys are an English boy band, made up of cathedral choristers. In 2005, a talent search was held to find a young chorister to bring choral music into the then current music scene, however, the judges could not decide which of its three finalists should be given the recording contract and...
on their self titled album "The Choirboys" released in 2005 by Universal Classics & Jazz - Andrew JohnstonAndrew JohnstonAndrew Johnston may refer to:* Andrew Johnston * Andrew Johnston * Andrew Johnston , Canadian comedian* Andrew Johnston , New Zealand poet...
on his " One VoiceOne Voice (Andrew Johnston album)One Voice is the debut album by British boy soprano Andrew Johnston, who rose to fame in 2008 after his appearance on the second series of Britain's Got Talent. The album was released on 29 September 2008 by Syco Music, Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell's record label...
" album released in 2008 by Syco Music - Ann PeeblesAnn PeeblesAnn Peebles is an African American singer-songwriter who gained celebrity for her Memphis soul albums of the 1970s on the Hi Records label...
on her "Brand New Classics" album released in 2006 by Track RecordsTrack RecordsTrack Records is an English record label founded in London in 1966 by Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, then managers of hard rock band The Who. The most successful artists whose work appeared on the Track label were The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Thunderclap... - James GalwayJames Galway- External links : IMGArtists.com 15 September 2008. AllAboutJazz.com 5 August 2008.*...
on his "Wind of Change" album released in 1994 by RCA Victor - Ainhoa ArtetaAinhoa ArtetaAinhoa Arteta Ibarrolaburu, born 24 September 1964 in Tolosa , Spain, is a Spanish soprano.- Biography :After studying in Tolosa and Italy, she later studied under Ruth Falcon....
on her Vida Diva CD released in 2008 by Vale music - Keke WyattKeke WyattKetara Shavon "Keke" Wyatt is a multi-talented American R&B recording artist. She became popular after a highly successful collaboration with R&B singer Avant on his platinum album My Thoughts...
on her "Unbelievable" album released in 2011 by Shanachie Records