Icehouse — Heaven
Album: Berlin TapesAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 413
Length: 4:24
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Everyone is trying to get to the bar.
The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven.
The band in Heaven plays my favorite song.
They play it once again, they play it all night long.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
There is a party, everyone is there.
Everyone will leave at exactly the same time.
Its hard to imagine that nothing at all
Could be so exciting, and so much fun.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
When this kiss is over it will start again.
It will not be any different, it will be exactly
The same.
It's hard to imagine that nothing at all
Could be so exciting, could be so much fun.
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens.
The name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven.
The band in Heaven plays my favorite song.
They play it once again, they play it all night long.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
There is a party, everyone is there.
Everyone will leave at exactly the same time.
Its hard to imagine that nothing at all
Could be so exciting, and so much fun.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.
When this kiss is over it will start again.
It will not be any different, it will be exactly
The same.
It's hard to imagine that nothing at all
Could be so exciting, could be so much fun.
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens.
Heaven is a place where nothing every happens.
Comments (93)add comment
This is the most beautiful version the song. So glad William hasn't abandoned it.
dlaumor wrote:
I’m trying to figure out why I like this cover version well enough but The National’s version leaves me conflicted. I really like all three bands - Icehouse, The National and the Talking Heads - and I’m certainly not “anti-cover”.
I like this version !
I’m trying to figure out why I like this cover version well enough but The National’s version leaves me conflicted. I really like all three bands - Icehouse, The National and the Talking Heads - and I’m certainly not “anti-cover”.
I like this version !
Doesn't give me a lump in my throat like the TH original - maybe it will in 2032.
Posted this year.
Looking at the comments, it looks like this marginal track had been on the shelf from 2006, then exhumed last month after nine years. That sounds like the right rotation.
brighthue wrote:
Does that mean that you like the tune?
I feel like I'm listening to a band at a Holiday Inn and they suddenly start the most ironic cover of a TH song as I order a faux Chablis and cheesecake.
Does that mean that you like the tune?
nice but it's missing Byrne's soul and passion.. 
sounds muzak-ie, but not terrible
I'm like heeeeeyy! That's not David Byrne! 
Wow. Had no idea Icehouse covered this. Nice.
Wow. Had no idea Icehouse covered this. Nice.
hippiechick wrote:
80s music! 
We couldn't all be born in 1901...
How about "Hey, Little Girl" instead - this is kind of blah.
Bland
This is classic Icehouse even though I've never heard it before. I quite like it.
But the best Icehouse track ever imo is:
Icehouse - Don't Believe Anymore (Ivan Gough and Colin Snape's Cafe Latte remix)
It's really something else.
80s music!
I feel like I'm listening to a band at a Holiday Inn and they suddenly start the most ironic cover of a TH song as I order a faux Chablis and cheesecake.
Heaven is a gay club in london... now so much just a bar :p
physicsgenius wrote:
By the way, you're wrong: not 90%, but 99% of everything is crap. Just not on Radio Paradise.
Here's a concept for a song: What if the entire universe was, like, just a cell on the thumbnail of a HUUUUGE giant? Duuuuude.
Thanks for confirming you're incapable of understanding the song's lyrics!
By the way, you're wrong: not 90%, but 99% of everything is crap. Just not on Radio Paradise.
Faterson wrote:
Listen again to all of the song and what the lyrics are about, or better yet, read the lyrics online:
Heaven lyrics by Talking Heads
Done and I wish I hadn't. Now I realize they weren't just using an outdated device---they are also making a cliched point.
Here's a concept for a song: What if the entire universe was, like, just a cell on the thumbnail of a HUUUUGE giant? Duuuuude.
queenjill wrote:
this cheese
Cheese?! ROFL, you didn't get the meaning of the song's lyrics at all! Read the lyrics online, I posted the link a minute ago.
phillips wrote:
ick. icehouse?
Even the beer "icehouse" leaves a bad taste...must be something about the name....
i much prefer david byrne's version, but this is nice.
phillips wrote:
ick. icehouse? maybe if i was making out instead of at work... 
not sure i could make out to this cheese without busting out laughing.
physicsgenius wrote:
"The bar is called heaven." Oh lord. This has got to be the most ham-handed, non-lyrical song EVAR. And then sung by a robot.
Gosh, do you specialize in inane comments? The lyrics of Heaven, by none other than the giants David Byrne and The Talking Heads, are pure genius.
Listen again to all of the song and what the lyrics are about, or better yet, read the lyrics online:
Heaven lyrics by Talking Heads
"The bar is called heaven." Oh lord. This has got to be the most ham-handed, non-lyrical song EVAR. And then sung by a robot.
loud_family_fan wrote:
Another cover that is far inferior to the original. Might sound good in an elevator.
Or while you're shopping at Macy's with your Mother.
Another cover that is far inferior to the original. Might sound good in an elevator.
What's the point, if you're going to a note for note, vocal inflection for vocal inflection imitation? I'd rather hear a cover where the performer puts their own spin on it.
This catches the wistfulness of a beautiful song, but there's a nervous urgency and camp thing going on in David Byrne's version (not the original?) that I miss in this singer.
Idaho wrote:
Best version of the song: Widespread Panic
Thread complete.
uh, yeah -- clearly you can handle differences of opinion.
Detlaps wrote:
I agree; thought it was Talking Heads at first.
Me too! and I never knew Simply Red did this song!! Widespread Panic has done it though...........
a2 wrote:
Best version of this song by: Simply Red
ick. icehouse? maybe if i was making out instead of at work...
Bocephus wrote:
great song...my favorite version of it though is the one on Stop Making Sense by the Heads.
I agree; thought it was Talking Heads at first.
Wow! IceHouse!! This is not such a great song, but I'll never forget their original album from the 80's.
HORRRIPIIIILANNNNTEEEEE
HORRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRR 
a2 wrote:
Best version of this song by: Simply Red
Best version of the song: Widespread Panic
Thread complete.
I think covers are great! This one is no exception. It's wonderful to hear another artists spin on a favorite.
Why? Why? Why? 
Hootspa wrote:
Mick Hucknall and Simply Red did a great version of this back in the 80s. This seems pretty emotionless by comparison.
I'm shocked!
That sort of crazy talk might just be enough to seek out to the ginger filth bringers version.
Bocephus wrote:
great song...my favorite version of it though is the one on Stop Making Sense by the Heads.
Ditto. Not a bad cover but, in my opinion, lacks the power and emotion of Byrne's voice on Stop Making Sense... especially during the chorus.
Best version of this song by: Simply Red
Not worthy of RP !
great song...my favorite version of it though is the one on Stop Making Sense by the Heads.
One hell of a tune. This version seems limp, though. Although no one does it better than the Heads, but check out Widespread Panic's version. You can find it on the album "Space Wrangler". Starts out as Robert Johnson's "Me and the Devil," and flows into Heaven. Purely magical cover.
"I'll take Gratuitous Covers for 400 please, Alex."
If there's one song that didn't need to be remade it's this one.
Really is a great cover -- there's something about the simplicity of this song that Icehouse seems to capture here that is lacking in other covers of this tune I've heard -- the vocals are dead on, without sounding like Person-X-Covering-A-Heads-Tune, there's still subtle originality to it.
Onatopa wrote:
Wow...that voice is something you don't forget...I enjoyed hearing this song/band...but I would really would love to hear the older stuff and that will catch many more ears here at RP
...How about the album "Great Southern Land" or my fav "Man of Colours"
~Ona
I agree with you, Ona...more Icehouse from those albums would be great!
Hootspa wrote:
Mick Hucknall and Simply Red did a great version of this back in the 80s. This seems pretty emotionless by comparison.
Loved that version too, and agree that this is pretty tame.
trempel wrote:
I don't know who did it first, but I know for sure the talking heads did it better.
It's a Talking Heads song.
Ok, but not as good as Dave singing it live...
I don't know who did it first, but I know for sure the talking heads did it better.
Mick Hucknall and Simply Red did a great version of this back in the 80s. This seems pretty emotionless by comparison.
Wow...that voice is something you don't forget...I enjoyed hearing this song/band...but I would really would love to hear the older stuff and that will catch many more ears here at RP
...How about the album "Great Southern Land" or my fav "Man of Colours"
~Ona
ummm what?
I gotta go relieve myself...
Lets file this one under "nothing happened"
Oh, well shoot. There is a remake of the Talking Heads song "Heaven". Whaddyaknow? I missed it. Is it any good?
guess I'll pile on - I just don't find any reason for this...they try to swing the chorus a bit, but it's just not enough. Oh yeah, and Liberace on piano isn't helping the cause.
erik_1099 wrote:
I stand by my comments from over a year ago. Still a great version.
My thoughts exactly. I prefer this take to any other I've heard.
Talking Heads version is much better. There is a band called Clem Snide doing a cover of this live right now, probably one of the better ones.
I like this version. Would love to get my hands on an mp3 of this but I can't "find" it anywhere.
I stand by my comments from over a year ago. Still a great version.
erik_1099 wrote:
Cover albums are usually to approached with reluctance, as it seems for most artists too easy to just phone in some of their favorite songs and check off another album for the record company.
Not so in this case... although attributed to Icehouse, this is mostly the work of leader Iva Davies, who really is Icehouse in most regards, being principle songwriter, producer, vocalist and instrumentalist in song cases.
There's not a dud song in this collection, his melancholy take on most of the songs adds a real sense of depth. Worth checking out. While I enjoy Icehouse immensely, it was a bit a shame to find that Iva had to cover other songs in order to convey a sense of depth and maturity.
Thankfully it sounds like his recent work on a true solo album will show his own writing has caught up to his performances.
Sheesh! Guess I'm in the minority here, but I really like this. This is the first time all day I hit the Comments section for any song, just so I could say so. Lovely.
Just not as good as the original...
at all....
namesbenny wrote:
Is that Richard Clayderman on piano?
Actually, I think it sounds more like Mike Garson who is David Bowie's pianist.
Geez, I'm surprised at all the grousing about his voice. It's not a 'big' voice, but it stays true and on key. That's something that can't be said for about 75% of rock music. To me, it's just about the right kind of voice to be singing about 'heaven', bar or otherwise.
Great Tune
W-e-a-k performance.
It's a bar! Called "Heaven"! Get it?
I've never responded to a song with a simple emoticon, but I'm going to give it a try...
sassylass wrote:
Excellent segue from the last song! Same key and meter!
Not to mention the Talking Heads connection
One of my favorite TH songs. I like this version's instrumentation (not better than the original, just differently), but the singer is a little weak. I didn't realize that Icehouse had done a version. One of my favorite things about RP is all the covers that get played.
A song that shows covers can be very good once in a while. Hand't heard this one before. Beautiful work.
Excellent segue from the last song! Same key and meter!
Great song, sucky performance of it. Much prefer the Talking Heads version...
Is that Richard Clayderman on piano?
With this sort of spare arrangement it takes a really strong vocal talent to carry.
This guy doesn't have it. He's singing in his sleep.
Being a TH fanatic, I expected to scream bloody murder at this, but it is actually better than expected. 6.
Theres just something wrong about melodiously covering talking heads...
Platypus wrote:
and Widespread Panic's cover version makes Simply Red's sound like trace paper.
I was just thinking the same thing!
Platypus wrote:
and Widespread Panic's cover version makes Simply Red's sound like trace paper.
Trace paper? Sounds like blotter acid.
Nice segue from David Byrne Glass, Concrete, and Stone...
RichardPrins wrote:
Thin
Simply Red's cover version is better...
and Widespread Panic's cover version makes Simply Red's sound like trace paper.
Pretty good cover and quite fun following a David Byrne tune. Only here on RP. 
I really dislike the little beatt added...Much prefer the Original....
Never heard this one before. Not really bad, but I strongly prefer the version by Talking Heads.
Thin
Simply Red's cover version is better...
This is an interesting homage, but can't imagine preferring to hear this over David Byrne.
Wow, like I drink Icehouse (beer) all the time, but I never knew they made music too
BURP BURPBURP
Awww... I haven't heard Icehouse in forever! Most excellent. :D
Cover albums are usually to approached with reluctance, as it seems for most artists too easy to just phone in some of their favorite songs and check off another album for the record company.
Not so in this case... although attributed to Icehouse, this is mostly the work of leader Iva Davies, who really is Icehouse in most regards, being principle songwriter, producer, vocalist and instrumentalist in song cases.
There's not a dud song in this collection, his melancholy take on most of the songs adds a real sense of depth. Worth checking out. While I enjoy Icehouse immensely, it was a bit a shame to find that Iva had to cover other songs in order to convey a sense of depth and maturity.
Thankfully it sounds like his recent work on a true solo album will show his own writing has caught up to his performances.
I’m trying to figure out why I like this cover version well enough but The National’s version leaves me conflicted. I really like all three bands - Icehouse, The National and the Talking Heads - and I’m certainly not “anti-cover”.
I had a similar thought come to mind regarding The National’s cover, which I like. A few minutes ago William played Shawn Colvin’s version of TH’s “Home”. Of course those who listen to RP frequently know that William is an unapologetic TH fan, which is cool by me. More TH covers, please!