Music Review: DJ Sammy "Heaven"
DJ Sammy
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Heaven
Album: Heaven
Year: 2002
After several missed chances, Yanou and her boyfriend have found each other in the floating “Heaven.”
Enchanting synths open the single, setting a gratified tone. In the chorus, she cannot fathom the fact that she’s with him. It’s something she spent a lot of time fantasizing abou and thought it wouldn’t happen. It’s obvious it’s a perfect match.
A jubilant synth break follows as Yanou exclaims that they have a wonderful relationship.
Album: Heaven
Year: 2002
After several missed chances, Yanou and her boyfriend have found each other in the floating “Heaven.”
Enchanting synths open the single, setting a gratified tone. In the chorus, she cannot fathom the fact that she’s with him. It’s something she spent a lot of time fantasizing abou and thought it wouldn’t happen. It’s obvious it’s a perfect match.
“Baby you're all that I want..We're in heaven.”
A jubilant synth break follows as Yanou exclaims that they have a wonderful relationship.
“We’re in heaven.”
In the first verse, she says they met when they were in middle school. They had talked occansionally and liked each other but had not been able to express it. Every couple years they would bump into each other but nothing would come of their soft gazes. Until last year, she finally decided to give him her phone number and reconnect. He’s the only guy she’s ever loved.“Oh thinkin’ about our younger years…You keep me coming back for more.”
The chorus is sung again.
Yanou adds another “we’re in heaven” and the jubilant synth break has another solo.
The second major change occurs in the next verse. The original lyrics are taken out. (“Oh, once in your life you find someone/Who will turn your world around/Bring you up when you're feelin' down.”). Then, a minor edit in the next lyric (“oh there’s lots I could say”) Instead, she says that he is important to her and she could continue praising him. However, she wants to feel him close to her.“Now nothing can change what you mean to me/There's a lot that I can say/But just hold me now (hold me now)/Cause our love will light the way.”
The chorus is sung again.
The third major change is in the bridge. The serious relationship stuff is gone (“I've been waitin' for so long/For somethin' to arrive/For love to come along.”) It’s the beginning of their love and she looks forward to supporting him through the troubles that will occur.“Now our dreams are coming true/Through the good times and the bad/I'll be standing there by you/We’re in heaven.”
Another jubilant synth break follows, leading to the chorus.
At the end, she exclaims that it’s wonderful being with him.“We're in heaven.”
Whereas, the original was about mature love with a storied history, the DJ Sammy version talks about the passion in its beginnings. Both couples had to face obstacles to be together. Yanou had to deal with social politics and unspoken feelings. It took at least 10 years for them to get together. Even then, they had to fight real world complications like jobs. It was a love that wasn’t meant to happen. However, Yanou was determined to make fate work in her favor.
Yanou’s vocals are joyous and decisive. She’s waited almost half her life for him. To be in his life is something she won’t take for granted.
The radiant synth arrangement carouses and flits, reveling in every kiss.
The splendid cover of “Heaven” succeeds in reinterpreting the single without ruining the feeling of the original.