In the 80s, many new wave bands hit the top spot on the charts, Duran Duran, Berlin, the Human League, Aha, Blondie Culture Club etc. But how The Cure never did, is a head scratcher. They created so many luscious and hook laden classics, it was disarming. Songs like In-between days, the LoveCats, Boys Don't Cry, The Caterpillar, Let's Go To Bed and of course Just like Heaven, which in my opinion is a perfect pop song.
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Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest songs and the greatest artists of all time. If you are all about the music, subscribe below also if you want to help us continue to curate the history of these artists and their songs click on our patreon link below It's time for another episode of #1 in our hearts where we celebrate a song that should've been a number one hit but for various reasons it came up short. In the 80s, many new wave bands hit the top spot on the charts, Duran Duran, Berlin, the Human League, Aha, Blondie Culture Club etc.
But how The Cure never did, is a head scratcher. They created so many luscious and hook laden classics, it was disarming. Songs like In-between days, LoveCats, Boys Don't Cry, The Catipillar, Let's Go To Bed and of course Just like Heaven, which in my opinion is a perfect pop song.
Flawless, consumate, quintessential, unmitigated, out and out absolute no doubt about it perfection. It's the equivalent of musical heroin. Robert Smith created so many hooks, so many enthralling melodies in this song, it's virtually impossible for the human ear to reject it. Even the jocks at my school, who called me every name in the book for my love of New wave, always said The Cure sucks but that heaven songs is cool. This of course made me and my friends yearn to hate it. But we couldn't because it's just ecstasy.
Believe it or not, "Just Like Heaven" BARELY charted on the Billboard Hot 100- peaking at #40 in 1987. It charted a bit higher in the UK at #29. By industry standards, the song could be deemed a 'stiff', or a 'mid-chart single', at best. "Just Like Heaven" wasn't even the highest charting song for The Cure. Both "Lovesong" and "Friday, I'm In Love" charted higher on the Billboard Hot 100- #2 and #18, respectively.
And, maybe my FAVORITE part of the song; the piano parts, masterfully played by longtime Cure keyboardist Lol Tolhurst. The piano parts are perhaps the real hook to "Just Like Heaven"- entering into the song's structure in the 2nd verse, and becoming the centerpiece of a magical instrumental bridge. I also LOVE the way the piano melody underscores the repeated lyric "I'll run away with you….I'll run away with you." (Audio clip of this part)
"Just Like Heaven" was the 3rd single from The Cure album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which was an amazing record- full of some of the best songs by The Cure- including "Hot Hot Hot" and the lead single from the album "Why Can't I Be You".
Robert recognized, much later, that the song structure of "Just Like Heaven" is similar to a late 70s tune by The Only Ones called "Another Girl, Another Planet". Could've been in Robert's subconscious when he was working on the song. You be the judge...
Because it is such a beloved tune, there are many covers of "Just Like Heaven"- including Robert Smith's personal favorite- the version by Dinosaur Jr., which has a faster tempo and a heavier distorted interpretation
As one of the most influential bands of the Rock Era, trust me we will be paying tribute to Robert Smith & The Cure in the future, and celebrate their amazing discography. But in this episode, "Just Like Heaven" gets the spotlight for being "#1 in our hearts!" By the way the week Just Like Heaven peaked at #40 the top five songs on the billboard charts were: So Emotional Whitney Houston, Got Mind Set on You George Harrison, Faith George Michael, Is This Love Whitesnake, and the Way you make me Feel Michael Jackson, The last thee songs in the top 40 that week were True Faith New Order, Push It Salt N Peppa and The Cure. Ya the 80s ruled.
To hear Just Like Heave and all it's covers click on the curated playlist below, to get This on vinyl click on our amazon link, If you like out content, subsribe to our channel and hit us up on patreon, your support goes along way, Help us keep[ the music alive Until next time three chords and the truth.
