| "Heaven Can Wait" | |
|---|---|
| Song byMichael Jackson | |
| from the albumInvincible | |
| Released | October 30, 2001 (2001-10-30) |
| Recorded | 2001[1] |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:49 |
| Label | Epic |
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Licensed audio | |
| "Heaven Can Wait" onYouTube | |
| Audio sample | |
"Heaven Can Wait" | |
"Heaven Can Wait" is a song recorded byMichael Jackson, originally released on his 2001studio albumInvincible. The song was written by Jackson,Teddy Riley,Andreao "Fanatic" Heard,Nate Smith,Teron Beal,Eritza Laues and Kenny Quiller.[2]
Inspired by Michael Jackson's ballad "The Lady in My Life" from his 1982 albumThriller, the song was first offered by co-writer Andreao Heard to Jackson's sisterJanet and later R&B singerKevon Edmonds. Heard eventually forwarded the song to Teddy Riley through his assistant so it could be used for Michael Jackson'sInvincible album.[3][4] Riley wanted the song for his shelved solo albumBlack Rock, but agreed to let Jackson record it.[5] Of Jackson's enthusiasm for the song, Riley reflected, "When I did that song with him, he held his heart and he said ‘Teddy, is this mine?’ I said, ‘It’s yours if you want it, Michael’ He’s like: ‘I want it, let’s go get it!’ He was so excited. I have a couple of witnesses that were in the room when he said ‘I want that song. I need that song in my life.’"[6]
The song received mixed reviews from mostmusic critics. Mark Anthony Neal ofSeeingBlack.com praised the song, saying, "['Heaven Can Wait'] features arguably one of Jackson's best vocal performance sinceThriller's 'The Lady in My Life'."[7] Milena Brown ofPRessure PR thought the song was "breathless", and "clearly did not get the same recognition it deserved". Bill Johnson fromThe Urban Daily listed "Heaven Can Wait" as one of several songs that keptInvincible "simple and smooth [and] that excel the most".[8] Robert Hilburn ofLos Angeles Times said the song was "a tale about turning away an angel who comes to take him to heaven because he wants to stay with his darling, seem aimed at the lower end of'N Sync's fan base—a difficult stretch for a man of 43."[9]NME gave a mixed review to the song, saying "around this point you realise that Jackson is no longer pioneering—this would be a goodUsher ballad. It has classic 'if I should die tonight' love lyrics and swelling chords, but doesn't add up to all that much."[10] The song charted for 16 weeks on theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, peaking at number 72 on April 27, 2002.[11]
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] | 72 |
