About Show Me Heaven

"Show Me Heaven" is a power ballad written by Maria McKee, Eric Rackin, and Jay Rifkin and recorded by McKee and produced by Peter Asher for the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder, released in June 1990. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and went on the become the sixth-highest-selling single of 1990 in the UK. Additionally, the song became a worldwide hit, topping the charts of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway and becoming a top-five hit in Australia, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. It has since been covered by numerous other artists, most notably by Tina Arena.

"Show Me Heaven" originated as "Secret Fire", a track written by Eric Rackin and Jay Rifkin for the soundtrack of Days of Thunder. When Geffen contacted McKee in the hope she would record the song, the singer dismissed the idea, but the label insisted they send her the demo tape for consideration. On hearing the demo, McKee felt the lyrics were "appalling". She told Simon Mayo in 1991: "I liked the melody but I said I'd only do it if I could change the lyrics." McKee's demand was initially refused, but she was later given permission to rewrite the lyrics.