Released November 6, 2000 Recorded 2000 Length 4:18 | Format CD single, maxi single Genre Rap rock, trip hop Label Atlantic | |
"Heaven Is a Halfpipe" (also known informally as "Heaven Is a Halfpipe (If I Die)" or "If I Die Before I Wake") is the début single by American hip hop band OPM. It was included on their début studio album, Menace to Sobriety (2000).
Contents
The song peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and was a hit all over the world, charting in the top 20 of five other countries, including the UK, where it was number four. It was the 33rd best-selling single of 2001 in the UK, selling 265,000 copies and being certified silver. It was re-recorded in 2012 for the Heaven Can Wait EP.
Song information
"Heaven Is a Halfpipe" is about a man who loves skateboarding, getting high and being free. He imagines Heaven being like a half-pipe, where he doesn't have to worry about the police ruining his good time ("cause right now on Earth I can't do jack / without the man upon my back"). The trick skills of professional skateboarders Christian Hosoi and Mike McGill are mentioned during the bridge ("Like Christian Hosoi way back in '87" / "We'll be busting Christ airs until we get to heaven" / "With all your rules, you gots to chill" / "I'm gonna twist out like Mike McGill" / "I'm gonna twist out cos I got the skills").
Music video
The music video features OPM doing skateboarding tricks on a large half-pipe and flying around. At the end of the video, they perform to a crowd. One man in the audience also wears a white T-shirt that says "FREE CHRISTIAN HOSOI", in reference to Hosoi's arrest in January 2000 for attempting to transport nearly 1.5 lb of crystal methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
Formats and track listings
CD, Maxi
- "Heaven Is a Halfpipe" (Album Version) - 4:18
- "Space People" (Non LP Bonus Track) - 3:45
- "Group Therapy" (Non LP Bonus Track) - 2:21
UK CD, Single
- "Heaven Is a Halfpipe" (Clean Edit) - 4:00
CD, Single, Promo
- "Heaven Is a Halfpipe" (Album Version) - 4:18
- "Space People" (Non LP Bonus Track) - 3:45
- "Group Therapy" (Non LP Bonus Track) - 2:21