Heading West (song) explained

Heading West
Cover:Headingwest.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Cyndi Lauper
Album:A Night to Remember
B-Side:Insecurious
Released:December 4, 1989 (UK)
Recorded:1989
Length:3:52
Label:Epic Records
Prev Title:My First Night Without You
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:A Night to Remember
Next Year:1989

"Heading West" was the third single from Cyndi Lauper's album A Night to Remember released worldwide. It was not released as a single in North America.

"Heading West" was written by Lauper, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. The same team wrote "My First Night Without You, and the latter two wrote "True Colors", and "I Drove All Night". The song is about moving on from a past relationship, which was the overall theme of the album. A video was also released which was black and white and had Lauper in an empty field. The song was released outside of the U.S. The single was a minor hit in the UK. Cyndi Lauper said in an interview with O Globo newspaper that "'Heading West' was a great song."[1]

French Canadian pop star Mitsou covered the song as the title track for a 1992 EP and also released it as a single. She added a French spoken word monologue to the end of the song.

Critical reception

Upon single release Melody Maker observer Mick Mercer left positive review. As per him, this song as all singer's songs contain "lyrical incident". He concluded: "A rousing, if awkwardly shuffling, tune, give her a chance and it will hollow you out.[2]

Track listing

Europe 7" / 2-track 3" CD single / Japan 3" CD single
  1. "Heading West" – 3:54
  2. "Calm Inside the Storm" – 3:55
UK and Australian 7" / cassette
  1. "Heading West" – 3:54
  2. "Insecurious" – 3:30
UK limited edition 7" (Compass Style Sleeve)
  1. "Heading West" - 3:54
  2. "Insecurious" - 3:30
  3. "Money Changes Everything" (Live at Le Zenith) - 5:37
Europe 12" / 3–track 3" CD single
  1. "Heading West" - 3:54
  2. "Calm Inside the Storm" - 3:55
  3. "Money Changes Everything" (album version)
UK 12"
  1. "Heading West" - 3:54
  2. "Insecurious" - 3:30
  3. "She Bop" (Live at Le Zenith) - 5:12
UK 5" CD single
  1. "Heading West" - 3:54
  2. "Insecurious" - 3:30
  3. "She Bop" (Live at Le Zenith) - 5:12
  4. "Money Changes Everything" (Live at Le Zenith) - 5:37
UK limited edition picture disc CD single
  1. "Heading West" - 3:54
  2. "What's Going On" (Live at Le Zenith) - 5:07
  3. "She Bop" (Live at Le Zenith) - 5:12
  4. "Money Changes Everything" (Live at Le Zenith) - 5:38

Chart performance

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[3] 117
Colombian Singles Chart10
Polish Singles Chart43
UK Singles Chart[4] 68

Notes and References

  1. News: Cindy Lauper fala sobre seu novo disco, a turnê no Brasil e a decepção quando soube que não. O Globo . 24 June 2008.
  2. Mercer. Mick. Mick Mercer. Singles: Cyndi Lauper – "Heading West" (Epic). Melody Maker. 9 December 1989. 32. London. IPC Limited. 0025-9012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240328185901/https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/51848350427/in/album-72177720295828895/. 28 March 2024. 6 June 2024. Flickr.
  3. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150605213523/http://i.imgur.com/DkGCr8v.jpg. Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2015-06-05. 2015-06-05. 2015-09-24. Imgur.
  4. Web site: Official Charts > Cyndi Lauper. The Official UK Charts Company. 2016-07-12.