Heading Up High

"Heading Up High"
Single by Armin van Buuren featuring Kensington
from the album Embrace
Released5 February 2016
RecordedArmada Studios, Amsterdam
Genre
Length3:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Armin van Buuren singles chronology
"Strong Ones"
(2015) 		"Heading Up High"
(2016) 		"Freefall"
(2016)
Kensington singles chronology
"Done with It"
(2015) 		"Heading Up High"
(2016) 		"Do I Ever"
(2016)

"Heading Up High" is a song by Dutch disc jockey and record producer Armin van Buuren. It features the Dutch band Kensington. The track was released in the Netherlands by Armind as a digital download on 5 February 2016 as the fourth single from van Buuren's sixth album Embrace.

The First State remix of the song was more often played by Armin van Buuren during his shows.

Background and release

Armin van Buuren declared about the song “I wanted to create a song that was just totally unexpected and I'd been drawn to the sound of Kensington for some time. We really vibed well together and I think my long-time dance music fans may be surprised by some elements of this song. It just really soars and I get a great reaction whenever I play it out! It's got the feel of worlds coming together.”[2]

Reception

According to Amanda Mesa from webmedia Dancing Astronaut, "Infectious and high-energy, “Heading Up High” is yet another example of Embrace’s genre-fluidity. [...] Overall, “Heading Up High” is a roller coaster across intense highs and lows that'll leave you hanging on for more."[2]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Heading Up High" was first premiered worldwide by MTV on 9 February 2016.[3] The music video shows a live performance by both Armin van Buuren & Kensington in a prison populated by inmates. Hardwell appears as one of the prisoners of the video. The song encourages the captives literally to head up high towards a loophole.[4]

Track listing

  • Netherlands Digital download (ARMAS1125A)
  1. "Heading Up High" – 3:52
  2. "Heading Up High" (Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs. BOOSTEDKIDS Radio Edit) – 2:34
  3. "Heading Up High" (Years Radio Edit) – 4:04
  4. "Heading Up High" (First State Radio Edit) – 3:52
  5. "Heading Up High" (Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs. BOOSTEDKIDS Remix) – 5:21
  6. "Heading Up High" (Years Remix) – 5:40
  7. "Heading Up High" (First State Remix) – 5:52

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[5] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 35

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[7] Platinum 30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Armin van Buuren Feat. Kensington – Heading Up High (2016, File)". Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Armin van Buuren – Heading Up High (Original Mix)". Dancing Astronaut. Amanda Mesa. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Armin van Buuren "Heading Up High" feat. Kensington Sees Release on Armada, Music Video Premiere on MTV". The Noctural Times. Mason Siegel. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  4. ^ Armin van Buuren feat. Kensington - Heading Up High (Official Music Video) on YouTube
  5. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Armin van Buuren feat. Kensington" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  6. ^ "Armin van Buuren feat. Kensington – Heading Up High" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  7. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Armin van Buuren feat. Kensington – Heading Up High" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 13 August 2022. Enter Heading Up High in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2016 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".