The Heights is a group name used for more than one act. One is a Welsh indie rock band associated with the Best Before label, and another is a Dutch guitar pop band on Excelsior Recordings. The name is also used for a television show title and its theme song, which is the best-known reference point for the song “How Do You Talk to an Angel?”.

The Welsh band

The Welsh Heights are an indie rock band based mostly in Wales and linked to Best Before. They release four singles: “Long Way Home”, “Jamaica Beer Eyes”, “Bad News” and “For Real”. Their debut album, Toys and Kings, is scheduled for release in 2007. The band tours with The Crimea, Stellastarr*, labelmates The Morning After Girls and Editors, and plays festivals including Glastonbury, Fflam, O2 Wireless and Lovebox, alongside further festival appearances in Europe and North America. The group later splits after tensions on the road.

The Dutch band

The Dutch Heights are a guitar pop band. They release their first album, Beachyhead, in 2005 on Excelsior Recordings. Their song “Cinnamon” is selected for the Everything After All sample CD. The group consists of Naomi van der Ven on guitar and vocals, Mark van Rijnsberk on bass and vocals, Davy van der Putten on keyboards and percussion, and Marc van der Holst on drums. In early 2010 they release Dream Maps, also on Excelsior Recordings. That album reflects the separation between Naomi van der Ven and Marc van der Holst; Marc appears on the record but is replaced by Andries Hannaart for the short tour supporting it. The album is described as more rock-oriented, largely because of Davy’s use of organ.

Television theme song

The Heights is also the name of a television show whose theme song, “How Do You Talk to an Angel?”, is sung by cast member Jamie Walters. The song reaches number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the act becomes one of a small number of artists to reach number one without returning to the Top 100 again. Walters later reaches the Top 20 under his own name.