Angels (Robbie Williams song): Difference between revisions

"'''Angels'''" is a song by the English singer-songwriter [[Robbie Williams]]. It was included on Williams's debut solo album, ''[[Life thru a Lens]]'' (1997), and released as a single on 1 December 1997 by [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]. "Angels" was written by Williams and [[Guy Chambers]], <!-- DO NOT REMOVE THIS INFORMATION. This is sourced. Please discuss on the talk page if you want to remove it. -->who produced alongside [[Steve Power]]. The song is based on an earlier songversion written by Ray Heffernan.<!-- DO NOT REMOVE THIS INFORMATION. This is sourced. Please discuss on the talk page if you want to remove it. -->

Williams said he wrote "Angels" with Chambers about his aunt and uncle., while Heffernan asserts thatsaid he wrote the first version in 1996, after his partner had a miscarriage, and finished it with Williams after meeting him by chance in Dublin. Williams confirmed that he had recorded a demo with Heffernan but said he rewrote the song significantly with Chambers. To avoid a lawsuit, Williams bought the song rights to the song from Heffernan before it was released. [[Vaughan Arnell]] directed its music video, which was shot in black and white.

"Angels" is Williams's best-selling single, and the 34th-bestselling UK single of the 1990s. It was voted the best song of the previous 25 years at the [[2005 Brit Awards]], and in 2005, Britonsthe British voted "Angels"it the song they most wanted played at their funeral. The single also peaked at 53 on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100]] chart, becoming Williams’ biggest hit in the U.S. It has been covered by artists including [[Jessica Simpson]], [[David Archuleta]], [[Beverley Knight]], [[All Angels]], [[Declan Galbraith]] and [[Josh Groban]]. It was recorded in Spanish (as "Ángel") by the Mexican singers [[Yuridia]] and [[Marco Moré]], and in Italian (as "Un Angelo") by [[Patrizio Buanne]] and in Brazilian Portuguese (as "Um Anjo") by [[KLB]]. Williams also recorded a Spanish version.

In 2011, [[Robbie Williams]] said he wrote "Angels" with his collaborator [[Guy Chambers]] in 25 minutes about his aunt and uncle. By his account, he and Chambers were sitting outside a cafe watching a water fountain, which inspired them to write the [[chorus (song)|chorus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Home |publisher=RobbieWilliams.com |access-date=29 September 2011}}</ref> In 2016, Williams said: "It was the first of our songs that we wrote together. We could tell and hoped and prayed that we got something incredibly special."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtlxl.nl/?&_ga=1.46985639.1696943651.1478038349|title=Home|website=Rtlxl.nl|access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref> Williams expressed irritation that some assumed Chambers was the sole author.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/take-that-robbie-joins-top-songwriters-vying-for-special-brit-486817.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/take-that-robbie-joins-top-songwriters-vying-for-special-brit-486817.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Take That! Robbie joins top songwriters vying for special Brit - News, Music|date=2 January 2005|access-date=29 September 2011|newspaper=The Independent}}{{cbignore}}</ref><!--Stop! DO NOT remove the sourced information below without first contributing to the discussion on the article's talk page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Angels_(Robbie_Williams_song) -->

The Irish singer-songwriter Ray Heffernan asserts thatsaid he wrote the first version of "Angels" in Paris in 1996, after his partner had a miscarriage.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPJZz86Wdgk|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/yPJZz86Wdgk|archive-date=13 December 2021|url-status=live|title=Ray Heffernan talks about Angels|last=brunolavelle|date=1 December 2006|via=YouTube|access-date=3 April 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> According to Heffernan, he met Williams in a pub by chance in Dublin., Heand showedlater played him, with his guitar, an incomplete version of thehis song. Heffernan said in 2010: "I had the first verse, some of the chorus and thatsome of the second verse." That week the two recorded a studio demo.<ref name=":0" /> Williams confirmed that he had recorded a demo with Heffernan but said he rewrote the song significantly with Chambers.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |date=11 December 2017 |title=Robbie Williams — True Geordie Podcast #74 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR_0zCBdI2k&t=7900s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/aR_0zCBdI2k |archive-date=13 December 2021 |access-date=3 April 2018 |website=True Geordie Podcast |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Before the song's release, Heffernan accepted an offer from Williams's management to buy the rights for £7,500.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Heffernan |first=Ray |date=10 December 2011 |title=I played Robbie this song I'd been working on. It was called Angels |url=http://www.independent.ie/incoming/incoming_dailyfeed/i-played-robbie-this-song-id-been-working-on-it-was-called-angels-26801044.html |access-date=21 August 2017 |website=[[Irish Independent]] |publisher=}}</ref> He is thanked in the UK CD2 single liner notes.<ref>Angels, UK CD2, liner notes</ref> Williams said: "We could have gone to court, and it all would have been down to whether what way the judge wakes up that day out of bed ... So I gave him some money, and he went away."<ref name="auto1" /> In 2011, Heffernan said: "For a long time, I was angry about this, but as you get older you see things differently ... The 'Angels' connection has opened doors to publishing companies and earned me a few quid."<ref name=":0" />

"Angels" was the 38th-best-selling single of 1997 in the UK and the 26th of 1998. It was the 34th-bestselling UK single of the decade. Despite only reaching a peak of No. 4, it is Williams's bestselling UK single and according to Official UK Charts Company figures passed the million sales mark in June 2009, with a combination of both physical and download sales. It has sold 1.8 million copies in the UK as of April 2021.<ref name="BPI" /> It was released in 1999 in the US, after Williams' debut there with "Millennium". It peaked at number 53, becoming his highest -charting single there. "Angels" re-entered the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA]] Top 100 at No. 91, on 5 May 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia's Official Music Charts |url=http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/chartifacts.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025115149/http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/chartifacts.htm |archive-date=25 October 2010 |access-date=29 September 2011 |publisher=ARIA Charts}}</ref> After announcing his ''[[XXV (Robbie Williams album)|XXV]]'' album in June 2022, and releasing a reworked version of "Angels", titled "Angels (XXV)", the song placed at number 92 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart on 10 June.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2022 |title=Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 - 10 June 2022 - 16 June 2022 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20220610 |access-date=10 June 2022 |website=Official Charts}}</ref>

The Scottish newspaper ''[[Aberdeen Press and Journal]]'' wrote thatnamed "Angels" is "perhaps the strongest cut" from the ''[[Life thru a Lens]]'' album.<ref>"Robbie Williams". ''[[Aberdeen Press and Journal]]''. 7 November 1997. page 14.</ref> John Bush from [[AllMusic]] noted Williams' "crooning".<ref>{{cite web|first= John |last= Bush |title= Robbie Williams – ''Life Thru a Lens'' |publisher= [[AllMusic]] |access-date= 18 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/life-thru-a-lens-mw0000462941}}</ref> [[Larry Flick]] fromof ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' described it as a "sweet ballad that never gets sappy". He noted that the production is "first-rate, the lyric is thoughtful and ear-grabbing, and his smoky, crisp vocal is a sheer delight. All that and a [[chorus (song)|chorus]] to kill for."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-09-18.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=18 September 1999|access-date=10 February 2020|page=26|author-link=Larry Flick}}</ref> An editor for ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' wrote,felt "TheWilliams ex-[[Take That]] star shows he hashad "come of age with this melodic pop ballad."<ref>"Chart Slot; Top 10 Singles Chart". ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. 20 February 1998.</ref> Theyand alsocomplimented added,a "Surprisinglysurprisingly grown-up sounding Robbie on what is his best tune to date.".<ref>"Chart Slot". ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. 12 December 1997.</ref> ''[[Irish Independent]]'' called it an "epic ballad".<ref>"A showbiz tart finger in every". ''[[Irish Independent]]''. 28 August 1999. page 32.</ref>

''[[Music & Media]]'' commented thatwrote: "withWith songs of the quality of 'Angels', Robbie Williams is on his way towards extending his audience by drawing in older listeners ..." They[It] also added that it "distinguishes itself from its indie rock -inspired predecessors '[[Old Before I Die]]' and '[[Lazy Days]]' by exchanging their guitars for a more mellow, piano-based arrangement."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-12-20.pdf|title=Airborne|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|date=20 December 1997|page=17|access-date=23 December 2019}}</ref> ''[[Music Week]]'' gave it"Angels" four out of five, likening it to [[Elton John]] and saying it suggested that Williams would be more successful than his oldformer [[Take That]] bandmate [[Gary Barlow]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-11-22-I.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=22 November 1997|page=12|accessdateaccess-date=22 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Martin|last=Aston|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-09-13.pdf|title=Robbie Williams — Painful Journey To A New Sound And Image|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=13 September 1997|page=27|accessdateaccess-date=22 September 2022}}</ref> DaveThe Fawbert from[[Pitchfork (website)|''Pitchfork''[[ShortList]]'' declaredwriter itMichael "genuinelySandlin brilliant",called withthe song a "apink prettyfeather-boa'd understatedElton vocalJohn frommishap" Robbie.with Nothinga tooguitar overimitating the[[George top, just sincereHarrison]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wwwweb.shortlistarchive.comorg/newsweb/old-music-friday-1-12-1997|last=Fawbert|first=Dave|title=Old Music Friday: reviewing all the tunes released 20 years ago today|website=[[ShortList]]|date=1 December 2017|access-date=21 April 2020}}<20000816193653/ref> In 2003, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' ranked "Angels" the 237th-best song.<ref>{{Cite web|url=httpshttp://www.muzieklijstjespitchforkmedia.nlcom:80/Q1001bestsongsever.htm|title=Q record- 1001 best songs ever (2003)|website=Muzieklijstjesreviews/w/williams_robbie/ego-has-landed.nl|access-date=16 March 2022}}shtml</ref>

TheIn 2017, Dave Fawbert from ''[[ShortList]]'' declared "Angels" "genuinely brilliant", with "a pretty understated vocal from Robbie. Nothing too over the top, just sincere."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shortlist.com/news/old-music-friday-1-12-1997|last=Fawbert|first=Dave|title=Old Music Friday: reviewing all the tunes released 20 years ago today|website=[[ShortList]]|date=1 December 2017|access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' wrote in 2022 that "Angels" was "so ubiquitous for so long that it is almost impossible for anyone of a certain age to listen to it objectively: throughout the late 90s and 00s, it wasn’twasn't so much a song as an unavoidable fact of daily life. Most pop songwriters would kill to come up with something with such impact and longevity."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-25 |title=Robbie Williams' 20 greatest songs – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/25/robbie-williams-20-greatest-songs-ranked |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2003, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' named "Angels" the 237th-best song of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Q1001bestsongsever.htm|title=Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)|website=Muzieklijstjes.nl|access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref>

At the [[2005 BRIT Awards|2005 Brit Awards]], "Angels" was voted by the British public voted "Angels" the best British song inof the past 25 years of British music, though it had only reached number four on the singles chart. Williams performed the song liveit with [[Joss Stone]] then.{{Cn|date=July 2024}} In a 2005 survey by UK digital TV station Music Choice, Britons chose it as the song they would most like played at their funeral.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4336113.stm |title=Angels 'favourite funeral song' |work=BBC News |date=10 March 2005 |access-date=29 September 2011}}</ref>

The accompanying [[music video]] for "Angels" was directed by [[Vaughan Arnell]],<ref name="MTV hand on heart">{{cite web |date=4 November 2013 |title=Olly Murs Unveils 'Hand On Heart' Video |url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/olly-murs/394639-olly-murs-robbie-williams-hand-on-heart-video-angels-still-here |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104191944/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/olly-murs/394639-olly-murs-robbie-williams-hand-on-heart-video-angels-still-here |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2013 |access-date=1 December 2013 |publisher=MTV}}</ref> and filmed at [[Saunton Sands]]. Filmed largely from the air, Williams walks around a beach, stares at the sky, kicks a football and rides a motorbike with a woman while a helicopter flies around them.<ref name="youtube">{{cite web |title=Robbie Williams - Angels | date=7 January 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luwAMFcc2f8 |access-date=1 December 2013 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

In 2009, Williams performed "Angels" at the final of the [[The X Factor (UK series 6)|sixth series]] of ''[[The X Factor (UKBritish TV series)|The X Factor]]'' with [[Olly Murs]]. On 14 June 2018, Williams performed "Angels" with the Russian soprano [[Aida Garifullina]] at the [[2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony]] held at the [[Luzhniki Stadium]] in [[Moscow]], [[Russia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup 2018: Ronaldo and Robbie Williams star in opening ceremony |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44487420 |agency=BBC |date=14 June 2018}}</ref> On 23 June 2018, Williams performed the song as a special guest at the American singer's [[Taylor Swift]]'s [[Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour|Reputation Stadium Tour]] concert at [[Wembley Stadium]], London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-taylor-swift-robbie-williams-perform-angels-in-london-666095/|title=Watch Taylor Swift, Robbie Williams Perform 'Angels' in London|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=24 June 2018|access-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515152824/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-taylor-swift-robbie-williams-perform-angels-in-london-666095/|archive-date=15 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [[LondonThe Philharmonic Orchestra|London Session Orchestra]] – orchestra

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|Canada Adult Contemporary (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9964&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9964.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9964|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|publishervia=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>

|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2006.pdf|title=2006The Official UK Singles Chart 2006|publisherwork=ChartsPlus[[UKChartsPlus]]|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>

| prev_title = [[Take My Breath Away#Jessica Simpson version|Take My Breath Away]]

| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-06-04.pdf|title=Radio & Records|date=2004-06-04|website=Worldradiohistory.comWorld Radio History|access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref>

| next_title = [[Maledetta Primaveraprimavera#Cover versions|La Malditamaldita Primaveraprimavera]]

Archuleta's version of the song has become the second highest charting version in the [[United States]] after the original performed by Robbie Williams. It managed to enter the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at #No. 89 due to digital downloads. On the [[Canadian Hot 100]] the song peaked at #No. 64.

In November 2020, [[Blessing Chitapa]], winner of the [[The Voice UK (series 9)|ninth series]] of ''[[The Voice UK]]'', released a cover version of "'''Angels'''" as her winner's single. The song is included on Chitapa’sChitapa's debut album, ''Count My Blessings''.

===OtherKindred notable versionsSpirit ===

* In June 2021, an artist collective named Kindred Spirit that included [[Glen Matlock]], [[Steve Norman]], [[Marcella Detroit]], [[Earl Slick]] among others, released a cover version of the song titled "Angels (Of The Nations)" to both commemorate music producer Steve Brown who died in 2021 and raise money to offer angel sculptures as gifts to the families of UK doctors who died of [[COVID-19|Covid]] whilst working for the British [[National Health Service|NHS]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pingitore |first=Silvia |date=20 June 2021 |title=To the 1980s New Romantic and back: interview with Spandau Ballet's Steve Norman |url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/steve-norman-spandau-ballet-interview/ |access-date=10 October 2021 |website=the-shortlisted.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>