Angels (Robbie Williams song)

"Angels" is a song by the English singer 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. It was produced by Guy Chambers and Steve Power.

"Angels"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Life thru a Lens
B-side	"Karaoke Overkill" "Get the Joke" "Back for Good" (live) "Walk This Sleigh"
Released	1 December 1997 (1997-12-01)
Studio	Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
Genre	Soft rock
Length	4:24 (album version) 3:58 (radio edit)
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers
Producer(s)	Guy Chambers Steve Power
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"South of the Border" (1997) "Angels" (1997) "Let Me Entertain You" (1998)
Music videos
"Angels" on YouTube
"Angels (XXV)" on YouTube

The Irish singer-songwriter Ray Heffernan asserts that he wrote the first version of "Angels" in 1996 and finished it with Williams. Williams confirmed that he recorded a demo with Heffernan but said he rewrote it significantly with Chambers. To avoid a lawsuit, Williams bought the song rights from Heffernan before it was released; he has never confirmed that Heffernan wrote it. Vaughan Arnell directed its music video, which was shot in black and white.

"Angels" reached number four on the UK singles chart and number 53 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. As of 2014, it had sold more than 1.16 million copies in the UK. It won the 1999 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically and was voted the best song of the previous 25 years at the 2005 Brit Awards. In 2005, Britons voted it the song they most wanted played at their funeral.

"Angels" 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, in Italian (as "Un Angelo") by Patrizio Buanne and in Brazilian Portuguese (as "Um Anjo") by KLB. Williams also recorded a Spanish version.

Authorship

Robbie Williams said he wrote "Angels" with his collaborator Guy Chambers in 25 minutes. By his account, he and Chambers were sitting outside a café watching a water fountain, which inspired them to write the chorus.^[1] 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."^[2] He expressed irritation that some assumed Chambers was the sole author.^[3] Chambers said he wrote the music, and Williams the lyrics and melody: "It was very equal. Rob knew exactly what he wanted to say, and how he wanted to say it."^[3]

According to the Irish singer-songwriter Ray Heffernan, "Angels" was based on an earlier song written by him. Heffernan says he met Williams in a pub by chance in Dublin in 1996, and played him an incomplete version of the song comprising the first verse, some of the chorus and some of the second verse. That week, the two recorded a studio demo.^[4] Williams confirmed that he had recorded a demo with Heffernan but said he rewrote the song significantly with Chambers.^[5] He has never confirmed that Heffernan wrote the song, calling him a "fantasist".^[6] Heffernan believes that Williams was seeking recognition as a songwriter at the time, and to have credited him would have damaged his credibility.^[6]

Before the song's release, Heffernan accepted an offer from Williams's management to buy the rights for £7,500.^[4] He is thanked in the UK CD2 single liner notes.^[7] 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."^[5] 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."^[4] In 2023, he said he did not regret earning no royalties, as this would have enabled his destructive use of drugs at the time.^[6] However, he was hurt that Williams had never acknowledged his authorship and that he had accepted an Ivor Novello Award for writing "Angels" in 1999. He said: "That's what the young kid in me really wants — acknowledgement. It's not about the millions."^[6] As of 2023, Heffernan was working as a language teacher in rural Italy.^[6]

Sales

"Angels" was released as the fourth single from Williams's debut album, Life Thru a Lens (1997). Though it only reached number 4 on the UK singles chart, it was a consistent seller.^[3] It spent a total of 12 weeks in the top 10 and 17 weeks in the top 75.^[8] In the UK, it was the 38th-bestselling single of 1997,^[9] the 25th-bestselling of 1998^[10] and the 34th-bestselling single of the decade.^{[citation needed]} As of 2014, it had sold more than 1.16 million copies in the UK.^[8]

In the US, "Angels" was released in 1999 after Williams' debut there with his single "Millennium". It reached number 53, becoming his highest-charting US single. "Angels" re-entered the ARIA Top 100 at No. 91, on 5 May 2008.^[11] In 2022, Williams released a reworked version, "Angels (XXV)", from his compilation album XXV. It reached number 92 on the UK singles chart on 10 June.^[12]

Reception

Aberdeen Press and Journal said "Angels" was "perhaps the strongest cut" from the Life thru a Lens album.^[13] John Bush from AllMusic noted Williams' "crooning".^[14] Larry Flick of 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 to kill for."^[15] An editor for Daily Record felt Williams had "come of age with this melodic pop ballad"^[16] and complimented a "surprisingly grown-up sounding Robbie on what is his best tune to date".^[17] The Irish Independent called it an "epic ballad".^[18]

Music & Media wrote: "With songs of the quality of 'Angels', Robbie Williams is on his way towards extending his audience by drawing in older listeners ... [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."^[19] Music Week gave "Angels" four out of five, likening it to Elton John and saying it suggested that Williams would be more successful than his former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow.^[20][21] The Pitchfork writer Michael Sandlin called it a "pink feather-boa'd Elton John mishap" with a guitar imitating George Harrison.^[22]

In 2017, Dave Fawbert from ShortList declared "Angels" "genuinely brilliant", with "a pretty understated vocal from Robbie. Nothing too over the top, just sincere."^[23] The Guardian critic Alexis Petridis 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'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."^[24]

"Angels" won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 1999.^[25] In 2003, Q named it the 237th-best song of all time.^[26] In a 2004 poll of almost 30,000 people by VH1, "Angels" was voted the best single that never reached number one.^[27] At the 2005 Brit Awards, the British public voted "Angels" the best British song of the past 25 years. Williams performed it with Joss Stone.^[28] In a 2005 survey of more than 45,000 people by Music Choice, Britons chose "Angels" as the song they would most like played at their funeral.^[29]

Music video

The music video for "Angels" was directed by Vaughan Arnell^[30] 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.^[31]

Live performances

Williams and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina performing "Angels" at the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow, Russia

In 2009, Williams performed "Angels" at the final of the sixth series of 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.^[32] On 23 June 2018, Williams performed the song with the American singer Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium, London, appearing as a guest during her Reputation Stadium Tour.^[33]

Formats and track listings

UK CD1[34][35] "Angels" – 4:24 "Karaoke Overkill" – 3:31 "Get the Joke" – 3:03 "Angels" (acoustic version) – 4:27 UK CD2 and cassette single[36][37] "Angels" – 4:24 "Back for Good" (live version) – 3:59 "Walk This Sleigh" – 3:01 European CD single[38] "Angels" – 4:24 "Walk This Sleigh" – 3:01

Australian CD single (1997)[39] "Angels" – 4:24 "Karaoke Overkill" – 3:31 "Get the Joke" – 3:03 Australian CD single (1999)[40] "Angels" – 4:24 "It's Only Us" – 2:50 "Angels" (live) – 5:39 "Let Me Entertain You" (live at The Brits '99) – 4:41 "Millennium" – 4:05

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Life thru a Lens album booklet.^[41]

Studios

• Recorded at Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
• Mixed at Battery Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Robbie Williams – writing, vocals
• Guy Chambers – writing, keyboards, production, arrangement
• Gary Nuttall – backing vocals, guitar
• Andre Barreau – backing vocals, guitar
• Nicole Patterson – backing vocals
• Chester Kamen – guitar
• Mark Smith – bass, programming
• Steve Power – keyboards, production, mixing, programming
• Chris Sharrock – drums
• Andy Duncan – percussion
• The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
• Gavyn Wright – concertmaster
• Jim Brumby – Battery Studios assistant
• Matt Hay – Matrix Maison Rouge assistant

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997–2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[42] 40 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[43] 12 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[44] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[45] 32 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[46] 18 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[47] 15 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[48] 7 Europe (European Hit Radio)[49] 4 France (SNEP)[50] 7 Germany (GfK)[51] 9 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[52] 22 Ireland (IRMA)[53] 2 Italy (FIMI)[54] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[55] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56] 14 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[57] 23 Nicaragua (El Siglo de Torreón)[58] 8 Scotland (OCC)[59] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[60] 13 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[61] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[62] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[63] 53 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[64] 10 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[65] 21 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[66] 25

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position UK Singles (OCC)[67] 39 Chart (1998) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[68] 39 Brazil (Crowley)[69] 97 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[70] 24 Europe (European Hit Radio)[71] 32 France (SNEP)[72] 43 Germany (Media Control)[73] 53 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[74] 65 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[75] 65 Sweden (Hitlistan)[76] 97 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[77] 36 UK Singles (OCC)[78] 25 Chart (1999) Position Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[79] 85 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[80] 84 Chart (2000) Position US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[81] 28 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[82] 62 Chart (2006) Position UK Singles (OCC)[83] 198

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA)[84]	Gold	25,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[85]	Gold	30,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[86]	Platinum	90,000‡
France (SNEP)[87]	Gold	250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[88]	Platinum	500,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[89]	Platinum	70,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[90]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[91]	Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[92]	4× Platinum	2,400,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	1 December 1997	CD cassette	Chrysalis	[93]
United States	6 September 1999	Hot adult contemporary radio	Capitol	[94]
	7 September 1999	Contemporary hit radio		[94][95]

Cover versions

Jessica Simpson

"Angels"
Single by Jessica Simpson
from the album In This Skin (reissue)
Released	8 June 2004 (2004-06-08)
Studio	Turtle Sound Studios (New York, NY)[96] Steakhouse Recording (Los Angeles, CA)[97]
Genre	Pop
Length	4:05
Label	Columbia
Producer(s)	Billy Mann
Jessica Simpson singles chronology
"Take My Breath Away" (2004) "Angels" (2004) "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (2005)
Licensed audio
"Angels" on YouTube

Jessica Simpson's cover of "Angels" was the fourth and final single released from her album In This Skin in 2004. It was produced by Billy Mann.

Music video

The video for "Angels" opens a visibly anxious Simpson on an empty stage rehearsing for a performance. She can be seen in intercut scenes staring into space, as if she has lost her self-confidence and ability to perform. As the song progresses, however, white roses can be seen scattered around her as a sign of hope, and soon Simpson begins to regain her confidence. The song then shifts into its instrumental bridge to correlate with the emotions of the characters, as Simpson proceeds to climb to the top of the building for her final performance. There she is greeted by a youth orchestra, and finishes the song.

Chart performance

Simpson's version of "Angels" failed to break into the Billboard Hot 100 (though it did reach number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles). However, the song did become a moderate success^{[clarification needed]} on the Top 40 Mainstream and Hot Digital Tracks charts.

Track listing

1. "Angels"
2. "Angels" (Stealth Remix)
3. "Fly" (B-side)
4. "Angels" (enhanced video)

Remixes

• "Angels" (album version) – 4:00
• "Angels" (Dave Anthony Remix) – 4:53
• "Angels" (Junior Vasquez World Mixshow) – 6:32
• "Angels" (Stealth Remix) – 3:12
• "Angels" (acoustic) – 4:07

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[98]	27
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[99]	29
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[100]	78
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[101]	6
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[102]	23

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Angels"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	8 June 2004	Contemporary hit radio	Columbia	[103]

Yuridia

"Ángel"
Single by Yuridia
from the album La Voz de un Ángel
Released	2005
Genre	Latin, pop
Length	4:17
Label	Sony BMG
Yuridia singles chronology
"Ángel" (2005) "La maldita primavera" (2006)

In 2005, Yuridia, former contestant of the popular Mexican show La Academia, released "Ángel", a Spanish version of the song which she had interpreted during her stay in the reality show, as her debut and lead single from her album La Voz de un Ángel. In Mexico, as well as in other parts of Latin America, "Ángel", became an instant hit, leading her debut album of almost the same name to achieve Diamond status in Mexico and becoming one of the most recent best selling Mexican singers and the best female Mexican seller of the past decade. The singer received two gold certifications for 20,000 copies sold in Mexico.

Chart performance

"Ángel" reached 32 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and La Voz de un Ángel managed to climb into the top 20 on the Billboard Hot Latin Albums chart, peaking at 16. In Mexico the song became the most successful song of 2005, leading the charts during 13 week.

Charts

Chart 2005	Position
US Billboard Hot Latin Songs	32

David Archuleta

"Angels"
Single by David Archuleta
from the album David Archuleta
Released	27 October 2008 (2008-10-27)
Recorded	2008
Genre	Pop
Length	3:33 (American Idol studio version) 4:09 (album version)
Label	Jive
David Archuleta singles chronology
"Crush" (2008) "Angels" (2008) "A Little Too Not Over You" (2009)

David Archuleta initially covered this song during the 7th season of American Idol, in 2008. A studio version of this cover was produced and made available for purchase as a digital download exclusively via iTunes Store for a limited period.

Later in that year, he decided to re-record the song, with a different arrangement and production, for his debut album. The version is also available for digital purchase since 27 October 2008, when it was released to help promote the pre-order of Archuleta's album.

Formats and track listings

Digital download

1. "Angels" (main version) — 4:09
2. "Angels" (promotional version) — 3:33

Chart performance

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.

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Canadian Hot 100	64
US Billboard Hot 100	89

Blessing Chitapa

"Angels"
Single by Blessing Chitapa
from the album Count My Blessings
Released	14 November 2020
Recorded	2020
Genre	Pop
Length	4:10
Label	Universal Music on Demand
Blessing Chitapa singles chronology
"Angels" (2020) "I Smile" (2021)

In November 2020, Blessing Chitapa, winner of the ninth series of The Voice UK, released a cover version of "Angels" as her winner's single. The song is included on Chitapa's 2021 debut album, Count My Blessings.

On 14 November 2020, Chitapa performed the song "Angels" live on The Voice UK grand final, with the single being released after the show was finished as a digital download.

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[104]	50

Release history

Country	Release date	Format	Label
United Kingdom	14 November 2020	Digital download	Universal Music on Demand

Kindred Spirit

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 while working for the British National Health Service.^[105]