Angels (Robbie Williams song)

Last updated

"Angels"
Angels cover.png
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Life thru a Lens
B-side
  1. "Walk This Sleigh"
Released1 December 1997 (1997-12-01)
Studio Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
Genre
Length
  • 4:24 (album version)
  • 3:58 (radio edit)
Label Chrysalis
Songwriter(s) Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers
Producer(s)
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"South of the Border"
(1997)
"Angels"
(1997)
"Let Me Entertain You"
(1998)
Music videos
"Angels" on YouTube

Credits and personnel

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

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA) [84] Gold25,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [85] Gold30,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [86] Platinum90,000
France (SNEP) [87] Gold250,000*
Germany (BVMI) [88] Platinum500,000
Italy (FIMI) [89] Platinum70,000
New Zealand (RMNZ) [90] 2× Platinum60,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [91] Platinum60,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [92] 4× Platinum2,400,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom1 December 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
Chrysalis [93]
United States6 September 1999 Hot adult contemporary radio Capitol [94]
7 September 1999 Contemporary hit radio [94] [95]

Cover versions

Jessica Simpson

"Angels"
Jessicasimpson single angels.jpg
Single by Jessica Simpson
from the album In This Skin (reissue)
Released8 June 2004 (2004-06-08)
Genre Pop
Length4:05
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) [96] 27
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 ( Radio & Records ) [97] 29
Romania (Romanian Top 100) [98] 78
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [99] 6
US Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [100] 23

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Angels"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
United States8 June 2004 Contemporary hit radio Columbia [101]

Yuridia

"Ángel"
Single by Yuridia
from the album La Voz de un Ángel
Released2005
Genre Latin, pop
Length4:17
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. 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 Angel 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 2005Position
US Billboard Hot Latin Songs 32

David Archuleta

"Angels"
Single by David Archuleta
from the album David Archuleta
Released27 October 2008 (2008-10-27)
Recorded2008
Genre Pop
Length3:33 (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 10089

Blessing Chitapa

"Angels"
Single by Blessing Chitapa
from the album Count My Blessings
Released14 November 2020
Recorded2020
Genre Pop
Length4:10
Label
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 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) [102] 50

Release history

CountryRelease dateFormatLabel
United Kingdom14 November 2020 Digital download

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 whilst working for the British NHS. [103]

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