Concrete Angel

Last updated
"Concrete Angel"
Martina McBride Concrete single.png
Single by Martina McBride
from the album Greatest Hits
B-side "Where Would You Be"
ReleasedNovember 18, 2002
Recorded2001
Genre Country pop
Length4:12
Label RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Martina McBride singles chronology
"Practice Life"
(2002)
"Concrete Angel"
(2002)
"This One's for the Girls"
(2003)
Music video
"Concrete Angel" on YouTube

"Concrete Angel" is a song written by Stephanie Bentley and Rob Crosby, and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in November 2002 as the fourth and last single from McBride's Greatest Hits compilation album. The song reached number 5 on the country music charts. [2] "Concrete Angel" was ranked No. 1 by Rolling Stone on its list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time in 2019. [3]

Contents

Content

The song is a power ballad, centering on a main theme of child abuse. The narrator tells a story about a little girl who endures severe abuse. The abuse is silently questioned by her teachers and neighbors, but goes unreported. By the song's end, the girl dies and goes on to an afterlife where "she is loved" more than she was on earth.

Personnel

The following musicians perform on this track: [4]

Music video

The video was directed and produced by Deaton Flanigen. While McBride sings this song in the cemetery, Angela Carter (played by Noel Wiggins) is the 7-year-old daughter of an abusive mother. The girl's mother is shown disheveled and smoking a cigarette, as Angela is walking to school, another little girl looks at her and then laughs at her, which could imply she was also a victim of bullying. While she is at school, the teacher and her classmates ignore the bruises on her body, either because they think she just had a minor accident or they want to avoid having problems with her family. One day, a young boy (played by Luke Benward) around her age befriends her. One night, Angela and the boy are talking to each other from their bedroom windows, and her mother catches her and beats her to death, which is shown by her mother's shadow. After the beating, police officers and an ambulance are shown at her house, assuming that some neighbors had heard the noise and called the authorities, and the mother is arrested. At the funeral, Angela's grave marked as 1995-2002 is shown, surrounded by a group of people, including her school teacher, some of her classmates, and her only friend. It is implied that the boy is the ghost of a young child who was killed from being abused and then comes to her, before she passes and shows her friendship. The music video ends when the boy passes through the adults, hugs the spirit of Angela and they both run to meet a group of other abused children as they run off into the horizon. When the video was originally released, it featured the phone number for the American Child Abuse Hotline and encouraged viewers to report abuse. The music video received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

Cover versions

Chart performance

"Concrete Angel" debuted at number 52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 30, 2002.

Chart (2002–2003)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [5] 5
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] 47

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)Position
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [7] 33

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [8] Platinum1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martina McBride</span> American country singer

Martina Mariea McBride is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Day (Martina McBride song)</span> 1994 single by Martina McBride

"Independence Day" is a song written by Gretchen Peters, and recorded by American country music singer Martina McBride. The song was officially released in May 1994 as the third single from her album The Way That I Am. The song peaked at number 12 on Hot Country Songs. Peters later recorded it herself on her 1996 album The Secret of Life. It was first offered to Reba McEntire, who turned it down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Fall to Pieces</span> 1961 single by Patsy Cline

"I Fall to Pieces" is a song written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard that was originally recorded by Patsy Cline. Released as a single in 1961 via Decca Records, it topped the country charts, crossed over onto the pop charts and became among Cline's biggest hits. Cline was initially reluctant to record "I Fall to Pieces" and believed its production lacked enough country instrumentation for her liking. Eventually, Cline recorded the song upon the encouragement of her producer.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Martina McBride album) 2001 greatest hits album by Martina McBride

Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American country music singer Martina McBride, released on September 18, 2001 by RCA Nashville. The compilation includes thirteen of McBride's singles, all of which except "Independence Day" became top ten hits, and four became number one hits. Despite not being a single, "Strangers" was included due to it being popular among fans.

<i>Wild Angels</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Martina McBride

Wild Angels is the third studio album by the American country music artist Martina McBride. The album produced the singles "Safe in the Arms of Love", the title track, "Swingin' Doors", "Phones Are Ringin' All Over Town" and "Cry on the Shoulder of the Road". The title track was McBride's first number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Waking Up Laughing Tour</span> 2007–08 concert tour by Martina McBride

The Waking Up Laughing Tour was the second headlining tour by American recording artist Martina McBride. Primarily visiting the United States and Canada, the tour supported her ninth studio album, Waking Up Laughing. The tour played over a hundred shows in 2007 and 2008, becoming one of the biggest tours by a country music artist—earning over eight million dollars and seen by over 250,000 spectators. Additionally, the tour placed 47th and 88th on Pollstar's Top 100 Tours in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Stephanie Kay Bentley is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 1996 as a duet partner on Ty Herndon's single "Heart Half Empty", which peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The single was included both on Herndon's 1995 debut album What Mattered Most and on Bentley's 1996 debut album Hopechest. It produced three more singles for her on the country charts, although only one reached Top 40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anyway (Martina McBride song)</span> 2006 single by Martina McBride

"Anyway" is a song by American country music artist Martina McBride, recorded for her eighth studio album Waking Up Laughing (2007). It was the first single of her career that she had a writing credit on, co-writing it with the Warren Brothers, a duo consisting of brothers Brad and Brett Warren. McBride also solely produced the track. "Anyway" is a song about how even though bad things can happen, the narrator sings that she'll do it anyway. RCA Nashville released the song on November 6, 2006 as the lead single from the album.

"The Grand Tour" is a song made famous by country music singer George Jones. Originally released in 1974, the song was the title track to his album released that year. The song became Jones' sixth No. 1 song on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart in August 1974, and was the fourth-biggest hit of the year. In 2014, Rolling Stone named the song number 38 on its "40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martina McBride discography</span>

The discography of American country music artist Martina McBride consists of 14 studio albums, one live album, eight compilation albums, two video albums, three additional albums, 45 music videos, 51 singles, 16 other charting songs, and 45 album appearances. In 1991, she signed a recording contract with RCA Nashville, launching her debut studio album The Time Has Come in 1992. In September 1993, her second studio album The Way That I Am was issued. Its lead single "My Baby Loves Me" reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming her breakthrough hit. The third single "Independence Day" peaked in the Top 20 and became McBride's signature song. The song's success elevated sales of The Way That I Am to platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America. Wild Angels was released in September 1995 and reached number seventeen on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's title track became McBride's first song to top the Hot Country Songs chart. McBride's fourth studio album Evolution was released in August 1997 and is her best-selling album to date, certifying three times platinum in the United States. The album spawned six singles which all became major hits including, "A Broken Wing", "Wrong Again", and "Whatever You Say". After releasing a holiday album, McBride's fifth studio album Emotion was issued in September 1999. The lead single "I Love You" topped the Hot Country Songs chart, while also reaching minor positions on the Adult Contemporary and Billboard Hot 100 charts.

"Safe in the Arms of Love" is a country music song written by Mary Ann Kennedy, Pam Rose and Pat Bunch in 1986. The song was originally recorded by the American country music band Wild Choir. It was issued on their self-titled debut album in 1986 and was also released as the project's lead single. The song failed to chart. A music video, directed by David Hogan, was shot for the band's version and was scheduled to be broadcast on MTV, but due to a program change, never aired.

"God's Will" is a song written by Barry Dean and Tom Douglas and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in December 2004 as the fourth and final single from McBride's 2003 album Martina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessed (Martina McBride song)</span> 2001 single by Martina McBride

"Blessed" is a song written by Brett James, Troy Verges, and Hillary Lindsey and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. McBride's label, RCA Nashville, released it on October 22, 2001 as the second single from her Greatest Hits (2001) compilation album. The song was produced by Paul Worley. Lyrically, it is about how the narrator is "blessed" in many ways, including having children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wild Angels (Martina McBride song)</span> 1995 single by Martina McBride

"Wild Angels" is a song written by Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison and Harry Stinson and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in November 1995 as the second single and title track from McBride's album of the same name. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, giving McBride her first number one single on that chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monday Morning Church</span> 2004 single by Alan Jackson

"Monday Morning Church" is a song written by Brent Baxter and Erin Enderlin, and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in October 2004 as the second single from his album What I Do. It peaked at number 5 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks. It features background vocals from Patty Loveless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Call You Mine</span>

"I Just Call You Mine" is a song written by Jess Cates, Ty Lacy and Dennis Matkosky, and recorded by David Phelps for his 2008 album The Voice. However, it was covered notably by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in May 2009 as the second single from her album, Shine. The song was also recorded by Mary Byrne in 2011 for her debut album where it reached number 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues</span> 2001 single by Martina McBride

"When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues" is a song written by Leslie Satcher and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride, with production by McBride and Paul Worley. The song was released on June 25, 2001 as the lead single from her Greatest Hits (2001) compilation album.

"For the Good Times" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson, first recorded by singer Bill Nash in 1968 before appearing on Kristofferson's own debut album in June 1970. After a recording by Ray Price became a #1 hit single in June of that year, the song established Kristofferson as one of country and popular music's top songwriters while giving Price his first chart-topping country and western song in 11 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sing Me Back Home (song)</span> 1967 single by Merle Haggard and The Strangers

"Sing Me Back Home" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in November 1967 as the first single and title track from the album Sing Me Back Home. The song was Merle Haggard and The Strangers third number one. The single spent two weeks at number one and a total of 17 weeks on the country chart. In 2019, Rolling Stone ranked "Sing Me Back Home" No. 32 on its list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong</span> 2010 single by Martina McBride

"Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong", or its shortened name when released as a single, "Wrong Baby Wrong", is a song recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was written by Brad and Brett Warren, along with Robert Ellis Orrall and Love and Theft member Stephen Barker Liles. The song was released in February 2010 as the third single from her tenth studio album, Shine, as well as her last single for RCA Nashville.

References

  1. "Greatest Hits - Martina McBride | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 219.
  3. Ryan, Cady Drell,Reed Fischer,Keith Harris,Rob Harvilla,Daniel Kreps,David Menconi,Marissa R. Moss,Nick Murray,Mike Powell,Linda; Drell, Cady; Fischer, Reed; Harris, Keith; Harvilla, Rob; Kreps, Daniel; Menconi, David; Moss, Marissa R.; Murray, Nick; Powell, Mike; Ryan, Linda (September 17, 2019). "40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone .{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Greatest Hits (CD booklet). Martina McBride. RCA Records. 2001. 67012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. "Best of 2003: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 2003. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  8. "American single certifications – Martina McBride – Concrete Angel". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 12, 2021.