How Could an Angel Break My Heart

Last updated
"How Could an Angel Break My Heart"
Hcaabmy.jpg
Single by Toni Braxton with Kenny G
from the album Secrets
B-side "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Remix Version featuring Babyface)
ReleasedNovember 4, 1997
Length4:20
Label LaFace
Songwriter(s) Toni Braxton, Babyface
Producer(s) Babyface
Toni Braxton singles chronology
"I Don't Want To" / "I Love Me Some Him"
(1997)
"How Could an Angel Break My Heart"
(1997)
"He Wasn't Man Enough"
(2000)

"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" is a song by American singer and songwriter Toni Braxton, released in November 1997 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album, Secrets (1996). The song, co-written by Braxton and Babyface and produced by Babyface, features Kenny G on the saxophone. At the time of this single's release, Secrets had reached five-time Platinum status by the RIAA. [1]

Contents

Critical reception

British magazine Music Week gave "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" three out of five, adding that "Braxton looks to a big ballad to return her to the Top 10 with this fourth radio-friendly cut". [2] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue described the song as "a-wash with luxurious strings and haunting saxophone, as Toni’s somewhat sad vocals weave their way through this gentle ballad." [3] Richard Harrington from The Washington Post complimented it as a "fine cut". [4]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Iain Softley. It follows the lyrical content of the relationship between Braxton and her lover. He has left her for another woman and she is left to pick up the pieces.

The remix version of the song has the storyline laid out a little differently, with Babyface singing back to her and duetting with her from the second verse. Babyface's vocals replace Kenny G's saxophone parts.

Track listings and formats

  1. "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Album Version) – 4:20
  2. "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Remix Version featuring Babyface) – 4:21
  3. "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Album Instrumental) – 4:21
  4. "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Remix Instrumental) – 4:21
  1. "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" – 4:20
  2. "Breathe Again" – 4:29
  3. "Another Sad Love Song" – 5:01
  4. "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" – 4:56

Personnel and credits

Credits adapted from album liner notes. [5]

Charts

Chart (1997)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [6] 50
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [7] 83
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [8] 36
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [9] 34
Ireland (IRMA) [10] 16
Scotland (OCC) [11] 37
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 22
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [13] 5
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [14] 12

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toni Braxton</span> American singer (born 1967)

Toni Michele Braxton is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. Braxton has won seven Grammy Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, and numerous other accolades. In 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 2017 she was honored with the Legend Award at the Soul Train Music Awards.

<i>Secrets</i> (Toni Braxton album) 1996 studio album by Toni Braxton

Secrets is the second studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on June 18, 1996, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The album was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Secrets has been certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worldwide, the album has sold over 15 million copies. In support of the album, Braxton embarked on the Secrets Tour, playing dates in North America and Europe from August 1996 to October 1997.

<i>The Heat</i> (Toni Braxton album) 2000 studio album by Toni Braxton

The Heat is the third studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on April 25, 2000, by LaFace Records. The album marked Braxton's departure from her ballads in favor of a more urban sound. Most of the songs were written and produced by Braxton and her husband Keri Lewis ; two ballads were penned by Diane Warren, and collaborations featured rappers Dr. Dre and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Un-Break My Heart</span> 1996 single by Toni Braxton

"Un-Break My Heart" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton for her second studio album, Secrets (1996). The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. It was released as the second single from the album on October 7, 1996, through LaFace Records. The song is a ballad about a "blistering heartbreak" in which the singer begs a former lover to return and undo the pain he has caused. It won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997. It has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and nearly 3 million in the United States alone, making it one of the best selling singles of all time.

<i>Ultimate Toni Braxton</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Toni Braxton

Ultimate Toni Braxton, released in 2003, is the first greatest hits collection by R&B singer Toni Braxton. It features many of her greatest hits, and includes all the singles from her debut Toni Braxton and all but one of the singles from her second album Secrets. Her albums The Heat and More Than a Woman are fairly underrepresented, as only two and one songs are included from each album, respectively. The songs on Ultimate are not the actual album versions but radio edits, and the version of "Seven Whole Days" is live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit the Freeway</span> 2002 single by Toni Braxton featuring Loon

"Hit the Freeway" is a song by American recording artist Toni Braxton, released as the lead single from her fourth studio album, More Than a Woman (2002). The song, which features American rapper Loon, was written by Pharrell Williams and Loon himself, while production was handled by Pharrell's production duo The Neptunes. It is a hip hop and R&B song, with lyrics about an ex trying to rekindle with Braxton, but Braxton claims she's not interested in him anymore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toni Braxton discography</span>

American singer Toni Braxton has released ten studio albums, five extended plays, six compilation albums, two remix albums, thirty-four singles, two video albums and twenty-two music videos in a career spanning over 30 years. Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland, on October 7, 1967. Her mother, an opera vocalist, encouraged Braxton and her four sisters to sing in church at a young age. In 1990, songwriter Bill Pettaway discovered the sisters and helped them obtain a record deal with Arista Records, as the group titled The Braxtons; the group's debut single, "Good Life", was released the same year. Although the song failed to chart, Braxton's voice caught the attention of producers, L.A. Reid and Babyface, who signed her to their newly formed LaFace Records. In 1991, Braxton recorded songs for the soundtrack to the 1992 film Boomerang. Her solo debut single, "Love Shoulda Brought You Home", reached the top thirty of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the top five of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Two years later, her self-titled debut album was issued through LaFace. The album topped the US Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and was certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned four singles, including "Breathe Again", which peaked within the top ten in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The album has sold over ten million copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Makin' Me High</span> 1996 single by Toni Braxton

"You're Makin' Me High" is the lead single from American singer Toni Braxton's second studio album, Secrets (1996). The mid-tempo song represents a joint collaboration between the Grammy Award-winning producer Babyface and Bryce Wilson. The beat of the song was originally for singer-songwriter Brandy, with Dallas Austin pegged to write a lyric to override; however, Braxton had Babyface write lyrics for the song. It was ultimately issued in the United States as a double A-side with "Let It Flow", the airplay hit from the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give U My Heart</span> 1992 single by Babyface featuring Toni Braxton

"Give U My Heart" is a song recorded by American R&B singers Babyface and Toni Braxton for the soundtrack to the 1992 film Boomerang, starring Eddie Murphy. The collaboration was released as a single the same year, reaching No. 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Shoulda Brought You Home</span> 1992 single by Toni Braxton

"Love Shoulda Brought You Home" is the debut solo single by American singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Daryl Simmons, and Bo Watson and produced by Edmonds and Simmons along with L.A. Reid. Originally written for singer Anita Baker, who had to decline due to her pregnancy, it was eventually recorded by Braxton and featured on the soundtrack to Reginald Hudlin's romantic comedy film Boomerang (1992). The song was later also included on Braxton's self titled debut album (1993). Lyrically, the slow-groove R&B song is saga of betrayal and infidelity that depicts a heartbroken Braxton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Sad Love Song</span> 1993 single by Toni Braxton

"Another Sad Love Song" is a song by American singer-songwriter Toni Braxton. Written and produced by Daryl Simmons and Babyface, featuring additional production from L.A. Reid, it was released as the lead single and its opening track from Braxton's self-titled debut album (1993) on June 11, 1993, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. Lyrically, it talks about Braxton complaining that every song played on the radio is a reminder of her ex-boyfriend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breathe Again</span> 1993 single by Toni Braxton

"Breathe Again" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and produced by Edmonds, L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons for Braxton's self-titled debut album (1993). Its lyrics evokes a sense of nostalgia from a relationship that has run its course. The ballad was released as the album's second single on August 6, 1993, by LaFace and Arista Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Mean the World to Me (Toni Braxton song)</span> 1994 single by Toni Braxton

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Want To</span> 1997 single by Toni Braxton

"I Don't Want To" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Toni Braxton for her second studio album, Secrets (1996). It was released as the third single from the album on March 11, 1997; in the United States it was released as a double A-side with "I Love Me Some Him". Written and produced by R. Kelly, the R&B ballad describes the agony of a break-up. The song was well received by music critics, who were complimentary about Kelly's production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Guitar (song)</span> 2000 single by Toni Braxton

"Spanish Guitar" is a song by American singer Toni Braxton from her third studio album, The Heat (2000). It was released on September 25, 2000, as the album's third single by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The song was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. It was never released as a commercial single in the United States, where the song reached number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>The Essential Toni Braxton</i> 2007 greatest hits album by Toni Braxton

The Essential Toni Braxton is a compilation album by the American recording artist Toni Braxton in Sony BMG's The Essential series. Released in February 2007, it follows the earlier compilations Ultimate Toni Braxton, released in 2003, and Braxton's Platinum & Gold Collection, released in 2004. The Essential is a 2 disc album with thirty-six of Braxton's best songs. It also includes a song done with her sister group The Braxtons, "The Good Life".

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The following is the discography of American musician Babyface.

<i>Sex & Cigarettes</i> 2018 studio album by Toni Braxton

Sex & Cigarettes is the eighth studio album by American singer Toni Braxton. It was released on March 23, 2018, by Def Jam Recordings. Her first solo album in eight years, it served as her debut for the label after signing a new record deal. Braxton worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Fred Ball, Antonio Dixon, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Dapo Torimiro, Stuart Crichton, Tricky Stewart, and Pierre Medor. Its release was preceded by the release of two singles, "Deadwood" and "Long as I Live" as well as a remix EP of the song "Coping" which features on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As Long as I Live Tour</span> 2019 concert tour by Toni Braxton

As Long as I Live Tour was the fifth concert tour by American R&B/pop singer Toni Braxton in support of her eighth studio album, Sex & Cigarettes. The tour kicked off on January 19, 2019, in Columbia, South Carolina and ended on November 19 in London, U.K. The tour also included female R&B group SWV and singer Babyface as featured special guests in selected Northern America dates.

References

  1. "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America .
  2. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . October 18, 1997. p. 13. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  3. "Review: "Secrets" by Toni Braxton (CD, 1997)". Pop Rescue. November 27, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  4. Harrington, Richard (June 23, 1996). "After the Debuts, Precious Seconds". The Washington Post . p. G07.
  5. Toni Braxton – Secrets (CD liner notes) - LaFace Records 73008-26020-2
  6. "TONI BRAXTON WITH KENNY G – How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  9. "TONI BRAXTON WITH KENNY G – How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – How Could an Angel Break My Hear". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  13. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  14. "Toni Braxton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.