Critical reception
Chuck Taylor from Billboard praised "I'm Your Angel". He wrote that "this wonderfully restrained ballad delights with the most graceful vocal performances either of these artists has ever offered to radio". Taylor commented,"what raises the roof is the tune's elegant,epic instrumental base,which includes sweeping strings,a soulful choir,and gentle but determined percussive drive". He continued that it "sells big at the bridge,where the instrumentation drops and Kelly and Dion harmonize in a gorgeous minor key –it truly makes the song". [5] Launch Yahoo wrote:"The ballad to beat all ballads is his duet with Celine Dion,"I'm Your Angel," which,were it not released the same week,could no doubt top the charts". [6] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted it as a highlighted on R. and called it a "soaring ballad". [7]
A mixed review came from Entertainment Weekly editor Chris Willman:"Dion's earnest take on Vietnam-era Lennon is howler No. 1. No. 2 is her duet with R. Kelly,"I'm Your Angel," a slice of squishy-hearted pseudo gospel that might better be called "Touched by a Marketing VP". [8] David Browne of EW wrote:"By the time R. winds up —with "I Believe I Can Fly" and "I'm Your Angel," a belt-by-numbers duet with Dion —Kelly has realized his crossover dream". [9] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone wrote:"Every guest star who enters Kelly's parlor emerges better for the experience —even Celine Dion,the human anti-NAFTA petition whose dancing on the VH1 Divas special cried out for stricter work-visa controls". [10]
The song proved commercially successful in the United States and worldwide. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks,and was the first number one on Billboard's new charting method of including airplay-only tracks. The song remains both artists' latest U.S. number one single as of 2024. It also spent twelve weeks at number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks,reached number one on the Hot 100 Singles Sales for six weeks,and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay. "I'm Your Angel" also became a top 10 hit in various European countries,including the United Kingdom, [3] Ireland, [4] Switzerland, [11] the Netherlands, [12] and Sweden. [13]
"I'm Your Angel" has sold over 1,550,000 copies in the United States alone and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In addition,the single was certified gold in Australia for 35,000 copies shipped and silver in the United Kingdom for 200,000 copies shipped. [14] [15]
The single was nominated at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, [16] but lost to "I Still Have That Other Girl",by Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach. [17]
The song was included later on Dion's greatest hits albums; All the Way... A Decade of Song and My Love:Essential Collection . It was also performed by her live during the Let's Talk About Love World Tour (included on the Au cœur du stade DVD) and the Taking Chances World Tour. "I'm Your Angel" appeared also on R. Kelly's compilation album, The R. in R&B Collection,Vol. 1 in 2003.
On 14 January 2019,following Lady Gaga’s removal of "Do What U Want",Dion,through her management,had the song on her own releases and its video pulled from streaming services due to renewed allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against R. Kelly. [18] However,the song remains on streaming services on R. Kelly's own releases.
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