Yes, I'm Your Angel

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"Yes, I'm Your Angel"
Yes, I'm Your Angel label.jpg
Single by Yoko Ono
from the album Double Fantasy
A-side "Watching the Wheels"
Released13 March 1981 (US)
27 March 1981 (UK)
Recorded1980
Genre Rock
Length2:50
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s) Yoko Ono
Producer(s) John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Jack Douglas
Yoko Ono singles chronology
"Walking on Thin Ice"
(1981)		"Yes, I'm Your Angel"
(1981)		"No, No, No"
(1981)

"Yes, I'm Your Angel", also known as "I'm Your Angel", is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on Ono's and John Lennon's 1980 album Double Fantasy . It was later released as the b-side of Lennon's single "Watching the Wheels." The initial release of Double Fantasy used the title "I'm Your Angel" but later releases as well as the single used the title "Yes, I'm Your Angel." [1]

Contents

Music and lyrics

"Yes, I'm Your Angel" has a sound similar to that of 1930s and 1940s big band songs. [2] In particular, the first three bars have an almost identical melody and harmony as Eddie Cantor's 1928 hit "Makin' Whoopee," written by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson. [3] Although the two songs also have similar harmonic structures, the songs' melodies diverge by the fourth bar and "Yes, I'm Your Angel" has a completely different bridge than "Makin' Whoopee." [3] Nonetheless, the similarities between the two songs prompted the publishers of "Makin' Whoopee" to sue Ono, requesting $1 million in monetary damages, a prohibition on any marketing of the "Yes, I'm Your Angel," and that all records, tapes and sheet music of "Yes, I'm Your Angel" be destroyed. [3] The suit was settled with Ono paying undisclosed monetary damages, but without restrictions on future releases on subsequent sales of Double Fantasy. [4] [1]

Ono sings in a Marilyn Monroe-like voice. [1] Winona Daily News critic Mike Killeen states that she sounds like a "vaudeville crooner." [5] Instrumentation for "Yes, I'm Your Angel" includes a clarinet and horn (instrument)s. [2] [1] Tony Davillo, who did the horn arrangements, claims that although he created horn arrangements for several Double Fantasy songs, including "(Just Like) Starting Over," "Cleanup Time" and "I'm Losing You," the arrangement for this song was the only one that was used. [6] George Small, who played piano on the song, said he played using a stride technique. [6] Lennon does some whistling on the song, which music lecturers Ben Urish and Ken Bielen state adds "an informal carefree touch to the bandstand arrangement and vocal styling." [2]

Rhymes such as "I'm in your pocket, you're in my locket" are also reminiscent of 1930s and 1940s songs. [2] Courier-Journal critic Marc Zakem calls the lyrics "purposely silly" but notes the humor of the song, including the use of a wolf whistle in the background when Ono sings "I'm so pretty." [7]

"Yes, I'm Your Angel" follows "Watching the Wheels" on the Double Fantasy album, and is introduced by some spoken conversation, the sounds of a horse-drawn carriage and a door slamming, and some piano and violin phrases. [8] Lennon said of this introduction:

One of the voices is me going "God bless you man, thank you, man, cross my palm with silver, you've got a lucky face," which is what the English guys who beg or want a tip say, and that's what you hear me mumbling. And then we re-created the sounds of what Yoko and I call the Strawberries and Violin Room—the Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel. We like to sit there occasionally and listen to the old violin and have a cup of tea and some strawberries. It's romantic. And so the picture is: There's this kind of street prophet, Hyde Park corner-type guy who just watches the wheels going around. And people are throwing money in the hat—we faked that in the studio, we had friends of ours walking up and down throwing coins in a hat—and he's saying, Thank you thank you, and then you get in the horse carriage and you go around New York and go into the hotel and the violins are playing and then this woman comes on and sings about being an angel. [8] [9]

The version of "Yes, I'm Your Angel" that was released as a single edits out this introduction. [1] The version released on Onobox edits out part of the introduction. [1]

Reception

Music critic Johnny Rogan calls the song "anti-climatic," particularly criticizing Ono using her baby voice to sing it. [9] Beatle biographer John Blaney called it a joke and pastiche on 1930s show tunes, but stated that it "must have sent all but the most hardened [Ono] fans reaching for the fast-forward button." [10] Small called "Yes, I'm Your Angel" a "really cute song," stating that it showed off Ono's humorous side, which surprises people who think she is always dark and serious. [6] Hartford Courant writer Henry McNulty states that the song was intended as a birthday song and states that Yoko "delicately trills" her vocals, with the gentleness and restraint of her vocals being surprising to those only familiar with her "banshee wails." [11] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it as Ono's 10th best song, describing it as "old-timey and playful" and saying that it "balances nostalgic music-hall camp with genuine sentiment." [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Double Fantasy</i> 1980 studio album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Double Fantasy is the fifth studio album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and the final one to feature Lennon before his death. Released in November 1980 on Geffen Records, the album marked Lennon's return to recording music full-time, following his five-year hiatus to raise his son Sean. Recording sessions took place at the Hit Factory in New York City between August and October 1980. The final album features songs from both Lennon and Ono, largely alternating between the two in its track listing. Other tracks recorded by Lennon from the sessions were compiled by Ono for release on Milk and Honey in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss Kiss Kiss (Yoko Ono song)</span> 1980 single

"Kiss Kiss Kiss" is a song by Japanese singer Yoko Ono. It was originally released on Double Fantasy, her joint album with John Lennon, as well as on the B-side of his "(Just Like) Starting Over" single. The disco and new wave-influenced song features Ono gasping heavily and appearing to reach orgasm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watching the Wheels</span> 1981 single by John Lennon

"Watching the Wheels" is a single by John Lennon released posthumously in 1981, after his murder. The B-side features Yoko Ono's "Yes, I'm Your Angel." It was the third and final single released from Lennon and Ono's album Double Fantasy, and reached No. 10 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on Cashbox's Top 100. It peaked at number 30 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him</span> 1980 song by Yoko Ono

"Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" is a song by Yoko Ono from the album Double Fantasy with John Lennon. Other versions were released, including one released as a single where Ono's voice was removed, leaving what had been Lennon's backing vocal as the primary vocal.

"Well Well Well" is a song by English musician John Lennon from his 1970 album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The eighth and longest track on the album, "Well Well Well" features an aggressive guitar sound, screaming vocals and a pounding backing track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mrs. Lennon</span> 1971 single by Yoko Ono

"Mrs. Lennon" is Yoko Ono's first single from her second studio album Fly, released in 1971. It was written and performed by Ono, and produced by Ono and her husband John Lennon. It includes the B-side "Midsummer New York". "Mrs. Lennon" was featured in the 1972 film Imagine.

"Cleanup Time" is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1980 album Double Fantasy. It was also included on the compilation album Lennon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Losing You (John Lennon song)</span> 1980 song by John Lennon

"I'm Losing You" is a song written by John Lennon and released on his 1980 album Double Fantasy. It was written in Bermuda in June 1980, after several attempts by Lennon to call his wife, Yoko Ono, who remained in New York. The song is also available on the 1982 compilation The John Lennon Collection, the 1998 boxset John Lennon Anthology, the one disc compilation Wonsaponatime, the 2005 two disc compilation Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon and in 2010 for the Gimme Some Truth album. The song was also featured in the 2005 musical Lennon.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters, O Sisters</span> 1972 single by Yoko Ono

"Sisters, O Sisters", also known as "Sisters O Sisters", is a song written by Yoko Ono that first appeared on John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's 1972 Plastic Ono Band album Some Time in New York City, backed by Elephant's Memory. It was also released as the b-side to the couple's "Woman Is the Nigger of the World" single. It has been covered by a number of artists, including Le Tigre and Tater Totz.

"Bless You" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. It is a ballad expressing his love for his wife Yoko Ono, even though they were separated at the time. Alternative versions appeared on the compilation albums Menlove Ave. and John Lennon Anthology

"Scared" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. Alternate versions were subsequently released on the compilation albums Menlove Ave. and John Lennon Anthology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Boys</span> Yoko Ono song

"Beautiful Boys" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on Ono's and John Lennon's 1980 album Double Fantasy. It was later released as the B-side of Lennon's #1 single "Woman."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Moving On (Yoko Ono song)</span>

"I'm Moving On" is a song by Yoko Ono. It was originally recorded for 1980's Double Fantasy album, with John Lennon. A remix was released on iTunes on 25 September 2012. The remix debuted at number 39, and peaked at number 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch Me (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midsummer New York</span> 1971 single by Yoko Ono

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"Listen, the Snow Is Falling" is a song written by Yoko Ono and recorded by Ono and the Plastic Ono Band that was first released as the B-side of John Lennon's 1971 single "Happy Xmas ." A version of the song was later released on a reissue of Lennon and Ono's Wedding Album and was covered by Galaxie 500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woman Power (song)</span>

"Woman Power" is a single released by Yoko Ono. It was originally released on September 24, 1973 through Apple. John Lennon played guitar on the track in a performance that Ken Bielen and Ben Urish described as, "especially gritty." Bielen and Urish described Lennon's rhythm guitar solo as prefiguring his guitar playing on his last creative work, Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice." Lennon uses the alias "John O'Cean" for the song, possibly in reference to Ono's name translating as "Ocean Child" in Japanese. A remix version was released on August 26, 2014 through Mind Train / Twisted. It reached number six on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Madinger, Chip & Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. p. 138. ISBN   0-615-11724-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Urish, Ben; Bielen, Ken (2007). The Words and Music of John Lennon. Praeger. p. 79. ISBN   9780275991807.
  3. 1 2 3 Palmer, Robert (July 10, 1981). "Yoko Ono suit stirs up legal hornet's nest". Star Tribune. p. 2C. Retrieved 2021-09-08– via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Hampson, Rick & McShane, Larry (December 7, 1990). "Yoko still feels she's John's partner". The Sacramento Bee. p. Scene 3. Retrieved 2021-09-08– via newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Killeen, Mike (January 16, 1981). "When the music's over". Winona Daily News. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-09-08– via newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 Sharp, Ken (2011). Starting Over: The Making of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Double Fantasy. MTV Books. pp. 85, 163. ISBN   9781439103012.
  7. ↑ Zakem, Marc (December 7, 1980). "Lennon's 'Starting Over' ranks as a minor pop classic". Courier-Journal. p. H 13. Retrieved 2021-09-08– via newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 Cott, Jonathan (2013). Days That I'll Remember: Spending Time with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Knopf Doubleday. ISBN   9780385536387.
  9. 1 2 Rogan, Johnny (1997). The Complete Guide to the Music of John Lennon. Omnibus Press. p. 92. ISBN   0711955999.
  10. ↑ Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone – A critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. p. 146. ISBN   9781906002022.
  11. ↑ McNulty, Henry (December 7, 1980). "John and Yoko sing from the Heart". Hartford Courant. p. G7. Retrieved 2021-09-08– via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Gallucci, Michael (18 February 2013). "Top 10 Yoko Ono Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
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