Angels (Robbie Williams song)

"Angels"
Song

"Angels" is a song written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, originally performed by Williams, and covered by Jessica Simpson, Mexican singer Yuridia, singer Beverley Knight, 2006 newcomer band All Angels, as well as Verena Von Strenge's latest group, Moon Dust. The original recording by Williams proved to be the greatest commercial success selling over 2 million worldwide.

In October 2006 the RTE documentary This Note's For You, presented by Tom Dunne, said that the song was originally co-written by Williams and Irish singer Ray Heffernan. After the song was polished by Guy Chambers, Heffernan was offered and accepted £7,500 for his rights. This however has not been officially verified, and has been thought by some to be an attempt by Heffernan to boost his own songwriting career. It has also been suggested that Noel Gallagher wrote it (along with Old Before I Die) for Robbie before their famous fall-out.

"Angels" was the fourth single from Robbie Williams' debut album, Life Thru a Lens. It has been credited with saving the singer's solo career, and is used to conclude almost all of his concerts.

At the 2005 BRIT Awards, "Angels" was voted by the British public the best song in the past twenty-five years of British music, though it had only reached number four on the singles chart. In a survey by UK digital TV station Music Choice, it even came in at number one as the song people would most like played at their funeral.

It was released in 1999 in the U.S., after his debut of "Millennium." The U.S. released video has Williams atop a roof, watching the city below.

Track listing

North American promotional CD

1. "Angels"

Australian promotional CD

1. "Angels"
2. "Angels (US Dance Mix)"

Mexican promotional CD

1. "Angels"
2. "Angels (Spanish Version)"

Cover versions

Jessica Simpson

"Angels"
Song

Jessica Simpson's cover of "Angels" was the fourth and final single released from the album In This Skin in 2004. It was produced by billymann.

The video for "Angels" is relatively low key. It starts with Simpson looking nervous 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.

Simpson's version of "Angels" performed relatively poorly as the track 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 on the Top 40 Mainstream and Hot Digital Tracks. Jessica and Joe Simpson, her father and manager, had hoped this song would lead to Jessica's first Grammy Nomination, as Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera, her 1990's rivals, had each been already been nominated as well as winning. The song's downloads were not allowed to help it.

Track listing

1. "Angels"
2. "Angels" (Stealth Remix)
3. "Fly" (B-side)
4. "Angels" (Enhanced Video)

Chart (2004)	Position
U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles	6
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Tracks	32
U.S. Top 40 Tracks	37
U.S. Top 40 Mainstream	23
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	27
Mexican Top 100	10

Yuridia

"Angels"
Song

In 2005, Yuridia, former contestant of the popular Mexican show La Academia, released "Ángel", Spanish version of the song, as her debut single. Which she had interpreted during her stay in the reality show, and which the producers thought was her best song. In her native Mexico, as well as in other parts of Latin America, "Ángel", became an instant hit. "Ángel" and Yuridia's CD La Voz de un Ángel ("The Voice of an Angel"), reached number one in Mexico after just a couple of weeks. The song was also very successful in Central America, as it reached the top 10 in El Salvador and Guatemala and became a top 20 hit in Costa Rica and Honduras. In the U.S., the song was also very successful, considering that the channel Yuridia is promoted by is small and overshadowed by Univision and Telemundo. "Ángel" went on to reach 32 in 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.

Chart 2005	Position
Mexico Top 100	1
Mexico Digital Single Sales	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Songs	32
Latin America Top 40	9
Latin America Top Latin Tracks	10
World Spanish Top 40	10

Beverley Knight

In March 2006, British soul singer Beverley Knight recorded a live gospel version of "Angels". The track, performed live on BBC Radio 2 with musician Guy Chambers, was included on her Voice - The Best Of Beverley Knight album. The inclusion came after Knight performed the song at the Live 8 concerts in July 2005.

All Angels

"Angels"
Song

As of December 2006, British manufactured group All Angels released their debut single, a cover of Robbie Williams' "Angels", with a classical touch to the song. Bookmakers put odds of 7-1 on them for getting a UK Christmas number-one single with their cover.

The single is the first ever Christmas single to be released in association with the Royal British Legion and their Poppy Appeal. Incidentally All Angels performed at the Festival of Remeberence (2006).

Track listing

CD Single

1. "Angels" - 3:18
2. "Silent Night" - 3:14
3. "Fly" - 3:45

External links

• Video of Angels, performed by Robbie Williams
• Music Video of Angels, performed by Jessica Simpson
• BBC Radio 2: Sold On Song on Angels
• BBC news article on the funeral choice of music