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Angel (Sarah McLachlan song)

{{Short description|1998 single by Sarah McLachlan}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Angel

| cover = AngelSarah.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Sarah McLachlan

| album = Surfacing {{noitalic|and}} City of Angels

| B-side =

  • "Ice Cream" (live)
  • "I Will Not Forget You" (live)

| released = {{start date|1998|9|28|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

| length =

  • 4:30 (album version)
  • 4:00 (radio edit)

| label =

| writer = Sarah McLachlan

| producer = Pierre Marchand

| prev_title = Adia

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = I Will Remember You

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|i1GmxMTwUgs|"Angel"}}}}

}}

"Angel" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. The song first appeared on McLachlan's fourth studio album, Surfacing, in 1997 and was released as the album's fourth and final single in September 1998. The lyrics are about the death of musician Jonathan Melvoin (1961–1996) from a heroin overdose,{{cite web|url=http://www.funtrivia.com/en/music/drugs-in-songs-17801.html|title=Drugs in Songs|publisher=Fun Trivia|access-date=22 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307233608/http://www.funtrivia.com/en/Music/Drugs-in-Songs-17801.html|archive-date=7 March 2014|url-status=dead}} as McLachlan explained on VH1 Storytellers. It is sometimes mistitled as "In the Arms of an Angel"Ebony – Oct 2007 – Page 194 "He decided against killing himself while back in the United States after hearing on the radio Sarah McLachlan's song "In the Arms of an Angel." " and other examples or "Arms of the Angel".

"Angel" was McLachlan's second consecutive top-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four. It also spent 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, placing as the number-one song on that chart for 1999. In McLachlan's native Canada, it reached number seven on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number three on the Adult Contemporary chart. Outside North America, the song has charted in several countries in the years following its release, including reaching number seven in Ireland in 2002 and number nine in Norway in 2008.

Despite the meaning and subject matter of this song, "Angel" is often played at funerals and memorial services due to the lyrics, "You're in the arms of the angel. May you find some comfort here".{{Cite web | url=https://nextgenmemorials.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/top-10-funeral-songs/ |title=Top 10 Funeral Songs |date=15 December 2010 | publisher=Next Gen Memorials | access-date=3 June 2024}}

Background

"Angel" was one of the first songs written for Surfacing. Sarah McLachlan said that writing it was easy, "a real joyous occasion", and that "the bulk of it came in about three hours". It was inspired by articles that she read in Rolling Stone about musicians turning to heroin to cope with the pressures of the music industry and subsequently overdosing, most notably Jonathan Melvoin, a keyboardist for the Smashing Pumpkins, who died of an overdose in 1996.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISHRr29MaFs&t=99 Sarah McLachlan explaining her inspiration to write 'Angel'] (interview discussing Surfacing CD, posted to YouTube on 9 December 2008) She said that she identified with the feelings that might lead someone to use heroin: "I've been in that place where you've messed up and you're so lost that you don't know who you are anymore, and you're miserable—and here's this escape route. I've never done heroin, but I've done plenty of other things to escape." She said that the song is about "trying not to take responsibility for other people's problems and trying to love yourself at the same time".

Composition

The song has a sparse arrangement, with only three instruments used: a piano played by McLachlan, a drum machine programmed by Pierre Marchand, and upright bass played by Jim Creeggan of Barenaked Ladies. It was recorded in the key of D-flat major.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0119791|title=Sarah McLachlan "Angel" Sheet Music in Db Major (transposable) - Download & Print|first=McLachlan|last=Sarah|website=Musicnotes.com|date=July 2013 |access-date=4 August 2018}} For live performances, it is transposed up one half-step to D major, the key it was originally written in; it is also played without the bass.

Chart performance

Released as a single on 28 September 1998,{{cite magazine|title=Sarah McLachlan: Angel|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1267|page=35|date=25 September 2022}} "Angel" peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 22 February 1999 (spending 19 weeks in the top 10), finishing as the 18th-most popular song of the year. It reached number one on three Billboard charts: the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, the Adult Top 40 chart, and the Top 40 Tracks chart. It spent 12 weeks at number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, finishing as the number-one song of the year on that chart. In McLachlan's native Canada, "Angel" peaked at number seven on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart in February 1999, ending the year as Canada's 48th-most successful single. It also peaked at number three on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart.

In the years following its release, "Angel" has charted in a large number of countries. On 21 January 2002,{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2002/Music-Week-2002-01-19.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting January 21, 2002|magazine=Music Week|page=29|date=19 January 2002|access-date=21 August 2021}} British producers Rollo Armstrong and Mark Bates (as their joint venture Dusted) released a remix that peaked at number seven in Ireland and number 36 in the United Kingdom. In 2008, "Angel" charted in Norway and peaked at number nine for two weeks. The following year, it made a brief appearance on the New Zealand Singles Chart, debuting and peaking at number 36 in July. The song has charted in Austria and Switzerland on several occasions, peaking at number 17 in both counties, and it also reached number 57 in Germany in October 2012. The following month, it debuted and peaked at number 77 in France. During its original release, "Angel" peaked at number 99 on the Dutch Single Top 100, but it reached a new peak of number 31 in February 2014.

Live performances

On 8 April 2000, McLachlan performed "Angel" with Carlos Santana on guitar at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. The show was televised on Fox TV and released on the DVD [https://www.discogs.com/de/Santana-Supernatural-Live/master/401306 Supernatural Live – An Evening with Carlos Santana and Friends]. On 2 July 2005, McLachlan performed this song at Live 8 Philadelphia with Josh Groban, and continued in 2016 with Groban. She also performed the song during the "Concert for Linda," dedicating it to the memory of Linda McCartney. On 10 September 2011, McLachlan performed the song to close the ceremonies at the dedication of the Flight 93 Memorial in Stonycreek Township, commemorating the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 who fought the hijackers and brought down their airplane in the September 11 attacks. On 23 November 2008, Sarah McLachlan performed "Angel" at the American Music Awards with artist Pink. On 21 May 2019, McLachlan sang "Angel" on the sixteenth season of the US competition series The Voice as a duet with the eventual winner of the show, Maelyn Jarmon. On 21 April 2020, McLachlan and her daughter, India Sood, performed a duet, posted to Facebook, as a response to the killing spree in Nova Scotia.

Reception

According to Vivian Rashotte of CBC Radio, "With its sombre melody and heart-wrenching lyrics, Angel quickly became the unofficial anthem of mourning following tragic events, such as the death of Princess Diana in 1997, the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and the September 11, 2001 attacks. Today, it's recognized as the de facto song of sorrow and healing for both public and private experiences of loss."{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/monday-june-18-2018-sarah-mclachlan-sloan-and-more-1.4707947/i-have-to-make-fun-of-it-sarah-mclachlan-on-the-intense-power-of-angel-the-unofficial-song-of-sorrow-1.4707955 | title='I have to make fun of it': Sarah McLachlan on the intense power of Angel, the unofficial song of sorrow | work=CBC | first=Vivian | last=Rashotte | date=18 June 2018 | access-date=13 October 2024}}

Darryl McDaniels of the rap group Run-DMC credited the song to saving his life when he was suicidal.{{cite web|title=DMC: Saved By An Angel – How Sarah McLachlan thwarted the legendary MC's suicidal tendencies.|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/691/691277p1.html|date=24 February 2006|publisher=IGN|author=D., Spence|access-date=7 August 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025104607/http://music.ign.com/articles/691/691277p1.html|archive-date=25 October 2008}}{{cite news|work= The Moth Radio Hour |title=Darryl McDaniels on The Moth}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

US CD and cassette single (1999){{cite AV media notes|title=Angel|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=1999|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Arista Records|id=07822-13621-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Angel|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=1999|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Arista Records|id=07822-13621-4}}

  1. "Angel" – 4:30
  2. "Ice Cream" (live) – 3:33
  3. "I Will Not Forget You" (live) – 5:37

European CD single 1 (1999){{cite AV media notes|title=Angel|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=1999|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Arista Records|id=74321 66155 2}}

  1. "Angel" (radio mix) – 3:59
  2. "Ice Cream" (live) – 3:25

European CD single 2 (1999){{cite AV media notes|title=Angel|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=1999|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Arista Records|id=74321 661092}}

  1. "Angel" (radio mix) – 3:59
  2. "Angel" (album version) – 4:30
  3. "Ice Cream" (live) – 3:25
  4. "I Will Not Forget You" (live) – 5:37

{{col-2}}

UK 12-inch vinyl (2002){{cite AV media notes|title=Angel|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=2002|type=UK 12-inch vinyl sleeve|publisher=Nettwerk|id=5 037703 31471 9}}

:A1. "Angel" (Dusted Remix) – 5:28

:A2. "Silence" (Michael Woods Mix edit) – 7:11

:B1. "Sweet Surrender" (DJ Tiësto Remix) – 7:04

UK CD single – Disc A (2002){{cite AV media notes|title=Angel|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=2002|type=UK CD A liner notes|publisher=Nettwerk|id=5 037703 314825}}

  1. "Angel" (radio edit) – 3:40
  2. "Silence" (Fade Sanctuary Mix edit) – 3:50
  3. "Sweet Surrender" (DJ Tiësto Remix) – 7:04

UK CD single – Disc AA (2002){{cite AV media notes|title=Angel|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=2002|type=UK CD AA liner notes|publisher=Nettwerk|id=5 037703 314924}}

  1. "Angel" (Dusted Remix edit) – 3:42
  2. "Sweet Surrender" (Boilerhouse Boys Mix) – 3:56
  3. "Silence" (Michael Woods Mix) – 8:08

{{col-end}}

Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the Surfacing liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Surfacing|title-link=Surfacing (album)|others=Sarah McLachlan|year=1997|type=Canadian CD album liner notes|publisher=Nettwerk|id=0 6700 30116 2 4}}

  • Sarah McLachlan – writing, vocals, piano
  • Pierre Marchand – drum machine
  • Jim Creeggan – upright bass

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1998–2015)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=183}}
{{small|Double A-side with "Adia"}}

|55

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://imgur.com/IqGIvWy|title=Imgur Post, Jan 10 2017|publisher=ARIA Charts|via=Imgur|access-date=13 July 2019}}

|153

{{single chart|Austria|17|artist=Sarah McLachlan|song=Angel|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="aus"}}
scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2068-No.%2018-February%2022,%201999.pdf|title=RPM 100 Hit Tracks – February 22, 1999|magazine=RPM|volume=68|issue=18|page=2|date=22 February 1999|access-date=25 July 2019}}

|7

{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|3|chartid=6986|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="canac"}}
{{single chart|France|77|artist=Sarah McLachlan|song=Angel|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="fra"}}
{{single chart|Germany|57|artist=Sarah McLachlan|song=Angel|songid=19401|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="ger"}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|7|artist=Sarah Mc Lachlan|rowheader=true|access-date=15 January 2020|refname="ire"}}
scope="row"|Ireland Dance (IRMA){{cite web|url=https://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240004&arch=t&lyr=2002&year=2002&week=13|title=Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 28 March 2002|publisher=GfK Chart-Track|access-date=3 June 2019}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

|1

scope="row"|Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0]=ts_chart_artistname%3Asarah%20mclachlan&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3A913&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=sarah%20mclachlan|title=Charts: Luxembourg Digital Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=21 December 2016}}

|9

{{single chart|Dutch100|31|artist=Sarah McLachlan|song=Angel|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="net"}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|36|artist=Sarah McLachlan|song=Angel|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="nz"}}
{{single chart|Norway|9|artist=Sarah McLachlan|song=Angel|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="nor"}}
{{single chart|Scotland|33|date=20020202|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|17|artist=Sarah McLachlan|song=Angel|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="swi"}}
{{single chart|UK|36|date=20020202|rowheader=true|access-date=23 November 2018|refname="uk"}}
{{single chart|UKdance|5|date=20020202|rowheader=true|access-date=3 June 2019}}
{{single chart|UKindie|7|date=20020202|rowheader=true|access-date=23 November 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|4|artist=Sarah McLachlan|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="hot100"}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|8|artist=Sarah McLachlan|rowheader=true|access-date=13 July 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Sarah McLachlan|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="usac"}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|1|artist=Sarah McLachlan|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016|refname="usadultpop"}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|4|artist=Sarah McLachlan|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2016}}
scope="row"|US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=7|page=108|date=13 February 1999}}

|1

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1998)

!Position

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=6|issue=52|page=55|date=25 December 1998}}

|92

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1999)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9952&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9952.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9952|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|date=13 December 1999|access-date=21 December 2016}}

|48

scope="row"|Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM){{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9964&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9964.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9964|title=RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|date=13 December 1999|access-date=9 April 2018}}

|11

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1999/BB-1999-12-25.pdf|title=1999: The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|pages=48–100|date=26 December 1998|access-date=21 December 2016}}

|18

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)

|1

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)

|6

scope="row"|US Hot Soundtrack Singles (Billboard)

|3

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=7|issue=52|page=54|date=24 December 1999}}

|18

scope="row"|US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)

|14

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2000)

!Position

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA44|title=The Year in Music 2000: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=53|page=YE-98|date=30 December 2000|access-date=15 December 2023}}

|23

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2002)

!Position

scope="row"|Ireland (IRMA){{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/2fm/charts/top100_2002.html|title=Top 100 Songs of 2002|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|year=2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040602113021/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/charts/top100_2002.html|archive-date=2 June 2004|access-date=16 March 2022}}

|46

{{col-end}}

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Sarah McLachlan|title=Angel|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=507-1412-1|access-date=30 July 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Sarah Mc Lachlan|title=Angel|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2006}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|28 September 1998

|Contemporary hit radio

|{{hlist|Warner Sunset|Reprise}}

|

scope="row"|Denmark

|20 September 1999

|CD

|Arista

|{{cite web|url=http://www.click2music.dk/denmark/default.asp|title=Sarah McLachlan: Single|website=click2music.dk|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030201011132/http://www.click2music.dk/denmark/default.asp|archive-date=1 February 2003|access-date=5 November 2023}} To view release date, select McLachlan Sarah from Vælg kunster (A - Å), then click on Angel''.

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|21 January 2002

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD}}

|Nettwerk

|

In popular culture

Since 2008, the song has become notable for being featured in television commercials with McLachlan for the ASPCA.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/us/26charity.html |title=Ad Featuring Singer Proves Bonanza for the ASPCA |last=Strom |first=Stephanie |website=The New York Times |date=25 December 2008 |access-date=13 March 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.redbookmag.com/life/pets/news/a41805/sarah-mclachlan-aspca-commercial/ |title=Sarah McLachlan Reveals the Truth About Those Sad ASPCA Ads |last=Lefave |first=Samantha |publisher=Redbook |date=4 January 2016 |access-date=13 March 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/sarah-mclachlan-aspca-commercial-singer-reveals-how-she-really-feels/ |title=Sarah McLachlan ASPCA Commercial: Singer Reveals How She Really Feels |website=People |date=28 December 2015 |access-date=21 June 2022}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Citation | last = Reighley | first = Kurt B. | title = Sarah McLachlan In The Garden | newspaper = CMJ New Music Monthly | publisher = College Media Inc. | pages = 21–25 | date = August 1997 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2iwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21 | access-date =12 May 2010}}

{{Citation | last = McDonnell | first = Evelyn | title = Lilith Fair | newspaper = Spin | publisher = Spin Media LLC | page = 64 | date = September 1997 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aJab-7V-6ykC&pg=PA64 | access-date =12 May 2010}}

}}

External links

  • {{YouTube|HaQa7MzAkB0|"Angel" (Dusted Remix) audio}}
  • [http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid416542555/bctid18086026 Brightcove music video]

{{Sarah McLachlan}}

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Category:1997 songs

Category:1998 singles

Category:1999 singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Jill Johnson songs

Category:Lace (band) songs

Category:Nettwerk Records singles

Category:Reprise Records singles

Category:Sanna Nielsen songs

Category:Sarah McLachlan songs

Category:Songs about heroin

Category:Commemoration songs

Category:Songs written by Sarah McLachlan

Category:Warner Music Group singles