Angels Robbie Williams "Angels" is a song by the English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was included on Williams's debut solo album, Life thru a Lens (1997), and released as a single on 1 December 1997 by Chrysalis. It was produced by Guy Chambers and Steve Power Angels is Robbie Williams' biggest UK hit The Irish singer-songwriter Ray Heffernan asserts that he wrote the first version of "Angels" in 1996 and finished it with Williams. Williams confirmed that he recorded a demo with Heffernan but said he rewrote it significantly with Chambers. To avoid a lawsuit, Williams bought the song rights from Heffernan before it was released. Vaughan Arnell directed its music video, which was shot in black and white
"Angels" was voted the best song of the previous 25 years at the 2005 Brit Awards, and in 2005, the British voted it the song they most wanted played at their funeral. The single also peaked at 53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Williams’ biggest hit in the U.S. It has been covered by artists including Jessica Simpson, David Archuleta, Beverley Knight, All Angels, Declan Galbraith and Josh Groban. It was recorded in Spanish (as "Ángel") by the Mexican singers Yuridia and Marco Moré, in Italian (as "Un Angelo") by Patrizio Buanne and in Brazilian Portuguese (as "Um Anjo") by KLB. Williams also recorded a Spanish version "Angels" was the 38th-best-selling single of 1997 in the UK and the 26th of 1998. It was the 34th-bestselling UK single of the decade Despite only reaching a peak of No. 4, it is Williams's bestselling UK single and according to Official UK Charts Company figures passed the million sales mark in June 2009, with a combination of both physical and download sales. It has sold 1.8 million copies in the UK as of April 2021. It was released in 1999 in the US, after Williams' debut there with "Millennium". It peaked at number 53, becoming his highest-charting single there
Live performances In 2009, Williams performed "Angels" at the final of the sixth series of The X Factor with Olly Murs. On 14 June 2018, Williams performed "Angels" with the Russian soprano Aida Garifullina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. On 23 June 2018, Williams performed the song as a special guest at the American singer's Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour concert at Wembley Stadium, London
charts
Chart Peak position
Austria Top 40) 12 Belgium 6 Belgium 32 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 18 Europe (Euro chart Hot 100) 7 France 7 Germany 9 Ireland 2 Italy 12 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 14 Scotland 2 Sweden 13 Switzerland 4 UK Singles 4 US Billboard Hot 100 53
Robbie Williams
"Angels"
Lyrics
I sit and wait ? Does an angel contemplate my fate And do they know the places where we go ? When we're grey and old 'Cause I've been told That salvation lets their wings unfold So when I'm lying in my bed Thoughts running through my head And I feel that love is dead I'm lovin' angels instead
And through it all She offers me protection A lot of love and affection Whether I'm right or wrong And down the waterfall Wherever it may take me I know that life won't break me When I come to call She won't forsake me I'm lovin' angels instead
When I'm feeling weak And my pain walks down a one-way street I look above And I know I'll always be blessed with love And as the feeling grows She breathes flesh to my bones And when love is dead I'm lovin' angels instead
And through it all She offers me protection A lot of love and affection Whether I'm right or wrong And down the waterfall Wherever it may take me I know that life won't break me When I come to call She won't forsake me I'm lovin' angels instead
And through it all She offers me protection A lot of love and affection Whether I'm right or wrong And down the waterfall Wherever it may take me I know that life won't break me When I come to call She won't forsake me I'm lovin' angels instead
Writer(s): Robert Peter Williams, Guy Antony Chambers
