Angel (Aerosmith song)
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| "Angel" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Aerosmith | ||||
| from the album Permanent Vacation | ||||
| B-side | "Girl Keeps Coming Apart" | |||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Format | Vinyl, cassette, CD | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Rock, hard rock, glam metal | |||
| Length | 5:08 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Writer(s) | Steven Tyler and Desmond Child | |||
| Producer | Bruce Fairbairn | |||
| Aerosmith singles chronology | ||||
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"Angel" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and professional songwriting collaborator Desmond Child. It was released in 1988 as the second single from the band's massively successful 1987 album Permanent Vacation. It quickly climbed to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100,[1] the second highest chart performance for any Aerosmith single.[1]
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[edit] Song structure
A power ballad style, it incorporates many of the characteristics of rock ballads, including driving electrical guitar riffs by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, pianos and violin sounds (from a keyboard), an emotional delivery of lyrics by Steven Tyler, a strong rhythm by bassist Tom Hamilton, and well-placed steady drum beats by Joey Kramer.
[edit] Charts
| End of year chart (1988) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3] | 3 |
[edit] Music video
The music video for "Angel" focuses primarily on a character played by Steven Tyler who is hypnotized by an intangible angel, presumably his ex-lover. There are also scenes of him playing the piano.
The other band members can be seen playing their instruments on city streets, and there is a notable guitar solo by Joe Perry on a rural highway. The video was directed by Marty Callner.
[edit] Current status
Steven Tyler has publicly spoken against the song on numerous occasions. He was quoted saying on a radio interview in 1990 "The song was beautiful. It made me cry. But I heard it so damn much it drove me crazy! It became overplayed and at this point I'm so sick of it I never want to hear that song again". Since the Pump Tour in 1989-1990 the song has become somewhat of a rarity only being played once in the last 10 years. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Billboard singles". All Media Guide / Billboard. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3508/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
- ^ Stephenson, Ken (2002). What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis, p.92. ISBN 9780300092394.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1988". http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1988.php. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- ^ Angel ranks #55 in Aerosmith's most played songs
