"Angel" is a
power ballad
A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romance (love), romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn m ...
by American rock band
Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer
Steven Tyler and professional songwriting collaborator
Desmond Child.
It was released in 1988 as the third single from the band's 1987 album, ''
Permanent Vacation.'' It quickly climbed to No. 3 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100,
which at the time was their highest-charting single ever. The song currently ranks second behind their 1998 smash "
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", which was Aerosmith's first (and, as of 2022, only) single to top the Hot 100.
''
Cash Box'' called it a "searing rock ballad" on which "Steven Tyler recreates the emotional intensity of the classic '
Dream On.'"
Song structure
The song is in
E major.
[Stephenson, Ken (2002). ''What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis'', p.92. .]
Personnel
*
Steven Tyler – lead vocals, piano, organ
*
Joe Perry – lead guitar, backing vocals
*
Brad Whitford
Bradley Ernest Whitford (born February 23, 1952)Putterford, Mark (1991) ''The Fall and Rise of Aerosmith'', Omnibus Press, Strong, Martin C. (2001) ''The Great Metal Discography'' (2nd edn.), MOJO Books, , p. 11-13 is an American musician who i ...
– rhythm guitar
*
Tom Hamilton – bass guitar
*
Joey Kramer – drums
Additional musicians
*
Drew Arnott
Strange Advance is a Canadian new wave band formed in 1982 in Vancouver, British Columbia. They were nominated for a 1983 Juno Award as Most Promising Group of the Year and again in 1985 as Group of the Year. Their first two albums, 1982's ' ...
–
mellotron
*
Henry Christian – trumpet
*
Bruce Fairbairn – trumpet, cello, background vocals
* Scott Fairbairn – cello
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end chart
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Angel (Aerosmith Song)
1980s ballads
1987 songs
1988 singles
Aerosmith songs
Geffen Records singles
Glam metal ballads
Music videos directed by Marty Callner
Song recordings produced by Bruce Fairbairn
Songs written by Desmond Child
Songs written by Steven Tyler
Glam metal songs