"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" is a song by American singer and songwriter

Toni Braxton Toni Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She has sold over 70 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female artists in history. Braxton has won seven ...

, released in October 1997 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album, '' Secrets'' (1996). The song, co-written by Braxton and Babyface and produced by Babyface, features

Kenny G Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. His 1986 album ''Duotones'' brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selli ...

on the

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to p ...

. At the time of this single's release, ''Secrets'' had reached five-time Platinum status by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

Critical reception

British magazine ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...

'' gave "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" three out of five, adding that "Braxton looks to a big

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

to return her to the Top 10 with this fourth radio-friendly cut". In a retrospective review, Pop Rescue described the song as "a-wash with luxurious strings and haunting saxophone, as Toni’s somewhat sad vocals weave their way through this gentle ballad." Richard Harrington from ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'' complimented it as a "fine cut".

Music video

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

was produced to promote the single, directed by

Iain Softley Iain Declan Softley (born 30 November 1956) is an English film director, producer, and screenwriter. His films include Backbeat (film), ''Backbeat,'' ''Hackers (film), Hackers, The Wings of the Dove (1997 film), The Wings of the Dove'', ''K-PAX ...

. It follows the lyrical content of the relationship between Braxton and her lover. He has left her for another woman and she is left to pick up the pieces. The remix version of the song has the storyline laid out a little differently, with Babyface singing back to her and duetting with her from the second verse. Babyface's vocals replace

's saxophone parts.

Track listings and formats

* UK CD 1 and European CD single #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Album Version) – 4:20 #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Remix Version featuring Babyface) – 4:21 #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Album Instrumental) – 4:21 #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Remix Instrumental) – 4:21 * UK CD 2 #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" – 4:20 #"

Breathe Again "Breathe Again" is a song by American contemporary R&B, R&B singer Toni Braxton. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and produced by Edmonds, L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons for Braxton's Toni Braxton (album), eponymous debut album (1993). ...

" – 4:29 #" Another Sad Love Song" – 5:01 #" Love Shoulda Brought You Home" – 4:56

Personnel and credits

Credits adapted from album liner notes.Toni Braxton – Secrets (CD liner notes) - LaFace Records 73008-26020-2 * Toni Braxton: lead vocals, background vocals, writer * Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds: writer, producer, keyboards, programming * Kenny G: saxophone *

Greg Phillinganes Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist, vocalist, and arranger. A session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums over a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with artists includin ...

: piano, rhodes *

Nathan East Nathan Harrell East (born December 8, 1955) is an American jazz, R&B, and rock bass guitarist and vocalist. With more than 2,000 recordings, East is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music. East holds a Bachelor of Arts ...

: bass * Jeremy Lubbock: arranger and conductor (strings) * Brad Gilderman: recording * Al Schmitt: recording (strings) * Mick Guzauski: mixing * Paul Boutin, Robbes Stieglietz, Kyle Bess, Brandon Harris: assistant engineers * Richard Huredia, Jin Choi, Jon Shrive, Bill Kinsley, Brad Haehnel: assistant engineers * Randy Walker: midi programming * Ivy Skoff: production coordinator

Charts

References

{{authority control 1990s ballads 1996 songs 1997 singles Toni Braxton songs Kenny G songs Songs written by Babyface (musician) Songs written by Toni Braxton Song recordings produced by Babyface (musician) LaFace Records singles