I'm Your Angel

"I'm Your Angel"
International cover art
Single by Celine Dion and R. Kelly
from the album These Are Special Times and R.
Released	1 December 1998
Format	CD single, 12" single, mini CD single, cassette single
Recorded	1998 Battery Studios, Studio Morin-Heights, Cove City Sound Studios, The Dream Factory, Right Track Studios
Genre	R&B, Gospel
Length	5:31
Label	Epic, Jive
Writer(s)	R. Kelly
Producer(s)	R. Kelly
Celine Dion singles chronology "Zora sourit" (1998) "I'm Your Angel" (1998) "S'il suffisait d'aimer" (1998) R. Kelly singles chronology "Home Alone" (1998) "I'm Your Angel" (1998) "When a Woman's Fed Up" (1998)

"I'm Your Angel" is a duet by Celine Dion and R. Kelly from Dion's These Are Special Times album and Kelly's R. album. It was released on 1 December 1998.^[1] The song was written and produced by R. Kelly. The single was very successful, reaching number 1 in the United States and was certified platinum by the RIAA.^[2][3] The single also reached the top 5 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.^[4][5]

Chart performance

The single was very successful in the United States and worldwide. It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks. This was the first number one on Billboard's new charting method of including airplay only tracks. The song remains both artists' latest U.S. number one single to date. It spent also twelve weeks at number 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. The song also reached number 1 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales for six weeks and number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay. The single also became a top 10 hit in various European countries, including the United Kingdom,^[4] Ireland,^[5] Switzerland,^[6] the Netherlands,^[7] and Sweden.^[8]

I'm Your Angel has sold over 1,550,000 copies in the United States alone and was certified platinum by the RIAA. In addition, the single was certified gold in Australia for 35,000 copies shipped and silver in the United Kingdom for 200,000 copies shipped.^[9][10]

The single was nominated at the 41st Grammy Awards for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals,^[11] but lost to I Still Have That Other Girl, by Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach.^[12]

The song was included later on Dion's greatest hits albums; All the Way… A Decade of Song and My Love: Essential Collection. It was also performed by her live during the Let's Talk About Love Tour (included on the Au cœur du stade DVD) and the Taking Chances Tour. "I'm Your Angel" appeared also on R. Kelly's compilation album, The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 in 2003.

Music video

"I'm Your Angel" music video directed by Bille Woodruff, premiered on 19 October 1998. There are two versions: with or without both artists in the recording studio. The video without recording sessions was included on Dion's All the Way... A Decade of Song and Video DVD. R. Kelly's daughter Joann Kelly is featured in the video.

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor from Billboard praised "I'm Your Angel," a duet with R. Kelly. He wrote that "this wonderfully restrained ballad delights with the most graceful vocal performances either of these artists has ever offered to radio." Taylor commented, "what raises the roof is the tune's elegant, epic instrumental base, which includes sweeping strings, a soulful choir, and gentle but determined percussive drive." He continued, that "I'm Your Angel" "sells big at the bridge, where the instrumentation drops and Kelly and Dion harmonize in a gorgeous minor key – it truly makes the song."^[13] LAUNCH Yahoo wrote: "The ballad to beat all ballads is his duet with Celine Dion, I’m Your Angel, which, were it not released the same week, could no doubt top the charts."^[14] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic highlighted this song in R. album and called it "soaring ballad".^[15]

A mixed review came from EW editor Chris Willman: "Dion's earnest take on Vietnam-era Lennon is howler No. 1. No. 2 is her duet with R. Kelly, I'm Your Angel, a slice of squishy-hearted pseudo gospel that might better be called Touched by a Marketing VP.^[16] David Browne of EW wrote: "By the time R. winds up — with I Believe I Can Fly and I'm Your Angel, a belt-by-numbers duet with Dion — Kelly has realized his crossover dream." ^[17] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone wrote: "Every guest star who enters Kelly's parlor emerges better for the experience — even Celine Dion, the human anti-NAFTA petition whose dancing on the VH1 Divas special cried out for stricter work-visa controls."^[18]

Formats and track listings

European CD single I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49 S'il suffisait d'aimer – 3:35 United States CD single I'm Your Angel (album version) - 5:31 Australian CD maxi single I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49 I Can't Sleep Baby (If I) – 5:31 Christmas Eve – 4:16 S'il suffisait d'aimer – 3:35 European CD maxi single I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49 S'il suffisait d'aimer – 3:35 I Can't Sleep Baby (If I) – 5:31

Japanese CD maxi single I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49 Christmas Eve – 4:16 I Can't Sleep Baby (If I) – 5:31 UK Cassette maxi single I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49 I Can't Sleep Baby (If I) – 5:31 Je crois toi – 5:05 UK CD maxi single #1 I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49 I Can't Sleep Baby (If I) – 5:31 To Love You More (Tony Moran I'll be waiting... vocal mix) – 10:08 UK CD maxi single #2 I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49 Je crois toi – 5:05 My Heart Will Go On – 4:40

Official versions

1. I'm Your Angel (radio version) – 4:49
2. I'm Your Angel (album version) – 5:31

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1998–99) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[19] 31 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[21] 26 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[22] 33 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 11 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[24] 1 Canada (Nielsen BDS Airplay Chart)[25] 14 Canada (Canadian Singles Chart)[25] Charted as an import-only single 37 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[26] 5 France (SNEP)[27] 97 Germany (Official German Charts)[28] 14 Ireland (IRMA)[29] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 9 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 11 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[34] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 10 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 7 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[37] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[39] 1 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[40] 28 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[41] 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[42] 17 US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[43] 21

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA)[44] 72 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[45] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[46] 126 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 70 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[48] 62 Chart (1999) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[49] 92 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[50] 25 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[51] 72 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[52] 106 US Billboard Hot 100[53] 16 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[54] 8 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[54] 66 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–99) Position US Billboard Hot 100[55] 50 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/Sales Australia (ARIA)[56] Gold 35,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Silver 263,000[48] United States (RIAA)[58] Platinum 1,550,000[59] ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

1998 in British music Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1999 List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1998 List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1999 List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of the 1990s

List of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles in 1998 List of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles in 1999 List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1998 (U.S.) List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1999 (U.S.) List of UK top 10 singles in 1998

References

1. I'm Your Angel, Celine Dion, R. Kelly
2. "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
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4. "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. 16 March 2000. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
5. Jaclyn Ward. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
6. Steffen Hung. "Céline Dion & R. Kelly - I'm Your Angel". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
7. Steffen Hung. "Céline Dion & R. Kelly - I'm Your Angel". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
8. Steffen Hung. "Céline Dion & R. Kelly - I'm Your Angel". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
9. "Australia's Official Music Charts". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
10. "The Official Charts Company – The home of UK Charts". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
11. "Grammy Nominations". EW.com. 5 January 1999. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
12. "GRAMMY.com". GRAMMY.com. 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
13. Celine Dion Takes Stock of Success
14. R. Kelly - R.
15. AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
16. Willman, Chris (4 December 1998). "Just Say Noel". Entertainment Weekly.
17. "Music Review: R.". Entertainment Weekly. 13 November 1998.
18. R. Kelly R. Album Review
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29. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm Your Angel". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
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35. "Céline Dion & R. Kelly - I'm Your Angel (Song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
36. "Céline Dion & R. Kelly - I'm Your Angel". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
37. "Celine Dion: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
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40. "R. Kelly – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for R. Kelly. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
41. "R. Kelly – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for R. Kelly. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
42. "R. Kelly – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for R. Kelly. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
43. "R. Kelly Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
44. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
45. "RMP's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. 14 December 1998. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
46. "Jaarlijsten 1998" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
47. "Årslista Singlar - År 1998" (in Swedish). GLF. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
48. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40-1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
49. "Top Singles - Volume 70, No. 8, December 13 1999". RPM. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
50. "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. 13 December 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
51. "Jaaroverzichten - single 1999". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
52. "Jaarlijsten 1999" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
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55. "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 25 December 1999. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
56. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
57. "British single certifications – Celine Dion – I'm Your Angel". British Phonographic Industry. Enter I'm Your Angel in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
58. "American single certifications – Celine Dion – I'm Your Angel". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
59. "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 111 (5): 75. 30 January 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 May 2015.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics