How Could an Angel Break My Heart
Encyclopedia
"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" is the fourth and final single
from Toni Braxton
's second studio album, Secrets (1996). The song, co-written by Braxton and Babyface and produced by Babyface, features Kenny G
on the saxophone
. At the time of this single's release, Secrets had reached eight-time platinum status by the RIAA
.
The fact that the single did not manage to chart on both the Billboard Hot 100
and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
charts was a surprise for fans and observers. However, it was potentially influenced by the fact that two of the three singles released from Secrets prior to "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" were double A-sided and their flipsides had also turned into essentially huge airplay hits. This means that at the time this single was released, Braxton had already dominated the charts with five songs from the same album, therefore radio programmers put very little emphasis on the sixth.
, directed by Iain Softley
, followed the lyrical content of the relationship between Braxton and her lover. He has left her for a Caucasian
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 Kenny G
's saxophone parts.
This CD has an error in the tracks. Despite being listed in this way the two instrumentals have been put on in the reverse order. This can be heard clearly as Kenny G's saxophone parts are present on track four and absent in track three, whereas in the vocal versions of the song, this is quite the opposite.
UK CD 2
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
's second studio album, Secrets (1996). The song, co-written by Braxton and Babyface and produced by Babyface, features Kenny G
Kenny G
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
on the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. At the time of this single's release, Secrets had reached eight-time platinum status by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
The fact that the single did not manage to chart on both the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
charts was a surprise for fans and observers. However, it was potentially influenced by the fact that two of the three singles released from Secrets prior to "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" were double A-sided and their flipsides had also turned into essentially huge airplay hits. This means that at the time this single was released, Braxton had already dominated the charts with five songs from the same album, therefore radio programmers put very little emphasis on the sixth.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, directed by Iain Softley
Iain Softley
Iain Softley is an English film director. He was educated at St Benedict's School, Ealing, where he played the part of Thomas Becket in its 1975 production of T. S...
, followed the lyrical content of the relationship between Braxton and her lover. He has left her for a Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
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 Kenny G
Kenny G
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
'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
This CD has an error in the tracks. Despite being listed in this way the two instrumentals have been put on in the reverse order. This can be heard clearly as Kenny G's saxophone parts are present on track four and absent in track three, whereas in the vocal versions of the song, this is quite the opposite.
UK CD 2
- "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" – 4:20
- "Breathe AgainBreathe Again"Breathe Again" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton from her self-titled debut album, Toni Braxton . Written by Babyface and produced by L. A. Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons, the ballad was released as the album's second single, garnering heavy airplay during late 1993 and early 1994,...
" – 4:29 - "Another Sad Love SongAnother Sad Love Song"Another Sad Love Song" is the first official single from Toni Braxton's self-titled debut album, Toni Braxton . After the success of "Love Shoulda Brought You Home", Braxton followed up with this R&B mid-tempo single. The song proved to be a success, giving Braxton her first U.S...
" – 5:01 - "Love Shoulda Brought You HomeLove Shoulda Brought You Home"Love Shoulda Brought You Home" is the first solo single by American R&B singer Toni Braxton. The song was written by Babyface, Daryl Simmons, and Bo Watson, and was featured on the soundtrack to the 1992 romantic comedy film Boomerang. It served as the follow-up to Braxton's duet with Babyface...
" – 4:56
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
87 |
| Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
50 |
| European Hot 100 Singles Eurochart Hot 100 Singles The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,... |
83 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
16 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
22 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
12 |
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
36 |