Angels Brought Me Here
Encyclopedia
"Angels Brought Me Here" is a pop
song written by Jörgen Elofsson
and John Reid
for 2003 Australian Idol
winner Guy Sebastian
, for his first album Just as I Am
(2003). Recorded versions were made for both grand finalists, Sebastian and Shannon Noll
, with only Sebastian's version officially released by BMG
. The single was released in Australia on 24 November 2003, and peaked at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart
becoming the fastest selling single on record for both an Australian artist and a debut artist. In January 2010 ARIA published information on the highest selling releases of the previous decade. "Angels Brought Me Here" was announced as the highest selling single of the decade, ahead of Anthony Callea
's cover version of "The Prayer". "Angels Brought Me Here" was also popular in New Zealand, topping the RIANZ Singles Chart, and reached #1 in four Asian countries.
, during the penultimate episode of Australian Idol 2003. Both contestants recorded and had their versions pressed by BMG
, ready for the winner's version to be released immediately after the competition. Guy Sebastian made an encore performance of the song after he was announced the winner of Australian Idol on 19 November 2003.
Guy Sebastian refers "Angels Brought Me Here" to his winning moment of Australian Idol and his journey throughout the competition.
Sebastian also stated that "Angels Brought Me Here" was "a great, inspirational song" that summarised how any Idol winner would have felt during their winning moment of the competition.
. The song's tempo
is adagio, performed at 65 beats per minute. Its structure is in verse-chorus form
, with a bridge
following after two verses. The verses are in the key
of C major
, while the chorus
changes key to D major
, with higher dynamics
. The last chorus following the bridge changes key again to E♭ major. At the end of the chorus, the lead singer sings the highest note of the song, holding for four bars
, while the backing vocals repeat the chorus. The last line of the chorus is performed slightly off-beat, with the last notes held longer before the song ends. The vocals of the song range from C4 (middle C) to B♭5.
had to ship more copies during the week to cover sales. The single debuted on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart
on 1 December 2003 at number one, selling 128,679 copies in its first week. "Angels Brought Me Here" set an Australian record for the highest first week single sales from both a debut artist and an Australian artist. The single also had the second highest first week single sales from any artist, behind Elton John
's tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind
". "Angels Brought Me Here" remained at the top spot for three consecutive weeks, before dropping to number three in its fourth week. The single spent a total of five weeks in the top ten and twelve weeks in the top fifty. "Angels Brought Me Here" was certified four times platinum
, selling in excess of 280,000 copies.
Despite being released at the end of 2003, the single's strong sales placed "Angels Brought Me Here" at number one on the End of Year Top 100 ARIA Singles Chart of 2003. Its high sales earned Sebastian an ARIA Music Award
for "Highest Selling Single" in 2004
. In January 2010 ARIA released information on the highest sellers of the previous decade. "Angels Brought Me Here" was announced as the highest selling song of the decade, with Anthony Callea's The Prayer in second place.
"Angels Brought Me Here" was also released in New Zealand, and debuted at number one on 1 December 2003 on the RIANZ
Singles Chart, retaining the position for three weeks. It spent eleven non-consecutive weeks in the top ten and twenty-two weeks in the top forty and achieved platinum accreditation.
in 2004, performing "Angels Brought Me Here" in the Top 3 verdict show. Sebastian was also a guest performer in the verdict show on Asian Idol
in 2007, performing the song with 2005 Indonesian Idol
winner Mike Mohede
. It was also performed by the fourth American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood
, in the last performance show on American Idol 2005. In the United Kingdom, the song was performed on British
drama series Rock Rivals
. The show told the story of a fictional talent show set in London
and the eventual "winner" Bethany Hopkins sang the song as her supposed winner's single on 23 April 2008.
ARIA End Of Year Chart 2003
ARIA End Of Decade Chart (2000/2009)
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song written by Jörgen Elofsson
Jörgen Elofsson
Jörgen Kjell Elofsson is a Swedish songwriter who has written or co-written hits for stars such as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Guy Sebastian, Ana Johnsson, Marie Serneholt, Shayne Ward and Super Junior. He has also written hit singles for groups such as Il Divo and Westlife...
and John Reid
John Reid (music)
John Reid is a Scottish manager and music industry figure, currently living and working in Australia.Between 1975 and 1978, Reid was the manager of British rock group Queen and Kevin Ayers...
for 2003 Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
winner Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastian
Guy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
, for his first album Just as I Am
Just as I Am (Guy Sebastian album)
Just as I Am is the debut album by the first Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian.Given the relative popularity of Australian Idol in late 2003, BMG Australia subsequently contracted Sebastian for a record before Christmas 2003. He wanted to record a mixture of pop and R&B material...
(2003). Recorded versions were made for both grand finalists, Sebastian and Shannon Noll
Shannon Noll
Shannon Noll first came to prominence as runner-up of the first series of Australian Idol which led to him being signed to Sony BMG. Since then he has released five Top 10 albums and ten Top 10 singles. His first two albums That's What I'm Talking About in 2004 and Lift in 2005 debuted at No...
, with only Sebastian's version officially released by BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
. The single was released in Australia on 24 November 2003, and peaked at number one on the ARIA 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...
becoming the fastest selling single on record for both an Australian artist and a debut artist. In January 2010 ARIA published information on the highest selling releases of the previous decade. "Angels Brought Me Here" was announced as the highest selling single of the decade, ahead of Anthony Callea
Anthony Callea
Anthony Cosmo Callea is an Australian singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the 2004 season of Australian Idol when he became runner up. He was signed to Sony Music Australia until 2009 and is now an independent artist...
's cover version of "The Prayer". "Angels Brought Me Here" was also popular in New Zealand, topping the RIANZ Singles Chart, and reached #1 in four Asian countries.
Background
"Angels Brought Me Here" was performed on 9 November 2003 by the final two contestants, Sebastian and Shannon NollShannon Noll
Shannon Noll first came to prominence as runner-up of the first series of Australian Idol which led to him being signed to Sony BMG. Since then he has released five Top 10 albums and ten Top 10 singles. His first two albums That's What I'm Talking About in 2004 and Lift in 2005 debuted at No...
, during the penultimate episode of Australian Idol 2003. Both contestants recorded and had their versions pressed by BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, ready for the winner's version to be released immediately after the competition. Guy Sebastian made an encore performance of the song after he was announced the winner of Australian Idol on 19 November 2003.
Guy Sebastian refers "Angels Brought Me Here" to his winning moment of Australian Idol and his journey throughout the competition.
"I reckon it really sums up just what I felt as far as the competition goes. It's a very overwhelming process to go through and you really do feel that there's something else that got you there. Especially with how I didn't feel confident before and then something just clicked and I could look people in the eyes and really try and deliver a song."
Sebastian also stated that "Angels Brought Me Here" was "a great, inspirational song" that summarised how any Idol winner would have felt during their winning moment of the competition.
Musical structure
"Angels Brought Me Here" is a pop ballad that was composed and written before the Idol finalists received the song. Both Sebastian and Noll's recorded versions were performed with the same musical structure. The song is composed in common timeCommon Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
. The song's tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
is adagio, performed at 65 beats per minute. Its structure is in verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form
Verse-chorus form is a musical form common in popular music and predominant in rock since the 1960s. In contrast to AABA form, which is focused on the verse , in verse-chorus form the chorus is highlighted...
, with a bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
following after two verses. The verses are in the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of C major
C major
C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
, while the chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
changes key to D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
, with higher dynamics
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
. The last chorus following the bridge changes key again to E♭ major. At the end of the chorus, the lead singer sings the highest note of the song, holding for four bars
Bar (music)
In musical notation, a bar is a segment of time defined by a given number of beats of a given duration. Typically, a piece consists of several bars of the same length, and in modern musical notation the number of beats in each bar is specified at the beginning of the score by the top number of a...
, while the backing vocals repeat the chorus. The last line of the chorus is performed slightly off-beat, with the last notes held longer before the song ends. The vocals of the song range from C4 (middle C) to B♭5.
Chart performance and sales
After its official single release on 24 November 2003, "Angels Brought Me Here" was sold out in two days, and BMGBMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
had to ship more copies during the week to cover sales. The single debuted on the Australian ARIA 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...
on 1 December 2003 at number one, selling 128,679 copies in its first week. "Angels Brought Me Here" set an Australian record for the highest first week single sales from both a debut artist and an Australian artist. The single also had the second highest first week single sales from any artist, behind Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind
Candle in the Wind
"Candle in the Wind" is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier....
". "Angels Brought Me Here" remained at the top spot for three consecutive weeks, before dropping to number three in its fourth week. The single spent a total of five weeks in the top ten and twelve weeks in the top fifty. "Angels Brought Me Here" was certified four times platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, selling in excess of 280,000 copies.
Despite being released at the end of 2003, the single's strong sales placed "Angels Brought Me Here" at number one on the End of Year Top 100 ARIA Singles Chart of 2003. Its high sales earned Sebastian an ARIA Music Award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for "Highest Selling Single" in 2004
ARIA Music Awards of 2004
The 18th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 17 October 2004 at the Sydney Superdome within the Sydney Olympic Complex...
. In January 2010 ARIA released information on the highest sellers of the previous decade. "Angels Brought Me Here" was announced as the highest selling song of the decade, with Anthony Callea's The Prayer in second place.
"Angels Brought Me Here" was also released in New Zealand, and debuted at number one on 1 December 2003 on the RIANZ
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...
Singles Chart, retaining the position for three weeks. It spent eleven non-consecutive weeks in the top ten and twenty-two weeks in the top forty and achieved platinum accreditation.
Notable performances
Guy Sebastian made a special guest appearance on American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
in 2004, performing "Angels Brought Me Here" in the Top 3 verdict show. Sebastian was also a guest performer in the verdict show on Asian Idol
Asian Idol
Asian Idol is a reality singing competition, which featured winners of Idol competitions from six Southeast and South Asian countries consisting of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam...
in 2007, performing the song with 2005 Indonesian Idol
Indonesian Idol
Indonesian Idol is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia Asia, which began airing on RCTI on March 2004. Part of the Idol franchise, it was as a spin-off from the UK show Pop Idol...
winner Mike Mohede
Mike Mohede
Michael Prabawa Mohede , better known as Mike, is an Indonesian singer and the winner of the second season of Indonesian Idol.He represented Indonesia in Asian Idol, losing to Hady Mirza of Singapore Idol....
. It was also performed by the fourth American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
, in the last performance show on American Idol 2005. In the United Kingdom, the song was performed on British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drama series Rock Rivals
Rock Rivals
Rock Rivals is a British television drama series following the lives of two celebrity judges on an X Factor style show as their marriage falls apart. It was produced by Shed Productions, the company behind Footballers' Wives, Bad Girls and Waterloo Road...
. The show told the story of a fictional talent show set in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the eventual "winner" Bethany Hopkins sang the song as her supposed winner's single on 23 April 2008.
Track listing
- "Angels Brought Me Here" – 3:59
- "When I Get You Alone" (live from Idol)
- "Angels Brought Me Here" (Midnite disco mix) – 7:32
- "Angels Brought Me Here" (DB's Idol edit) – 5:10
- "Angels Brought Me Here" (Starr mix) – 6:42
Charts
ARIA and RIANZ Charts| Year | Chart | Position | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
1 | 4x platinum |
| 2003 | New Zealand Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
1 | platinum |
ARIA End Of Year Chart 2003
| Overall rank on Chart |
Australian Artist rank |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
ARIA End Of Decade Chart (2000/2009)
| Overall rank on Decade Chart |
Australian Artist rank |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |