"Angel" is a song recorded by American group

Fifth Harmony Fifth Harmony, often shortened to 5H, was an American girl group based in Miami, composed of Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and previously Camila Cabello until her departure from the group in December 2016. The group signe ...

for their self-titled third studio album (2017). The song was written and produced by

Skrillex Sonny John Moore (born January 15, 1988), known professionally as Skrillex, is an American DJ and music producer. Growing up in Northeast Los Angeles and Northern California, he joined the post-hardcore band From First to Last as the lead sing ...

and

Poo Bear Jason Paul Douglas Boyd, better known by his stage name Poo Bear, is an American songwriter, singer, and music producer. He is best known for being one of Justin Bieber's main collaborators, having co-written many of Bieber's hits (including " ...

. It was released as the first promotional single from the record on August 10, 2017.

Composition

"Angel" was described by Mike Wass from ''

Idolator An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry. Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books *''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music * Idolator (website), an American music blog * ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...

'' writing that it finds the group veering "deep into hip hop territory." Its production is supported by heavy

bassline Bassline (also known as a bass line or bass part) is the term used in many styles of music, such as blues, jazz, funk, Dub music, dub and electronic music, electronic, traditional music, traditional, or classical music for the low-pitched Part ( ...

, drum machine sound, "squiggly

synths A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and f ...

" and distorted vocal samples. The song is about being in a relationship based on unrealistic expectations. As

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's writer Madeline Roth commented, the group are "warning that they have no problem shrugging off a fuckboy if it needs to be." The group delivers a half-rapped performance on the first and second verses of the song, while in the

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

, they raise a

rhetorical question A rhetorical question is one for which the questioner does not expect a direct answer: in many cases it may be intended to start a discourse, or as a means of displaying or emphasize the speaker's or author's opinion on a topic. A common example ...

: "When you look at me, what do you see? / Open your eyes, I’m more brilliant than you’ll ever be / Who said I was an angel?” The group continue to ask the same question throughout the record, as Rachael Ellenbogen from

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commented.

Critical reception

Sadie Bell from ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' considered "Angel" as a "different direction" for the group describing it as "a bit harder than their more recent releases." Madeline Roth of MTV News praised its production and felt that "Angel" is "less poppier" than Fifth Harmony's previous single “ Down", providing a "harder backdrop for their brassiness."

Music video

The song's official music video was released on August 11, 2017 and directed by David Camarena. The clip opens in a dimly lit setting, featuring a man who's been dreaming, then it features the group in an entirely new light, in which they are revealed to be the subject of the man's dream, tormenting those of someone who has wronged them, complete with flashing images and dark VCR filters and neon lighting aesthetics.

Charts

References

{{authority control 2017 singles 2017 songs Fifth Harmony songs Epic Records singles Syco Music singles Songs written by Poo Bear Songs written by Skrillex Trap music songs