"Angels Working Overtime" is a song written by Michael Dulaney and Michael Lunn, and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artist

Deana Carter Deana Kay Carter (born January 4, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter who broke through in 1996 with the release of her debut album ''Did I Shave My Legs for This?'', which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States ...

. It was released in April 1999 as the third single from the album '' Everything's Gonna Be Alright''. "Angels Working Overtime" was Carter's eighth Top 40 hit, with a peak position at number 35 on the ''

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Hot Country Singles & Tracks Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...

. It was less successful on the Canadian ''

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'' Country Tracks, where it peaked at number 55.

Content

The song is a mid-tempo with a simple production featuring percussion and mixed acoustic and electric guitar instrumentation. It describes the journey of a girl from being abandoned by her parents at birth to her ending up happy where she belongs, thanks to "angels working overtime." The album version features a lengthy instrumental intro, bridge and outro for the song, along with a children's choir during the song's third chorus and backing noise of children playing. The radio edit shortens the intro and outro, and cuts the chorus performed by the children alone. Although, it retains some of the children's noise and their backing vocals on the final chorus.

Critical reception

'' spoke favorably of the song, which they expected as a "rebound" for Carter's early chart success. "It's a solid number, and Carter's performance exudes that sweet ethereal quality that is consistently appealing. The production is effective, except for some sound effects that are more annoyingly distracting than complementary. All in all, it's one of those records with a "triumph over adversity" theme that should find a wide audience."

Music video

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

was released for the song in April 1999, directed by Luke Scott.Deana Carter "Angels Working Overtime"
/ref> The video follows the lyrics in the song, beginning with a couple in a diner who leave their newborn baby behind with a locket and a note. The girl grows up in a prairie town, and feeling out of place, boards a Greyhound when she turns eighteen. She ends up in Santa Fe, and tags along with a boy to " LA", whom she has a moment of passion with in a motel room. Carter is shown throughout the various stages of the girl's life; she is seen examining the locket, sitting in the front seat of the parents' car, and leaning against the front of the bus. Carter represents the angels that have been watching over her.

Chart performance

"Angels Working Overtime" spent a total of 16 weeks on the ''

chart, and reached a peak position of number 35 for the week of June 12, 1999.

References

{{authority control 1999 singles 1998 songs Deana Carter songs Capitol Records Nashville singles Songs written by Michael Dulaney Song recordings produced by Chris Farren (country musician)