Lips of an Angel

"Lips of an Angel"
Single by Hinder
from the album Extreme Behavior
Released July 24, 2006 (U.S.)[1]
Format Digital download, CD single
Recorded 2005
Genre Alternative rock, post-grunge
Length 4:21
Label Universal Republic
Writer(s) Austin Winkler, Cody Hanson, Brian Howes
Producer(s) Brian Howes
Certification 3× Platinum (RIAA)[2]
Platinum (ARIA, RIANZ)
Hinder singles chronology
"Get Stoned"
(2005)
"Lips of an Angel"
(2006)
"How Long"
(2006)

"Lips of an Angel" is a song by the American rock band Hinder written by Brian Howes, Austin Winkler and Cody Hanson. It was released as the second single from their album Extreme Behavior. It was their breakthrough hit, charting in the top ten on several Billboard trade charts in the United States, and reaching number one in several countries. It has sold 3.6 million copies in the US as of January 2015, making it one of the most downloaded rock songs.[3]

Jack Ingram released a cover of the song in 2006, which reached No. 16 on the Billboard country music charts.

Song information

The lyrics deal with the singer describing his feelings when his favored girlfriend from his past calls late at night, somewhat pleasantly interrupting his current relationship. More than once, a reference to the call being secret is made, and the singer expresses concern of a fight ensuing as a result. The song concludes just as it began, with the singer questioning to why she is calling so late. However, at the end, it is less literal and more figurative, with the underlying meaning of "so late" not at night, but too late in life, perhaps adding an element of sadness to the song, as it ends with the plot unresolved. According to a radio interview done in Atlanta, Georgia the lyrics are loosely based on an actual phone call incident that did happen.

The song experienced the most success in Oceania. On the chart date of February 4, 2007, the song debuted atop Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, replacing Evermore's "Light Surrounding You", keeping the peak position for seven weeks before being replaced by "Straight Lines" by Silverchair. On February 12, it reached the top spot on New Zealand's RIANZ Singles Chart and stayed there for one more week before being dethroned by "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" by Fall Out Boy. In the United States, the song reached number one on the Billboard Pop 100 and the Mainstream Top 40 charts in November 2006. Elsewhere, the song had limited chart success, and remains their only hit in most countries it charted in.

The song is featured in the music-related video games Lips (as downloadable content), Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore, Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party, and Band Hero.

Formats and track listings

Digital download
  1. "Lips of an Angel" – 4:21
CD single
  1. "Lips of an Angel" – 4:21
  2. "By the Way" (acoustic) – 3:34
  3. "Bliss (I Don't Wanna Know)" (acoustic) – 3:45
  4. "Oye there you go"

Chart performance

Chart (2006–2007) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 62
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 31
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 98
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 1
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[8] 48
US Billboard Hot 100 3
US Billboard Pop 100 1
US Billboard Mainstream Top 40 1
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 18
US Billboard Adult Top 40 3
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 8

Year-end charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 30
Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 46
Australian Singles Chart 5[9]

Preceded by
"SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake
US Billboard Pop 100
November 4, 2006 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"My Love" by Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
Preceded by
"Far Away" by Nickelback
US Billboard Mainstream Top 40
November 11, 2006 − November 25, 2006 (3 weeks)
Succeeded by
"My Love" by Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
Preceded by
"Light Surrounding You" by Evermore
Australia ARIA Singles Chart
February 4, 2007 − March 13, 2007 (7 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Straight Lines" by Silverchair
Preceded by
"Smack That" by Akon featuring Eminem
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart
February 12, 2007 − February 19, 2007 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" by Fall Out Boy

Jack Ingram version

"Lips of an Angel"
Single by Jack Ingram
from the album This Is It
Released December 11, 2006
Format Digital download
Genre Country, adult alternative[10]
Length 3:45
Label Big Machine
Producer(s) Jeremy Stover
Jack Ingram singles chronology
"Love You"
(2006[11])
"Lips of an Angel"
(2006)
"Measure of a Man"
(2007)

Country music artist Jack Ingram released a version of the song in December 2006. Ingram's version, the lead-off single to his 2007 album This Is It, reached a peak of number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in April 2007. Ingram's version does not include the last stanza where the singer once again asks why she is calling so late.

Background

Regarding his cover of this song, Ingram gave an explanation in the liner notes of This Is It:

"I heard this song on the radio. I think it's a killer song. I thought we could give it another feel and do it justice. A good song is a good song. I'll let other people choose sides between what genre is what genre and who should stay inside which box. I think there are two kinds of music: good and bad. I try to stay on the right side. Besides, who hasn't felt this way at some point in their life? Don't lie."[12]

Music video

Premiering in early 2007, the music video for "Lips of an Angel" was directed by Shaun Silva and largely follows the narrative of the song's lyrics, focusing on a late night phone call between the raconteur (Austin Winkler) and his former lover (Emmanuelle Chriqui).

Chart performance

Chart (2006–2007) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[13] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 77
US Billboard Pop 100 87

See also

References

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