"Angels" is a song originally part written by uncredited Irish songwriter, Ray Heffernan and covered by Robbie Williams. Williams and Guy Chambers were subsequently credited as "joint co-writers" and the song was released as a single in December 1997. It became the singer's biggest selling single and has been voted the best song of the past 25 years at the BRIT Awards. "Angels" has since been covered by many artists including Jessica Simpson, Beverley Knight, in Spanish (as Ángel) by Mexican singers Yuridia and Marco Moré, in Italian (as Un Angelo) by Patrizio Buanne, All Angels, singer Declan Galbraith as well as Verena Von Strenge's latest group, Moon Dust, and American Idol series 7 runner-up David Archuleta. "Angels" was the fourth single from Williams' debut album, Life Thru a Lens. It has been credited with saving the singer's floundering solo career, and is used to conclude almost all of his concerts. The song was the 38th best selling of 1997 in the UK, and the 26th of 1998. It was the 34th best selling single of the decade. Despite only reaching a peak of No.4, it is Williams' biggest selling UK single and according to Official UK Charts Company figures passed the million sales mark in June 2009, with a combination of both physical and download sales. It was released in 1999 in the U.S., after his debut of "Millennium." The U.S. released video has Williams atop a roof, watching the city below. "Angels" re entered the ARIA Top 100 at 91, on 5 May 2008. Due to download sales, the song has re-entered the UK Charts on a number of occasions in recent years. The writing credits attributed to the song were Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. However, it later emerged that an unknown Irish songwriter, Ray Heffernan actually composed much of the song a year earlier. In an interview with RTE, Heffernan said that he met Williams in a Dublin pub and brought him back to his home where they embarked on a songwriting session. Heffernan played him the basis of what would become "Angels" and they recorded an early version of it. Heffernan acknowledges however that Guy Chambers later added the chorus. Heffernan was paid £ 7.500 for the use of the song, relinquishing any rights to royalties. He was uncredited as a songwriter but received a cryptic message on the CD, saying: "Even fallen angels laugh last, thanks to Ray Heffernan". Robbie Williams has said that he wrote the song with Guy Chambers in 25 minutes and the song is about his aunt and uncle. Williams and Chambers were sitting outside a cafe watching a water fountain, this is what inspired them for the chorus. Williams is irritated that many people assume it was written by his former co-writer Guy Chambers. In an interview he said; "It pees me off because everyone thinks Guy penned "Let Me Entertain You" and "Angels", but they're my songs." The song won Best British Single at the 1999 Brit Awards. At the 2005 BRIT Awards, "Angels" was voted by the British public the best song in the past 25 years of British music, though it had only reached number four on the singles chart. Williams performed the song live with Joss Stone then. In a survey by UK digital TV station Music Choice, it even came in at number one as the song people would most like played at their funeral. According to a poll conducted by the Performing Right Society, Angels was voted to be the most popular karaoke song and was included on Singstar Pop Edition. During the 2010/11 Ashes series, the England Cricket Team used it to celebrate their victory.

• published: 06 Jul 2014