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Lips of an Angel

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"Lips of an Angel"
Single by Hinder
from the album Extreme Behavior
ReleasedApril 3, 2006 (2006-04-03)[1]
Length4:21
LabelUniversal Republic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Brian Howes
Hinder singles chronology
"Get Stoned"
(2005) 		"Lips of an Angel"
(2006) 		"How Long"
(2006)

"Lips of an Angel" is a song by American rock band Hinder, produced and co-written by Brian Howes and Joseph Lombardo. It was released in April 2006 as the second single from their 2005 debut album, Extreme Behavior. It was their breakthrough hit, charting within the top ten on several US Billboard genre charts, reaching number three on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, and peaking at number one in Australia and New Zealand. It has sold 3.6 million copies in the US as of January 2015, making it one of the most downloaded rock songs.[2]

Jack Ingram released a cover of the song in 2006, which reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Content

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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.

Drummer Cody Hanson said the lyrics were based on an experience singer Austin John Winkler had:

He came over to the house and we were writing, and I had the slow guitar progression. He had just finished telling me the story about what happened and then we sat down to write. He just kind of belted out, 'Honey, why you calling me so late?' and we just kind of stopped and had this moment. We're like 'Oh, my God, that's what we have to write the song about.' And so we just sort of whipped it out real quick. We didn't work on it very long. It took maybe 20 or 30 minutes and the song was done.[3]

Chart performance

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The song experienced the most success in Australia. On the chart date of February 4, 2007, the song debuted atop Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, replacing Evermore's "Light Surrounding You" and 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 Mainstream Top 40 charts, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, in November 2006. It was also their only top-ten single on the Modern Rock Tracks (now Alternative Songs) chart, reaching number eight. Elsewhere, the song had limited chart success and remains Hinder's only hit in most countries in which it charted.

Music video

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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).

Formats and track listings

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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"

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[29]
Ringtone 		4× Platinum 160,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[30] Platinum 15,000*
United States (RIAA)[31] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[32]
Mastertone 		3× Platinum 3,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States April 3, 2006 Active rock radio Universal Republic [1]
June 19, 2006 Alternative radio [33]
July 24, 2006 Contemporary hit radio [34]
August 7, 2006 Hot adult contemporary radio [35]
Australia January 22, 2007 CD single [36]
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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.

On June 12, 2020, the Canadian Blink-182 podcast 'Blink-155' released a compilation, consisting of 65 covers of "Lips of an Angel", recorded by the members of the Blink-155 fan base (known as the 'Nation' or 'Naysh') as well as the hosts of the podcast, Sam Sutherland & Josiah Hughes.[37] The compilation is titled "It's Really Good to Hear Your Voice", in reference to one of the lyrics of the song. The compilation was mastered by Dan Birch and the artwork was done by Kyle Mabson. All proceeds from the compilation get donated to charities related to the Black Lives Matter movement. Hinder drummer Cody Hanson said of the compilation, "Whether people are making fun of it or not, I think it's awesome either way."[37]

Jack Ingram version

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"Lips of an Angel"
Single by Jack Ingram
from the album This Is It
ReleasedDecember 11, 2006 (2006-12-11)
Genre
Length3:45
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jeremy Stover
Jack Ingram singles chronology
"Love You"
(2006) 		"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

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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."[39]

Charts

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Chart (2006–2007) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[40] 77
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[41] 16
US Pop 100 (Billboard) 87

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Active & Mainstream Rock - Airplay Archive". FMQB. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Cruz, Carmen (February 5, 2015). "The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History". CFOX-FM. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  3. ^ Morelli, Trevor (April 18, 2012). "Cody Hanson of Hinder : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. ^ "Hinder – Lips of an Angel". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. ^ "Hinder – Lips of an Angel" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  6. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Guatemala Top 100". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). November 27, 2006. p. 46. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hinder – Lips of an Angel" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. ^ "Lips of an Angel" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Hinder – Lips of an Angel". Top 40 Singles.
  15. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200647 into search.
  16. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  17. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  18. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  19. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  20. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  21. ^ "Hinder Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  22. ^ "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  23. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  24. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2007". ARIA. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  25. ^ "End of Year Charts 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  26. ^ "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  27. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  28. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  29. ^ "Canadian ringtone certifications – Hinder – Lips of an Angel". Music Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  30. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. August 21, 2011. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  31. ^ "American single certifications – Hinder – Lips of an Angel". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  32. ^ "American ringtone certifications – Hinder – Lips of an Angel". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  33. ^ "Modern Rock - Airplay Archive". FMQB. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  34. ^ "CHR - Airplay Archive". FMQB. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  35. ^ "AC - Airplay Archive". FMQB. Archived from the original on February 7, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  36. ^ "New Releases Singles - Week Commencing 22nd January 2007" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 881. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 22, 2007. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Trove.
  37. ^ a b "It's Really Good to Hear Your Voice, by Blink-155". Blink-155. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  38. ^ "Lips Of An Angel by Jack Ingram". Yahoo!. 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  39. ^ This Is It (CD). Jack Ingram. Big Machine Records. 2007. BMR130602.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ^ "Jack Ingram Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  41. ^ "Jack Ingram Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
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