Cowboys and Angels (George Michael song)

1991 single by George Michael

"Cowboys and Angels"

Single by George Michael
from the album  Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
B-side| "Something to Save"
Written| March 1989[1]
Released| 18 March 1991 (1991-3-18)[2]
Genre| Jazz
Length| 7:14
Label| Epic
Songwriter(s)| George Michael
Producer(s)| George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
| "Heal the Pain"
(1991)  | "Cowboys and Angels"
(1991)  | "Soul Free"
(1991)

|
|

Licensed audio
"Cowboys and Angels" on YouTube

"Cowboys and Angels" is a song written and performed by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on Epic Records in March 1991 as the fifth single from his second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990). The song became the first single released by Michael to miss the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 45. The album was released in the UK on 3 September and in the US on 11 September; each single had finished lower than its predecessor and "Cowboys and Angels" continued the pattern, although the other four had all reached the threshold of the top 40. It was also Michael's longest single to date, at 7 minutes 14 seconds. The saxophone solo is performed by Andy Hamilton.[3] The song is notable for being written in waltz time.

In a 2004 interview with Adam Mattera for UK magazine Attitude, Michael revealed the song was about a short-lived love triangle where he was in love with a man while a female friend was in love with him, but none knew of the others' feelings: "She was in love with me because she couldn't get me, and I was in love with him because I couldn't get him... It's a very personal lyric, but it's about the ridiculousness of wanting what you can't have."[4]

## Critical reception

[edit]

James Brown from NME wrote, "This song is George Michael's finest 45 for years. A soothing, moving croon in the company of some gentle jazz bass and percussion and a strong arrangement that shadows GM throughout. Reminiscent of a film noir soundtrack as opposed to all that late '80s matt black lifestyle schmaltz he'd decided to become king of. By far the most sophisticated song of the week without even trying, and it never becomes boor-ish."[5]

## Track listing

[edit]

The single included the track "Something to Save" as a B-side. Some releases of the single also included a 4 minute 34-second radio edit of the song, which omitted the 42-second piano intro and an entire verse from the album version.

* CD single

1. "Cowboys and Angels" – 7:14
2. "Cowboys and Angels" (radio edit) – 4:34
3. "Something to Save" – 3:18

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1991)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[6] | 164
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 26
France (SNEP)[8] | 36
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] | 20
UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 45

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (liner notes). George Michael. Epic Records. 3 September 1990. p. 8\. 467295 2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
2. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 16 March 1991. p. 19.
3. ^ "Exclusive Interview *Edward Barker*". george-michael-news. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
4. ^ "George Michael's candid 2004 interview with Attitude". Attitude. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
5. ^ Brown, James (23 March 1991). "Singles". NME. p. 16. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
6. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received May 29, 2015". imgur.com. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
7. ^ "George Michael – Cowboys and Angels" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
8. ^ "George Michael – Cowboys and Angels" (in French). Les classement single.
9. ^ The Irish Charts Archived 2009-06-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – George Michael" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
11. ^ "George Michael – Cowboys and Angels" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
12. ^ Top 75 Releases. Retrieved 22 May 2011.

* v
* t
* e

George Michael singles

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

1980s|

* "Careless Whisper"
* "A Different Corner"
* "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
* "I Want Your Sex"
* "Faith"
* "Hard Day"
* "Father Figure"
* "One More Try"
* "Monkey"
* "Kissing a Fool"

1990s|

* "Praying for Time"
* "Waiting for That Day" ("Mother's Pride")
* "Freedom! '90"
* "Heal the Pain"
* "Cowboys and Angels"
* "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
* "Too Funky"
* "Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
* "Jesus to a Child"
* "Fastlove"
* "Spinning the Wheel"
* "Older" / "I Can't Make You Love Me"
* "Star People '97"
* "Waltz Away Dreaming"
* "You Have Been Loved" / "The Strangest Thing '97"
* "Outside"
* "As"

2000s|

* "If I Told You That"
* "Freeek!"
* "Shoot the Dog"
* "Amazing"
* "Flawless (Go to the City)"
* "Round Here"
* "John and Elvis Are Dead"
* "An Easier Affair"
* "This Is Not Real Love"
* "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)"

2010s|

* "True Faith"
* "White Light"
* "Let Her Down Easy"
* "Going to a Town"
* "Feeling Good"
* "Fantasy"
* "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)"

Other|

* "Turn to Gold"
* "Nikita"
* "Wrap Her Up"
* "Jive Talkin'"
* "Heaven Help Me"
* "You and I"

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