How Could an Angel Break My Heart

{{Infobox song | name = How Could an Angel Break My Heart | cover = hcaabmy.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Toni Braxton]] with [[Kenny G]] | album = [[Secrets (Toni Braxton album)|Secrets]] | released = October 21, 1997<ref name="radio"/> | recorded = | studio = * [[Record Plant|The Record Plant]] (Hollywood, CA) * The Tracken Place (Beverly Hills, CA) * [[Ocean Way Recording]] (Hollywood, CA) * [[The Hit Factory]] (New York City, NY) | genre = | length = 4:20 | label = [[LaFace Records|LaFace]] | writer = [[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]], Toni Braxton | producer = Babyface | chronology = [[Toni Braxton]] | prev_title = [[I Don't Want To]] | prev_title2 = [[I Love Me Some Him]] | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = [[He Wasn't Man Enough]] | next_year = 2000 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|qsDJRTzN9FY|"Toni Braxton - How Could An Angel Break My Heart (Official HD Video)"}}}} }}

"'''How Could an Angel Break My Heart'''" is a song by American singer and songwriter [[Toni Braxton]], released in October 1997 as the fourth and final [[single (music)|single]] from her second studio album, ''[[Secrets (Toni Braxton album)|Secrets]]'' (1996).<ref name="radio">{{cite magazine |date=October 17, 1997 |title=CHR/Pop, CHR/Rhythmic: New Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1997/RR-1997-10-17.pdf |access-date=March 17, 2024 |magazine=[[Radio & Records]] |pages=39, 45}}</ref> The song, co-written by Braxton and [[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]] and produced by Babyface, features [[Kenny G]] on the [[saxophone]]. At the time of this single's release, ''Secrets'' had reached five-time Platinum status by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=toni+braxton+#search_section|title = Gold & Platinum| website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] }}</ref>

==Critical reception== British magazine ''[[Music Week]]'' gave "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" three out of five, adding that "Braxton looks to a big [[ballad]] to return her to the Top 10 with this fourth radio-friendly cut".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-10-18.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=October 18, 1997|page=13|accessdate=September 17, 2022}}</ref> In a retrospective review, Pop Rescue described the song as "a-wash with luxurious strings and haunting saxophone, as Toni’s somewhat sad vocals weave their way through this gentle ballad."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://poprescue.com/2015/11/27/pop-rescue-secrets-by-toni-braxton-cd-1997/|title=Review: "Secrets" by Toni Braxton (CD, 1997)|publisher=Pop Rescue|date=November 27, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2020}}</ref> Richard Harrington from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' complimented it as a "fine cut".<ref>Harrington, Richard (June 23, 1996). "After the Debuts, Precious Seconds". ''[[The Washington Post]]''. p. G07.</ref>

==Music video== A [[music video]] was produced to promote the single, directed by [[Iain Softley]]. It follows the lyrical content of the relationship between Braxton and her lover. He has left her for another woman and she is left to pick up the pieces.

The remix version of the song has the storyline laid out a little differently, with [[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]] singing back to her and duetting with her from the second verse. Babyface's vocals replace [[Kenny G]]'s saxophone parts.

==Track listings and formats== * '''UK CD 1 and European CD single''' #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Album Version) – 4:20 #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Remix Version featuring [[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]]) – 4:21 #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Album Instrumental) – 4:21 #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (Remix Instrumental) – 4:21

* '''UK CD 2''' #"How Could an Angel Break My Heart" – 4:20 #"[[Breathe Again]]" – 4:29 #"[[Another Sad Love Song]]" – 5:01 #"[[Love Shoulda Brought You Home]]" – 4:56

==Personnel and credits==

Credits adapted from album liner notes.<ref>Toni Braxton – Secrets (CD liner notes) - LaFace Records 73008-26020-2</ref>

{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * Toni Braxton: lead vocals, background vocals, writer * Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds: writer, producer, keyboards, programming * Kenny G: saxophone * [[Greg Phillinganes]]: piano, rhodes * [[Nathan East]]: bass * Jeremy Lubbock: arranger and conductor (strings) * Brad Gilderman: recording {{col-2}} * Al Schmitt: recording (strings) * [[Mick Guzauski]]: mixing * [[Paul Boutin (sound engineer)|Paul Boutin]], Robbes Stieglietz, Kyle Bess, Brandon Harris: assistant engineers * Richard Huredia, Jin Choi, Jon Shrive, Bill Kinsley, Brad Haehnel: assistant engineers * Randy Walker: midi programming * Ivy Skoff: production coordinator {{col-end}}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable" !align="center"|Chart (1997) !align="center"|Peak<br>position |- {{single chart|Flanders|50|artist=TONI BRAXTON WITH KENNY G|song=How Could an Angel Break My Heart|access-date=July 4, 2018}} |- |align="left"|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-11-15.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|publisher=[[Music & Media]]|access-date=2018-06-22}}</ref> |align="center"|83 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|36|year=1998|week=2|accessdate=July 4, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|34|artist=TONI BRAXTON WITH KENNY G|song=How Could an Angel Break My Heart|access-date=July 4, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Ireland2|16|song= How Could an Angel Break My Hear|accessdate=July 4, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|37|date=19971102|accessdate=June 3, 2018}} |- {{single chart|UK|22|date=19971102|accessdate=July 4, 2018}} |- {{single chart|UKrandb|5|date=19971102|accessdate=July 4, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|12|artist=Toni Braxton|accessdate=July 4, 2018}} |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:1990s ballads]] [[Category:1996 songs]] [[Category:1997 singles]] [[Category:Toni Braxton songs]] [[Category:Kenny G songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Babyface (musician)]] [[Category:Songs written by Toni Braxton]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by Babyface (musician)]] [[Category:LaFace Records singles]]