Songfacts®:

• "Angel" is a piano-driven self-empowerment ballad about loving and accepting our flaws. It marks Halle Bailey's first solo venture beyond her sister duo Chloe x Halle and outside the songs she recorded for Disney's 2023 The Little Mermaid live-action remake.
• Somethin' that just don't sit right with you
  But Heaven knows, Heaven knows
  Your wings can weigh you down
  
  Halle's opening verse hits hard with the self-doubt she wrestled with as her star soared. The gnawing feeling that's just off, you know? But even in the midst of doubt, heaven's watching, and those wings of hers can lift her burden.
• Halle flips the script on the pre-chorus, kicking negativity to the curb. She's all-in on her calling, and no matter the stumbles, she'll land on cloud nine. Angels carve a path, and if we tumble, it's a soft landing.
  
  Halle's anthem is about her power as a Black woman, smashing goals on her terms. In the chorus, she feels that divine force coursing through, bold and bright.
  
  Black girl here, Black girl with the Black girl hair
  Took a little sunkiss just to look like this
  God-sent, you're an angel
  Angel
• When Halle snagged the role of Princess Ariel in The Little Mermaid, not everyone was cheering. As soon as the news dropped, she got hit with nasty racism for being "the black Ariel." Battling against the crowd's hate is no joke, especially when you're still figuring out how to stand tall.
  
  On the bridge, Halle talks about carving her path above all the noise. She's all about soaring high, coming out tougher on the other side of this mess.
  
  Some might hate and they wait on your fall
  They don't know there's a grace for it all
  My flaws don't make me
  Beautiful and real are you, they cannot compare, all you
  Perfectly a masterpiece in all of me, even my scars
• Halle teamed up with singer-songwriter Sebastian Kole (Alessia Cara's "Here" and "Scars to Your Beautiful") and producer TheRon "Neff-U" Feemster (Keyshia Cole's "You Complete Me," Doja Cat's "Streets") to cook up the rhythmic piano-driven jam. While it's all about embracing women of color, Halle wanted the vibe to hit a broader note too.
  
  "With everything I've gone through the past 3-4 years, suddenly finding myself in this bubble of all these eyes and new opinions, it was easy for me to feel doubt in myself and who I was," Halle said. "This song for me was my climb out of those feelings, a mantra and promise to myself that the work I'm doing here on earth matters and that I matter. I wanted to be able to embrace and be proud of myself and who I am naturally through and through."
  
  She added, "I hope other brown and black girls and everyone in general feel embraced, respected, and inspired hearing the words of this song."
• In the visuals, directed by Wendy Morgan (Bloc Party's "One More Chance," Alicia Keys' "Underdog"), Halle and her crew of dancers glide against swirls of clouds and chill on a heavenly staircase. The video ends with a touching scene of a young Halle sharing the stage with her sister, laying the foundation for her star power.