For an Angel explained

For An Angel
Cover:For an Angel cover.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Paul van Dyk
Album:45 RPM
Genre:Trance
Length:7:46
Producer:Paul van Dyk
Next Title:Beautiful Place
Next Year:1997

"For An Angel" is a trance track by German DJ Paul van Dyk, which served as his debut track and would become his most famous work. The song was initially released in 1994 as a track on 45 RPM on the MFS record label, which was van Dyk's first studio album. It was later reworked and re-released in 1998 as "E-Werk Remix" on Deviant Records, a homage to the E-Werk nightclub where van Dyk used to be the resident DJ, the song held number one on the UK Dance Chart for several weeks. Since its release, the track has become one of the greatest and most influential trance tracks of all time. It was voted as the eighth greatest dance record of all time by Mixmag readers.[1] The song was featured on the Gigi D'Agostino compilation album, Il programmino di Gigi D'agostino.[2]

Music video

Three music videos exist for the track; one from 1994, filmed in the Riviera Maya in Mexico. In this video, Paul van Dyk, dressed in Malibu clothing, is seen sitting under a palm tree on the beach, in a river and other various locations, and later watching local children playing football on the beach. Also appearing are various short clips of the scenery surrounding him. This video is available on van Dyk's Global album. The next video, from 1998, featuring footage from the Love Parade in Berlin. The third, from 2009, was filmed at an exhibition in L.A. and Berlin.

Track listings

  1. "For An Angel" (PvD E-Werk Club Mix) – (7:43)
  2. "For An Angel" (Way Out West Mix) – (5:48)
  3. "For An Angel" (Terry Lee Brown Jnr Mix) – (6:28)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 104
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)74

Year-end charts

Chart (2009)Position
CIS (TopHit)[5] 56
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[6] 19

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009)! scope="col"
Position
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[8] 139

Cover versions

The song was sampled in British singer Rachel McFarlane's 1998 song "Lover", which in turn has been mashed up with "For an Angel" by DJs in their club sets and bootleg releases.

The song was also sampled / covered in the 2022 song "In Your Arms (For An Angel)" by Topic, Robin Schulz, Nico Santos & Paul van Dyk where Paul van Dyk was included and credited.

Notes and References

  1. http://mixmag.net/words/news/what-is-the-greatest-dance-track-of-all-time What is the Greatest Dance Track of All Time?
  2. Web site: Gigi D'Agostino - Il Programmino Di Gigi D'Agostino (CD) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 18 June 2003. 7 June 2012.
  3. Web site: Paul van Dyk ARIA Chart history (complete to 2024). ARIA. Imgur.com. 28 July 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  4. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Oct 1, 2009. TopHit. 27 April 2024.
  5. Web site: Популярные хиты 2009 . . ru . Popular hits 2009 . 14 November 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211107080616/https://tophit.ru/ru/best-music-2009 . 7 November 2021.
  6. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2009. TopHit. 27 April 2024. 27 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240427163412/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2009. live.
  7. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2010. TopHit. 30 April 2024. 28 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240428163200/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2010. live.
  8. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Decade Chart: 00s. TopHit. 1 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240421192151/https://tophit.com/ru/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/decade/2000. 21 April 2024.