"Angel Baby" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan. Released on 9 September 2021 via EMI, Universal and Capitol Records, "Angel Baby" was Sivan's first solo material since "Rager Teenager!" in August 2020.[1][2] The song reached number one in Malaysia and the Philippines and reached the top 5 in Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.[3]
Background
Sivan first announced the single on 27 August 2021 through social media posts, stating "surprise gushy juicy doting adoring power bottom gay ballad 'Angel Baby' out sept 10".[4] It followed "You", a track by Regard which was released in April 2021, featured Sivan and Tate McRae, and reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart, becoming Sivan's third number one on a Billboard chart after "Youth" and "My My My!" topped the chart.[5][6][7]
In the song's press release, Sivan explained that the song is "his crack at an adoring, doting, love struck, mega pop, gay, power ballad. I thought we needed a few more of those".[8]
Writing and composition
The song was written by Sivan, James Abrahart, Jason Evigan, Sarah Hudson and Michael Pollack.[9] In an interview with Zach Sang, Sivan stated that he was sent the chorus of the song by Hudson who wrote it and that he wrote the verses and bridges around the chorus without changing it because he felt it was perfect.[10] Lyrically, it features Sivan confessing to his lover that he has saved him, stating that he "almost died, but you're bringing me back to life". In the chorus he confesses that he wants to "stay in this moment forever" because he is "afraid living couldn't get any better", and that his lover has sacrificed a lot to be with him and has "gave up heaven so we could be together, declaring him his "angel baby".
Cover artwork
The official cover art for the single features a shirtless Sivan staring at the ground while wearing jeans and a white jockstrap. He is standing against a cloudy blue sky and has a small pair of neon angel wings on his back. Other promotional images released in the lead-up to the track's debut were similarly themed, including a black and white photograph of Sivan wearing tight silver leather trousers sitting on a fence with huge, feathery white wings and a black and white close-up of Sivan wearing a white top in the shower also being used to advertise the song.[11]
Music video
A visualiser featuring Sivan dancing around shirtless, wearing large angel wings and looking into the camera was released to accompany the song on 9 September 2021 and was directed by Lucas Chemotti. A music video for "Angel Baby" directed by Luke Gilford was released on 13 October, focusing on different couples in love.[12] In some countries, such as United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the video is blocked due to its LGBTQ+ inclusion; a geo-restricted "tunnel version" was released instead.[13]
Reception
Reviews of the track have praised the song's "yearning and romance" and described it as a "nostalgia-soaked love ballad",[14] with "cinematic 90s synth glory".[11][15]
