Shaggy, Rayvon’s Angel hits platinum in UK
When international recording artiste Shaggy came up with the idea to record a cover of Angel just 24 years ago, he called on Barbadian singer Rayvon to add his creativity to the project.
Six years earlier, in 1994, Rayvon tasted success with No Guns, No Murder climbing to #94 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also charting on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
Rayvon said he was excited to accept the invitation to be a part of the Angel recording, but suffered a challenge when the time came.
“How I got involved with the song, Shaggy had called me about a new song collaboration and, when I heard it, I instantly loved the idea. The only challenge I had while recording the song, I had the flu, but even that couldn’t stop me from going to the studio even though I was coughing and, regardless, I got it done,” Rayvon told the Jamaica Observer on the weekend.
Angel was last Friday certified platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streaming numbers exceeding 600,000 units.
The song was recorded at the very first Big Yard studio, which was located in Long Island, New York. It was produced by Shaun “Sting” Pizzonia.
It prominently samples the bass line from the 1973 song The Joker by American rock group Steve Miller Band. The chorus interpolates the melody of the 1967 song
Angel of the Morning, written and composed by American songwriter Chip Taylor. It has since been recorded numerous times and has been a hit single for various artistes, including American singers Merrilee Rush and Juice Newton.
Angel, which is featured on Shaggy’s multi-platinum selling Hot Shot album, was the follow-up single to the global hit It Wasn’t Me. It was released to American radio stations in early 2001.
The track also proved to be successful, reaching #1 in 12 countries, including Australia, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Reacting to the platinum certification by the BPI, Rayvon told the Jamaica Observer, “It’s a great achievement when you can receive appreciation for your music throughout the world and different generations; it’s truly a blessing.”
He also shared that he had no idea that the song would have become the hit that it eventually became.
“After the song was recorded I had no idea that the song would reach the top of the charts worldwide. As an artiste I go into a studio session to do 100+ per cent, but where it goes after that with promotions is up to the fans, listeners and God.”
Rayvon continued: “The song definitely had an impact in my life wherein, to date, it’s the most successful song in my career and also hearing different stories from fans while touring the world of how much the song meant to them over the years, from people spending time in prison to people caring for loved ones in the hospital, to couples getting married. I guess everyone can use an angel in their life.”
Angel was previously certified 3x platinum in Australia; 2x platinum in Sweden; platinum in the US, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Austria, while earning gold certifications in France and Germany.
Prior to the success of Angel, Rayvon had first teamed up with Shaggy in 1992 for the song Big Up, which was a hit on ethnic charts in New York. His other collaborations with Shaggy include In the Summertime (a cover of the Mungo and Jerry hit, which peaked at #5 in the UK in 1995), 2 Way (featuring Shaggy, Rik Rok and Brian and Tony Gold), Nice and Lovely, Out of Control, When She Loves Me, and If You Like Pina Coladas (with DJ Cassidy).
Rayvon is originally from St Michael in Barbados, and he moved to the US at the age of 9. To date he has released three full-length studio albums, 1997’s Hear My Cry (Virgin Records), My Bad (Big Yard/MCA Records in 2002), and a self-titled album in 2010.
Today, Rayvon continues to record and tour the world.
“I’m still up to a lot, musically recording, songwriting, music production, and doing shows. I have a recording label called GTC Entertainment with distribution through Tuff Gong International. Some of my latest releases include Peace, Love and Understanding with Luciano and New York-based deejay Sugar Bear; It’s Time (featured on the Fiesta rhythm), Ponie, California Sun. I’m also about to embark on a 19-show orchestra concert series called ‘Night on The Proms’ in different cities in Europe with Shaggy and some legendary pop artistes, including The Eurythmics, which will run until December,” Rayvon disclosed.
