“Angel”

April 13, 2026 • 12:45 pm

It was 12 years ago when I posted the first video below of Sarah McLachlan singing what is perhaps her most famous song, “Angel.” I came across it again yesterday and decided to pair it with another version.  The first one, recorded in her home studio, shows her well-known ability to go between her “chest voice” (normal range) and “head voice” (high notes, like a falsetto or yodeling). It’s a lovely song, and was written by her and usually performed only with her own piano accompaniment (there are a lot of versions on the Internet). My earlier post describes what the song’s about.

When I looked up the song on Wikipedia, I found this:

On 8 April 2000, McLachlan performed “Angel” with Carlos Santana on guitar at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. The show was televised on Fox TV and released on the DVD Supernatural Live – An Evening with Carlos Santana and Friends.

And of course I hoped that song was on video, too, as I’m a Santana fan. Sure enough, it was, though Santana humbly embroiders the voice and piano with soft accompaniment and a short solo (starts at 2:24).  I would have preferred to see him cut loose with an electric solo, but of course it’s not appropriate for this song. Santna’s bit, though, was apparently improvised.

I can’t say that the version with Santana is better than the solo version, but how often do you get to hear two such different musicians play together?

11 thoughts on ““Angel”

  1. “.. how often do you get to hear two such different musicians play together?”

    Lang Lang with Metallica (live) is my submission in that category.

    I soooo wanted it to sound great.

  2. Here is a modified link to another singer who in my opinion has created a stunning cover of any song!!
    Big claim, huh?
    It’s Kasey Chambers’ version of Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’.

    _x_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S70xek3x4ro

    Cut off the leading x to get the working URL.

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