Angel of My Dreams

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"Angel of My Dreams"
Single by Jade
Released19 July 2024 (2024-07-19)
RecordedLos Angeles
Genre
Length3:17
LabelRCA
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Thirlwall
  • Jones
  • Bowman
Producer(s)Sabath
Music video
"Angel of My Dreams" on YouTube

"Angel of My Dreams" is the debut solo single by English singer and songwriter Jade. It was released on 19 July 2024, through RCA Records, and marks her first solo endeavour after Little Mix began their hiatus in May 2022.[1] Jade worked with previous collaborator Mike Sabath which samples the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest winning song "Puppet on a String" by English singer Sandie Shaw. Because of the sample which is played at the beginning and end of the track, Bill Martin and Phil Coulter received writing credits.

"Angel Of My Dreams" received widespread acclaim from critics with praise given towards the track lyrics, use of sample, and exploration of different genres. It was named by Billboard as one of the best singles released in 2024, and lyrically addresses her complex relationship with the music industry, with references made to Syco Music and Simon Cowell.[2][3][4] The music video pays homage to Thirlwall's home town of South Shields, and features home footage from her childhood including her audition from The X Factor UK. The music video was inspired by the films The Fifth Element, Black Swan and Showgirls.[5][6][7][8]

Background and release

[edit]

After Little Mix went on a previously announced hiatus following the conclusion of the Confetti Tour in May 2022, Thirlwall began working on her solo projects and music.[9]

On 2 July 2024, she revealed the artwork and the release date of "Angel of My Dreams" to all of her and her team's social media accounts.[10] The single and its accompanying music video were released on 19 July 2024.[11][12] On the same day, Jade's name and the name of the song were projected onto the Angel of the North sculpture to commemorate the release.[13]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

"Angel of My Dreams" was co-written during a studio session in Los Angeles, alongside Steph Jones, Pablo Bowman and producer Mike Sabath, whom she worked with before while in Little Mix.[14] Musically, it incorporates elements of pop,[15] electronica,[16] electroclash,[17] neo-soul and dance-pop,[18] and samples Sandie Shaw's song "Puppet on a String"—United Kingdom's winning entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967. Bill Martin and Phil Coulter who co-wrote "Puppet on a String" were also given writing credits.[19] [20]

Upon the song's release, Jade said: "I want people to be like 'oh my god, I didn't expect that' – but then want to listen again". She added: "I didn't want to do a safe first single, that was really important to me. I'm setting the tone of who I am as an artist on my own".[2] Some commentators speculated over references made to her past career, particularly the lyrics "Sold my soul to a psycho" with the term "psycho" alluding to Syco Entertainment, a record label that Little Mix was previously signed to from 2011 and 2018.[21]

Reception

[edit]

"Angel of My Dreams" was met with widespread acclaim from critics.[22] In an exclusive first-listen with Official Charts Company, George Griffiths described the song as "a bold and complex introduction to an artist who is determined to twist and test the boundaries of commercial pop music". They drew comparisons to Jennifer Rush, Rachel Stevens and Harry Styles, stating that the beginning of the track has "heavenly, swooning synths straight out of a 80s power-ballad" while incorporating different genres and electronic elements. They also called it surprising, shocking, and will turn aways from expectations.[16]

Nick Reilly from RollingStone UK described it as "A bold, unrepentant start to Jade's life as a solo star". They added how "it starts with the most distinctive distorted sample of Sandie Shaw’s ‘Puppet On A String’, before it makes way for a production-heavy, Mariah-esque chorus". Praise was also given towards its lyrical content and sample "noting that the lyrics are spicy, and while the sample seems random, the idea of being a puppet on a string perfectly fits the ethos of the song".[23]

Alistair James from Attitude complimented Thirlwall's vocals, describing "It as Jade demonstrating her angelic and rich vocals. The beat then kicks in and becomes a song we can easily imagine filling the dancefloors this summer".[1] Writing for Clash, Robin Murray gave "Angel of My Dreams" a eight out of ten star rating, describing the song as "a career of success and frustration packed into three minutes, a bold, bravura statement of frenetic creativity, while it's ludicrously colourful, a ridiculously entertaining side-step that utterly wipes the slate clean".[3] Gay Times' Sam Damshenas, praised both the song and music video, saying: "Jade has delivered the most addictive and innovative debut single and video in recent memory". Furthermore they described it as "A dance-pop anthem, that takes an experimental approach to pop with several distinct sections, from the theatrical balladry of the chorus to the thumping electro verses".[18]

The Tab's Harrison Brocklehurst named it "one of the best pop debuts in recent times". They also added "The way the chorus tempo can sometimes be giving Juice Newton 80s power balladry one minute, and then Y2K Clubland the second time around is just genius work. The whole thing bursts with originality and excitement for what pop music can be when boundaries get pushed".[24] In their review of the song, Billboard contributor Conor Cunningham named "Angel of My Dreams" as one of the best single releases in 2024, describing it as "original and attention grabbing". In the article, they added "'Angel of My Dreams' crackles with well-drawn sonic features, but with the tension between its dreamy bubblegum chorus and steely robo-thump verses representing the warmth of the spotlight and cold behind-the-scenes realities. Regardless of its chart prospects, Jade’s solo debut is too bold to go unnoticed and her next move deserves to be hotly anticipated".[15]

In their review of the song, Stardust described it as a "powerful solo debut that reflects her evolved sense of artistry and resilience". Praise was given towards the music video for its storytelling and visualisation, adding how it "cleverly incorporates symbolic gestures from her own experiences as she’s coerced by greedy corporate men abusing power with a contract signed in blood and a ring symbolizing the binding nature of the entertainment business. Through choreography and visual storytelling, Jade uses these life-changing moments to convey a powerful message about identity and self-discovery".[25]

Music video

[edit]

The video for "Angel of My Dreams" was directed by Aube Perrie and filmed in London. Among the filming locations were Deptford High Street and the Laban building.[26] It details the story of Jade's career in the music industry and opens with a shot of her walking alongside a busy high street, reminiscent of her hometown of South Shields. In the video, she is seen busking on the high street, before it transitions into different scenes where she plays various personas. It features home footage of Jade performing as a child and includes clips from when she auditioned for The X Factor UK.[27] Inspirations for the video were also drawn from the films Showgirls (1995), The Fifth Element (1997) and Black Swan (2010).[28]

The concept of the video is from rags to riches and features a cameo appearance from Fontaines D.C frontman Grian Chatten. The scene which he appears in was also featured in the band's own music video for "Starburster".[29] In a interview for British Vogue, Jade discussed some of the looks used in the video, which features designs from Skims, Giuseppe Zanotti, Versace, Miu Miu, and Jean Paul Gaultier.[30]

Track listings and formats

[edit]

Streaming/digital download

  1. "Angel of My Dreams" – 3:17

Streaming/digital download – For the Club

  1. "Angel of My Dreams" (For the Club) – 2:54

Streaming/digital download – Instrumental

  1. "Angel of My Dreams" (instrumental) – 3:07

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Angel of My Dreams"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[31] 4

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Damshenas, Sam (2 July 2024). "Pop emergency: Little Mix icon Jade finally announces debut single". GAY TIMES. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Jade Thirlwall announces debut solo single Angel of My Dreams". Official Charts. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b Tabberer, Jamie (3 July 2024). "Jade Thirlwall announces debut solo single 'Angel of My Dreams' and shares artwork". Attitude. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ Damshenas, Sam (2 July 2024). "Pop emergency: Little Mix icon Jade finally announces debut single". GAY TIMES. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ Duke, Simon (19 July 2024). "Jade Thirlwall gives Colmans a 'starring role' as solo career launches". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  6. ^ Damshenas, Sam (19 July 2024). "Angel of My Dreams: Jade's debut single and video hailed as a "masterpiece"". GAY TIMES. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  7. ^ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &; Murray, Robin (19 July 2024). "Jade's 'Angel Of My Dreams' Is A Grandiose WTF Moment | Reviews". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 19 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Gannon, Rory (19 July 2024). "Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall makes brutal dig at Simon Cowell in debut solo track". Daily Star. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Who is Jade Thirlwall?". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ Magliola, Anna. "Jade Thirlwall announces debut solo single and confirms release date". Hits Radio. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall teases Puppet On A String-sampling debut solo single". Official Charts. 25 June 2024. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  12. ^ Damshenas, Sam (2 July 2024). "Pop emergency: Little Mix icon Jade finally announces debut single". GAY TIMES. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  13. ^ Duke, Simon (19 July 2024). "Why was the Angel of the North lit up last night? Music icon 'takes over' statue as crowds gather". Evening Chronicle. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  14. ^ Knight, Katheryn. "Jade Thirlwall Officially Announces Debut Single 'Angel Of My Dreams'". Capital FM. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  15. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (22 July 2024). "Jade's Stunning 'Angel of My Dreams' and 5 More Cool New Pop Songs This Week". Billboard. United States: Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE First Listen: JADE shapeshifts into a pop titan on Angel of My Dreams". Official Charts. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Et si « Angel of My Dreams », premier single complètement zinzin de JADE, devenait le tube de l'été ?". 26 July 2024.
  18. ^ a b Damshenas, Sam (19 July 2024). "Angel of My Dreams: JADE's debut single and video hailed as a "masterpiece"". GAY TIMES. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall teases Puppet On A String-sampling debut solo single". Official Charts. 25 June 2024. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Jade Thirlwall: Phil Coulter 'thrilled' by debut solo single sample". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  21. ^ Duncan, Charlie (19 July 2024). "Jade's 'Angel of My Dreams' music video imagines a multiverse of pop mothers". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  22. ^ Damshenas, Sam (19 July 2024). "Angel of My Dreams: JADE's debut single and video hailed as a "masterpiece"". GAY TIMES. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  23. ^ Reilly, Nick (18 July 2024). "First listen: JADE's 'Angel Of My Dreams'". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Every Little Mix solo single ranked from worst to best now Jade's finally dropped her banger". The Tab. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Jade's "Angel of My Dreams" Serves as a Powerful Solo Debut". Stardust Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  26. ^ "7 Subtle Details You Might Have Missed In Jade's Incredible Angel Of My Dreams Music Video". HuffPost UK. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  27. ^ "'One of the best debuts of all time': Fans react to Jade Thirlwall's new music video". The Independent. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  28. ^ "Jade Thirlwall". BEAT. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  29. ^ Duran, Anagricel (19 July 2024). "Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall shares "shape-shifting" debut solo single, 'Angel Of My Dreams'". NME. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  30. ^ Rodgers, Daniel (19 July 2024). ""I Could Never Imagine Not Doing The Most": Allow Jade Thirlwall To Reintroduce Herself". British Vogue. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  31. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
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