| "Fallen Angel" | ||||
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| Single by Poison | ||||
| from the album Open Up and Say... Ahh! | ||||
| B-side | "Bad to Be Good" | |||
| Released | July 6, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Glam metal, hard rock | |||
| Label | Enigma; Capitol Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Dall; Deville; Michaels; Rockett | |||
| Producer | Tom Werman | |||
| Poison singles chronology | ||||
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"Fallen Angel" is the second single from Open Up and Say...Ahh!, American hair metal band Poison's second album. The b-side of the seven inch was "Bad to Be Good".
Released as a single in 1988 on Capitol Records. it made #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #32 on the Mainstream rock charts,[1] making it the only single from the album not to reach the Top Ten. It also charted at number 21 on the Australian charts and number 59 on the UK Singles chart[2]
The song is about a young girl who grew up in a small town and goes to Los Angeles to try to make it as an actress. While there she abandons her old life...
This theme is a reference to the history of the band Poison itself: Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett all left their native Pennsylvania for Los Angeles in their quest of fame.
The song, along with "Talk Dirty to Me," "I Won't Forget You" and "Ride the Wind," was the subject of a lawsuit in 2011 by members of the defunct band Kid Rocker, who claimed that the songs were based on Kid Rocker songs played to Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille before he was a member of Poison.[3]
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Contents
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Music video
The music video to "Fallen Angel" mostly follows the lyrics to the song, and was in heavy rotation on MTV. In the video, an unnamed girl (played by model and then aspiring singer/actress Susie Hatton, who was dating Michaels at the time) tells her family that she is leaving for California at the end of the week. She arrives in Los Angeles with a suitcase in tow. The girl eventually catches the eye of a guy (played by veteran character actor Anthony James) who manages a modeling agency and who offers her a job. She becomes a success, but feels like she is selling out her morals for fame. The girl and the manager start dating, but when he starts getting friendly with other ladies at a party, she leaves. He tries to get her back, but the girl gives him a kick in the groin, and walks off. She is back on the streets, but is picked up by Bret Michaels on a motorcycle and rides off into an unknown future. As her story ends, another girl arrives in Hollywood hoping to find fame and fortune.
Albums
"Fallen Angel" is included on the following albums:
- Open Up and Say... Ahh!
- Swallow This Live (live version)
- Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986-1996
- Power to the People (live version)
- Show Me Your Hits - Bret Michaels tribute compilation with alternate versions of Poison songs. (slower version)
- The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock
- Open Up and Say...Ahh! - 20th Anniversary Edition
- Live, Raw & Uncut (live version)
Cover versions
Punk rockers MxPx released a cover of the song on their 2009 album On the Cover II. Their version featured guest appearances by Craig Owens of Chiodos and Stephen Egerton of Descendents.
Chart performance
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Charts | 21 |
| UK Singles Chart | 59 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 32 |
References
- ^ "Allmusic (Poison charts and awards) Billboard singles". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5162/charts-awards/billboard-singles.
- ^ "Poison chart stats". http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=4852.
- ^ "POISON Responds To Song Theft Allegations". Blabbermouth.net. 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/62lGA94r2. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
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