Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Flashback To Martina McBride’s First No. 1 Hit “Wild Angels” That Sealed Her Star Status

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.
In 1996, Martina McBride hit a new career milestone. It was on that year that the country singer scored her first No. 1 hit with “Wild Angels.”  The song was released in 1995 as the second single and title track off McBride’s album of the same name. It also peaked at No. 5 on Canada Country Tracks charts.

Don’t You Think Wild Angels Are Watching Over Us?

Written by Gary Harrison, Matraca Berg, and Harry Stinson, “Wild Angels,” tells the tale of a woman who reflects on her relationship and realizes that there must be wild angels watching over her and her man – keeping their love alive. “Wild Angels, Wild Angels. Watching over you and me. Wild Angels, Wild Angels. Baby, what else could it be,” the song goes. Berg recalled to The Boot the story of how the three of them crafted the hit song. “I started it with Harry. I don’t know what we were smoking that day, but it was a very lofty, kind of poetic lyric. I heard it [recently] and thought, ‘What was I thinking?'” he said. “We demoed it, and every time Pat [Higdon, my publisher] would play it for somebody, they would say, ‘What does this mean?’ – I knew that the lyric was off, but they loved the music, they loved the title.” So Berg and Stinson brought in Harrison to rewrite the song. “And after we got that figured out, Martina snatched it up,” Berg said.  McBride, on the other hand, found epiphany with “Wild Angels.” Interestingly, the singer gave birth to her daughter Delaney in 1994, and the little girl’s laugh can be heard in the song’s intro.

The Song Comes With A Daring Video

The success of “Wild Angels” may also have been possible, thanks to its daring video. Directed by Thom Oliphant, the short clip was shot on top of the Clock Tower Building in New York City. Down below were angels touching the lives of people. The shoot was actually a precarious one. “Up there, it’s pretty dangerous. There’s nothing to keep you from stepping off the side of the building,” Oliphant said. “For every shot of somebody, from Martina sitting on the side to the extras, there’s three guys with safety harnesses crouched behind the ledge, making sure that those people are attached to a bungee cord.” The concept – as well as its black-and-white visuals – were inspired by the film Wings of Desire in 1987, which was about an angel who fell in love with a human woman. Make sure to watch it below.

Trending

Latest Stories

Hannah Kay Honors Loretta Lynn in Powerful "Coal Miner's Daughter" Performance

Hannah Kay Honors Loretta Lynn in Powerful “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Performance

In a world where country music continually evolves, some voices remind us of its timeless roots. In 2019, then-18-year-old Texas singer Hannah Kay did just that with her moving rendition ...

Zach Top’s Journey from Farm Life in WA to Breakout Country Music Star

Zach Top’s Journey from Farm Life in WA to Breakout Country Music Star

Zach Top didn’t just stumble into country music fame; he built his way there from the ground up, starting on a modest farm in Sunnyside, Washington. Far removed from Nashville’s ...

Morgan Wallen’s “Love Somebody” Tackles Real Romance with a Fresh Sound

Morgan Wallen’s “Love Somebody” Tackles Real Romance with a Fresh Sound

Morgan Wallen’s new single, “Love Somebody,” has arrived, and it’s not just another love song—it’s an honest look at the complicated, often bumpy road to finding real connection. After years ...

Morgan Wallen Sets New Records Outshining Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen Sets New Records Outshining Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift

Morgan Wallen’s career continues to reach impressive heights with his latest achievement. This historic milestone solidifies his place among country music’s most celebrated figures. His new single, “Love Somebody,” has ...

Jelly Roll Gets Emotional Sharing a First Look at His Expansive 500-Acre Dream Property

Jelly Roll Gets Emotional Sharing a First Look at His Expansive 500-Acre Dream Property

Country music star Jelly Roll recently shared an emotional video on social media, revealing his purchase of a sprawling 500-acre plot of land. The video, filled with raw emotion and ...

Morgan Wallen Donates $500,000 Worth of Musical Instruments to Students Across the Nation

Morgan Wallen Donates $500,000 Worth of Musical Instruments to Students Across the Nation

Country music superstar Morgan Wallen isn’t just wowing crowds on his One Night at a Time tour; he’s also rocking the world of music education. Through his Morgan Wallen Foundation, ...

Luke Combs and Eric Church's Concert Raises $24M for Hurricane Helene Victims

Luke Combs and Eric Church’s Concert Raises $24M for Hurricane Helene Victims

Country music superstars Luke Combs and Eric Church united for a powerful cause, headlining the “Concert for Carolina” to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene. The star-studded event, held at Bank ...

13 Surprising Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Brad Paisley

13 Surprising Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Brad Paisley

When you think of Brad Paisley, you probably picture the quick-witted country star with a guitar in hand and a string of chart-toppers behind him. But there’s much more to ...

Blake Shelton Honors Elvis Presley with "Suspicious Minds" Cover

Blake Shelton Honors Elvis Presley with “Suspicious Minds” Cover

Elvis Presley’s influence on music is undeniable, and his legacy inspires generations. His 1969 hit “Suspicious Minds” remains a signature track, capturing love, conflict, and heartbreak themes. Decades later, country ...

Alan Jackson Stops "Pop a Top" at CMAs in Honor of George Jones

Alan Jackson Stops “Pop a Top” at CMAs in Honor of George Jones

It’s always remarkable when country legends support each other, especially on music’s biggest stages. Alan Jackson’s unforgettable tribute to George Jones at the 1999 CMA Awards was one such moment, ...