How Do You Talk to an Angel

"How Do You Talk to an Angel" is a song written by Steve Tyrell, Barry Coffing, and Stephanie Tyrell. It was the theme for the American TV series The Heights. The single was released with Jamie Walters as the lead singer, and it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on November 14, 1992, but the series was canceled exactly one week after the song fell from its number one position.^[1] Vocalists on the single included Shawn David Thompson, Cheryl Pollak, and Charlotte Ross, as well as Zachary Throne from the Las Vegas rock band Sin City Sinners.

"How Do You Talk to an Angel"
Single by The Heights
from the album The Heights (Music from the Television Show)
B-side	"Walkin' Nerve"
Released	September 5, 1992
Recorded	January 20, 1992
Genre	Pop rock
Length	3:48
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Barry Coffing Steve Tyrell Stephanie Tyrell
Producer(s)	Steve Tyrell

In 1993, the song was nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics".^[2] The Emmy went to the song "Sorry I Asked" by Kander and Ebb from Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall. No follow-up singles under The Heights name were ever commercially released. Promo CDs were issued to radio for a follow-up "I'm Still On Your Side", but there was no commercial issue for this track as a single.

Walters, the lead singer on the single and the lead actor on the show, later had a number-16 Hot 100 hit with his single "Hold On" in 1994.^[3] It was his only subsequent chart appearance.

Personnel

• Jamie Walters: lead vocals
• Steve Tyrell: producer, arranger
• Bob Mann: arranger, acoustic/electric guitar (inc. solo)
• Michael Landau: electric guitars
• Mike Finnigan: piano
• John "JR" Robinson: drums
• Leland Sklar: bass
• Brandon Fields: saxophone
• Barry Coffing, Guy Moon: keyboards
• Alex Desert, Charlotte Ross, Cheryl Pollak, Jamie Walters, Ken Garito, Shawn Thompson, Zachary Throne: background vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "How Do You Talk to an Angel" Chart (1992–1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 12 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] 12 Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 47 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[9] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[10] 16 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 60 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[13] 8 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[14] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[15] 13

Year-end charts 1992 year-end chart performance for "How Do You Talk to an Angel" Chart (1992) Position Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[16] 93 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 59 1993 year-end chart performance for "How Do You Talk to an Angel" Chart (1993) Position Australia (ARIA)[18] 24 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 84 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[20] 86 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 80 Decade-end charts Decade-end chart performance for "How Do You Talk to an Angel Chart (1990–1999) Position Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[22] 77 All-time charts All-time chart performance for "How Do You Talk to an Angel" Chart (1992–2017) Position US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream[23] 51

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "How Do You Talk to an Angel"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18]	Gold	35,000^
United States (RIAA)[24]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book Of Number 1 Hits (5 ed.). Billboard Books. p. 812. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6.
2. "Nominees/Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
3. Hold On – Jamie Walters | Billboard.com
4. "The Heights – How Do You Talk to an Angel". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "The Heights – How Do You Talk to an Angel" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1876." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
7. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1873." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
8. "The Heights – How Do You Talk to an Angel" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
9. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (28. Jan.–4. Feb.)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 28, 1993. p. 29. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
10. "Tipparade-lijst van week 3, 1993". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
11. "The Heights – How Do You Talk to an Angel" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
12. "The Heights Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
13. "The Heights Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
14. "The Heights Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
15. "The Heights Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
16. "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
17. "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
18. "1993 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
19. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
20. "The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
21. "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
22. Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
23. "Greatest of All Time Pop Songs: Page 1". Billboard. August 1, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
24. "American single certifications – The Heights – How Do You Talk to an Angel". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 10, 2020.