B-side "Where Would You Be" Format CD single Genre Country pop | Released November 18, 2002 Recorded 2001 Length 4:12 | |
"Concrete Angel" is a song written by Stephanie Bentley and Rob Crosby, and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in November 2002 as the fourth and last single from McBride's Greatest Hits album. The song reached number 5 on the country music charts.
Contents
Content
"Concrete Angel" is a power ballad, centering on a main theme of child abuse and in a different context such as bullying. The narrator tells a story about 7-year-old named Angela Carter. Near the end is when her mother beats Angela to death. Some people, such as Angela's teacher, notice signs of abuse but attempt to ignore them.
Music video
The video was directed and produced by Deaton Flanigen. Angela Carter (played by Noel Wiggins) is the 7-year-old daughter of an abusive mother. As she walks to school, a girl looks at her and laughs at her, which could imply she was also a victim of bullying. While she is at school, the teacher and her classmates ignore the bruises on her body, either because they think she just had a minor accident or they want to avoid having problems with her family. One day, a boy (played by Luke Benward) befriends her. One night, Angela talks to the boy, and her mother catches her and beats her to death. After the beating, police officers and an ambulance are shown at her house. Angela's grave marked as 1995-2002 is shown, surrounded by a group of people, including her teacher and her only friend. It is implied that the boy is an angel that comes to her, before she passes and shows her friendship. The boy passes through the adults, hugs the angel of Angela and both run to meet a group of abused children as they run off into the horizon. When the video was originally released, it featured the phone number for the American Child Abuse Hotline and encouraged viewers to report abuse. The music video received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
In popular culture
On December 30, 2014, a country music station in Cincinnati played "Concrete Angel" and dedicated it to the memory of Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teenager who had committed suicide the night before, and urged listeners to get help if they or someone they knew was being emotionally or physically abused or had suicidal thoughts.
Cover versions
Chart performance
"Concrete Angel" debuted at number 52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 30, 2002.