Ray Heffernan talks about Angels

[Stratboy999]

A lesson for us all. Don't get smashed with Robbie Williams. Don't offer to sell him songs in the pub or write with him. Stick to your guns and get a proper contract drawn up. 7500 for that song is a scandal and Williams knows it.  He should do the right thing. Chambers is a shameless scumbag.

[Mankind081]

"Don't bore us get to the chorus."

Guy used this on that recent BBC show.

[Bankie666]

@Mankind081 Yeah, I noticed that. It was Rufus Wainwright who came up with it, then Guy Chambers suggested keeping it. Just a coincidence, but a little spooky.

[spinelessbabies]

@elshafto111 LOL even don't bore us get to the chorus was stolen from none other than ROXETTE! Chambers never mentioned that either!

[eleanorps]

What goes around comes around. Ray Heffernan, You are the truth and need not even worry about the cash and the fame. You have the gift and can sleep at night conscience free.

[stretchmorgan]

Guy Chambers & Robbie Williams are a pair of deeply unpleasant cock suckers. I saw that show with Rufus Wainwright & notice how shifty Chambers becomes when the subject of 'Angels' comes up. He is a nasty little prick & I hope he gets his comeuppance soon. If any child of mine wanted to get ahead in the music business I wouldn't Chambers anywhere near them. What a shower. Tell people about this!

[gainsbourg66]

This is an absolute scandal - its only fair that this guy should recieve a lot more for creating the punchline of the song - both tune and poetry. The punchline is usually the essence, the success of most hit songs - and it came from Ray's heart over his child's death. It launched Robbbie Williams solo career, which was flagging badly up till then. It also launched Guy Chambers career.

There's a TV special about how to write songs with Guy Chambers, they played Angels a lot - no mention of Ray.

[qwerty2149]

He didn't write this. Robbie Williams did.

[61n9ner]

@qwerty2149 no he didnt he bought it from this guy and got the rights for the song?

[songwriter8678]

Ray is a genius. If you take a look at the Robbie Williams board and see what his 'fans' are saying. "This is Robbie's best song, bar none", "Best song ever", "Robbie Williams is a genius to come up with this song". These comments say it all. We know the truth Ray. Guy and Robbie could NEVER write a song as genius as this. You were robbed!

[Rainingagain1]

If I was Robbie Williams I don't think I would vbe able to sleep at night.

[kezzkezzkezz3]

wow if they never met might not have happend ey

[Gman4MF]

Like i always suspected:

there had to be some major talent behind the epic song...

Robbie Williams merely is a showman, yet talented singer (not a songwriter)

Good Job Ray, love the song...

(like he's ever gonna read this, lol)

[Kirstin091]

Heffernan said it himself - the fact that this song communicates to 15 million people is far more important than who wrote it. He doesn't resent Robbie for his success and he appears to be happy with his life as it is so why would he sue? If he isn't angry about it there is no need for any of you to be!

[2degucitas]

Go Ray. Own up, Robbie.

[cuteandseksybabe]

god.

[sloppyjakekisses]

He is super talented! Wow the world needs to know about this man!

[gwmaher]

Jesus he doesnt even get a credit poor guy

[GodfatherD24]

I am confused on how Robbie Williams is a fraud for making this song a huge success. Ray Hefferman admitted to co-writing it with Robbie. It is not like Hefferman would have made this a worldwide hit like Robbie did. He should be happy he was able to sell the song. And everyone has personal problems and insercurites, especially celebrities.

[socarulz]

I dont think Heffernan ever said he was a fraud or cared about the money. he just wanted a credit on the album, which would have helped his career.

[MayonaiseKing100]

@GodfatherD24 yea but this guy made 7grand from it...robbie has made multi millions from it, thats the only aspect that i find unfair

[socarulz]

i cant imagine how that guy feels when he has to sit and listen to that song on tv.

imagine when it comes on in the pub and hes like

"i wrote that song you know"

people would just think hes a crazy drunk.

poor guy.

[Knoxy145]

I don't get it, why didn't he sue?  As far as I'm aware the payment included a clause that he would be credited as songwriter on the album, which he wasn't, a passing, cryptic mention in the thank you notes of the single doesen't count.

He could and should legitimate sue for millions.

[GeneralLawlessness]

@Knoxy145 He could not sue as he signed a legal agreement handing over the rights (for £7.5k), meaning he would not earn further royalties. But he didn't fully understand this at the time. He said he was naive in the video. But Robbie still should have credited him as co composer and was very wrong not to.

[Rainingagain1]

@GeneralLawlessness I agree, a very scummy thing for him and his manager to do.

[TheRebelLeonRoy]

Robbie Williams is a fraud. Is it any coincidence that his career declined when he and Guy Chambers went their seperate ways? [Chambers wanted a bigger share of the royalties]

[pattywaffle]

his career declined? Are you sure?

[TheRebelLeonRoy]

Robbie Williams has only been in the news in the last few years for checking into rehab , going into depression and last month when he was arrested in the Bahamas. Unless he's set to release the biggest album of his career, yeah I'd say his career has declined.

[sattaravy]

ROBBIE IS A MOTHER FUCKER....

[9090120]

This guy used to work upstairs from me when i worked in Gateway 2000. i remember seeing him and everyone was saying he wrote Angels.

[irishguy200007]

My experience in life is the low life usually win out. It's a pity but thats the way life unfortunately is.

[Kirstin091]

@irishguy200007 What a ridiculous philosophy! You imply that you are either a low life or a loser.

[irishguy200007]

@Kirstin091 If I buy a painting by Van Gogh then I own that particular painting.I cannot claim however to have painted it.No amount of money for which I may be prepared to pay will give me that right.

[GeneralLawlessness]

@irishguy200007 Buying an item is different from buying the legal rights to an item. Robbie bought the rights to the song. He didn't buy the CD of it.

[irishguy200007]

@GeneralLawlessness It is not possible to change who wrote it even though you bought it.

[GeneralLawlessness]

@irishguy200007 Yes, that's right. Robbie was totally out of order for not crediting Hefferman, even though he had bought the rights.

[irishguy20007]

If this is indeed the case then Angels would never have come about unless Ray Heffernan gave his song up and that fact makes it irrevocably true that some mention on the credits should have been offered and forthcoming.

[irishguy20007]

The amount of ghost writing in the world is scary.If a celebrity is hot then there will be a book available for them to write their name on it.I remember one who was selling a cookery book being asked by Jay Leno how many hours a week she cooked and she said "I never cook" !!!!

[irishguy20007]

It has been alleged any black unknown artists wrote songs which eventually were sold for cash and ended up going through three or four hands before being cut on a demo.The writer got no recognition or very little monetary value for his or her work.

[irishguy20007]

Back in the 50's and 60's white people in the USA would not listen to rock and roll which was black music. They white audiences who had the money would not turn up for the most part and it took Elvis to sell this form of music to the public at large.

[irishguy20007]

Think about it. If an unknown writes a great tune it might make some money and probably will do so. However if he or she parts with the song to a record company who in turn delivers it on an album of a band thats hot then the song will make 20 times more at least.I'm sure it goes on

[Nsnockers]

So is this the guy who wrote Angels then? I'm a little confused!

[irishguy20007]

It appears so. I remember him coming on Irish TV over the issue that his name was left out of the song.

[Nsnockers]

There was an article in The Scotsman in 2003 that seems to support this - Rob did well out of this didn't he? I wonder how man of his other songs have the same sort of history?

[irishguy20007]

Well it has been alleged on certain media that there was some kind of settlement but I don't know what the truth is at all.Apparently it's all about Ray seeking his name on the credits for writing most of the song or something like that.

[Nsnockers]

According to the article there was something on the single jacket like "Even fallen angels laugh last, thanks to Ray Heffernan." But I don't think a credit has ever appeared on the album (I may be wrong). Having said that though, Heffernan does go on to say that he didn't think the song was particularly good (untile Guy Chambers polished it up). I agree in a way it is hugely overrated ... but Heffernan should have been given his credit.

[irishguy20007]

Well actually the demo on the Dictaphone allegedly recorded in his attic in Dublin was exactly the same as the final version bar a new verse which for me doesn't fir into the song anyway. If you listen to the first verse it makes sense but the second doesn't fit in.

[irishguy20007]

Thats the problem Ray has stated he expected a credit for writing most of the song. He sold the monetary value of the song but it is not possible to sell the away one's claim as the writer. If one buys a Van Gogh it's still a Van Gogh. History cannot be bought.

[irishguy20007]

It's anyones guess to who writes any of the music we see bands bring through. I mean why is it that a new band that is popular can bring through loads of hits and after a few no hots for 20 years or more. Maybe the record industry gets or helps them when they are hot.

[davidzof]

Well as Ray said on the Beeb, at least he's not been in and out of clinics for substance abuse. Robbie puts his depression down to believing that he is a fraud - maybe it is all karma? That said, Ray co-wrote the song with Robbie and GC reworked it so they should all be credited.

[Nsnockers]

davidzof - I'd not thought that about Robbie. Maybe one day he feels he'll be 'found out' and that can be linked to his 'insecurities'. Interesting.

[andrewed13]

thanks for giving the worlds greatest song!....I obbey u!

[oghma77]

i want more of your music on you tube...