"Angel" is a song recorded by Cuban singer-songwriter Jon Secada for his eponymous debut studio album, Jon Secada (1992). Written by Secada and Miguel Morejon, SBK Records released it as the album's third single in January 1993 by EMI Latin and SBK. The Spanish version of "Angel" served as the second single of the album. The recording was inspired by a real-life experience that Secada encountered during a concert in Amsterdam. A downtempo romantic soul pop ballad, the track portrays a traditional storyline in which a man goes through the conclusion of a relationship, paying tribute to what he calls a lasting love.

The majority of music critics gave positive reviews on "Angel". Critics praised Secada's vocal range, strength, and emotive vocal delivery, while others compared his impact on top 40 radio. "Angel" received the nomination for Pop Song of the Year at the 1993 Lo Nuestro Awards. It received the award for being among the most-played recording of 1993 at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards, while Morejon and Gloria Estefan received the BMI Songwriter Award for composing the Spanish version of "Angel". The track peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the Spanish counterpart peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, providing Secada the second number-one single of his career. While the Spanish version ended 1992 as the eighth most successful Latin single, "Angel" ended 1993 as the 72nd best-performing track on the Hot 100 chart.

Jon Secada auditioned for his school's musical production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and discovered his passion for music. He attended the University of Miami, earning a master's degree in Jazz Vocal Performance. He composed songs for various artists, and in 1987, music producer Emilio Estefan received a demo tape of Secada and was impressed by his potential for success. In 1988, Secada released a Spanish-language album that didn't receive much attention. He then became a backup vocalist for Gloria Estefan in 1989 and wrote "Say" for her album Cuts Both Ways (1989). Secada also composed six tracks for her album Into the Light (1991), two of which, "Coming Out of the Dark" (1991) and "Can't Forget You" (1991), peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. He provided backing vocals for Gloria during her world tour for the album.

Secada had a desire to pursue a solo career. Emilio guided Secada in developing his songwriting trajectory, and advised him on refining his abilities. He encouraged Secada to create his own music and develop a distinctive sound. Emilio also emphasized the importance of improving his appearance to the best of his abilities. Emilio shared a demo tape of Secada with Nancy Brennan, the vice president of A&R at SBK Records, and Charles Koppelman, the chairman of EMI Records, both of whom were impressed. Brennan and Koppelman traveled from New York City to London to watch Secada perform at Wembley Stadium, where Gloria introduced him. After six hours of negotiations, Secada signed a recording contract with the label. Koppelman expressed a desire for Secada to thrive as a versatile artist beyond specific genres. Emilio saw the timing as opportune for Secada's solo career, as there were limited alternatives to rap and metal at the time. He described Secada as a pop and R&B artist and believed that Secada represented a unique genre that people were eager for. Emilio took on the role of Secada's manager, and producer.

Faced with concerns about a scarcity of original material, Secada sensed the urgency to swiftly demonstrate to record executives his artistic essence. He then contacted Miguel Morejon and the two of them secluded themselves in a period of intense emotional exhilaration and penned several songs. Secada felt that Morejon played a pivotal role in his artistic growth and development as a musician. Phil Ramone produce "Just Another Day" and "Angel", and Secada expressed his gratitude for having him produce both tracks. Tracks, such as "Angel" and "Mental Picture", are based on real-life experiences. While writing several songs, Secada became aware that the lyrics he was penning reflected a dearth of profound emotional connections in his life. During a concert in Amsterdam, Secada encountered a woman with whom he later engaged in an affair. Initially desiring a platonic relationship, the singer gradually developed an attraction to her, finding her European charm immensely alluring. Secada had to convince the label to record the Spanish version of "Angel", who initially did not know he knew Spanish. Gloria assisted Secada with the Spanish translation of the lyrics.

"Angel" is a downtempo romantic soul pop ballad. Lyrically, it depicts a conventional narrative where a man experiences the end of a relationship, giving homage to an enduring love. Secada provides an emotive vocal delivery on "Angel", and is accompanied by piano. Secada referred to "Angel" as being the most romantic song of his musical career, noting that people often associate him with the recording. Colin Larkin in The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, described "Angel" as being a romantic pop track. According to John Lannert of Billboard, "Angel" was described as an intense and passionate declaration of love. Secada described his musical style as a fusion of pop and R&B, infused with a touch of Latin flavor in the percussion. He emphasized that the fundamental element of his music is pop. Referred to as a "tender ballad", "Angel" has also been described as being a pop and R&B track.

Larry Flick of Billboard believed that Secada had the potential to replicate the broad chart success of "Just Another Day". Flick described it as an elegant piece where Secada demonstrates a commendable vocal range and strength comparable to Michael Bolton while avoiding unnecessary bravado. Flick found Gloria's Spanish translation of the lyrics to be a nice touch. Chuck Taylor, also from Billboard, expressed the view that Secada had a revolutionary impact on top 40 radio in the 1990s with "Just Another Day", "Angel", and "If You Go" (1994), likening it to a blowtorch on the airwaves. Critic Ramiro Burr found Secada to have passionately poured his emotions into "Angel", adding a touch of intensity to the song, calling it a perfectly suited song for slow dancing on prom night.

Jan DeKnock of Chicago Tribune named "Angel" as their pick song of the week, calling it an alluring track. While Michael Saunders of Boston Globe expressed the view that listeners could live without "Angel", considering it as a pseudo-soul track, Steve Morse, also from Boston Globe, provided a more positive review of "Angel". Morse felt that Secada possessed one of the "smoothest new pop voices" on tracks "Just Another Day", "Angel", and "Do You Believe in Us?", which allowed him to make a significant crossover between the top 40 and Latin charts. Billboard's Chuck Taylor opined that Secada exerted significant influence in both the Spanish and English markets with "Just Another Day", "If You Go", and "Angel". Mary Ann Bourbeau of Courier News, found Secada's vocal delivery in "Angel" to be smooth. Charles Runnells of The News Press, called it a romantic hit single that, along with "Just Another Day", enhanced Secada's music sales.