This song was born during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

September 11, 2001 not only marked a before and after in the United States, but in the entire world.

And in my case, it is another date that remains forever engraved in my memory, because ever since I was a child I have felt a deep love for that country, and the devastation caused by those terrorist attacks left a mark on my soul and my heart.

So much so, that on that very same day—September 11, 2001—I composed my first song in English. I titled it “Angel”, and I recorded it sometime in 2001 or 2002. However, it wasn’t until 2020 that I edited a video and shared it on both YouTube and Instagram, using the version whose arrangement and orchestration credits belong to my father, Gastón Vitanza.

This is how “Angel” was born

As for the story of how I composed “Angel”, I shared part of it years ago on Facebook. And on July 11 of this year, I had the opportunity to tell a bit more of it during an interview with my dear friend Berenice Cabrera on her program “Vida Integral”, part of the MET2/HET2 International network.

And today, I will share it with you here, thanks to the magic of the written word.

On a day like today, 23 years ago, I had to go to the TV station “Telecaribe Aragua” to pick up the documents marking the completion of my first university internship.

As I walked into the station, after exchanging greetings, my eyes were drawn to a screen in the lobby broadcasting live footage of what was happening at the Twin Towers. I asked what was going on, and when I got the answer, I felt an overwhelming inner shock—one that I can still relive now as I write this.

I don’t know how long I stood there watching those apocalyptic, unsettling images (the buildings had not yet collapsed).

After a while, I was given the documents I had gone for, and I began my journey back home.

At that time, my car was a Fiat Uno, and it didn’t have a sound system installed. As I drove, carrying all those emotions inside me, all I wanted to do was sing “Angels” by Robbie Williams. I tried—at least to hum it—but I couldn’t.

So instead, I chose to improvise—in English—melodies and phrases using the word “angel.”

I arrived at my building’s parking lot, walked up the three flights of stairs to my apartment, turned on my computer, and using the Windows sound recorder, I began recording, piece by piece, what was in my head.

Once I finished, I sat down to shape all those audio files into words on paper.

And before long, “Angel” was born.