Angels by Robbie Williams
Album: Life Thru A Lens
Date: 1997
U.K. Chart: 4
Williams wrote this with his long time songwriting collaborator Guy Chambers in less than 25 minutes.
Williams had previously been a member of boy band Take That, but quit the group in 1995. His solo career had stalled until this song was released on Christmas 1997. The main songwriter and fronton of Take That was Gary Barlow. His solo career started well, (his song "Love Won't Wait" being co-written with Madonna), but it soon dried up, which is sort of the opposite of what happened to Williams. Barlow went on to become a professional songwriter and wrote songs for other artists.
Although this only reached #4 it is by far Williams biggest selling song, his only one to sell over a million copies. It spent 27 weeks on the UK chart and he went on to have 5 UK #1s, including a duet with Nicole Kidman. He has also dueted with Kylie Minogue, Neil Tennant (from The Pet Shop Boys) and Neil Hannon (from The Divine Comedy).
This is regarded as a classic in the UK and is a massive karaoke favourite. It's one of those songs that is constantly played on pub jukeboxes. A review of it said that it "taps into the sentimental old git in all of us."
There was a lot of press rivalry with Williams and the Gallagher brothers from Oasis, one of their more printable insults of Williams being "That fat dancer from Take That". Many Britpop fans felt that "Angels" was an attempt to cash in on the then huge Britpop craze by writing a mainstream song in a similar style.
After this song, Williams became a huge star in the UK despite criticism that he is a glorified cabaret singer. He has tried many times to break the US market, all attempts being unsuccessful. He eventually said that he gave up and "couldn't be arsed."
As "Angels" was unknown in the US, Jessica Simpson covered it in 2004. In the UK, most reviews have been less than impressed with her take on it.
In a UK based VH1 poll of best #1s, worst #1s and songs that should have got to to #1, this was voted the top song that should have topped the charts. (thanks, Adam - Dewsbury, England, for all above)
Come Undone by Robbie Williams
Album: Escapology
Date: 2003
Williams wrote this is about his days of doing cocaine and the effect it had on his mom: "They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street," "Because I'm scum and I'm your son." It says a lot about it being high one minute and low the next. (thanks, billy - benidorm, Spain)
Comments:
Williams said that this song is also about how much he changes his mind but thinks its right every time.
- Andy, Kent, England
Guy Chambers hated this song, which was written entirely by Robbie. He (Guy) said it was 'shocking', but Robbie said that Feel's lyrics which they wrote together could be seen as shocking as well. Guy was reluctant to work on Come Undone and Nan's Song (both on Escapology) which were both 100% written by Robbie. He and Robbie stopped working together soon afterwards.
- Mel, Stockton On Tees, England
