12 August 1996

Freedom

A year after his departure from Take That, Robbie released a cover of George Michael's Freedom as his debut solo single, charting a whole 26 places higher than the original at number two.

Old Before I Die

The first single from his debut album, Life Thru A Lens, Old Before I Die was released in April 1997, matching the success of his previous release when it reached number two in the UK charts.

14 July 1997

Lazy Days

Released alongside a "bonkers video, 'cause that's how my head was at the time", Lazy Days was the second single taken from Life Thru A Lens, an ode to optimism and another top 10 hit.

15 September 1997

South Of The Border

The first of Robbie's releases to fail to reach the top 10 since his earliest Take That Days, South Of The Border signalled the beginning of the end for many a doubter, which only made what came next all the more spectacular...

01 December 1997

Angels

By November ’97, many a music journalist had written Robbie off as being ‘famous for being famous'. But, guns a blazing, Robbie pulled the epic ‘Angels' out of the bag and, as a result, 1998 equalled success of titanic proportions.

16 March 1998

Let Me Entertain You

While it would have been tough for any single to follow the phenomenal success of Angels, Let Me Entertain You actually charted a position higher upon its release in March 1998 and remains a mainstay of Robbie's live show to this day.

07 September 1998

Millennium

Released as the lead single from his second album, I've Been Expecting You, Millennium became Robbie's first number one single, cementing the success of the Williams-Chambers songwriting partnership.

30 November 1998

No Regrets

Featuring two Neils on backing vocals - Tennant of Pet Shop Boys and Hannon of The Divine Comedy - No Regrets became another top five hit for Robbie following its release towards the end of 1998.

15 March 1999

Strong

Inspired by some of Robbie's most hardcore fans, who, he confessed, "scared the living daylights" out of him, Strong became Robbie's seventh top five single, peaking at number four in the UK.

08 November 1999

She's The One / It's Only Us

Becoming Robbie's second solo number one single, She's The One was released as a double A-side with It's Only Us, which he wrote and recorded for FIFA 2000 on the condition that his team, Port Vale, was included in the game.

31 July 2000

Rock DJ

The lead single from Sing When You're Winning, Rock DJ became Robbie's third solo number one, but is perhaps better known for its accompanying music video, which depicts a desperate Robbie at a roller disco, going to ever greater lenghts to get the attention of the DJ...

09 October 2000

Kids

Kids started out as a song wrirtten for Kylie Minogue after she approached Robbie and Guy Chambers while on the hunt for material for her own new album. Feeling the chemistry between them, Robbie decided to turn the track into a duet and release it on his own album too. The hunch paid off: it reached number two on the UK album chart and has remained a live favourite ever since.

11 December 2000

Supreme

Another top ten hit for Robbie, Supreme was released as the third single from Sing When You're Winning, accompanied by a video of him playing ficticious Formula One driver Bob Williams, in tribute to British driver Jackie Stewart.

09 April 2001

Let Love Be Your Energy

While not quite matching the gore of his previous release, the video for Let Love Be Your Energy was no less raunchy, with a second version depicting nudity and Robbie's animated character having sex. Released as the fourth single from Sing When You're Winning, it of course scored Robbie another top ten hit.

09 July 2001

Eternity/The Road To Mandalay

Written as a tribute to Robbie's close friendship with Gerri Halliwell, Eternity featured Brian May on guitar but was never actually included on a studio album. Nonetheless, as a double A-side released alongside The Road To Mandalay as the fifth single from Sing When You're Winning, it was a huge success, hitting number one and becoming one of the best-selling singles of 2001.

22 October 2001

Better Man

Whilte its limited release in Australia, New Zealand and Latin America meant Better Man didn't experience the chart success of previous singles from Sing When You're Winning, it nonetheless became a live hit in later years, often performed byb Robbie as a duet with his father, Papa Pete.

14 December 2001

Somethin' Stupid

Equalling the chart success of Frank and Nancy Sinatra's 1967 version, Robbie's recording of Somethin' Stupid with Hollywood megastar Nicole Kidman was a Christmas chart-topper and Robbie's fifth number one as a solo artist. Released as the lead single from Swing When You're Winning, it helped the album become Robbie's most successful record of all time.

11 March 2002

Mr. Bojangles

The second of just two singles from Swing When You're Winning, Mr. Bojangles was released as a double A-side with I Will Talk And Hollywood Will Listen, the opener and only original track on his big band phenomenon.

14 December 2002

Feel

While missing out on the top spot in the UK charts, Feel went on to became Robbie's biggest international hit, reaching number one in several European countries and the top ten across the world.

31 March 2003

Come Undone

With a video featuring unsetlling imagary and scenes of Robbie having three-way sex with both women and men, Come Undone courted controversy the moment it was released as the second single from Escapology in March 2003. It matched the chart performance of its predecessor, Feel, and similarly went on to become a fan favourite at Knebworth and beyond.

28 July 2003

Something Beautiful

A top ten hit across Europe, Something Beautiful was promoted with a video inspired by reality TV shows like Pop Idol, in which contestants from across the continent tried to impress a panel of judges, which included Robbie's real-life dad, Pete.

03 November 2003

Sexed Up

Originally released in demo form as a B-side to 1998's No Regrets, Sexed Up was re-recorded and re-released as the fourth and final single from Escapology in November 2003. A top 40 hit across Europe, it also broke the top ten in the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary and Italy.

04 October 2004

Radio

Robbie's first solo release without the involvement of longterm writing partner Guy Chambers, Radio was recorded for release with his Greatest Hits compilation in 2004. It became his sixth and last number one single until his triumphant return to the top with Candy.

06 December 2004

Misunderstood

Having recorded two tracks for Bridget Jones' Diary, Robbie returned for the sequel with Misunderstood, released as the second single from his Greatest Hits compilation.

03 October 2005

Tripping

Despite its lyrical themes being darker than previous hits, Tripping became a worldwide success as the lead single from Robbie's sixth studio album, Intensive Care, making number one in several countries across Europe.

14 November 2005

Make Me Pure

Make Me Pure was released as the second single from Robbie's album 'Intensive Care' in late 2005. It was written by Robbie, Stephen Duffy, and Chris Heath.

12 December 2005

Advertising Space

Inspired by Christian Slater's character in True Romance, Advertising Space tells the tragic story of a superstar's fall from grace, while the video sees Robbie emulating his hero, Elvis. It was another top ten hit in the UK, even breaking the top five in various countries across Europe.

22 May 2006

Sin Sin Sin

Released as the fourth and final single from Intensive Care, Sin Sin Sin was another win win win for Robbie's videmaking partnership with director Vaughan Arnell, who shot Robbie as the prophet-like guru of a cult of adoring pregnant women.

04 September 2006

Rudebox

Released as the lead single from the album of the same name, Rudebox charted on downloads alone prior to its physical release in September 2006. Once officially out, it climbed to number four in the UK, peaking at one in Germany, Italy and Switzerland and the top ten in many others

10 October 2006

Kiss Me

The 13th track of Rudebox. It’s a cover of “Kiss Me” by Stephen Duffy, who Robbie has collaborated with on several occasions.

13 November 2006

Lovelight

Covering Lewis Taylor's 2003 hit, the second single from Rudebox was produced by Mark Ronson and reached the top ten in the UK and beyond.

22 January 2007

Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus

As part of the promotion for his seventh studio album, Rudebox, Robbie combined the two Manu Chao songs Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus into one track, with Mark Ronson once again on production duties. Featuring vocals from Lily Allen, it was released in Eastern Europe in 2007.

05 March 2007

She's Madonna

The final single to be released from Rudebox, She's Madonna is a duet with Robbie's musical heroes, Pet Shop Boys. A lyrical love letter to Madonna atop a gurgling electro backing, thr track became a top five hit in countries throughout Europe.

12 October 2009

Bodies

Achieving Robbie's best first week sales since the release of Rock DJ nine years earlier, Bodies was selected as the lead single from album number eight: Reality Killed The Video Star. Charting at number two in the UK, the video was directed once again by Vaughan Arnell and featured then-girlfriend Ayda Field.

04 December 2009

You Know Me

Based on a song by Francoise Hardy, You Know Me was the second track taken from Reality Killed The Video Star, and delivered Robbie another top ten single.

08 March 2010

Morning Sun

The third single from Reality Killed The Video Star was also the official charity single for Sport Relief 2010. The video once again saw Robbie team up with long-term collaborator Vaughan Arnell, with Robbie cast as an astronaut undertaking a mission aboard the International Space Station.

27 August 2010

Shame

One of the most eagerly-anticipated songs of the 21st century, Shame saw Robbie reunited with former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow. Released as the lead single from Robbie's second greatest hits compilation - In And Out Of Consciousness - the track was written jointly written by the pair and inspired by their relationship's historical woes. It reached number two in the UK charts and paved the way for Robbie's return to Take That later on in 2010.

11 September 2012

Candy

A sensational return to the top of the charts, Candy was the first single released from Robbie's ninth studio album, Take The Crown. Breaking airply records despite Radio 1's notorious decision to remove Robbie from their playlist, the track was his fastest-selling since the phenomenal success of Rock DJ, and would go on to become his second biggest hit in the UK, after Angels.

17 December 2012

Different

The second single from the number one album, Take The Crown, Different came with four extra tracks, including Soul Transmission, for which a video was later released featuring footage from Robbie's marriage to Ayda in 2010.

11 March 2013

Be A Boy

The third single taken from Take The Crown, Be A Boy saw Robbie teaming up with producer Jacknife Lee once again and was the first release borne of his new songwriting partnership with Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis.

10 November 2013

Go Gentle

Robbie's tenth studio album saw him return to the big band sound of his most succesful album to date - 2001's Swing When You're Winning - and was preceded by lead single Go Gentle. A loving promise to his daughter, Teddy, it gave Robbie another top ten single, while the video featured him as a sea captain sailing through the streets of downtown Los Angeles.

13 December 2013

Dream A Little Dream

Robbie's contribution to the 60+ recorded versions of this popular standard featured Lily Allen on vocals and was selected as the second single from Swings Both Ways. The video was a loving ode to musical hero Dean Martin, as our crooner wooed the audience of The Robbie Williams Show: Christmas Special.

24 March 2014

Shine My Shoes

Emerging from Robbie and Guy's first writing session together since their much-publicised split in the noughties, Shine My Shoes was the third and final single taken from Swings Both Ways. An energetic departure from the musically and lyrically tender singles that preceded it, the track went on to become the high-octane opener to Robbie's set on the Swings Both Ways Live tour.

30 September 2016

Party Like A Russian

Attracting controversy upon its release in 2016, there was no choice of single more perfect than Party Like A Russian to herald the arrival of The Heavy Entertainment Show, Robbie's eleventh studio album. Released alongside a suitably lavish promotional video, the song samples Sergei Prokofiev's Montagues and Capulets, or as Robbie would have it, "The Apprentice theme tune".

21 October 2016

Love My Life

The second single from The Heavy Entertainment Show, Love My Life is a message of positivity penned by Robbie for his children, Teddy and Charlie.

Mixed Signals

Mixed Signals was the third single to be released from Robbie’s number one album, The Heavy Entertainment Show, following in the wake of Party Like A Russian and Love My Life.Written by Brandon Flowers of The Killers, Robbie first heard the track in producer Stuart Price’s studio and decided he'd quite like it for himself...“Stuart had just been working with The Killers and he said ‘have a listen to this song’ and I listened to it and in my mind I was going ‘I want this song, I want this song, how can I tell him I want this song?”, explains Robbie.“The Killers’ sound is amazing and I think Brandon is one of the best song-writers on the planet. I don’t know why he would give the song away because songs like that are pretty hard to come by.“Luckily for me, Brandon said yes, so I get to sing a Killers song on my album and I’m double-chuffed about that.”As if one new video wasn't exciting enough, Robbie has Mixed things up and recorded two additional endings for your viewing pleasure.

23 October 2017

Go Mental

Go Mental is a brass-heavy banger written with Big Narstie and Atlantic Horns during the recording sessions for The Heavy Entertainment Show. While it didn’t make it on to Robbie’s latest number one album, it finally saw the light of day on the second instalment of Robbie’s fan-special series.

03 November 2017

Run It Wild

Speaking about the track, Robbie said: 'Run It Wild was one of the songs that inspired and helped create the Under The Radar series. I spray-painted Run It Wild in pink and blue as artwork on my old studio home wall (Ayda was not best please). I wanted to get it tattooed across my neck, but decided not to in the end.'

01 November 2019

Merry Xmas Everybody

This cover of Slade's Christmas classic features the wonderful Jamie Cullum on vocals and piano. "Me and Jamie were both excited to be singing with each other - I’m a big fan of his"

22 November 2019

Time For Change

'Time For Change' was the first single from 'The Christmas Present' album.

14 December 2020

Can't Stop Christmas

Included on a new edition of The Christmas Present a year after the release of the original, Can't Stop Christmas was written with the help of Ayda.

08 July 2022

Eternity (XXV) / The Road To Mandalay (XXV)

'Eternity' and 'The Road To Mandalay' were originally released in July 2001 as a double A side single. 21 years later both tracks have been newly orchestrated by Jules Buckley and Guy Chambers and Steve Sidwell, and re-recorded with the acclaimed Metropole Orkest.

05 August 2022

Lost

Lost is one of the new compositions Robbie produced for the XXV album. Robbie says: “‘Lost’ is about the times in my life when I've abandoned myself to reckless behaviour.” The new song, produced by Guy Chambers, Richard Flack and Oli Swan, features poignant lyrics, piano elements and soaring strings which all combine to ensure the single is set to be an instant classic.