Timeline / Singles
Released 7 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.
I’ve Been Expecting You’s first single, ‘Millennium’ was inspired by John Barry’s Bond music and was written in a barn in the countryside!
Robbie said: “It’s about the run up to the Millennium and the state our heads are in.” Coincidentally, Millennium knocked All Saints off the UK top spot as it became his first solo No.1. As far as Robbie was concerned 'someone had to be knocked off and it may as well be the wife!!'
Millennium became Robbie’s first UK No.1 in September 1998 and spent two months in the UK Top 40.
The track was also a massive hit throughout Europe, storming the Top 20 in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland and peaking at No.4 in Italy.
With the excuse of the Millennium video shoot, Robbie had the perfect opportunity to live out his fantasy by surrounding himself with gorgeous women and expensive props… all in true James Bond style.
The shoot took place at Shepperton Studios and, needless to say, there was never a dull moment!
Directed by: Vaughan Arnell, the Bond-inspired theme followed through from the song and into the video, featuring all kinds of topical paraphernalia from jet-packs to the obligatory tux!
However, with press reports now tipping him as the next candidate to play the silver screen’s most famous spy, Robbie was keen to stress that this was where his affiliation with the character ended; “I’ve never asked or wanted to play James Bond,” he told Radio 1, “I did the Millennium video as a pastiche and I left it there.”
Listen to Millennium
Lyrics
We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying it's not too late
Millennium
Some say that we are players
Some say that we are pawns
But we've been makin' money
Since the day that we were born
Got to slow down (slow down)
Cause we're low down (low down)
Run around in circles
Live a life of solitude
Till we find ourselves a partner
Someone to relate to
Then we'll slow down (Slow down)
Before we fall down
We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying it's not too late
Cause we know we're falling from grace
Millennium
Live for liposuction
And detox for your rent
Overdose for Christmas
And give it up for Lent
My friends are all so cynical
Refuse to keep the faith
We all enjoy the madness
Cause we know we're gonna fade away
We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying it's not too late
Cause we know we're falling from grace
Millennium
Come and have a go if you think you are hard enough
Come and have a go if you think you are hard enough
Millennium, millennium
We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying it's not too late
Cause we know we're falling from grace
Millennium
(Sometimes you know)
And when we come we always come too late
I often think that we were born to hate
Get up and see the sarcasm in my eyes
And when we come we always come too late
I often think that we were born to hate
Get up and see the sarcasm in my eyes
We've got stars directing our fate (Millennium)
And we're praying it's not too late (Millennium)
Cause we know we're falling from grace (Millennium)
(And we won't stop)
We've got stars directing our fate
And we're praying it's not too late
Cause we know we're falling from grace
Millennium