No Regrets (Robbie Williams song)
"No Regrets" | |||||||
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Single by Robbie Williams | |||||||
from the album I've Been Expecting You | |||||||
Released | 30 November 1998 | ||||||
Format | CD single, cassette | ||||||
Recorded | 1998 | ||||||
Genre | Pop rock | ||||||
Length |
5:11 (album version) 4:43 (radio edit) | ||||||
Label | Chrysalis | ||||||
Writer(s) | Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers | ||||||
Producer(s) | Guy Chambers, Steve Power | ||||||
Robbie Williams singles chronology | |||||||
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"No Regrets" is a song by English recording artist Robbie Williams. It was released on 30 November 1998 as the second single from his second studio album, I've Been Expecting You (1998). The song was written by Williams and Guy Chambers. The song featured backing vocals by Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys and Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy.
"No Regrets" became another top five hit for Williams in the United Kingdom. The B-side, "Antmusic", was also featured on the soundtrack to the animated film, A Bug's Life. It is a cover of a song by Adam and the Ants. Another B-side, "Sexed Up", was later re-recorded for the Escapology album and released as a single in 2003.
The lyrics of "No Regrets" are about Williams' feelings about his time in (and departure from) his former band Take That. He frequently dedicates the song to the other members (Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and Howard Donald) in live versions. At the time reconciling with members of Take That, Williams had frequently replaced the final line "I guess the love we once had is officially dead" with "I guess the love we once had is officially alive!", however, since he left again, he replaced back to the original final line in the song.
On Take That's Progress Live tour in 2011, Williams performed the song with Donald, Orange, Owen and Barlow providing the backing vocals. The performance was much less angry, and more sentimental in tone.
Music video
The video has Williams at first performing in a Vegas-like show. He then realizes he can't fake being happy and leaves the stage. He walks to a petrol station (which is in Hurley opposite the former East Arms Pub, he actually went into the pub to look out of a bedroom window so he could see the scene) gets some petrol, and begins walking-through crowds, over roads, etc., dribbling petrol in a line the whole way. Finally, a spark is dropped at the petrol station and lights up the whole trail as Williams narrates the last part, which is symbolic of past events unerringly overshadowing the present.
Chart performance
When the single was released on 30 November 1998, it reached number four in the UK Singles Chart and went on to sell over 200,000 copies being certified Silver by the BPI.[1] Success worldwide was limited.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "No Regrets".
UK CD1
(Released 30 November 1998)
- "No Regrets" – 5:11
- "Antmusic" – 3:31
- "Deceiving Is Believing" – 4:30
UK CD2
(Released 30 November 1998)
- "No Regrets" – 5:11
- "There She Goes" (Live at the Forum) – 2:51
- "Sexed Up" (demo version) – 3:54
- "There She Goes" (Live at the Forum – enhanced video) – 2:51
UK CD Maxi
(Released 30 November 1998)
- "No Regrets" – 5:11
- "Antmusic" – 3:31
- "Sexed Up" (demo version) – 3:54
- "There She Goes" (Live at the Forum) – 2:51
- "There She Goes" (Live at the Forum – enhanced video) – 2:58
Certifications and sales
Country | Certification (if any) | Sales/shipments |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Silver[2] | 200,000+ |
Charts
Chart (1998–99) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] | 34 |
France (SNEP)[4] | 67 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[5] | 60 |
Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 15 |
Italy (FIMI)[7] | 12 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] | 71 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] | 29 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] | 43 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[11] | 4 |
References
- ↑ BPI Certification for "No Regrets" Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ BPI Certification for "No Regrets" Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Robbie Williams – No Regrets" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Robbie Williams – No Regrets" (in French). Les classement single.
- ↑ "Musicline.de – Robbie Williams Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
- ↑ "Irish Singles Chart - Robbie Williams - No Regrets". IRMA. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – No Regrets". Top Digital Download.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Robbie Williams – No Regrets" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Robbie Williams – No Regrets". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – No Regrets". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 1998-12-12" UK Singles Chart.