"Old Before I Die"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Life thru a Lens
B-side
Released14 April 1997 (1997-04-14)[1]
StudioMatrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
GenreRock
Length3:50
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"Freedom"
(1996)		 "Old Before I Die"
(1997)		 "Lazy Days"
(1997)
Music video
"Old Before I Die" on YouTube

"Old Before I Die" is a song by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released as the first single from his debut album, Life thru a Lens (1997). The Oasis-influenced song became a number-two hit in the United Kingdom and a number-one hit in Spain following its release on 14 April 1997.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Williams certainly can't be accused of playing it safe in the wake of his departure from U.K popsters Take That. Instead, post-Freedom, he's opted for a radical change of musical direction. Gone is the sweet, middle of the road style, in favour of a solid and confident rock sound, somewhat reminiscent of his new pals, Oasis."[2] A reviewer from Music Week rated the song four out of five, describing it as "a confidently composed return from the former Take That man, boasting a strong vocal, tuneful Beatlesesque melody and a ILR-friendly hook. On this evidence, Owen, Barlow and co may be left in Williams shadow."[3] The magazine's Martin Aston complimented it as "pure Britpop/Beatles swagger and crunch."[4] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror noted that the singer "has come up with some magic tracks", adding that songs like this are "stadium thrillers".[5]

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. It features Robbie Williams performing for the camera with ageing rock stars as his backing band, and some fade-ins by the cameraman. There are also shots of Williams flying through the air.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Life thru a Lens album booklet.[12]

Studios

  • Recorded at Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
  • Mixed at Battery Studios (London, England)

Personnel

  • Robbie Williams – writing, vocals, backing vocals
  • Desmond Child – writing
  • Eric Bazilian – writing
  • Steve McEwan – backing vocals, guitar
  • Guy Chambers – guitar, keyboards, production, arrangement
  • Fil Eisler – guitar, bass
  • Steve Power – keyboards, production, mixing
  • Geoff Dugmore – drums, percussion
  • Jim Brumby – Battery Studios assistant
  • Matt Hay – Matrix Maison Rouge assistant

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 April 1997. p. 41. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 19. 10 May 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 April 1997. p. 28. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  4. ↑ Aston, Martin (13 September 1997). "Robbie Williams — Painful Journey To A New Sound And Image" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  5. ↑ Hyland, Ian (28 September 1997). "You've Gotta Hand It to the Club Master". Sunday Mirror.
  6. ↑ Old Before I Die (UK CD1 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHS 5055, 7243 8 83846 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ Old Before I Die (UK CD2 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHSS 5055, 7243 8 83847 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ Old Before I Die (UK cassette single sleeve). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. TCCHS 5055, 7243 8 83846 4 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ Old Before I Die (European CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. 7243 8 83823 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Old Before I Die (Australian CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. 8838222.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Old Before I Die (Japanese mini-album liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. TOCP-40019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Life thru a Lens (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHR 6127, 7243 8 21313 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 24 Aug 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 February 2016 – via Imgur.
  14. ↑ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ↑ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 18. 3 May 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  18. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 21. 24 May 1997. p. 14. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 222 Vikuna 22.5. '97 – 28.5. '97)". DV (in Icelandic). 23 May 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Old Before I Die". Irish Singles Chart.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robbie Williams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ↑ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  24. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  25. ↑ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die". Swiss Singles Chart.
  26. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  27. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  28. ↑ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  29. ↑ "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
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