UNITED KINGDOM: ROBBIE WILLIAMS TALKS ABOUT HIS FIRST SELF-PENNED SINGLE "OLD BEFORE I DIE"

Record ID: 386930

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: ROBBIE WILLIAMS TALKS ABOUT HIS FIRST SELF-PENNED SINGLE "OLD BEFORE I DIE"
  • Date: 17th April 1997
  • Summary: ASKED WHETHER "OLD BEFORE I DIE" WAS INSPIRED BY HIS "MAD YEAR", WILLIAMS REPLIES (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) "I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT, BUT I WAS GOING OVER TO MIAMI AND ON MY WAY OVER THERE I PULLED OUT THIS BOOK AND THERE WAS A PICTURE OF PETE TOWNSHEND AND IT SAID "HOPE I DIE BEFORE I GET OLD?" AND THERE'S A PICTURE OF HIM LOOKING... OLD. AND I THOUGHT, MMM, IT'D BE A NICE P
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA2IY9QECCL851404AY4ND7KESZ
  • Story Text: After surviving an acrimonious split with "Take That", launching a solo career both as a musician and a television presenter, Robbie Williams has added another feather to his cap - he has made his songwriting debut.
    His new single, "Old Before I Die", shot straight to number two in the British charts, and made number one in Spain.Robbie co-wrote "Old Before I Die" with Eric Bazilian and Desmond Child during a trip to Miami, and two more tracks on the single are original compositions.
    During the "Take That" years, Williams' life was circumscribed by strict rules laid down by the band's management to maintain a clean-living image - no drink, no drugs and a low-profile personal life.
    All that came to an end when Williams left the group two years ago after his drunken visit to Glastonbury festival was splashed all over the British newspapers.
    As he faced the prospect of life after "Take That", Williams embarked on a year of wild living, prompting reports that he had become a drug addict and was seeking treatment.
    Whilst he denies that he was ever addicted to drugs, Williams admitted that he did try to cram a missed adolescence into his mad year.
    "I've got a lot of very supportive people around me," Williams told Reuters, "They all know that I'm a young man trying to grow up really and I just fit a whole lot of living into one year.I enjoyed myself through most of it, but towards the end of the year you just get a bit tired." Asked whether "Old Before I Die" was inspired by this time in his life, Williams said, "I have been saying that, but I was going over to Miami and on my way over there I pulled out this book and there was a picture of Pete Townshend (The Who) and it said "hope I die before I get old"....and I thought it'd be a nice play on words if I just turned that round a little.So that's all it is, really".
    Williams' first solo success was a version of George Michael's Freedom '90, which took him to number two last year.
    The new CD single also features more cover versions, namely David Bowie's song "Kooks" and XTC classic "Making Plans For Nigel".But there are also two other Williams compositions on the single and more to come on the album, due for release later this year.
    Williams said that he was most proud of his song "Angels"and he was hoping for a chart success with it at Christmas.
    "I'm going to have a lot of money on it," Williams said.Asked to describe the song, Williams offered an exclusive preview with an impromptu performance of one verse during the interview.
    Not only does Williams enjoy songwriting, he also prefers to sing his own compositions.
    "I really enjoy it.I know what I'm singing about now, and I mean what I'm singing about", he said.
    After starting his pop career at the age of 16, Williams has confounded critics who predicted that he wouldn't survive the demise of "Take That".
    At 23, Williams seems calmer, more confident of his own abilities as a performer and as a musician.He is showing signs of wanting to settle down in his personal life, too, admitting that he would like to have children and buy a farm in Ireland.It sounds like he's planning die old - and happy.
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