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Old Before I Die

Summary

"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.

"Old Before I Die"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Life thru a Lens
B-side
Released14 April 1997 (1997-04-14)
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

Critical reception edit

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."[1] 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."[2] The magazine's Martin Aston complimented it as "pure Britpop/Beatles swagger and crunch."[3] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror noted that the singer "has come up with some magic tracks", adding that songs like this are "stadium thrillers".[4]

Music video edit

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 edit

Credits and personnel edit

Credits are taken from the Life thru a Lens album booklet.[11]

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 edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 14 April 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
 Chrysalis [29]
Japan 21 May 1997 CD [30]

References edit

  1. ^ "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 19. 10 May 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 April 1997. p. 28. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  3. ^ Aston, Martin (13 September 1997). "Robbie Williams — Painful Journey To A New Sound And Image" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  4. ^ Hyland, Ian (28 September 1997). "You've Gotta Hand It to the Club Master". Sunday Mirror.
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ 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)
  12. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 24 Aug 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 February 2016 – via Imgur.
  13. ^ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. ^ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 18. 3 May 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  17. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 21. 24 May 1997. p. 14. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Old Before I Die". Irish Singles Chart.
  20. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robbie Williams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  21. ^ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  24. ^ "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  27. ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  28. ^ "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  29. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 April 1997. p. 41. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  30. ^ "オールド・ビフォー・アイ・ダイ | ロビー・ウィリアムス" [Old Before I Die | Robbie Williams] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

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