Sing When You're Winning | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 28 August 2000 | |||
Recorded | 1999–2000 | |||
Studio | Hookend Manor, Oxfordshire and Master Rock Studios, London [1] | |||
Genre | Dance-pop [2] | |||
Length | 75:58 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Robbie Williams chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sing When You're Winning | ||||
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Sing When You're Winning is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was released on 28 August 2000 in the United Kingdom by Chrysalis Records and in the United States by Capitol Records. Following the critical and commercial success of I've Been Expecting You (1998), the North American release of The Ego Has Landed (1999) and the subsequent promotional tours for both albums, Williams reteamed with producers Guy Chambers and Steve Power to create new material for his next record. Whereas I've Been Expecting You used the Britpop genre for its overall sound, Sing When You're Winning incorporates a more post-millennial dance-pop approach while utilizing classic British rock elements.
The album garnered positive reviews from critics. Sing When You're Winning debuted at number one in the UK, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand, as well as the top 10 in countries like Australia, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland. It spawned six singles: "Rock DJ", "Kids" (with Kylie Minogue), "Supreme", "Let Love Be Your Energy", "Eternity / The Road to Mandalay" and "Better Man".
Following the 1998 release of his album I've Been Expecting You , and in the middle of promotion and touring in 1999, Williams found time to start the work on what would be his third studio album. [3]
The sound of the album was described as seeing Williams move "farther away from the increasingly dated visions of Oasis-style Britpop to embrace post-millennial dance-pop, complete with the bruising beats and extroverted productions to match." [2] The album features a variety of styles, "conjuring a panoply of classic British rock touchstones like psychedelia, slick country rock, Ian Dury, the Who, Elton John, and Madchester." [2]
The album's title is a reference to a popular football chant of the same name that goes to the tune of "Guantanamera", Williams being a fan of Port Vale. The cover art features multiple images of Williams celebrating winning a trophy at Chelsea's stadium Stamford Bridge.
Initial releases do not feature Williams' name or the album title on the front cover, nor is there a track listing featured on the back cover; these were all changed for future releases. The images were taken by photographer Paul M. Smith and, along with Williams' complete football strip, were later sold at auction to raise money for his charity Give It Sum. Williams toured the United Kingdom with Kylie Minogue in October and November 2000 to promote the album, selling out in every venue.
The album contains a hidden message put on the album for humorous intent. After 24 minutes of silence following track 12, "The Road to Mandalay" (4:08 - 28:08), a spoken message from Williams saying "No, I'm not doing one on this album" is heard, which means that no hidden track on the album. This is a reference to how Williams' past three albums (including the compilation album The Ego Has Landed ) each contain hidden tracks at the end of the album.
When the album was released on 28 August 2000, it immediately became a hit in the United Kingdom, debuting at number-one and being certified 2× Platinum in the first week of release. [4] The album also topped the charts in New Zealand, Ireland and Germany, and secured top ten placings in Argentina, Austria, Australia, Finland, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland. Sing When You're Winning failed to reach the top 20 in Spain, reaching number 22. [5] The album spent 91 weeks on the UK chart, going on to sell 2.4 million copies in the UK alone, being certified 8× Platinum by the BPI. [6] The album became the best-selling album of 2000 in the UK, and the 51st-best-selling album in UK music history. [7] The album found little success in the United States, however, peaking at 110 in the Billboard 200. [8]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 69/100 [9] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Alternative Press | 4/5 [10] |
Entertainment Weekly | A− [11] |
The Guardian | [12] |
The Independent | [13] |
Melody Maker | [14] |
NME | 5/10 [15] |
Q | [16] |
Rolling Stone | [17] |
Spin | 5/10 [18] |
Initial critical response to Sing When You're Winning was positive. From Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 69, based on 11 reviews. [9]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Let Love Be Your Energy" |
| 4:59 |
2. | "Better Man" |
| 3:22 |
3. | "Rock DJ" |
| 4:18 |
4. | "Supreme" |
| 4:18 |
5. | "Kids" (with Kylie Minogue) |
| 4:46 |
6. | "If It's Hurting You" |
| 4:10 |
7. | "Singing for the Lonely" |
| 4:31 |
8. | "Love Calling Earth" |
| 4:05 |
9. | "Knutsford City Limits" |
| 4:45 |
10. | "Forever Texas" |
| 3:37 |
11. | "By All Means Necessary" |
| 4:45 |
12. | "The Road to Mandalay" (the song ends at 3:57, and includes the outro hidden track, which begins at 28:09) |
| 28:16 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Often" (Live in Manchester) | Williams, Chambers | 3:57 |
15. | "Better Man" (Live in Manchester) (video) | Williams, Chambers | 4:43 |
16. | "Phoenix from the Flames" (Live in Manchester) (video) | Williams, Chambers | 4:18 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Suprême" | Williams, Chambers | 4:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Suprême" | Williams, Chambers | 4:22 |
15. | "Ser Mejor" | Williams, Chambers | 4:02 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Rock DJ" (music video) | Williams, Chambers | 4:22 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Rock DJ" (Live on TOTP) | |
2. | "Kids" (Live on TOTP) | |
3. | "Kids" (Live at the MTV Music Awards) | |
4. | "Let Love Be Your Energy" (Live on Later... with Jools Holland) | |
5. | "Better Man" (Live on Later... with Jools Holland) | |
6. | "Supreme" (Live on TOTP) | |
7. | "Michael Parkinson Interview" | |
8. | "Eternity" (Live on TOTP) | |
9. | "The Road to Mandalay" (Live on TOTP) |
Adapted from the album's liner notes. [23]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF) [62] | 2× Platinum | 120,000^ |
Australia (ARIA) [63] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [64] | Gold | 25,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [65] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [66] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [67] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [68] | Gold | 21,905 [68] |
France (SNEP) [69] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [70] | 3× Gold | 450,000^ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [71] | Gold | 75,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [72] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [73] | 7× Platinum | 105,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [74] | Gold | 25,000* |
Sweden (GLF) [75] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [76] | 8× Platinum | 2,400,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI) [77] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
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