Strong (Robbie Williams song)

"Strong" is a song by English recording artist Robbie Williams. It was released on 15 March 1999 as the third single from his second studio album, I've Been Expecting You (1998). The song managed to break into the top five in the United Kingdom. The B-side is the live version of "Let Me Entertain You" recorded at the 1999 Brit Awards, the performance was included on the single in the enhanced section.

"Strong"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album I've Been Expecting You
B-side"Happy Song"
Released15 March 1999 (1999-03-15)
Length
  • 4:39 (album version)
  • 4:19 (radio edit)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers
Producer(s)Guy Chambers, Steve Power
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"No Regrets"
(1998)		 "Strong"
(1999)		 "She's the One" / "It's Only Us"
(1999)
Music video
"Strong" on YouTube

In June 2017, Williams performed at the One Love Manchester benefit concert, in aid of the Manchester Arena bombing victims and as a display of the city's unity against terrorism. Williams opened and closed his set by leading a 55,000-strong terrace chant of the song's chorus, changing the lyrics to "Manchester we're strong, we're strong, we're strong. And we're still singing our songs, our songs, our songs!".[1][2]

On the final night of Williams's 2003 Knebworth House concerts, 125,000 ticketholders sang Strong to set the world record for Most Karaoke Participants. Williams and his audience held the record until 2009, when 160,000 people sang Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks whilst in attendance at the 2009 NASCAR Sharpie 500 race.[3]

Background and release

"Strong" was written by Robbie Williams while he was in a hotel in Cologne, Germany. It was inspired by some of his most hardcore fans, who, Williams confessed, "scared the living daylights out of [him]". He said, "I just wanted them to understand I'm not being rude, but I'm feeling a bit scared of everything."[4]

Following its release on 15 March 1999,[5] "Strong" became Williams' seventh top-five single in the United Kingdom, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart.[6] The track also reached the top 10 in New Zealand, debuting and peaking at number nine on 30 May 1999.[7]

Music video

The video is a compilation of on-tour footage, including many live performances, Williams with his nephew, Williams on stage with his dad, and Williams messing about.[8]

Track listings

UK CD single[9]

  1. "Strong"
  2. "Let Me Entertain You" (live at the Brit Awards '99)
  3. "Happy Song"
  4. "Let Me Entertain You" (live at the Brit Awards '99 video)

UK cassette single[10]

  1. "Strong"
  2. "Let Me Entertain You" (live at the Brit Awards '99)
  3. "Happy Song"

European CD single[11]

  1. "Strong"
  2. "Let Me Entertain You" (live at the Brit Awards '99)
  3. "Let Me Entertain You" (live at the Brit Awards '99 video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the I've Been Expecting You album booklet.[12]

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

References
  1. "YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  2. Levine, Nick (5 June 2017). "Watch Robbie Williams change 'Strong' lyrics in tribute to Manchester". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  3. "Karaoke - most participants".
  4. "Strong". RobbieWilliams.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  5. "New Releases – For Week Starting 15 March, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 13 March 1999. p. 27. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  7. "Robbie Williams – Strong". Top 40 Singles.
  8. "Robbie Williams - Strong". YouTube. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  9. Strong (UK CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1999. CDCHS 5107, 7243 8 86803 0 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Strong (UK cassette single sleeve). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1999. TCCHS 5107.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Strong (European CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1999. 7243 8 86885 0 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. I've Been Expecting You (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1998. 497 8372.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Robbie Williams – Strong" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 14. 3 April 1999. p. 17. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  15. "Robbie Williams – Strong" (in French). Les classement single.
  16. "Robbie Williams – Strong" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  17. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 23. 5 June 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  18. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.4–16.4. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 9 April 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Strong". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  20. "Robbie Williams – Strong" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  21. "Major Market Airplay – Week 13/1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 13. 27 March 1999. p. 19. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. 22 January 2000. p. 31. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  24. "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Strong". British Phonographic Industry.
  25. Kraus, Brian (6 November 2015). "Lower Than Atlantis cover Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
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