Old Before I Die Explained

Old Before I Die
Cover:	Old Before I Die (Robbie Williams single - cover art).jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Robbie Williams
Album:	Life thru a Lens
B-Side:	"Better Days" "Average B Side" "Making Plans for Nigel" "Kooks"
Studio:	Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
Genre:	Rock
Length:	3:50
Label:	Chrysalis
Producer:	Guy Chambers Steve Power
Prev Title:	Freedom
Prev Year:	1996
Next Title:	Lazy Days
Next Year:	1997

"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."^[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

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

• UK CD1^[5]

1. "Old Before I Die"
2. "Better Days"
3. "Average B Side"

• UK CD2^[6]

1. "Old Before I Die"
2. "Making Plans for Nigel"
3. "Kooks"

• UK cassette single^[7]

1. "Old Before I Die"
2. "Making Plans for Nigel"
3. "Better Days"

• European CD single^[8]

1. "Old Before I Die"
2. "Average B Side"

• Australian CD single^[9]

1. "Old Before I Die"
2. "Kooks"
3. "Average B Side"
4. "Making Plans for Nigel"
5. "Better Days"

• Japanese mini-album^[10]

1. "Old Before I Die"
2. "Kooks"
3. "Average B Side"
4. "Making Plans for Nigel"
5. "Better Days"
6. "Freedom"

Credits and personnel

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

Weekly charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[12]	56
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[13]	15
Hungary (Mahasz)^[14]	2
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[15]	23
Spain (AFYVE)^[16]	1

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	14 April 1997		Chrysalis	^[19]
Japan	21 May 1997	CD		^[20]

Notes and References

1. Airborne. Music & Media. 14. 19. 20. 10 May 1997. 8 December 2020.
2. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 5 April 1997. 28. 15 May 2022.
3. Martin. Aston. Robbie Williams — Painful Journey To A New Sound And Image. Music Week. 13 September 1997. 27. 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. Robbie Williams. 1997. UK CD1 liner notes. Chrysalis Records. CDCHS 5055, 7243 8 83846 2 9.
6. Old Before I Die. Robbie Williams. 1997. UK CD2 liner notes. Chrysalis Records. CDCHSS 5055, 7243 8 83847 2 8.
7. Old Before I Die. Robbie Williams. 1997. UK cassette single sleeve. Chrysalis Records. TCCHS 5055, 7243 8 83846 4 3.
8. Old Before I Die. Robbie Williams. 1997. European CD single liner notes. Chrysalis Records. 7243 8 83823 2 8.
9. Old Before I Die. Robbie Williams. 1997. Australian CD single liner notes. Chrysalis Records. 8838222.
10. Old Before I Die. Robbie Williams. 1997. Japanese mini-album liner notes. Chrysalis Records. TOCP-40019.
11. Life thru a Lens. Life thru a Lens. Robbie Williams. 1997. UK CD album booklet. Chrysalis Records. CDCHR 6127, 7243 8 21313 2 8.
12. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 24 Aug 1997. Australian Recording Industry Association. Imgur. 11 February 2016.
13. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 18. 20. 3 May 1997. 16 December 2020.
14. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 14. 21. 14. 24 May 1997. 6 May 2018.
15. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 222 Vikuna 22.5. '97 – 28.5. '97). DV. is. 16. 23 May 1997. 12 July 2018.
16. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
17. Top 100 Singles 1997. Music Week. 27. 17 January 1998.
18. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604144848/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201997.html. 4 June 2015. 2 July 2019.
19. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 41. 12 April 1997. 7 June 2021.
20. Web site: 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. Oricon. ja. 23 January 2024.