South of the Border (Robbie Williams song) explained

South of the Border
Cover:Robbie Williams - South of the Border - CD single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Robbie Williams
Album:Life thru a Lens
B-Side:Cheap Love Song
Released:[1]
Studio:Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
Length:
  • 3:53 (album version)
  • 3:40 (single version)
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:
  • Guy Chambers
  • Steve Power
Prev Title:Lazy Days
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:Angels
Next Year:1997

"South of the Border" is a song by English recording artist Robbie Williams, released as the third single from his debut studio album, Life thru a Lens (1997). The song reached 14 on the UK Singles Chart, his only single to miss the top 10 until "Sin Sin Sin" in 2006. This was the only Life Thru a Lens single that did not appear on Williams' Greatest Hits album (2004).

Background

According to his home page, at the last second, Williams changed his mind and made this his single. This explains why the video is uncohesive and mostly a performance shoot. Williams has stated that the song was inspired by Kate Moss, giving way to the opening line "I know a freaky young lady name of cocaine Katie" (the line is changed to "no shame Katie" on the single version). After a few relatively unknown songs parallel to Gary Barlow's career and "South of the Border" failing, many thought this was the end of Williams.[2]

Critical reception

A reviewer from Music Week rated the song three out of five, adding that "though fairly flat in its radio version, this single will only benefit from the superior house and garage mixes getting the play in clubs."[3] The magazine's Martin Aston described it as "a touch of the funky Black Grapes and bluesy Ocean Colour Scene", "with lippy, declamatory vocals."[4] Claudia Connell from News of the World felt that the song "is powerful and up-beat, in contrast to the more relaxed [previous single] Lazy Days. There are clear rap influences-Robbie's own favourite music-and a mean and moody edge to his vocals. Taken from the forthcoming album Life Thru' A Lens, Robbie has shown that, unlike some of his former Take That colleagues, he isn't afraid to develop and move on."[5]

Track listings

  1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
  2. "Cheap Love Song" – 4:10
  3. "South of the Border" (187 Lockdown's Borderline Mix) – 6:11
  4. "South of the Border" (Phil 'the Kick Drum' Dance + Matt Smith's Nosebag Dub) – 8:31
  1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
  2. "South of the Border" (Mother's Milkin' It mix) – 7:08
  3. "South of the Border" (Phil' the Kick Drum' Dance + Matt Smith's Filthy Funk vocal remix) – 8:31
  4. "South of the Border" (187 Lockdown's Southside dub) – 6:11
  5. "South of the Border" (Shango + Danny Howells' the Unknown DJ's Meet Cocaine Katie mix) – 9:31
  1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
  2. "Cheap Love Song" – 4:10
  1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
  2. "South of the Border" (Mother's Milkin' It mix) – 7:08
  1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
  2. "South of the Border" (Mother's Milkin' It mix) – 7:08
  3. "South of the Border" (187 Lockdown's Borderline mix) – 6:12
  4. "Cheap Love Song" – 4:10

Credits and personnel

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

Studios

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 33. 13 September 1997. 4 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Robbie Williams. robbiewilliams.com.
  3. Reviews: Singles. Music Week. 6 September 1997. 49. 13 September 2022.
  4. Martin. Aston. Robbie Williams – Painful Journey to a New Sound And Image. Music Week. 13 September 1997. 27. 13 September 2022.
  5. Connell, Claudia (14 September 1997). "Single review; Music". News of the World.
  6. South of the Border. Robbie Williams. 1997. UK CD1 liner notes. Chrysalis Records. CDCHSS 5068, 7243 8 84666 2 2.
  7. South of the Border. Robbie Williams. 1997. UK CD2 liner notes. Chrysalis Records. CDCHS 5068, 7243 8 84668 2 0.
  8. South of the Border. Robbie Williams. 1997. UK cassette single sleeve. Chrysalis Records. TCCHSS 5068, 7243 8 84666 4 6.
  9. South of the Border. Robbie Williams. 1997. European CD single liner notes. Chrysalis Records. 7243 8 84723 2 6.
  10. South of the Border. Robbie Williams. 1997. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Chrysalis Records. 7243 8 84725 2 4.
  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. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 40. 13. 4 October 1997. 16 December 2020.

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