No Regrets
Encyclopedia
"No Regrets" is a single by Robbie Williams
from 1998. It was released as the second single released from I've Been Expecting You
. It became another top five hit for Williams in the United Kingdom
. The song was written by Williams and Guy Chambers.
The song featured backing vocals by Neil Tennant
of Pet Shop Boys
and Neil Hannon
of The Divine Comedy
.
The B-side, "Antmusic", was also featured on the soundtrack to the animated film, A Bug's Life
. It is a cover of a song by Adam and the Ants
. Another B-side, "Sexed Up", was later re-recorded for the Escapology
album and released as a single in 2003.
The lyrics of "No Regrets" are about Williams' feelings about his time in (and departure from) his former band Take That
. He frequently dedicates the song to the other members (Mark Owen
, Gary Barlow
, Jason Orange
and Howard Donald
) in live versions. Since reconciling with members of Take That, Williams frequently replaces the final line 'I guess the love we once had is
officially dead' with 'I guess the love we once had is officially alive!'
and went on to sell over 200,000 copies being certified Silver by the BPI
. Success worldwide was limited, but the song received substantial airplay to keep the album in the public eye for a few more weeks.
of The X Factor
(2009), contestant Joe McElderry
sang "No Regrets" in the first live show on 10th October 2009. Simon Cowell
commented that the performance "made you realise what a great song it is".
UK CD1
(Released November 30, 1998)
UK CD2
(Released November 30, 1998)
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
from 1998. It was released as the second single released from I've Been Expecting You
I've Been Expecting You
I've Been Expecting You is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams.-Success:Williams and Chambers started the writing process of the album in Jamaica in the spring of 1998. I've Been Expecting You was released in October 1998. It debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart,...
. It became another top five hit for Williams in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The song was written by Williams and Guy Chambers.
The song featured backing vocals by Neil Tennant
Neil Tennant
Neil Francis Tennant is an English musician, singer and songwriter, who, with bandmate Chris Lowe, makes up the successful electronic dance music duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
of Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
and Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon
Neil Hannon is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known as the creator and frontman of the chamber pop group The Divine Comedy. The band's official website even goes so far as to say, "The Divine Comedy is Neil Hannon," and Hannon is quoted in an interview as saying, "The Divine Comedy...
of The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy (band)
The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
.
The B-side, "Antmusic", was also featured on the soundtrack to the animated film, A Bug's Life
A Bug's Life
A Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States on November 25, 1998. A Bug's Life was the second Disney·Pixar feature film after Toy Story, and the third American computer-animated film after Toy...
. It is a cover of a song by Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
. Another B-side, "Sexed Up", was later re-recorded for the Escapology
Escapology
For the Jessica Mauboy song, see Inescapable.Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.-History:The art...
album and released as a single in 2003.
The lyrics of "No Regrets" are about Williams' feelings about his time in (and departure from) his former band Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
. He frequently dedicates the song to the other members (Mark Owen
Mark Owen
Mark Anthony Patrick Owen , is an English singer-songwriter. He is a member of pop band Take That. The band were hugely successful during the 1990s and have enjoyed even more success since their reunion in 2005...
, Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and record producer. He is frontman and lead vocalist of pop group Take That and is currently the head judge on the eighth series of The X Factor. Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters...
, Jason Orange
Jason Orange
Jason Thomas Orange is an English musician and dancer. He is a member of the pop band Take That who gained popularity in the 1990s and are currently enjoying further success since their reunion in 2005.-Early fame and Take That:...
and Howard Donald
Howard Donald
Howard Paul Donald , is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist, dancer, DJ and house producer. He is a member of English pop band Take That. As well as working with Jason Orange as band choreographers, he sang lead vocals on one of the band's many number one singles first time round, "Never...
) in live versions. Since reconciling with members of Take That, Williams frequently replaces the final line 'I guess the love we once had is
officially dead' with 'I guess the love we once had is officially alive!'
Music video
The video has Williams at first performing in a Vegas-like show. He then realizes he can't fake being happy and leaves the stage. He walks to a petrol station, gets some petrol, and begins walking-through crowds, over roads, etc, dribbling petrol in a line the whole way. Finally, a spark is dropped at the petrol station and lights up the whole trail as Williams raps the last part, which is symbolic of past events unerringly overshadowing the present.Chart performance
When the single was released in 30 November 1998, it reached number four in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and went on to sell over 200,000 copies being certified Silver by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
. Success worldwide was limited, but the song received substantial airplay to keep the album in the public eye for a few more weeks.
2009 UK "X Factor" appearance
In the sixth UK seriesThe X Factor (UK series 6)
The sixth series of British television music competition The X Factor started on ITV on 22 August 2009 and was won by Joe McElderry on 13 December 2009. Cheryl Cole emerged as the winning mentor for the second consecutive year, the first time in the show's history that a mentor has won back-to-back...
of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
(2009), contestant Joe McElderry
Joe McElderry
Joseph "Joe" McElderry is an English singer and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two...
sang "No Regrets" in the first live show on 10th October 2009. Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
commented that the performance "made you realise what a great song it is".
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "No Regrets".UK CD1
(Released November 30, 1998)
- "No Regrets" - 5:12
- "Antmusic" - 3:31
- "Deceiving Is Believing" - 4:30
UK CD2
(Released November 30, 1998)
- "No Regrets" - 5:12
- "There She Goes" [Live at the Forum] - 2:51
- "Sexed Up" [Demo Version] - 3:54
- "There She Goes" [Live at the Forum - Enhanced Video] - 2:51
Certifications and sales
| Country | Certification (if any) | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Silver | 200,000+ |
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 4 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 12 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 15 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 29 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 34 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 43 |
| German Singles Chart | 60 |
| French Singles Chart | 67 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 71 |