Escapology (album)

In 2002, Williams signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI.{{cite web|url=http://britandgrit.wordpress.com/2007/02/15/robbie-williams-take-that-in-rehab/ |title=£80 Million Contract with EMI Music |publisher=Britandgrit.wordpress.com |date=15 February 2007 |access-date=11 October 2009}} The contract included a number of provisos, including the label ceding greater creative control to the artist and a commitment to breaking Williams in the American market. In return, EMI affirmed they would benefit from a cut of Williams' non-recording activities, including touring, publishing, and merchandising, thus protecting the company from any commercial downturn in the singer's album sales.[http://rtl.musicbrigade.com/templates/ArtistPage____7326.aspx?View=4&ArtistID=5156 Robbie Williams and his record-breaking music contract with EMI]. Rtl.musicbrigade.com. So far it is the biggest music deal in British history.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/discography/albums/escapology|title=Escapology | RobbieWilliams.com|website=robbiewilliams.com|year=2011|access-date=15 May 2011}}

After a year out from recording, Williams began working on what would be his fifth studio album. The album heralded a new era for Williams, as he had taken a more active role in the making of the album, giving an indication of his growing confidence in the studio. "One Fine Day", "Nan's Song" and "Come Undone" were the first three songs that Robbie wrote without Guy Chambers' input. The majority of the album was recorded in Los Angeles. Escapology was arguably conceived as a concept album, due to its lyrical content being totally reflective of Williams' life as a popstar. The album focuses on his hopes, fears and depression over the search of love.

As the contract stated, EMI attempted to break Williams in the American market; to this end the label asked him to tweak Escapology to suit the market. The American release shuffled the song order, removed "Song 3", "Hot Fudge", "Cursed" and one hidden track, added "Get a Little High" and "One Fine Day", and made "How Peculiar (Reprise)" a main album track instead of a hidden track. Williams promoted the album on shows such as Good Morning America, Last Call with Carson Daly and The Tonight Show. This version of the album won the award for Best Album by a Solo Male in the International Category at the Premios Oye! in Mexico.{{cite web|url=http://www.premiosoye.com.mx/premio2003.html |title=Oye! 2003 |access-date=2008-01-22 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122062409/http://www.premiosoye.com.mx/premio2003.html |archive-date=22 January 2008 |df=dmy }}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 53/100

|rev1=AllMusic

|rev1Score={{Rating|2|5}}{{AllMusic|album|escapology-mw0000022126|author=John Bush|access-date=28 September 2018}}

|rev2=Blender

|rev2Score={{rating|2|5}}[http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50450/escapology.html Blender review]{{dead link|date=November 2012}}

|rev3=Entertainment Weekly

|rev3Score=B−[https://ew.com/article/2003/03/31/escapology/ Escapology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004134531/https://ew.com/article/2003/03/31/escapology/|date=4 October 2012}}. (31 March 2003).

| rev4 = Dotmusic

| rev4score = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/November2002/reviews27305.asp|title=Robbie Williams - 'ESCAPOLOGY'|website=Dotmusic|last=Heath|first=Chris|date=18 November 2002|access-date=14 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030820202132/http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/November2002/reviews27305.asp|archive-date=2003-08-20}}

|rev5=The Guardian

|rev5Score={{rating|3|5}}[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/nov/15/popandrock.artsfeatures The Guardian review]. Guardian (15 November 2002).

|rev6=NME

|rev6Score={{Rating|2|5}}[http://www.nme.com/reviews/robbie-williams/6840 Williams, Robbie : Escapology]. NME. (21 November 2002).

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=His straitjacket is an entrenched reliance on "lighters aloft" ballads, or, ironically, Oasis-derived anthems. [Dec 2002, p.113]}}

|rev8=Rolling Stone

|rev8Score={{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/318880/escapology |title=Rolling Stone review |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=2008-02-05 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205055823/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/318880/escapology |archive-date=5 February 2008 |df=dmy }}. Rolling Stone.

|rev9=Stylus

|rev9Score=C+[http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/robbie-williams/escapology.htm Stylus Magazine review] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517060126/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/robbie-williams/escapology.htm |date=17 May 2008 }}. Stylusmagazine.com.

|rev10=Slant Magazine

|rev10Score={{rating|3|5}}[http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=242 Slant Magazine review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113182804/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=242 |date=13 January 2009 }}. Slantmagazine.com.

|noprose=yes

}}

Initial critical response to Escapology was generally mixed. In Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 53, based on 11 reviews.{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/williamsrobbie/escapology | title=Robbie Williams:Escapology (2003): Reviews | work=Metacritic | publisher=CNET Networks, Inc | access-date=2 April 2009 | archive-date=9 February 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209072348/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/williamsrobbie/escapology | url-status=dead }}

Escapology debuted at number one in the United Kingdom on sales of 264,104, becoming Williams' fifth consecutive number-one album.{{cite news|url=https://business.highbeam.com/411456/article-1G1-95682118/official-uk-album-charts-top-75|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161755/https://business.highbeam.com/411456/article-1G1-95682118/official-uk-album-charts-top-75|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2018|title=The official UK album charts top 75)|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=30 November 2002|work=Music Week|access-date=7 March 2016}} It also reached number one in Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria. It also reached the top ten in other European countries. However, it failed to make an impact in the United States, only reaching number forty-three on the Billboard albums chart. Escapology became the best selling album of 2002 in the United Kingdom, selling 1.2 million copies, and being certified 6× Platinum by the BPI in December 2003,{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/by-the-numbers-inside-robbie-williams-albums-career/064727|title=By the numbers: inside Robbie Williams' albums career|last=Sutherland|first=Mark|date=9 May 2016|work=Music Week|publisher=Intent Media|access-date=5 April 2017}} becoming the sixtieth best selling album of all time in the UK. The album sold over 6.5 million copies worldwide, and over 2 million copies in the UK alone.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gw8EAAAAMBAJ&q=brits+around+the+world+billboard&pg=PA49|publisher=Billboard|title=Playing|first= Paul|last=Sexton|date= 21 February 2004|access-date=12 September 2018}}

• "Feel", a track written by Williams and Chambers, was released as the album's first single. Originally only recorded as a demo in 1999, Williams attempted to re-record the vocals in 2002, but felt unsatisfied with the result, and thus decided to issue the original demo version instead.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>Feel |publisher=RobbieWilliams.com |access-date=11 October 2009}} When the single was released in late 2002, it became a massive worldwide hit for Williams and reached the top ten in most European countries. It also topped the charts in Argentina, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal, Mexico, and the Netherlands. The success of the song was so massive that it spent 54 weeks inside the Canadian charts. The video for the song received attention in the United States, due to Hollywood actress Daryl Hannah appearing as his love interest, leading radio stations to play the track.
• "Come Undone", the album's second single, became a top ten hit around the world. However, the video for the song was heavily censored by MTV Networks for depicting Williams having three-way sex with two women.{{cite web |url=http://famous.y2u.co.uk/F_Robbie_Williams.htm |title=Robert Peter Williams |publisher=famous.y2u.co.uk |access-date=19 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228045140/http://famous.y2u.co.uk/F_Robbie_Williams.htm |archive-date=28 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} The video also highlighted graphic images of people vomiting and fist fighting, a cockroach crawling out of a person's mouth, and close-up shots of maggots, snakes and insects in close contact with the party goers in the video.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G16zKAjeSBw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/G16zKAjeSBw| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=YouTube 'Come Undone' |date=18 April 2009 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The uncensored version of the video was released via a DVD single in Europe, and was also included on the Enhanced CD single.{{cite web |url=http://famous.y2u.co.uk/F_Robbie_Williams.htm |title=Escapology |publisher=Famous.y2u.co.uk |access-date=11 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228045140/http://famous.y2u.co.uk/F_Robbie_Williams.htm |archive-date=28 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} BBC Radio 2 also banned the song for its explicit content.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>Come Undone |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |access-date=11 October 2009}} During such furors, it was confirmed that Williams and Guy Chambers were to officially part ways.
• "Something Beautiful", a song which was first offered to Tom Jones, was released as the album's third single. After given to Williams, it was reworked and heavily remixed.{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/ |title=Discography>Singles>Something Beautiful |publisher=Robbiewilliams.com |access-date=11 October 2009}} The single was released in the summer of 2003, and while it hit the top ten in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland and Denmark, it failed to make an impact in the world charts. The video included a casting in which people from all over Europe contested to win the chance to perform as Robbie Williams at the end of the video. The three winners had the chance to meet Robbie, and three different versions of the video were released to different parts of the world including the different winners.
• "Sexed Up" was released as the album's fourth and final single, becoming another top ten single for Williams in the United Kingdom. However, it failed to make an impact in the charts elsewhere, the exception being Brazil where it became very popular and gained massive radio airplay because it was part of a soap opera soundtrack.

• All the songs produced by Guy Chambers and Steve Power.

{{Track listing

| total_length =

| title1 = How Peculiar

| writer1 = {{Flat list|

• Robbie Williams
• Guy Chambers}}

| length1 = 3:13

| title2 = Feel

| writer2 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length2 = 4:23

| title3 = Something Beautiful

| writer3 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length3 = 4:48

| title4 = Monsoon

| writer4 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length4 = 3:46

| title5 = Sexed Up

| writer5 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length5 = 4:21

| title6 = Love Somebody

| writer6 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length6 = 4:10

| title7 = Revolution

| note7 = with Rose Stone

| writer7 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length7 = 5:44

| title8 = Handsome Man

| writer8 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers
• Adrian Deevoy}}

| length8 = 3:56

| title9 = Come Undone

| writer9 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Boots Ottestad
• Ashley Hamilton
• Daniel Pierre}}

| length9 = 4:38

| title10 = Me and My Monkey

| writer10 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length10 = 7:12

| title11 = Song 3

| writer11 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length11 = 3:50

| title12 = Hot Fudge

| writer12 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length12 = 4:08

| title13 = Cursed

| writer13 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers
• Deevoy}}

| length13 = 4:01

| title14 = Nan's Song

| writer14 = Williams

| length14 = 3:52

| title15 = How Peculiar (Reprise)

| note15 = hidden track

| writer15 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length15 = 2:14

| title16 = I Tried Love

| note16 = hidden track

| writer16 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length16 = 3:31

|}}

{{Track listing

| headline = American edition

| total_length =

| title1 = Feel

| writer1 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length1 = 4:23

| title2 = Monsoon

| writer2 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length2 = 3:46

| title3 = Sexed Up

| writer3 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length3 = 4:21

| title4 = Get a Little High

| writer4 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Ottestad}}

| length4 = 3:56

| title5 = Come Undone

| writer5 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Ottestad
• Hamilton
• Pierre}}

| length5 = 4:38

| title6 = Something Beautiful

| writer6 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length6 = 4:48

| title7 = Love Somebody

| writer7 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length7 = 4:10

| title8 = Revolution

| note8 = with Rose Stone

| writer8 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length8 = 5:44

| title9 = How Peculiar

| writer9 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length9 = 3:13

| title10 = One Fine Day

| writer10 = Williams

| length10 = 3:35

| title11 = Me and My Monkey

| writer11 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length11 = 7:12

| title12 = Handsome Man

| writer12 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers
• Deevoy}}

| length12 = 3:56

| title13 = Nan's Song

| writer13 = Williams

| length13 = 3:52

| title14 = How Peculiar (Reprise)

| writer14 = {{Flat list|

• Williams
• Chambers}}

| length14 = 2:14

|}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Special edition bonus DVD

| total_length =

| title1 = My Culture

| note1 = Live on Later... with Jools Holland

| title2 = Feel

| note2 = Live in Germany

| title3 = Feel

| note3 = Live on TOTP

| title4 = Sexed Up

| note4 = Live on TOTP

| title5 = Come Undone

| note5 = Live on the National Lottery

| title6 = One Fine Day

| note6 = Live on the National Lottery

| title7 = Something Beautiful

| note7 = Live on CD:UK

| title8 = Come Undone

| note8 = Live on TV4, Sweden

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|artist=Robbie Williams|title=Escapology|relyear=2002|certyear=2005|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|certref={{cite web |url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=10&PerDesde_AA=2000&PerHasta_MM=10&PerHasta_AA=2007&interprete=robbie%2Bwilliams&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=%2BBuscar%2B&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225174642/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=10&PerDesde_AA=2000&PerHasta_MM=10&PerHasta_AA=2007&interprete=robbie%2Bwilliams&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=%2BBuscar%2B&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date=25 December 2007 |title=Discos de oro y platino |language=es |access-date=1 April 2022 |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2002|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2006}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|relmonth=11|region=Austria|award=Platinum|number=4}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology|artist=Robbie Williams|certyear=2003|relyear=2002|region=Belgium|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Canada|award=Gold|certyear=2002|certmonth=12}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Denmark|award=Platinum|number=9|certyear=2024|id=14122|access-date=16 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Finland|award=Platinum|salesamount=46,225}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Escapology|artist=Robbie Williams|type=album|award=Platinum|certyear=2003|relyear=2002|relmonth=11|source=infodisc}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Germany|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2004}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Greece|award=Gold|id=20030205090308|relmonth=11}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|region=Hungary|award=Gold|certyear=2003|relyear=2002|relmonth=11}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Netherlands|award=Platinum|number=2|id=1234706}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|id=2003-12-12|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|number=2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=album|title=Escapology|artist=Robbie Williams|nocert=true|relyear=2002|salesamount=86,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/i/mPO8p/guttas-aar|title=Guttas år|publisher=Aftenposten|language=no|first=Veronica|last=Karlsen|date=13 December 2002|access-date=20 July 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Poland|award=Platinum|relmonth=11|certyear=2003|date=15 January 2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|title=Escapology|artist=Robbie Williams|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2002|certyear=2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318161559/http://www.afp.org.pt/top.php?qano=2003&top=topalbuns&sem=15|archive-date=18 March 2012|id=200315}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|title=Escapology|artist=Robbie Williams|type=album|nocert=true|salesamount=10,761|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.riak.or.kr/stat/pop_200212.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623045128/http://www.riak.or.kr/stat/pop_200212.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-06-23|title=자료제공:(사)한국음반산업협회/이 자료는당협회와 상의없이 가공,편집을금합니다. - 2002.12월 - POP 음반 판매량|publisher=Recording Industry Association Of Korea|language=ko}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|relyear=2002|certyear=2002|title=Escapology|artist=Robbie Williams|type=album|award=Gold|certref={{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=8480486392|page=963}}|access-date=16 June 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|certyear=2002}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Switzerland|award=Platinum|number=5}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|certyear=2022|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|id=2084-533-2|number=7|access-date=28 May 2022}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=Escapology |artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2002|region=Europe|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2003}}

{{certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Robbie Williams}}

{{UK best-selling albums (by year) 1990–2009}}

{{UK Christmas No. 1 albums in the 2000s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Escapology (Album)}}

Category:2002 albums

Category:Robbie Williams albums

Category:EMI Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Guy Chambers

Category:Albums recorded at Capitol Studios