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Rudebox (song)

{{Short description|2006 single by Robbie Williams}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Rudebox

| cover = RobbiewilliamsRudebox.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Robbie Williams

| album = Rudebox

| released = {{start date|2006|9|4|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=2 September 2006}}

| recorded =

| studio = Wendy House (London, England)

| genre =

  • Electro-funk
  • pop{{Cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/popmusic/Robbie+Williams+Rudebox+Single-1792.html|title=Robbie Williams - Rudebox Single|date=14 August 2006|website=FemaleFirst}}

| length =

  • 4:45 (album version)
  • 3:46 (radio edit)

| label = Chrysalis

| writer =

| producer = Soul Mekanik

| prev_title = Sin Sin Sin

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = Lovelight

| next_year = 2006

| misc =

{{External music video|{{YouTube|1l52QZmN1Gs|"Rudebox"}}}}

}}

"Rudebox" is song by English musician Robbie Williams from his seventh studio album of the same name (2006). It interpolates the 1987 song "Boops (Here to Go)" by Sly and Robbie. The single was released on 4 September 2006, although download purchases allowed it to reach number 30 on the UK Singles Chart on 3 September. After the release of the CD single, it ascended 26 places to number four, selling 24,821 copies.{{cite magazine|title=The Official UK Singles Chart|magazine=Music Week|page=32|date=16 September 2006|quote=...Rudebox – which jumps 30-4 this week, on sales of 24,821...}}

The track was nominated for the 2006 Ivor Novello Award.[http://www.theivors.britishacademy.com/awards.html Ivor Novello Award] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070425033350/http://www.theivors.britishacademy.com/awards.html |date=25 April 2007 }} In the song Williams makes several cultural references including Adidas, T.K. Maxx (in a joke about product placement, "T.K. Maxx costs less!"), Michael Jackson, Special Olympics, Durex condoms, The Matrix and Mandrax.

Commercial performance

"Rudebox" had considerable success in Europe, peaking at number two on the European Hot 100 Singles chart. The single reached number one in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland and entered the top 10 in several other countries around the world. In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number 30 based on downloads alone; when the single was physically released, it climbed to its peak of number four on the UK Singles Chart, spending two weeks inside the top 10 and nine weeks on the chart overall. In Mexico, the song won the award for Song of the Year – International at the 2007 Premios Oye! ceremony.{{cite web|url=https://www.premiosoye.com.mx/|title=Premios Oye - El universo de la música|website=Premios Oye|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021023907/http://www.premiosoye.com.mx/ganadores_2007.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2007}}

Reception

The single received widespread criticism from both critics and fans, and has been described by Robbie Williams himself as the biggest mistake of his career.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/robbie-williams-says-releasing-single-rudebox-is-biggest-regret-of-his-career-3532227|title=Robbie Williams says releasing single ‘Rudebox’ is “biggest regret” of his career|accessdate=23 November 2023}} Several British newspapers heavily criticized the song upon its release, contributing to a media circus around its unconventional style and departure from his previous sound.

Track listings

UK CD1 and European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Rudebox|others=Robbie Williams|year=2006|type=UK CD1 & European CD single liner notes|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=CDCHS 5161}}

  1. "Rudebox" (radio edit)
  2. "Lonestar Rising"

UK CD2 and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Rudebox|others=Robbie Williams|year=2006|type=UK CD2 & Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=CDCHSS 5161}}

  1. "Rudebox" (album version)
  2. "Rudebox" (Soul Mekanik dub)
  3. "Rudebox" (Chicken Lips Malfunction)
  4. "Rudebox" (Chicken Lips Malfunction dub)
  5. "Rudebox" (video)
  6. "Rudebox" (interview clip)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Rudebox album booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Rudebox|title-link=Rudebox|others=Robbie Williams|year=2006|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=00946 3770442 4}}

Studios

  • Recorded at Wendy House Studios (London, England)
  • Mixed at Twenty One Studios (London, England)
  • Mastered at Metropolis Studios (London, England)

Personnel

{{div col}}

  • Robbie Williams – writing, lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Kelvin Andrews – writing, backing vocals, Moog, synthesisers, programming
  • Danny Spencer – writing, backing vocals, Moog, synthesisers, programming
  • Bill Laswell – writing ("Boops (Here to Go)")
  • Carl Aiken – writing ("Boops (Here to Go)")
  • William Collins – writing ("Boops (Here to Go)")
  • Sly Dunbar – writing ("Boops (Here to Go)")
  • Robbie Shakespeare – writing ("Boops (Here to Go)")
  • Charmaine Baines – featured vocals
  • Marsha Thomason – featured vocals
  • Richard Scott – backing vocals
  • Soul Mekanik – production
  • Jeremy Wheatley – mixing
  • Matt Kemp – engineering
  • Tony Cousins – mastering

{{div col end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
Chart (2006)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|13|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Austria|5|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Flanders|4|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|17|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|CIS|12|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|songid=6085|rowheader=true|access-date=30 October 2021}}
{{single chart|Czech Republic|18|year=2006|week=44|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2018}}
{{single chart|Denmark|3|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|title=Hits of the World: Eurocharts|magazine=Billboard|volume=118|issue=38|page=91|date=23 September 2006}}

|2

scope="row"|Europe (European Hit Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2006/BB-2006-09-02.pdf|title=European Radio Airplay|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Music Control|page=79|date=2 September 2006|access-date=31 December 2024}}

|15

{{single chart|Finland|2|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true|access-date=19 April 2021}}
{{single chart|France|31|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Germany|1|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|songid=227313|rowheader=true|access-date=28 February 2019}}
{{single chart|Hungary|15|year=2006|week=46|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|17|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true|access-date=26 January 2020}}
{{single chart|Italy|1|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|6|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|6|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Norway|14|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Scotland|3|date=20060916|rowheader=true|access-date=9 January 2022}}
{{single chart|Spain|5|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Sweden|16|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Rudebox|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Turkey (Türkiye Top 20)[http://www.billboard.com.tr/pages/Turkiye_top20.aspx/ Turkish Top 20 Chart] Billboard Turkey {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305044916/http://www.billboard.com.tr/pages/Turkiye_top20.aspx/ |date=5 March 2009 }}

|1

{{single chart|UK|4|date=20060916|rowheader=true}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
Chart (2006)

!Position

scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2006|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 2006|website=austriancharts.at|access-date=28 March 2020}}

|65

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2006|title=Jaaroverzichten 2006|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=28 March 2020}}

|58

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2006|title=Rapports Annuels 2006|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=28 March 2020}}

|96

scope="row"|CIS (TopHit){{cite web|url=https://tophit.ru/ru/best-music-2006|title=Лучшие песни и музыка за 2006 год|publisher=TopHit|language=ru|access-date=30 October 2021}}

|118

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_100_singles.jsp|title=European Hot 100 Songs|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114134432/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/european_hot_100_singles.jsp|archive-date=14 November 2007|access-date=9 January 2022}}

|27

scope="row"|Germany (Media Control GfK){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2006|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2006|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=4 August 2018}}

|40

scope="row"|Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/dettaglio_documento.asp?id=763&idtipo_documento=1|title=Musica: Classifiche Annunali 2006 FIMI-AC Nielsen|publisher=FIMI|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112111437/http://www.fimi.it/dettaglio_documento.asp?id=763&idtipo_documento=1|archive-date=12 January 2007|access-date=15 January 2021}} Click on Scarica l'allegato.

|16

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2006|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2006|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=28 March 2020}}

|75

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2006&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2006|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=28 March 2020}}

|57

scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2006|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2006|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=28 March 2020}}

|41

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2006.pdf|title=2006 UK Singles Chart|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=28 March 2020}}

|103

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References

{{Reflist}}

{{Robbie Williams singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2006 songs

Category:2006 singles

Category:Robbie Williams songs

Category:Chrysalis Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:Number-one singles in Turkey

Category:Songs written by Bootsy Collins

Category:Songs written by Robbie Williams