Supreme (song)

The bridge of the song contains an interpolation of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". The string instrument part is a François de Roubaix-composed piece from the José Giovanni-directed film Dernier domicile connu starring Lino Ventura and Marlène Jobert. The song was re-recorded in a swing tone and titled "Swing Supreme" for his 2013 album Swings Both Ways.

The song became another success for Robbie Williams, reaching the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, and several other countries. Williams also recorded a French version of the song that was released in France, peaking at number 12 and spending 34 weeks on the French chart, being certified Gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP).{{cite web|url=http://www.disqueenfrance.com/certifications/single.asp?suite=5&forme_certif=6&annee=18|title=Disque En France – Gold|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181238/http://www.disqueenfrance.com/certifications/single.asp?suite=5&forme_certif=6&annee=18|archive-date=30 September 2007}}

The "Supreme" video, titled "Gentlemen racers" as seen in its opening credits, is a tribute to British Formula One driver Jackie Stewart. It was filmed on 11 November 2000.{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rDps-0_pX74 | title=Robbie Williams | 'Supreme' | Inserting Bob Williams | website=YouTube | date=15 February 2011 }} Williams portrays the fictitious character Bob Williams, a rival driver competing for the 1970s F1 World Championship. Williams eventually crashes his car, makes a surprise recovery, and ultimately loses the title when he gets diarrhoea before a race and is unable to line up on the starting grid due to getting locked into his caravan when the manager thought there was no one in the caravan. An epilogue reveals that Bob Williams went on to become a celebrated blues guitarist while Jackie Stewart won the championship.

The video includes stock footage of Stewart with Williams digitally inserted in many scenes, creating the near-perfect illusion of a neck-and-neck pursuit of the championship title. The video makes extensive use of the split-screen technique as it is often seen in movies from the 1960s and 70s (for instance in the 1966 feature racing movie Grand Prix), and the scenes with Robbie Williams were given a yellowed, grainy image texture in the digital editing process to match the faded look of the original 35mm celluloid footage with Jackie Stewart. As yet another movie cliché, fake newspaper headlines are shown intermittently to help narrate the story.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

UK CD1 and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Supreme|others=Robbie Williams|year=2000|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=CDCHS5120, 7243 889781 2 5}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Supreme|others=Robbie Williams|year=2000|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=TCCHS5120, 7243 889781 4 9}}

1. "Supreme" – 4:15
2. "Don't Do Love" – 4:56
3. "Come Take Me Over" – 4:13

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Supreme|others=Robbie Williams|year=2000|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=CDCHSS 5120, 7243 889781 0 1}}

1. "Supreme" – 4:15
2. "United" – 5:56
3. "Supreme" (recorded live at the Manchester Arena) – 4:18
4. "Supreme" (filmed live at the Manchester Arena) – 4:08

{{col-2}}

Australasian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Supreme|others=Robbie Williams|year=2000|type=Australasian CD single liner notes|publisher=Chrysalis Records, EMI Records|id=8897842, 7243 8 89784 2 2}}

1. "Supreme" – 4:15
2. "United" – 5:56
3. "Supreme" (live from Manchester) – 4:18
4. "Don't Do Love" – 4:57
5. "Come Take Me Over" – 4:11

{{col-end}}

Credits are taken from the Sing When You're Winning album booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing When You're Winning|title-link=Sing When You're Winning|others=Robbie Williams|year=2000|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=7243 5 28125 2 3}}

Studios

• Recorded at Master Rock Studios (North London, England) and Sarm Hook End (Reading, England)
• Mixed at Battery Studios (London, England)
• Mastered at Metropolis Mastering (London, England)

Personnel

{{div col}}

• Robbie Williams – writing, lead vocals
• Guy Chambers – writing, all keyboards, production, arrangement
• Freddie Perren – writing
• Dino Fekaris – writing
• Claire Worrall – backing vocals
• Crystal Adams – backing vocals
• Marielle Hervé – backing vocals
• Neil Taylor – acoustic and electric guitars
• Phil Spalding – bass guitar
• Chris Sharrock – ambient drum kit
• Andy Duncan – drum programming
• Richard Flack – drum programming, Pro Tools
• Tony Pleeth – string loop
• Paul Kegg – string loop
• Richard Boothby – string loop
• Richard Campbell – string loop
• The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
• Gavyn Wright – concertmaster
• Nick Ingman – orchestration
• Isobel Griffiths – orchestral contractor
• Steve Price – orchestral engineering
• Steve Power – production, mixing
• Tony Cousins – mastering

{{div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Supreme"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|title=Supreme|artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|access-date=17 August 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|award=Gold|title=Supreme|artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2000|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|title=Supreme|artist=Robbie Williams|relyear=2000|certyear=2013|id=9632-2807-1}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Robbie Williams singles}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Supreme (Song)}}

Category:2000 singles

Category:2000 songs

Category:Chrysalis Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Vaughan Arnell

Category:Number-one singles in Hungary

Category:Number-one singles in Poland

Category:Robbie Williams songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Guy Chambers

Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Power

Category:Songs written by Dino Fekaris

Category:Songs written by Freddie Perren

Category:Songs written by Guy Chambers

Category:Songs written by Robbie Williams