Old Before I Die

"Old Before I Die" is a song by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released as the first single from his debut album, Life thru a Lens (1997). The Oasis-influenced song became a number-two hit in the United Kingdom and a number-one hit in Spain following its release on 14 April 1997.

"Old Before I Die"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Life thru a Lens
B-side	"Better Days" "Average B Side" "Making Plans for Nigel" "Kooks"
Released	14 April 1997 (1997-04-14)^[1]
Studio	Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
Genre	Rock
Length	3:50
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Robbie Williams Desmond Child Eric Bazilian
Producer(s)	Guy Chambers Steve Power
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"Freedom" (1996) "Old Before I Die" (1997) "Lazy Days" (1997)
Music video
"Old Before I Die" on YouTube

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Williams certainly can't be accused of playing it safe in the wake of his departure from U.K popsters Take That. Instead, post-Freedom, he's opted for a radical change of musical direction. Gone is the sweet, middle of the road style, in favour of a solid and confident rock sound, somewhat reminiscent of his new pals, Oasis."^[2] A reviewer from Music Week rated the song four out of five, describing it as "a confidently composed return from the former Take That man, boasting a strong vocal, tuneful Beatlesesque melody and a ILR-friendly hook. On this evidence, Owen, Barlow and co may be left in Williams shadow."^[3] The magazine's Martin Aston complimented it as "pure Britpop/Beatles swagger and crunch."^[4] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror noted that the singer "has come up with some magic tracks", adding that songs like this are "stadium thrillers".^[5]

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. It features Robbie Williams performing for the camera with ageing rock stars as his backing band, and some fade-ins by the cameraman. There are also shots of Williams flying through the air.

Track listings

UK CD1^[6] "Old Before I Die" "Better Days" "Average B Side" UK CD2^[7] "Old Before I Die" "Making Plans for Nigel" "Kooks" UK cassette single^[8] "Old Before I Die" "Making Plans for Nigel" "Better Days" European CD single^[9] "Old Before I Die" "Average B Side"

Australian CD single^[10] "Old Before I Die" "Kooks" "Average B Side" "Making Plans for Nigel" "Better Days" Japanese mini-album^[11] "Old Before I Die" "Kooks" "Average B Side" "Making Plans for Nigel" "Better Days" "Freedom"

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Life thru a Lens album booklet.^[12]

Studios

• Recorded at Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
• Mixed at Battery Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Robbie Williams – writing, vocals, backing vocals
• Desmond Child – writing
• Eric Bazilian – writing
• Steve McEwan – backing vocals, guitar
• Guy Chambers – guitar, keyboards, production, arrangement
• Fil Eisler – guitar, bass
• Steve Power – keyboards, production, mixing
• Geoff Dugmore – drums, percussion
• Jim Brumby – Battery Studios assistant
• Matt Hay – Matrix Maison Rouge assistant

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[13] 56 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[14] 30 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[15] 47 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[16] 15 Germany (Official German Charts)^[17] 37 Hungary (Mahasz)^[18] 2 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[19] 23 Ireland (IRMA)^[20] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[21] 32 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[22] 53 Scotland (OCC)^[23] 1 Spain (AFYVE)^[24] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[25] 33 UK Singles (OCC)^[26] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position UK Singles (OCC)^[27]^[28] 79

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[29]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 April 1997. p. 41. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
2. "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 19. 10 May 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
3. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 April 1997. p. 28. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
4. Aston, Martin (13 September 1997). "Robbie Williams — Painful Journey To A New Sound And Image" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
5. Hyland, Ian (28 September 1997). "You've Gotta Hand It to the Club Master". Sunday Mirror.
6. Old Before I Die (UK CD1 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHS 5055, 7243 8 83846 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Old Before I Die (UK CD2 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHSS 5055, 7243 8 83847 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Old Before I Die (UK cassette single sleeve). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. TCCHS 5055, 7243 8 83846 4 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Old Before I Die (European CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. 7243 8 83823 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Old Before I Die (Australian CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. 8838222.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. Old Before I Die (Japanese mini-album liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. TOCP-40019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Life thru a Lens (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHR 6127, 7243 8 21313 2 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 24 Aug 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 February 2016 – via Imgur.
14. "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
15. "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 18. 3 May 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
17. "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
18. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 21. 24 May 1997. p. 14. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
19. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 222 Vikuna 22.5. '97 – 28.5. '97)". DV (in Icelandic). 23 May 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Old Before I Die". Irish Singles Chart.
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robbie Williams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
22. "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
24. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
25. "Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die". Swiss Singles Chart.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
27. "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
28. (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
29. "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 December 2020.