Feel (Robbie Williams song)


"Feel" is a song by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was released on 2 December 2002 as the lead single from his fifth studio album, Escapology. The song became an international hit, peaking at number one in seven countries and reaching the top five in 10 others, including the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number four.

Background

"Feel" was written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. According to Williams, most of the vocals are from the original demo recording from 1999, as he felt unsatisfied with the re-recorded vocals. He commented, "I just couldn't sing it as well as I did on that day." Chambers said: "The best songs, I think, are the ones that are the most emotional. 'Angels' is very raw, and with 'Feel', Robbie was at his absolute lowest point. He didn't want to write that lyric, but he wrote it because he had to. That's the sort of lyric that I'm interested in, not just words that rhyme nicely."

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Feel" peaked at number four on the UK singles chart, spending four weeks inside the top 10. The song topped the charts in Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands. It was also successful in Canada, where it reached the top 10 and spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart. It was the most played song in Europe in 2003. Despite Williams' major success in most of the world, "Feel" failed to reach the US Billboard Hot 100, but reached number 28 on the Billboard Adult Top 40. "Feel" has sold 625,000 copies in the UK as of September 2022.

Music video

The music video for "Feel" was directed by Vaughan Arnell and shows Williams in a cowboy-like lifestyle. It gained some attention in the United States thanks to Daryl Hannah's appearance as Williams' love interest. There were two versions of the same video, one shot in black and white and the other in colour and was filmed in Sundre, Alberta, Canada.

Track listings

UK, Canadian, and Australian CD single
  1. "Feel" – 4:22
  2. "Nobody Someday" – 2:53
  3. "You're History" – 4:44
  4. Photo gallery and video clipsUK cassette single
  5. "Feel" – 4:22
  6. "Nobody Someday" – 2:53
  7. "You're History" – 4:44UK DVD single
  8. "Feel" – 4:22
  9. "You're History" – 4:44
  10. "Nobody Someday" – 2:53
  11. 3× video clipsEuropean CD single
  12. "Feel" – 4:22
  13. "Nobody Someday" – 2:53

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Escapology album booklet.
Recording
  • Recorded in Los Angeles and London
  • Mixed at The Record Plant
  • Mastered at Marcussen Mastering
Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position
Estonia Airplay 146
Israel International Airplay 15
Moldova Airplay 118
Romania Airplay 98
Russia Airplay 142
Ukraine Airplay 26

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australia 64
Austria 25
Belgium 49
Belgium 44
Europe 10
France 37
France Airplay 6
Germany 34
Italy 14
Latvia 19
Lithuania 1
Netherlands 6
Netherlands 22
Romania 2
Sweden 42
Switzerland 35
Taiwan 76
UK Singles 172
UK Airplay 22

Decade-end charts

Chart Position
Estonia Airplay 148

Cover versions

After the release of "Feel", contestant Ricky Ord sang the song in the 2003 second season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar for the theme "My Pop Idol", being one of the first contestants eliminated. In season 8 in 2011, contestant Ardian Bujupi sang the song for the theme "English v. German". In 2016, contestants of the tenth season of X Factor Italy sang a medley of "Feel" and "Angels", before being joined by Williams himself to sing his single "Party Like a Russian".
In Williams' 2024 biopic Better Man, "Feel" is performed by Carter J. Murphy, who portrays Williams as a child, and Steve Pemberton, who plays Williams' father Peter.