XXV was released in 2022 to mark 25 years of Robbie Williams’ solo career. The album features newly orchestrated versions of songs spanning his catalogue, recorded with the Metropole Orkest. It was issued in multiple formats, including a standard edition and an expanded version.
The project revisits material from across Williams’ discography, including tracks originally released on Life Thru a Lens, I’ve Been Expecting You and Escapology. The arrangements replace the original pop and rock production with symphonic instrumentation, reframing familiar songs within a cinematic setting.
Williams has described the album as both celebratory and reflective, revisiting songs that defined different phases of his career. The orchestral reinterpretations emphasise melody and vocal performance, offering an alternative perspective on material first recorded in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
It’s been an incredible journey.Robbie Williams
XXV debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, extending Williams’ record for the most UK number one albums by a solo artist. The release reaffirmed the enduring appeal of his catalogue while presenting it through a markedly different musical lens.
