Antmusic

About

Antmusic was released on 30 November 1998 as a double A-side with No Regrets. Originally written by Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni for Adam and the Ants, the song first appeared in 1980 and became one of the defining hits of the UK post-punk era. Williams’s version, recorded with Guy Chambers, offered a high-energy update that paid tribute to its new wave origins while introducing a heavier, more modern rock production.

The cover was featured in the UK trailer for the Disney Pixar film A Bug’s Life and performed live on TFI Friday, though no official music video was produced. Williams retained the rebellious tone of the original, delivering the lyrics — “Unplug the jukebox and do us all a favour” — with tongue-in-cheek swagger. His vocal performance channels both admiration and playfulness, while Chambers’s arrangement keeps the signature drum rhythm that defined Adam and the Ants’ sound.

Critics noted the confident reinterpretation, which bridged the gap between 1980s art-pop and late-1990s Britpop. Although not a charting single in its own right, Antmusic demonstrated Williams’s ability to reimagine iconic material without losing his own personality. It also underscored his growing ease with rock stylings that would reappear on later tracks such as Let Me Entertain You.

I loved the attitude of Adam and the Ants. Covering Antmusic was like paying respect to the start of British pop mischief.Robbie Williams