Average B-Side

About

Average B-Side accompanied Old Before I Die and remains one of Robbie Williams' strongest early deep cuts. Written with a friend named Kevin King, it captures the free-spirited Britpop energy of the era, mixing jangly guitars with quick-fire lyrics and a dash of self-mockery.

Despite its modest title, the song brims with clever wordplay. Lines like “'Cause she said that you said that I said, she said that I said, the love's dead” and “Rockin' rollercoaster, an emotional ride” show Williams' knack for turning emotional confusion into pop poetry. The song's tone is playful but knowing, poking fun at the drama of failed relationships while recognising his own part in them.

Little is known about Kevin King beyond this collaboration, though the writing credit has prompted speculation that he was the same friend mentioned in Williams' early interviews; a drinking companion from the mid-90s who helped shape some of his first post–Take That material. Whatever the case, the song's loose structure and humorous perspective suggest a session built on spontaneity and fun.

Vocally, Williams pushes his upper range, his voice teetering between confidence and vulnerability. The chorus, full of rhythmic drive, reinforces the idea of emotional turbulence; a “rockin' rollercoaster” that mirrored the unpredictable direction of his career at the time.

Though it never featured on a later compilation or tour setlist, Average B-Side stands out among his early non-album tracks for its energy, wit, and personality. It's an unfiltered glimpse of a young artist learning how to turn chaos and humour into craft and proving, once again, that nothing about his music was ever truly average.