Beyond the Sea

About

Written by Charles Trenet and Jack Lawrence, Beyond the Sea is the English adaptation of Trenet’s 1946 French classic La Mer. Transformed from an ode to the ocean into a romantic ballad of longing, it became a major hit for Bobby Darin in 1959. Robbie Williams closed Swing When You’re Winning with a soaring, cinematic version that pays homage to Darin while showcasing his own vocal warmth and emotional range.

Recorded in Los Angeles with jazz pianist Jim Cox, the track features lush orchestration and sweeping strings that evoke the wide-open horizons of the lyric. Williams’ performance is poised and sincere, his phrasing gliding across the melody with ease. The arrangement subtly references The Sound of Music in its closing bars — a nod, perhaps, to the timeless grandeur of mid-century film musicals.

I wanted it to feel like sailing off into the sunset at the end of a movie. Big, romantic, and a bit of Hollywood magic.Robbie Williams

After the album’s release, Williams’ rendition was chosen to accompany the closing credits of Pixar’s 2003 film Finding Nemo, introducing it to a new generation. The song’s combination of nostalgia and optimism made it a fitting finale for an album steeped in old-school glamour. Beyond the Sea stands as Williams’ final bow on one of his most elegant records — a smooth voyage into the world of classic swing that still feels fresh more than two decades later.