Bodies (XXV)

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Bodies was reinterpreted for XXV with a sweeping orchestral arrangement by Steve Sidwell. First released in 2009 as the lead single from Reality Killed the Video Star, the song’s spiritual questions and pulsing rhythm are reimagined here through a grand, cinematic lens.

Sidwell expands on the original’s string section, building layers of horns and woodwinds that replace its electronic beat with symphonic energy. The iconic Gregorian-style chant remains, anchoring the track’s mystique, while the arrangement grows more stately as it progresses. Williams’s vocal, sung in a slightly lower register, conveys calm assurance rather than urgency, adding new perspective to a lyric once charged with existential doubt.

The orchestral version emphasises the song’s contrasts—its blend of faith, scepticism and self-reflection—by stripping back production effects in favour of organic instrumentation. The line “If Jesus didn’t die for you, then what are you on?” becomes more contemplative than confrontational, its meaning reframed by age and experience.

“The orchestra gives these frequencies that are angelic and godlike, and it gives import to what could otherwise be throwaway pop records.”Robbie Williams

In its XXV form, Bodies evolves from a modern pop anthem into an introspective symphonic piece. The transformation reveals the depth within one of Williams’s most enigmatic songs and reaffirms the reflective spirit that defines XXV.