Bon Vivant Redux

About

Bon Vivant Redux appears late in Visions Volume 1, offering a lyrical mix of sophistication and irony. Written by Robbie Williams, Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis, it draws its title from the French phrase for a person who enjoys a sociable, indulgent life. Williams first previewed an early version of the song during a December 2020 Instagram Live, later developing it with his Lufthaus bandmates into this polished album recording. An official lyric video accompanied the release, showcasing its bilingual lyrics and smooth, mid-tempo rhythm.

Unlike much of the record’s minimalism, Bon Vivant Redux leans toward artful pop. The song pairs pulsing synths with gently swung percussion, evoking the sleek intimacy of a European lounge track. Williams sings in both English and French, his phrasing intentionally languid as he delivers lines such as “Je dois faire l’amour avec toi” and “Je n’aime pas les cons.” The mixture of romance and disdain suits the character portrait of the lyric—part seducer, part cynic, a self-aware commentary on fame and pleasure.

Armada Music described the piece as “a study in glamour and isolation,” while French fans embraced it for Williams’s unexpectedly convincing accent. The arrangement remains understated, letting the vocal charisma carry the song, while electronic textures swirl around a wistful chord progression that hints at melancholy beneath the polish.

“Do hit me hard, I don’t want to be loved, but I want it to find me.”Robbie Williams

Elegant and enigmatic, Bon Vivant Redux captures the cosmopolitan side of Visions Volume 1. It finds humour and humanity in self-indulgence, reaffirming Williams’s flair for character-driven songwriting even within the refined electronic world of Lufthaus.