Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'aime Plus

About

Bongo Bong and Je Ne T’aime Plus was produced by Mark Ronson and features guest vocals by Lily Allen. The medley appeared on Rudebox in 2006 and reimagines two songs written by French-Spanish artist Manu Chao. Williams first heard Chao’s 1999 version of “Bongo Bong” and was captivated by its eccentricity and rhythm, later describing it as “cheeky and very me.”

The track fuses Chao’s Latin-ska groove with Ronson’s funk-infused production, anchored by a playful bassline and syncopated percussion. Williams and Allen trade verses in English and French, turning the song into a carefree duet that balances humour and melancholy. Allen’s light, conversational vocal contrasts Williams’s swaggering tone, adding warmth to the reinterpretation.

“King of the Bongo to me is like an unwritten Disney film – cheeky, amazing, and very Robbie Williams.”Robbie Williams

In the final section, Williams segues into Je Ne T’aime Plus (“I Don’t Love You Anymore”), keeping the bilingual theme that runs throughout Rudebox. The mix of French and English lyrics gives the song a cosmopolitan flair while maintaining the album’s experimental pop spirit.

Though not released as a single, Bongo Bong and Je Ne T’aime Plus became a fan favourite for its spontaneity and for highlighting the early collaborations between Williams, Ronson and Allen – three British artists whose combined styles would shape mainstream pop in the years that followed.