Eternity (Orchestral Version)

About

Written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, Eternity (Orchestral Version) appeared as a B-side to Something Stupid in December 2001. Reimagined with a full orchestral arrangement by Vince Mendoza and mixed by Al Schmitt, the track transforms one of Williams’ most intimate ballads into a cinematic statement. The original single, released earlier that year, had reached number one in the UK; this orchestral version reinterprets its reflective tone with grandeur and grace.

The new recording opens with a harp introduction and sweeping strings, lending a filmic quality that underscores the song’s lyrical tenderness. Williams re-recorded his vocal to match the revised tempo and phrasing, giving a warmer and more mature performance than on the original. The lush orchestration brings out the song’s romantic optimism — “Youth is wasted on the young, before you know it’s come and gone too soon” — while the arrangement amplifies its emotional scale.

I love the song, and with an orchestra it just becomes something else. It’s like it’s breathing in a different way.Robbie Williams

Though released quietly, this version has become a favourite among collectors and fans of Williams’ swing era. Its blend of intimacy and orchestral sweep bridges the transition between the introspective pop of Sing When You’re Winning and the lush ambition of Swing When You’re Winning. The result is an elegant reinterpretation that captures both the vulnerability and confidence of a songwriter at his creative peak.