About
Go Mental appears on Under the Radar Vol. 2 and was written by Robbie Williams, Stuart Price, the Atlantic Horns and grime artist Big Narstie. Produced by Price, the song began as a collaboration between Williams’ touring brass section, the Atlantic Horns, and Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx, before being reworked into a high-energy fusion of swing, funk and hip hop. It was released on 29 September 2017 as a pre-order single for the album.
The track pairs Williams’ theatrical bravado with Big Narstie’s sharp-edged rap verses, creating one of the most exuberant and unpredictable moments in his catalogue. The chorus, performed by singer Andrea Grant, was originally intended for Shirley Bassey until a miscommunication led to legal complications when her name was mentioned in the press. Williams later joked that Grant’s powerhouse performance “saved the song.”
Brass-driven and rhythmically explosive, Go Mental was described by Williams as “a song about everything and nothing.” It features playful lyrics about fame and self-parody, with Williams rapping and shouting over a riotous horn section. The song’s exuberant energy and layered production reflect his ongoing fascination with genre-blending and musical excess.
“The lyrics are about everything and nothing. I wanted to meet Big Narstie and work with him. I just called him.”Robbie Williams
The music video, directed by Leo Baron, features Williams performing in front of a brick wall wearing a “Daddy Pig” T-shirt, intercut with surreal scenes of the Atlantic Horns playing their instruments on toilets and Big Narstie delivering his verses. The track’s chaotic humour and confident swagger made it a standout of Under the Radar Vol. 2, praised for its infectious horns and sense of fun reminiscent of Williams’ early big-band experiments.
Lyrics
B B B Bass
Bass
Heli Hai
How Ya Been
Bang bang
Gonna do it big I was born to die but I chose to live
Bang bang
All in your face, walk on in like I own the place
Bang bang
No dignity, I'm gonna lay you out like one two three
Bang bang
I'll tell you boy it's going to be a long summer
how ya been
From the left to the right
To the people down below
Are you having a good time
Or do you just not know
From the front to the back
Sing along with me
Everybody's becoming just a little temperamental
Everybody in the place
Go mental
The world's going crazy
Can't stop it
They've been pulling me, squeezing me, feeling me
And I love it
Go mental
The world's in my head
And it's spinning
The rhythm of life is unkind
But I keep grinning
Go mental
Bass
B B B Bass
Bang bang
I shot you dead, put you down and went to bed
Bang bang
All over town, I cocked it first and then I shot you down
Bang bang
No dignity, I'll be a painful piece in your history
Bang bang
I'll get you boy, it's going to be the longest summer
The world's going crazy
Can't stop it
They've been pulling me, squeezing me, feeling me
And I love it
The world's in my head
And it's spinning
The rhythm of life is unkind
But I keep grinning
The lyrical esta on the comesta siesta
Major league gats like R kelly wearing pinky fiesta
I will open them all up like Iniesta
Man is gonna turn up bass
Bigs that man is gonna burn one bass
Heli hai coz I'm giving them vibes
Rit exit
Peak times
BD BD L
BD BD L
BD L
Man dam man dem raise some fucking hell
The world's going crazy
Can't stop it
They've been pulling me, squeezing me, feeling me
And I love it
Go mental
The world's in my head
And it's spinning
The rhythm of life is unkind
But I keep grinning
Everybody's becoming just a little temperamental
Everybody in the place
Go mental
Credits
-
Vocalist
Robbie Williams -
Songwriter
Big Narstie, Atlantic Horns