It Takes Two

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It Takes Two concludes the deluxe edition of The Christmas Present. Written by Sylvia Moy and William Stevenson, the song was originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston in 1966, later made famous by Rod Stewart and Tina Turner’s 1990 version. Robbie Williams’s rendition reunites him with Stewart for a good-humoured, high-energy finale.

The track first appeared on Stewart’s 2019 album It Takes Two, with Williams joining as guest vocalist. Its inclusion on Williams’s own Christmas collection symbolises the artists’ friendship and mutual respect, following their duet on Fairy Tales. Produced by Trevor Horn, Rod Stewart and Bernard Edwards, the recording combines classic Motown rhythm with British pop showmanship, its brass and backing vocals evoking the spirit of the original.

Williams and Stewart trade lines and ad-libs throughout, their contrasting tones—Williams’s smooth croon and Stewart’s gravelled rasp—melding into a lively call-and-response. The song closes with playful studio banter, capturing the easy rapport between the two performers. While not a Christmas song in theme, its inclusion adds a celebratory flourish to the album’s end.

“He’s got one of the voices of the ages, and to be on a track with him is a big honour.”Robbie Williams

Critics noted that the duet’s chemistry and sense of fun made it a fitting coda for the project, underlining the cross-generational spirit that runs through The Christmas Present. With It Takes Two, Williams closed his most ambitious seasonal record on a note of camaraderie and classic pop charm.