Raver

About

Raver is the second track on Under the Radar Vol. 1, written by Robbie Williams with Tim Metcalfe and Flynn Francis and produced by the same duo. Recorded in Australia during the Swing When You’re Winning tour sessions, the song channels Williams’ fascination with late-1980s and early-1990s club culture. He described it as an ode to venues such as Shelley's in Stoke, Cream in Liverpool and the Hacienda in Manchester, as well as to the youthful hedonism of the British rave scene that he observed from afar as a teenager.

The track opens with shimmering synthesisers and a gradual build before erupting into a driving dance rhythm, reflecting the transition from anticipation to euphoria on a night out. Lyrically, it merges nostalgia with self-awareness, recounting the excitement and recklessness of early rave experiences: “The DJ said, Raver, get off the speaker, you’re blocking the laser for the dance off.” Its sound is both celebratory and melancholic, portraying a longing for lost youth and the intensity of fleeting connections.

Williams performed Raver live at the Under the Radar concert at the Roundhouse in Camden in 2019, where it was received as one of the highlights of the set. He noted that its middle section inspired the later song Shit on the Radio from Take the Crown, after producer Jacknife Lee reworked elements of its melody.

“This song is an ode to Shelley’s in Stoke, Cream in Liverpool, Hacienda in Manchester. Lyrically, probably not the best ode to my drug enthusiasm and rave enthusiasm, but emotionally it will take you there.”Robbie Williams

Raver captures both the hedonistic rush and the reflective aftermath of Williams’ club years, blending humour, energy and emotion in a track that many fans consider one of his most underrated.