Strong

About

Written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, Strong was released as the third single from I've Been Expecting You on 15 March 1999. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and earned a silver certification, selling more than 200,000 copies. The song was inspired by Williams’ uneasy relationship with fame and his early encounters with obsessive fans during his solo breakthrough.

Williams conceived the song in a Cologne hotel room after waking Chambers at 4am to write, reportedly fuelled by red wine. The pair completed it within an hour. Lyrically, the song balances humour and vulnerability, exploring the pressures of public scrutiny and self-destructive coping mechanisms. Williams later said the lyrics were a message to fans who “scared the living daylights” out of him, urging them to understand his fear rather than mistake it for arrogance.

Strong became a live favourite, often performed with mass audience participation. At his 2003 Knebworth shows, Williams invited the crowd to sing the chorus, setting a world record for the largest karaoke event at the time. The song won the 2000 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

I just wanted them to understand I wasn’t being rude, but I was feeling scared of everything.Robbie Williams

The video, directed by Simon Hilton, juxtaposes footage of Williams performing with candid glimpses of his chaotic life on tour, reflecting the tension between his public persona and private struggles. Its mix of raw backstage material and nostalgic clips contributed to the song’s enduring appeal as one of Williams’ most candid early works.