Strong (XXV)

About

Strong is reimagined on XXV with an orchestral arrangement by Jules Buckley. Originally released in 1999 on I’ve Been Expecting You, the song was written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers as a defiant anthem about fame, insecurity and resilience. Its new recording maintains that raw honesty while showcasing the maturity in Williams’s voice and delivery.

In the XXV version, the arrangement trades the original’s indie guitar swagger for strings, brass and a rhythm section that gives the track a soulful pulse. The orchestral layers highlight the song’s balance between bravado and vulnerability, while Williams’s lower vocal register lends it a reflective weight. Subtle funk touches in the bass and percussion replace some of the original grit, turning defiance into quiet determination.

The transformation underscores the lyric’s enduring relevance: “My breath smells of a thousand fags, and when I’m drunk I dance like me dad.” Once a brash confession of youth, it now reads as a knowing wink from an older, self-assured performer revisiting his younger self with affection rather than angst.

“I look at my old songs with more love. It’s a relief to admire them instead of hating and despising them.”Robbie Williams

By emphasising melody and orchestral richness over attitude, Strong gains a new dignity on XXV. It stands as a bridge between rebellion and reflection, celebrating how Williams’s most personal songs continue to evolve with him.