Things

About

Originally written and recorded by Bobby Darin in 1962, Things became a transatlantic hit, reaching number two in the UK and number three in the US. Nearly four decades later, Robbie Williams revived the song for Swing When You’re Winning as a playful duet with actress Jane Horrocks, best known for her role as Bubble in Absolutely Fabulous. The collaboration brought together Horrocks’ comic timing and Williams’ relaxed charisma, transforming Darin’s nostalgic pop standard into a charmingly theatrical exchange.

Recorded in London in under two hours, the pair’s chemistry was immediate. Their voices intertwine over a light, shuffling rhythm section and warm brass, evoking a couple reminiscing fondly about past love. Between takes, the two improvised banter that was left on the final mix, giving the recording a spontaneous feel that matched its 1960s innocence.

Jane’s got such brilliant comic timing. It was dead easy. She made the song come alive for me.Robbie Williams

At the Royal Albert Hall concert, Williams and Horrocks re-created the duet’s flirtatious dialogue, blending humour and warmth. The exchange at the song’s close — Horrocks teasing that he wanted her to sound like Kylie, Williams insisting he meant June Whitfield — became one of the show’s funniest moments. Things stands as a highlight of Swing When You’re Winning, a perfect marriage of nostalgia, personality and pure entertainment.