Tripping (XXV)

About

Tripping receives a bold and atmospheric reimagining on XXV, arranged by Jules Buckley. Originally released in 2005 on Intensive Care, the song’s hybrid of funk, reggae and pop is reshaped here into an orchestral noir that highlights its hypnotic rhythm and lyrical surrealism.

The XXV version preserves the swaggering groove of the original while introducing heavy brass and deep strings in place of the programmed beats. The low brass instruments add a cinematic menace beneath Williams’s confident vocal, while the high strings enhance the melodic hooks. His voice, now deeper and steadier, brings new texture to the song’s mysterious tone, especially in the falsetto section of the bridge.

Williams has described Tripping as “a vibe and an energy,” written on the bass, and this new arrangement intensifies that foundation. The result feels darker, richer and more dramatic, trading its pop eccentricity for theatrical sophistication. It stands as one of the most distinctive transformations on the album, both recognisable and newly strange.

“It’s a vibe and an energy. I’m proud that I wrote it on the bass — I nearly got that song right.”Robbie Williams

Reinvented with flair, Tripping shows how Williams’s adventurous songwriting adapts effortlessly to orchestral scale. Its blend of rhythm and grandeur exemplifies the ambition at the heart of XXV.