Robbie Williams has opened up about his mental health and being at a very low point when writing one of his most successful songs. The former Take That star has been back in the limelight lately after the release of his biopic ‘Better Man’ in December.
For the Better Man soundtrack album, the singer had to re-record many of his classic songs including Angels, She’s the One and Come Undone. Speaking to Heart, Robbie said he is “always in the future” and “never in the past” but the project for the film was just too important not to give it his all.
He said the finished product was where he ‘gleamed’, after listening to the reimagined songs he said “wow”. The album was a huge success and reached the top spot in January, with the 51-year-old saying many of the songs were better than their original recordings.
The incredible achievement means Robbie now matches The Beatles, who also achieved 15 UK number ones including Please Please Me (1963) and Rubber Soul (1965). Robbie’s first number one album came with his debut album Life Thru A Lens (1997), It entered the chart at number 11 but had to wait almost six months before it reached number one.
When asked about what it is that comes to mind when he hears some of his songs, Robbie told the radio station “when I wrote Feel, I was the most depressed that I’ve ever been. And I guess I was newly sober, when you’re newly sober you’re taking away your medicine.”
The dad-of-four continued: “But when you take away your medicine, you’re left with all the symptoms and you’re left with why you became ill in the first place.” He described the song as himself trying to manifest a better life – something he said he managed to manifest.
The song became an international hit, peaking at number one in the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Romania and reaching the top five in several other countries, including Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Robbie and Ayda Field Williams have been married since 2010. The 45-year-old American actress first met Robbie in 2006 when they were set up on a blind date. They got married in a ceremony at their Beverly Hills home in 2010 with friends and family in attendance.
They share four children together, they have Theodora Rose, 12, Charlton Valentine, nine, Colette Josephine, six, and Beau Benedict, five. In an Instagram post uploaded on January 5, they wished their son Beau a happy birthday. Photos of their home decorated in birthday banners with presents spread across the floor were shared by the proud parents.
A huge helium-filled number five balloon and a Paddington Bear cake was also pictured by Ayda and Robbie. Captioning the post, they said: “Beau…since the day you arrived, you completed us as family in the most profound, beautiful way. Five years later you continue to fill our world with unconditional love and magic. Happy fifth birthday Beau !!! May this be your best year yet!! Mummy and Daddy xx #birthdayboy #happybirthday #lovelyday.”