"Tripping"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Intensive Care
B-side
Released3 October 2005 (2005-10-03)
RecordedJune 2003–May 2005
Studio
GenreReggae
Length
  • 4:36 (album version)
  • 4:03 (radio edit)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Stephen Duffy
  • Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"Misunderstood"
(2004) 		"Tripping"
(2005) 		"Make Me Pure"
(2005)
Music video
"Tripping" on YouTube

"Tripping" is a song by British singer Robbie Williams from his sixth studio album Intensive Care (2005). The single was released as the album's lead single on 3 October 2005 through Chrysalis Records. Backed with the track "Make Me Pure", also from the same album, it was sent to radio stations around the world.

Upon its release, "Tripping" became a global hit, reaching number one in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. It peaked within the top five in more than 10 European countries, including the United Kingdom, where it reached number two and was the 19th best-selling single of 2005. It was also a success in Australia, reaching number seven on the ARIA Singles Chart, and peaked at number 20 in New Zealand.

Background and composition

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Robbie Williams called the song "something like a mini gangster opera" and "kind of cabaret act reggae". The rolling rhythm of the song owes much to the early work of the Clash. During the chorus Williams reaches an extremely high disco-like head voice. Lyrically the song is a bit darker than previous songs. It tells the tale of gangsters and how they "don't kill their own and they all love their mothers", before an anguished chorus of "I've taken as much as I'm willing to take". The opening lyrics "First they ignore you, then laugh at you and hate you. Then they fight you, then you win" is a paraphrase commonly misattributed to Mahatma Gandhi.

Chart performance

The song became a worldwide success for Williams, debuting inside the top 10 in most countries around Europe, including number two in the United Kingdom, spending six weeks inside the top 10 and 15 weeks inside the top 75.[1] The single reached number one in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.[2][3][4] The song also reached number one on the Eurochart Hot 100,[5] becoming Europe's eighth-most-successful song of 2005.[6] In Switzerland, the single was certified Gold for shipments exceeding 20,000 units.[7] In Mexico, the song reached number nine and became the 11th most played track of the year.[8] In Australia, "Tripping" peaked at number seven and went on to sell over 35,000 copies, being certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.[9]

Music video

The video, which was directed by Johan Renck, features Robbie Williams running in place as if he can't seem to get anywhere. It appears that Williams is having a nightmare, in which he is living sometime in the 1950s, and is stuck running endlessly in a maze without ever advancing, or driving in a stereotypical 1950s backdrop. It also includes a baby singing to him some of the chorus, and a pair of lesbian twins in the backseat of his Saab 95. He finds himself trapped in an elevator with a larger person dressed in drag, who unexpectedly suggests engaging in intimate actions. Initially, he attempts to resist, but eventually succumbs to the situation and allows the person to touch him. Right at that moment, Williams awakens, smiles, and gently closes his eyes.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Intensive Care album booklet.[15]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[9] Gold 35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[52] Gold 4,000^
France (SNEP)[53] Gold 200,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[7] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Silver 200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia 3 October 2005 CD Chrysalis [55]
United Kingdom [56]

References

  1. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Robbie Williams – Tripping" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Robbie Williams – Tripping". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 43. 22 October 2005. p. 91. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b "2005 Year in Review – The Top Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 52. 24 December 2005. p. 42. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Tripping')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  8. ^ Mexico's Top 40 of 2006 Archived 5 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  10. ^ Tripping (UK CD1 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2005. CDCHS5158, 0946 340773 2 3.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Tripping (European CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2005. 0946 3 43180 2 0.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Tripping (UK CD2 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2005. CDCHSS5158, 0946 340774 2 2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Tripping (UK DVD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2005. DVDCHS 5158, 00946 340772 9 3.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Tripping (Australian CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2005. 0946 3 44085 2 3.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Intensive Care (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2005. 0946 3 41823 2 4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  17. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  18. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  20. ^ Robbie Williams — Tripping. TopHit. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  21. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 20062 into search. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping". Tracklisten. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  23. ^ "Robbie Williams: Tripping" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  24. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  25. ^ "Top 50 Singles: Eβδομάδα 4–10/12" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 11 December 2005. Retrieved 11 December 2005.
  26. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  27. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  28. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tripping". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  31. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  34. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  35. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  36. ^ "Robbie Williams – Tripping". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  37. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005". ARIA. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  38. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2005" (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  39. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2005" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Rapports annuels 2005" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  41. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2005" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2005" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  43. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2005" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  44. ^ "Classifiche annuali 2005 FIMI Nielsen, dominano gli artisti italiani" (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2021. Click on Scarica l'allegato.
  45. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2005". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2005" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  47. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  48. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2005" (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2020.
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  50. ^ "European Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  51. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2006" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  52. ^ "Guld Og Platin November/December/Januar". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  53. ^ "French single certifications – Robbie Williams – Tripping" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  54. ^ "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Tripping". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  55. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 3rd October 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 3 October 2005. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  56. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 1 October 2005. p. 33.

External links

Robbie Williams singles
Authority control databases
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