Rudebox (song)

"Rudebox"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Rudebox
Released	4 September 2006
Format	CD single, digital download
Recorded	2006
Genre	Pop, hip hop
Length	4:45 (Album version) 3:46 (Radio edit)
Label	EMI
Producer(s)	Soul Mekanik
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"Sin Sin Sin" (2006) "Rudebox" (2006) "Kiss Me" (2006)
Alternate cover UK CD2 Music video "Rudebox" on YouTube

"Rudebox" is song by English musician Robbie Williams, from the his seventh studio album of the same name (2006). It is based on a sample from the song "Boops (Here to Go)" by Sly and Robbie. The single was released on 4 September 2006, although download purchases allowed it to reach number 30 on the UK Singles Chart on 3 September. After the release of the CD single, it ascended 26 places to number 4, selling 24,821 copies,^[1] beaten by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland's "Promiscuous", Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" and Scissor Sisters' "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'".

Although the single charted relatively high, Williams was mocked by sections of the tabloid press, who said the single was a failure due to his radical change in direction on the song, with The Sun dubbing it the "worst song ever".^[2] Williams responded to the criticism by joking about it, telling an audience at his concert in Leeds on 8 September that the song was "number one... in Germany" and saying it was "made to feel as welcome as a ginger step child". The track was also nominated for the 2006 Ivor Novello Award.^[3]

In the song Williams makes several cultural references including Adidas, T.K. Maxx (in a joke about product placement, "T.K. Maxx costs less!"), Michael Jackson, Durex condoms, The Matrix and Mandrex. Williams was quoted in September 2006 as saying that "for a box to be rude, the rude must be in a different box - and that took me a long time to realise".^[4]

Chart success

The song had considerable success in Europe, peaking at number two on the Euro Hot 100 singles chart. The single reached number-one in Germany, Italy and Switzerland, and it made the top ten in several other countries around the world.

In the United Kingdom the single debuted at number thirty based on downloads alone; when the single was physically released it climbed to its peak of number four, spending two weeks inside the top ten and nine weeks on the chart overall. Compared to Williams' other singles, it was considered a commercial disappointment.

The song had huge success in Latin America, Mexico in particular. The song was nominated for Song of the Year – International at the Premios Oye!, the Mexican Grammys and won.^[5]

Track listing

UK CD1
(Released 4 September 2006)

1. "Rudebox" (radio edit) – 3:46
2. "Lonestar Rising" – 3:55

UK CD2
(Released 4 September 2006)

1. "Rudebox" (album version) – 4:45
2. "Rudebox" (Soul Mekanik Dub) – 5:55
3. "Rudebox" (Chicken Lips Malfunction) – 8:42
4. "Rudebox" (Chicken Lips Malfunction Dub) – 8:47
5. "Rudebox" (enhanced video)
6. "Rudebox" (interview clip)

UK promo
(Released 21 August 2006)

1. "Rudebox" (clean radio edit)
2. "Rudebox" (dirty radio edit)
3. "Rudebox" (instrumental)

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Argentina (CAPIF)[6]	1
Australia (ARIA)[7]	13
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8]	5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9]	4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10]	17
Denmark (Tracklisten)[11]	3
Europe (Euro Digital Songs)[12]	2
Finland (Latauslista)[13]	2
France (SNEP)[14]	31
Germany (Official German Charts)[15]	1
Ireland (IRMA)[16]	17
Italy (FIMI)[17]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18]	6
Norway (VG-lista)[19]	14
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[20]	69
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[21]	5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22]	16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23]	1
Turkey Top 20[24]	1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[25]	4

References

1. Music Week
2. "Rudebox" named the worst song ever The Sun
3. Ivor Novello Award Archived 25 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
4. Check out our fave sites of the Robster! BBC Stoke, March 2010
5. Oye! Awards 2007 - The Winners Archived 21 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
6. "Robbie Williams Chart Positions". Retrieved 1 April 2015.
7. "Australian-charts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Robbie Williams – Rudebox" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
9. "Ultratop.be – Robbie Williams – Rudebox" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
10. "Ultratop.be – Robbie Williams – Rudebox" (in French). Ultratop 50.
11. "Danishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox". Tracklisten.
12. "Robbie Williams – Candy – Euro Digital Songs". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 2012-11-08.
13. http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Robbie+Williams&titel=Rudebox&cat=s
14. "Lescharts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox" (in French). Les classement single.
15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Robbie Williams – Rudebox". GfK Entertainment Charts.
16. "Chart Track: Week 2, 2006". Irish Singles Chart.
17. "Italiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox". Top Digital Download.
18. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robbie Williams search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox". VG-lista.
20. "Romanian Top 100" Please see "Issue 40" of the year 2006
21. "Spanishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox" Canciones Top 50.
22. "Swedishcharts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox". Singles Top 100.
23. "Swisscharts.com – Robbie Williams – Rudebox". Swiss Singles Chart.
24. Turkish Top 20 Chart Billboard Turkey Archived 5 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
25. "September 2006/ Archive Chart: 9 September 2006" UK Singles Chart.