"Feel" is a song by British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was released on 2 December 2002 as the lead single from his fifth studio album, Escapology (2002). 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. It also reached number 28 on the U.S. Adult Pop Airplay.
Background
"Feel" was written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. According to Williams, most of the vocals are from the original demo recording from 1999, as he felt unsatisfied with the re-recorded vocals. He commented, "I just couldn't sing it as well as I did on that day."[2]
Chart performance
In the United Kingdom, "Feel" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, spending four weeks inside the top 10.[3] The song topped the charts in Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands. It was also successful in Canada, where it reached the top 10 and spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart.[4] It was the most played song in Europe in 2003.[5] Despite Williams' major success in most of the world, "Feel" failed to reach the US Billboard Hot 100. "Feel" has sold 625,000 copies in the UK as of September 2022.[6]
Music video
The video was directed by Vaughan Arnell and shows Williams in a cowboy-like lifestyle. It gained some attention in the United States thanks to Daryl Hannah's appearance as Williams' love interest. There were two versions of the same video, one shot in black and white and the other in colour and was filmed in Sundre, Alberta, Canada.[citation needed]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
After the release of "Feel", contestant Ricky Ord sang the song in the second season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar for the theme "My Pop Idol", being one of the first contestants eliminated. In Season 8, contestant Ardian Bujupi sang the song for the theme "English v. German". A year later, in 2016, contestants of the tenth season of X Factor Italy sang a medley of "Feel" and "Angels", before being joined by Williams himself to sing his single "Party Like a Russian".[74]
References
^ ab"New Releases – For Week Starting 2 December 2002: Singles". Music Week. 30 November 2002. p. 23.
^"Feel". RobbieWilliams.com. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
^Feel (UK cassette single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2002. TCCHS 5150, 7243 5 51763 4 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Feel (UK DVD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2002. DVDCHS 5150, 7243 4 90313 9 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Feel (European CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2002. 7243 5 51783 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Escapology (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2002. 5439942.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)