Supreme (song)

"Supreme"
"Supreme"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Sing When You're Winning
B-side	"Don't Do Love"; "Come Take Me Over";
Released	11 December 2000
Recorded	2000
Studio	Master Rock (North London, England); Sarm Hook End (Reading, England);
Length	4:15
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Robbie Williams; Guy Chambers; Freddie Perren; Dino Fekaris;
Producer(s)	Guy Chambers; Steve Power;
Robbie Williams singles chronology
Music video
	"Supreme" on YouTube

"Supreme" is a song by English singer Robbie Williams for his third studio album, Sing When You're Winning (2000). Chrysalis Records released the song as the third single from the album on 11 December 2000. Commercially, the single reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, topped the charts of Hungary and Poland, and peaked within the top 10 in six additional European countries and New Zealand.

Composition

The bridge of the song contains an interpolation of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". The string instrument part is a François de Roubaix-composed piece from the José Giovanni-directed film Dernier domicile connu starring Lino Ventura and Marlène Jobert. The song was re-recorded in a swing tone and titled "Swing Supreme" for his 2013 album Swings Both Ways.

Chart performance

The song became another success for Robbie Williams, reaching the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, and several other countries. Williams also recorded a French version of the song that was released in France, peaking at number 12 and spending 34 weeks on the French chart, being certified Gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP).^[2]

Music video

The "Supreme" video, titled "Gentlemen racers" as seen in its opening credits, is a tribute to British Formula One driver Jackie Stewart. It was filmed on 11 November 2000.^[3] Williams portrays the fictitious character Bob Williams, a rival driver competing for the 1970s F1 World Championship. Williams eventually crashes his car, makes a surprise recovery, and ultimately loses the title when he gets diarrhoea before a race and is unable to line up on the starting grid due to getting locked into his caravan when the manager thought there was no one in the caravan. An epilogue reveals that Bob Williams went on to become a celebrated blues guitarist while Jackie Stewart won the championship.

The video includes stock footage of Stewart with Williams digitally inserted in many scenes, creating the near-perfect illusion of a neck-and-neck pursuit of the championship title. The video makes extensive use of the split-screen technique as it is often seen in movies from the 1960s and 70s (for instance in the 1966 feature racing movie Grand Prix), and the scenes with Robbie Williams were given a yellowed, grainy image texture in the digital editing process to match the faded look of the original 35mm celluloid footage with Jackie Stewart. As yet another movie cliché, fake newspaper headlines are shown intermittently to help narrate the story.

Track listings

UK CD1 and cassette single^[4]^[5]

"Supreme" – 4:15
"Don't Do Love" – 4:56
"Come Take Me Over" – 4:13

UK CD2^[6]

"Supreme" – 4:15
"United" – 5:56
"Supreme" (recorded live at the Manchester Arena) – 4:18
"Supreme" (filmed live at the Manchester Arena) – 4:08

Australasian CD single^[7]

"Supreme" – 4:15
"United" – 5:56
"Supreme" (live from Manchester) – 4:18
"Don't Do Love" – 4:57
"Come Take Me Over" – 4:11

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Sing When You're Winning album booklet.^[8]

Studios

Recorded at Master Rock Studios (North London, England) and Sarm Hook End (Reading, England)
Mixed at Battery Studios (London, England)
Mastered at Metropolis Mastering (London, England)

Personnel

Robbie Williams – writing, lead vocals
Guy Chambers – writing, all keyboards, production, arrangement
Freddie Perren – writing
Dino Fekaris – writing
Claire Worrall – backing vocals
Crystal Adams – backing vocals
Marielle Hervé – backing vocals
Neil Taylor – acoustic and electric guitars
Phil Spalding – bass guitar
Chris Sharrock – ambient drum kit
Andy Duncan – drum programming
Richard Flack – drum programming, Pro Tools
Tony Pleeth – string loop
Paul Kegg – string loop
Richard Boothby – string loop
Richard Campbell – string loop
The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
Gavyn Wright – concertmaster
Nick Ingman – orchestration
Isobel Griffiths – orchestral contractor
Steve Price – orchestral engineering
Steve Power – production, mixing
Tony Cousins – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

2000–2001 weekly chart performance for "Supreme"
Chart (2000–2001)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[9]	14
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[10]	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11]	29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[12]	4
Croatia (HRT)^[13]	3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[14]	7
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[15]	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[16]	16
France (SNEP)^[17]	12
Germany (GfK)^[18]	14
Hungary (Mahasz)^[19]	1
Ireland (IRMA)^[20]	10
Italy (FIMI)^[21]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[22]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[23]	16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[24]	3
Norway (VG-lista)^[25]	11
Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)^[26]	1
Scotland (OCC)^[27]	4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[28]	14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[29]	4
UK Singles (OCC)^[30]	4

2024 weekly chart performance for "Supreme"
Chart (2024)	Peak position
Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit)^[31]	91

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[32]	85
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[33]	28
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[34]	30
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[35]	27
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[36]	2
France (SNEP)^[37]	42
Germany (Official German Charts)^[38]	88
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[39]	55
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[40]	35
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[41]	45

Chart (2024)	Position
CIS Airplay (TopHit)^[42]	185

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)^[43]	Gold	25,000^*
France (SNEP)^[44]	Gold	250,000^*
United Kingdom (BPI)^[45]	Silver	200,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "New Releases – For Week Starting December 11, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 December 2000. p. 27. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
^ "Disque En France – Gold". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
^ "Robbie Williams | 'Supreme' | Inserting Bob Williams". YouTube. 15 February 2011.
^ Supreme (UK CD1 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. CDCHS5120, 7243 889781 2 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Supreme (UK cassette single sleeve). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. TCCHS5120, 7243 889781 4 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Supreme (UK CD2 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. CDCHSS 5120, 7243 889781 0 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Supreme (Australasian CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records, EMI Records. 2000. 8897842, 7243 8 89784 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Sing When You're Winning (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. 7243 5 28125 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in French). Ultratop 50.
^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 4 February 2001. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 5. 27 January 2001. p. 34. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
^ "EHR Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 10. 3 March 2001. p. 18. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
^ "Robbie Williams: Supreme" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in French). Les classement single.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "Mahasz Top 20 Rádiós Slágerlista" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Archived from the original on 8 April 2001. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Supreme". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme". VG-lista.
^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 17 October 2007.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Singles Top 100.
^ "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
^ "Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Weekly Chart: Dec 5, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001". ARIA. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 7 February 2020.
^ "Rapports Annuels 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. 22 December 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Radio 2001 p.17" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2000" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
^ "End of Year Charts 2001". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 7 February 2020.
^ "Top Radio Hits Global Annual Chart: 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2001". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
^ "French single certifications – Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
^ "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Supreme". British Phonographic Industry.

[1] "New Releases – For Week Starting December 11, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 December 2000. p. 27. Retrieved 7 August 2021.

[Disque_En_France_-_Gold-2] "Disque En France – Gold". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.

[3] "Robbie Williams | 'Supreme' | Inserting Bob Williams". YouTube. 15 February 2011.

[4] Supreme (UK CD1 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. CDCHS5120, 7243 889781 2 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[5] Supreme (UK cassette single sleeve). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. TCCHS5120, 7243 889781 4 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[6] Supreme (UK CD2 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. CDCHSS 5120, 7243 889781 0 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[7] Supreme (Australasian CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records, EMI Records. 2000. 8897842, 7243 8 89784 2 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[8] Sing When You're Winning (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 2000. 7243 5 28125 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Australia_Robbie_Williams-9] "Robbie Williams – Supreme". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[austria-10] "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Flanders_Robbie_Williams-11] "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[sc_Wallonia_Robbie_Williams-12] "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in French). Ultratop 50.

[13] "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 4 February 2001. Retrieved 14 February 2024.

[14] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 5. 27 January 2001. p. 34. Retrieved 9 February 2020.

[15] "EHR Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 10. 3 March 2001. p. 18. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

[sc_Finland_Robbie_Williams-16] "Robbie Williams: Supreme" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 26 February 2014.

[sc_France_Robbie_Williams-17] "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in French). Les classement single.

[sc_Germany_Robbie_Williams-18] "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

[19] "Mahasz Top 20 Rádiós Slágerlista" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Archived from the original on 8 April 2001. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

[sc_Ireland2_-20] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Supreme". Irish Singles Chart.

[sc_Italy_Robbie_Williams-21] "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2 January 2021.

[sc_Dutch40_-22] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.

[sc_Dutch100_Robbie_Williams-23] "Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_New_Zealand_Robbie_Williams-24] "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_Robbie_Williams-25] "Robbie Williams – Supreme". VG-lista.

[26] "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 17 October 2007.

[sc_Scotland_-27] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

[sc_Sweden_Robbie_Williams-28] "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Switzerland_Robbie_Williams-29] "Robbie Williams – Supreme". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_UK_-30] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

[31] "Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Weekly Chart: Dec 5, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

[32] "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001". ARIA. Retrieved 2 January 2021.

[33] "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 7 February 2020.

[34] "Rapports Annuels 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 February 2020.

[35] "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. 22 December 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 9 February 2020.

[36] "Eurochart Hot 100 Radio 2001 p.17" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 12 September 2022.

[37] "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2000" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 2 January 2021.

[38] "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.

[39] "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

[40] "End of Year Charts 2001". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 9 February 2020.

[41] "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 7 February 2020.

[42] "Top Radio Hits Global Annual Chart: 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 19 January 2025.

[BelgiumRobbie_WilliamsSupremesingleCertRef-43] "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2001". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 August 2022.

[FranceRobbie_WilliamsSupremesingleCertRef-44] "French single certifications – Robbie Williams – Supreme" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.

[United_KingdomRobbie_WilliamsSupremesingleCertRef-45] "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – Supreme". British Phonographic Industry.

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