South of the Border (Robbie Williams song)

1997 single by Robbie Williams

"South of the Border"

Single by Robbie Williams
from the album  Life thru a Lens
B-side| "Cheap Love Song"
Released| 15 September 1997 (1997-09-15)[1]
Studio| Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
Length|

* 3:53 (album version)
* 3:40 (single version)

Label| Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)|

* Robbie Williams
* Guy Chambers

Producer(s)|

* Guy Chambers
* Steve Power

Robbie Williams singles chronology
| "Lazy Days"
(1997)  | "South of the Border"
(1997)  | "Angels"
(1997)

|
|

Music video
"South of the Border" on YouTube

"South of the Border" is a song by English recording artist Robbie Williams, released as the third single from his debut studio album, Life thru a Lens (1997). The song reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart, his only single to miss the top 10 until "Sin Sin Sin" in 2006. This was the only Life Thru a Lens single that did not appear on Williams' Greatest Hits album (2004).

## Background

[edit]

According to his home page, at the last second, Williams changed his mind and made this his single. This explains why the video is uncohesive and mostly a performance shoot. Williams has stated that the song was inspired by Kate Moss, giving way to the opening line "I know a freaky young lady name of cocaine Katie" (the line is changed to "no shame Katie" on the single version). After a few relatively unknown songs parallel to Gary Barlow's career and "South of the Border" failing, many thought this was the end of Williams.[2]

## Critical reception

[edit]

A reviewer from Music Week rated the song three out of five, adding that "though fairly flat in its radio version, this single will only benefit from the superior house and garage mixes getting the play in clubs."[3] The magazine's Martin Aston described it as "a touch of the funky Black Grapes and bluesy Ocean Colour Scene", "with lippy, declamatory vocals."[4] Claudia Connell from News of the World felt that the song "is powerful and up-beat, in contrast to the more relaxed [previous single] Lazy Days. There are clear rap influences-Robbie's own favourite music-and a mean and moody edge to his vocals. Taken from the forthcoming album Life Thru' A Lens, Robbie has shown that, unlike some of his former Take That colleagues, he isn't afraid to develop and move on."[5]

## Track listings

[edit]

* UK CD1[6]

1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
2. "Cheap Love Song" – 4:10
3. "South of the Border" (187 Lockdown's Borderline Mix) – 6:11
4. "South of the Border" (Phil 'the Kick Drum' Dance + Matt Smith's Nosebag Dub) – 8:31

* UK CD2[7]

1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
2. "South of the Border" (Mother's Milkin' It mix) – 7:08
3. "South of the Border" (Phil' the Kick Drum' Dance + Matt Smith's Filthy Funk vocal remix) – 8:31
4. "South of the Border" (187 Lockdown's Southside dub) – 6:11
5. "South of the Border" (Shango + Danny Howells' the Unknown DJ's Meet Cocaine Katie mix) – 9:31

* UK cassette single[8]

1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
2. "Cheap Love Song" – 4:10

* European CD single[9]

1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
2. "South of the Border" (Mother's Milkin' It mix) – 7:08

* European maxi-CD single[10]

1. "South of the Border" – 3:40
2. "South of the Border" (Mother's Milkin' It mix) – 7:08
3. "South of the Border" (187 Lockdown's Borderline mix) – 6:12
4. "Cheap Love Song" – 4:10

|

## Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are taken from the Life thru a Lens album booklet.[11]

Studios

* Recorded at Matrix Maison Rouge (London, England)
* Mixed at Battery Studios (London, England)

Personnel

* Robbie Williams – writing, vocals, backing vocals
* Guy Chambers – writing, guitar, keyboards, production, arrangement
* Gary Nuttall – backing vocals, guitar
* Fil Eisler – guitar, bass
* Mark Smith – bass, programming
* Chris Sharrock – drums
* Andy Duncan – percussion
* Mark Feltham – harmonica
* Steve Power – production, mixing, programming
* Jim Brumby – Battery Studios assistant
* Matt Hay – Matrix Maison Rouge assistant

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1997)  | Peak
position

|

Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] | 74
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[13] | 7
Scotland (OCC)[14] | 11
UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 14

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 13 September 1997. p. 33. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
2. ^ "Robbie Williams". robbiewilliams.com.
3. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 September 1997. p. 49. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
4. ^ Aston, Martin (13 September 1997). "Robbie Williams – Painful Journey to a New Sound And Image" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
5. ^ Connell, Claudia (14 September 1997). "Single review; Music". News of the World.
6. ^ South of the Border (UK CD1 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHSS 5068, 7243 8 84666 2 2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. ^ South of the Border (UK CD2 liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHS 5068, 7243 8 84668 2 0.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. ^ South of the Border (UK cassette single sleeve). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. TCCHSS 5068, 7243 8 84666 4 6.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. ^ South of the Border (European CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. 7243 8 84723 2 6.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. ^ South of the Border (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. 7243 8 84725 2 4.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. ^ Life thru a Lens (UK CD album booklet). Robbie Williams. Chrysalis Records. 1997. CDCHR 6127, 7243 8 21313 2 8.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 40\. 4 October 1997. p. 13. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
13. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 43\. 25 October 1997. p. 23.
14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 December 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Robbie Williams singles

Discography

Life thru a Lens|

* "Old Before I Die"
* "Lazy Days"
* "South of the Border"
* "Angels"
* "Let Me Entertain You"

I've Been Expecting You|

* "Millennium"
* "No Regrets"
* "Strong"
* "She's the One" / "It's Only Us"
* "Win Some Lose Some"

Sing When You're Winning|

* "Rock DJ"
* "Kids"
* "Supreme"
* "Let Love Be Your Energy"
* "The Road to Mandalay"
* "Better Man"

Swing When You're Winning|

* "Somethin' Stupid"
* "Mr. Bojangles/I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen"

Escapology|

* "Feel"
* "Come Undone"
* "Something Beautiful"
* "Sexed Up"

Greatest Hits|

* "Radio"
* "Misunderstood"
* "Eternity"

Intensive Care|

* "Tripping"
* "Make Me Pure"
* "Advertising Space"
* "Sin Sin Sin"

Rudebox|

* "Rudebox"
* "Kiss Me"
* "Lovelight"
* "Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus"
* "She's Madonna"

Reality Killed the Video Star|

* "Bodies"
* "You Know Me"
* "Morning Sun"

In and Out of Consciousness|

* "Shame"

Take the Crown|

* "Candy"
* "Different"
* "Be a Boy"

Swings Both Ways|

* "Go Gentle"
* "Dream a Little Dream"
* "Shine My Shoes"

The Heavy Entertainment Show|

* "Party Like a Russian"
* "Love My Life"
* "Mixed Signals"

The Christmas Present|

* "Time for Change"
* "Can't Stop Christmas"

Other singles|

* "Freedom"
* "Close My Eyes"

Featured singles|

* "My Culture"
* "Goin' Crazy"
* "The Days"
* "Forbidden Road"

Other songs|

* "I Wan'na Be Like You"
* "Beyond the Sea"

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template