Let Me Entertain You (Robbie Williams song)
Encyclopedia
"Let Me Entertain You" is a song written by Robbie Williams
and Guy Chambers
. Released as the fifth and last single from Williams' debut album, Life Thru A Lens
. It has no connection to the songs by Queen
or Shakespears Sister
carrying the same title. In March 1998, the track became a top three hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number three. The song became Williams' concert opener for most of his shows throughout his career.
The song became a hit in the United Kingdom staying inside the top ten for a month, and being certified Silver, for sales over the 200,000 copies.
This song was heavily featured in the video game Actua Soccer 3
- and, aside from the classical piece played in the opening video, is the only song featured in the game. It was also featured in a UK commercial for the Sega
Dreamcast.
The song is used at the end of the football
match in the movie Mean Machine.
In 2008, the song was performed by Westlife
on their Back Home Tour
.
In 1999, Williams performed the song as the opening act at the Brit Awards
.
, with Williams (pole) dancing and cavorting on stage with a very tight outfit. It also shows clips of him in the makeup department offstage with many groupie
s. The video was directed by Vaughan Arnell
. At the end of the video, Williams looks behind his underpants and looks surprised.
Notably, the song lyrics contain the phrase "shake your ass" (causing people to copy either the language or the "wiggling bottoms" dance moves), which usually remains uncensored on radio stations.
UK CD1
(Released March 16, 1998)
UK CD2
(Released March 16, 1998)
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
and Guy Chambers
Guy Chambers
Guy Chambers is an English songwriter and record producer, perhaps best known for his long partnership with Robbie Williams.- Biography :...
. Released as the fifth and last single from Williams' debut album, Life Thru A Lens
Life thru a Lens
Life Thru a Lens is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was Williams' first solo album following his departure from Take That.-Background:...
. It has no connection to the songs by Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
or Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister
Shakespears Sister/Shakespear's Sister is a British-based synth-pop-rock band formed by Irish-born singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988, with plaudits including a BRIT Award and Ivor Novello Award. It was Fahey's first musical outing since leaving Bananarama, and initially a solo project...
carrying the same title. In March 1998, the track became a top three hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number three. The song became Williams' concert opener for most of his shows throughout his career.
The song became a hit in the United Kingdom staying inside the top ten for a month, and being certified Silver, for sales over the 200,000 copies.
This song was heavily featured in the video game Actua Soccer 3
Actua Soccer
Actua Soccer is a football video game series that was developed by Gremlin Interactive as part of their Actua Sports series, and was the first football game to use full 3D graphics...
- and, aside from the classical piece played in the opening video, is the only song featured in the game. It was also featured in a UK commercial for the Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
Dreamcast.
The song is used at the end of the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
match in the movie Mean Machine.
In 2008, the song was performed by Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
on their Back Home Tour
Back Home Tour
The Back Home Tour is a world tour by Irish boyband, Westlife in support of their 9th studio album, Back Home. The band will be touring the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand....
.
In 1999, Williams performed the song as the opening act at the Brit Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
.
Music video
The video features Williams and his band dressed as members from the band KISSKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, with Williams (pole) dancing and cavorting on stage with a very tight outfit. It also shows clips of him in the makeup department offstage with many groupie
Groupie
A groupie is a person who seeks emotional and sexual intimacy with a musician or other celebrity. "Groupie" is derived from group in reference to a musical group, but the word is also used in a more general sense, especially in casual conversation....
s. The video was directed by Vaughan Arnell
Vaughan Arnell
Vaughan Arnell is a British music videos and television commercials director. Although having done films for high profile clients in the tv commercial field, including Nestlé and Levi's, he is mostly known for his music video work. He is a frequent collaborator of music artist Robbie Williams...
. At the end of the video, Williams looks behind his underpants and looks surprised.
Notably, the song lyrics contain the phrase "shake your ass" (causing people to copy either the language or the "wiggling bottoms" dance moves), which usually remains uncensored on radio stations.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Let Me Entertain You".UK CD1
(Released March 16, 1998)
- "Let Me Entertain You" - 4:24
- "The Full Monty Medley" featuring Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
- 5:28 - "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of ThingI wouldn't normally do this kind of thing"I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" is the third single from Pet Shop Boys' fifth album Very. It was released in the UK by Parlophone Records on where it eventually reached #13 in the chart. It reached #2 in the US Club chart where it was released in...
" - 3:07 - "I Am the Res-Erection" - 3:48
UK CD2
(Released March 16, 1998)
- "Let Me Entertain You" [Full Length Version] - 5:19
- "Let Me Entertain You" [Stretch 'N' Vern's Rock 'N' Roll Mix] - 11:10
- "Let Me Entertain You" [Amethyst's Dub] - 7:47
- "Let Me Entertain You" [Robbie Loves His Mother Mix] - 7:49
- "Let Me Entertain You" [The Bizzarro Mix] - 5:50
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
3 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
13 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 33 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 42 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 46 |
Certifications and sales
| Country | Certification (if any) | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Silver | 300,000+ |