# Feel (Robbie Williams song)

"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. In the United States, it reached number 28 on the Billboard Adult Top 40.

## 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."

## Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Feel" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, spending four weeks inside the top 10. 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. It was the most played song in Europe in 2003. 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.

## 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.

## Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Escapology album booklet.
Recording
* Recorded in Los Angeles and London
* Mixed at The Record Plant (Los Angeles)
* Mastered at Marcussen Mastering (Los Angeles)
Personnel
* Robbie Williams – writing, lead vocals
* Guy Chambers – writing, bass synthesizer, production, arrangement, orchestral arrangement
* Gary Nuttall – backing vocals, picky guitar
* Zenia Santini – backing vocals
* Anne Skates – directing (gospel choir)
* Fil Eisler – slide guitars
* Neil Taylor – slide guitars
* Phil Spalding – bass
* Andy Wallace – piano
* Dave Clayton – synthesizers
* Jeremy Stacey – drums
* Jony Rockstar – drum loops
* Richard Flack – drum loops, engineering, programming
* The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
* Gavyn Wright – concertmaster
* Nick Ingman – orchestral arrangement
* Sally Herbert – orchestral arrangement
* Steve Price – orchestral engineering
* Tom Jenkins – assistant orchestral engineering
* Isobel Griffiths – orchestral contracting
* Jim Brumby – programming, additional engineering
* Steve Power – production, mixing
* J.D. Andrew – assistant mixing
* Steve Marcussen – mastering

## Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Feel" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000$^^$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 15,000$^*$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 250,000$^*$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000$^^$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 15,000$^^$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 20,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 625,000 |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release dates and formats for "Feel" :
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| Australia | 2 December 2002 | CD | Chrysalis |
| Europe | 2 December 2002 | CD | Chrysalis |
| United Kingdom | 2 December 2002 | CDDVDcassette | Chrysalis |
| Belgium | 4 December 2002 | CDDVDmaxi CD | Chrysalis |
| Canada | 10 December 2002 | CD | ChrysalisEMI |
| United States | 17 February 2003 | Hot adult contemporary radio | Virgin |

## Film version

For the 2024 autobiographical film Better Man, Williams trades vocals with Carter J. Murphy, who provides his voice as a child.

## Cover versions

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".