"Eternity" / "The Road to Mandalay" is the fifth single from English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams' third studio album, Sing When You're Winning (2000). "Eternity" does not appear on the album but was later included on Williams' Greatest Hits album in 2004. The lyrics of "Eternity" were written as a tribute to Williams' close friendship with Geri Halliwell. Brian May of Queen plays electric guitar on the track.
![]() | It has been suggested that this article should be split into articles titled Eternity (Robbie Williams song) and The Road to Mandalay (Robbie Williams song). (discuss) (September 2022) |
"Eternity" / "The Road to Mandalay" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Robbie Williams | ||||
B-side | "Toxic" | |||
Released | 9 July 2001 (2001-07-09)[1] | |||
Studio | Master Rock, Sarm Hook End ("The Road to Mandalay") | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Robbie Williams singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Eternity" on YouTube | ||||
Music video | ||||
"The Road to Mandalay" on YouTube | ||||
Released on 9 July 2001, the double A-side was the 20th-best-selling single of 2001 in the United Kingdom, topping the country's singles chart, and also peaked at number two in Ireland. "Eternity" as a solo single reached number one in New Zealand and became a top-10 hit in eight other countries. Though "Eternity" never appeared on a Robbie Williams studio album, a comedic snippet of the song can be heard in "Outtakes", a hidden track on Swing When You're Winning.
![]() | This section possibly contains original research. (November 2021) |
The video for "The Road to Mandalay" shows Robbie Williams and four friends driving a Jensen FF and a Ford Transit van, alternatively goofing around and scoping out a money transport van and the people who transport the money in Marseille.[2][3][4] When the robbery goes down, Williams and his friends dress with masks covering their faces and run into the transport van with a truck. Holding up a sign with the French words "Ouvrez ou je bute le chien" ("Open or I kill the dog"), and showing the dog of one of the drivers, thus showing they know where to find the driver's family, they quickly move the money to another van, then celebrate while driving off. Williams invites his friends to his new plush house, celebrating with plenty of champagne and cake. The video ends with the van nearly running over an elderly lady, and with Williams waking up startled next to his girlfriend (Australian model Lisa Seiffert).
The video for "Eternity" is a sequel to "The Road to Mandalay". It was directed by Vaughan Arnell. It is mixed with scenes from the first video, which are scenes of Williams and his girlfriend lounging around their house in Spain, playing pool and walking along the beach and jumping on the trampoline. These scenes are also intercut with scenes of Williams and his girlfriend standing opposite each other, looking wistfully at each other. The end of the video shows Williams giving his girlfriend a long parting kiss, then being handcuffed and led away to several waiting Guardia Civil police cars, having been tracked down from clues left at the scene of the robbery.
UK CD and cassette single[5][6]
European CD single[7]
French CD single[8]
Credits are taken from the Greatest Hits album booklet.[9]
Studio
Personnel
Credits are taken from the Sing When You're Winning album booklet.[10]
Studios
Personnel
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Belgium (BEA)[39] | Gold | 25,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] | Gold | 418,000[41] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Robbie Williams singles | |
---|---|
Discography | |
Life thru a Lens | |
I've Been Expecting You |
|
Sing When You're Winning | |
Swing When You're Winning | |
Escapology |
|
Greatest Hits |
|
Intensive Care | |
Rudebox | |
Reality Killed the Video Star |
|
In and Out of Consciousness |
|
Take the Crown | |
Swings Both Ways | |
The Heavy Entertainment Show | |
The Christmas Present | |
Other singles |
|
Featured singles |
|
Other songs |
Authority control ![]() |
|
---|