| "Morning Sun" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byRobbie Williams | ||||
| from the albumReality Killed the Video Star | ||||
| B-side | "Elastik"[2] | |||
| Released | 8 March 2010[1] | |||
| Recorded | June 2009 London, United Kingdom | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 4:06 (album version) 3:50 (radio edit) 3:55 (music video) | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Trevor Horn | |||
| Robbie Williams singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Morning Sun" onYouTube | ||||
"Morning Sun" is the third and final officialsingle from British singer-songwriterRobbie Williams' eighth studio album,Reality Killed the Video Star. It was released on 8 March 2010, and it is the officialcharity single forSport Relief 2010.[3] Written around the time of pop starMichael Jackson's death, the song was originally meant to be a tribute to the late star, co-written byDon Black who wrote Jackson's 1972 song "Ben". However, Williams later commented that it was more about himself. The phrase "morning sun" has a connection to Jackson; used as a lyric both inThe Jackson 5 1970 song, "Can I See You in the Morning?" and "Baby Be Mine" from the albumThriller (1982).
"Morning Sun" was initially penned for Williams by Richard Scott and Scott Ralph, Williams tried to re-write some of the lyrics to fit towards a perspective of his own interpretation.The Death of Michael Jackson helped Williams overcomewriter's block.[4] According toChris Heath's 2017 Williams biography, Reveal: Robbie Williams, the song was inspired by an affinity Williams had with Jackson andprescription drugs: "[That] hit me", Williams stated: "And how close I must have come to being in the same place. And that scared me".[5]
The music video for the single was directed by Vaughan Arnell and filmed atUniversal Studios Hollywood.[6] It shows Williams as anastronaut on a mission in theInternational Space Station.
UK websiteDigital Spy gave the song three stars out of five and commented that: "[Morning Sun] is a bit like something from mid-'90s Britpoppers Electrasy – a straightforward trad-rock song complete with metronomic piano chords, swooning strings and the rest. Two minutes in, it gets close enough to 'I Am the Walrus' forGeorge Martin to consider giving his lawyer a bell. Sure, it's the most adventurous release of Williams's career, but it's pleasant to its bones and the lyrics have just enough about them to avoid the trap of self-regarding introspection that marred the likes of 'Strong' and 'Come Undone' in the past."[7]
Williams performed the song on 23 January 2010 at theNRJ Music Awards where he also received two awards for International Male Artist of the Year and the NRJ Award of Honour.[8] "Morning Sun" was performed on 13 February 2010 (Williams' 36th birthday) on the UK TV showSo You Think You Can Dance.[9] The song was also performed as part of a greatest hits medley at the2010 Brit Awards where Williams won the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Music Award on 16 February.[10] "Morning Sun" was performed by Williams at the 2010Echo Awards inBerlin on 4 March, where he won the award for Best International Male Artist.[11] He performed the single yet again on appeal night for Sport Relief 2010.
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] | 57 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] | 12 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] | 27 |
| CIS Airplay (TopHit)[15] | 117 |
| Europe (European Hit Radio)[16] | 10 |
| Germany (Gfk)[17] | 32 |
| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[18] | 27 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] | 75 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 45 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week)[20] | 2 |
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Italy Airplay (EarOne)[21] | 48 |
