1997 song covered by Robbie Williams
"She's the One " is a song by the British rock bandWorld Party . It was written and produced byKarl Wallinger for World Party's fourth studio album,Egyptology (1997). It won anIvor Novello Award in 1997.[ 2]
The English singerRobbie Williams recorded a cover of "She's the One" for his second album,I've Been Expecting You (1998). In November 1999, it reached number one on theUK singles chart . It wascertified platinum .
World Party version [ edit ] "She's the One" was written byKarl Wallinger for World Party's fourth studio album,Egyptology (1997).[ 3] The keyboardist,Guy Chambers , felt it was unfinished, likening it to ademo , and said it was "thrown together in one night".[ 4] The song won anIvor Novello Award in 1997.[ 2]
Robbie Williams version [ edit ] Without Wallinger's knowledge, the English singerRobbie Williams recorded a version with Chambers and Wallinger's touring band.[ 4] It was included on his 1998 albumI've Been Expecting You and released as a single on 8 November 1999.[ 6] [ 7] It was Williams's second ballad after the success of his 1997 single "Angels ". After "Millennium ", it was his second number one on theUK singles chart on 14 November, and became one of Williams's signature songs.[ 7]
"She's the One" won awards including2000 Brit Awards forBritish Single of the Year andBritish Video of the Year in 2000 and Capital Radio Award for Best Single.[citation needed ] In 2022, theGuardian criticAlexis Petridis named "She's the One" the 11th-greatest Robbie Williams song, writing: “It's a great song, but Williams's less fragile, lessBeatles -y take turned it into the kind of single that goes platinum."[ 8]
Wallinger was irritated that his band and Williams had recorded a version without his knowledge and that Williams had changed the lyrics. However, he said it had made him a large amount in royalties, which were helpful after he suffered ananeurysm in 2001.[ 3]
In the video, Williams is a coach to an ice skating couple, portrayed byPamela O'Connor andJonathon O'Dougherty . When the male skater gets injured during practice, Williams takes his place for the final and gets the highest scores. The video ends with Williams and the female skater celebrating with the male skater, who had been watching from the sidelines. Philip Woods, a 10-year-old figure skater fromChelmsford , played the young Williams in a flashback.[citation needed ] The UK version features commentary byBarry Davies .[ 9]
UK CD1 [ 10]
"It's Only Us" – 2:50 "She's the One" – 4:18 "Coke & Tears" – 4:24 "It's Only Us" (video) UK CD2 [ 11]
"She's the One" – 4:18 "It's Only Us" – 2:50 "Millennium " (live atSlane Castle ) – 4:40 "She's the One" (video) UK cassette single [ 12]
"She's the One" – 4:18 "It's Only Us" – 2:50 "Millennium" (live at Slane Castle) – 4:40 Credits and personnel [ edit ] Credits are taken from theI've Been Expecting You album booklet.[ 13]
Studio
Personnel
Chart (1999) Position Europe (European Hit Radio)[ 37] 85 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[ 38] 191 UK Singles (OCC)[ 39] 48 UK Airplay (Music Week )[ 40] 17
^ "New Releases: Albums".Music Week . 14 June 1997. p. 43. ^a b Cassidy, Andy (7 October 2012)."World Party: Interview with Karl Wallinger" . pennymusic.co.uk. Archived fromthe original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved30 October 2013 . ^a b Graeme, Thomson (15 August 2012)."Karl Wallinger: The song that saved my bacon" .The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved23 February 2025 . ^a b McNair, James (12 March 2024)."Karl Wallinger remembered: 'Music is the greatest thing for me, because it takes me somewhere that it's safe to be.' " .Mojo . Retrieved23 February 2025 . ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 8 November, 1999: Singles" (PDF) .Music Week . 6 November 1999. p. 31. Retrieved26 July 2021 .^ "1,000 Number ones: A chart history" .BBC News . 23 November 2013. Retrieved19 August 2025 .^a b "Number 1 today in 1999: Robbie Williams – She's The One" .Official Charts . 14 November 2014. Retrieved24 February 2025 .^ Petridis, Alexis (25 August 2022)."Robbie Williams' 20 greatest songs – ranked!" .The Guardian .ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved24 February 2025 .^ Stevenson, Andy (29 January 2015)."Vox in the Box: Barry Davies" .The Set Pieces . Retrieved7 November 2021 . ^ It's Only Us / She's the One (UK CD1 liner notes).Chrysalis Records . 1999. CDCHSS5112, 7243 8 87913 0 4.^ She's the One / It's Only Us (UK CD2 liner notes). Chrysalis Records. 1999. CDCHS 5112, 7243 8 87914 0 3.^ She's the One / It's Only Us (UK cassette single sleeve). Chrysalis Records. 1999. TCCHS 5112, 7243 887913 4 2.^ I've Been Expecting You (UK CD album booklet). Chrysalis Records. 1998. 497 8372.^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One " (in German).Ö3 Austria Top 40 . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One " (in Dutch).Ultratop 50 . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One " (in French).Ultratop 50 . ^ "Hitparada radia – 8/2000" (in Czech).IFPI CR . Archived fromthe original on 3 March 2000. Retrieved6 February 2021 .^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF) .Music & Media . Vol. 16, no. 48. 27 November 1999. p. 11. Retrieved27 May 2020 .^ "EHR Top 50" (PDF) .Music & Media . Vol. 16, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. 16. Retrieved10 April 2024 .^ "Robbie Williams: She's the One " (in Finnish).Musiikkituottajat . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One " (in French).Le classement de singles . ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts " (in German).GfK Entertainment charts . To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF) .Music & Media . Vol. 16, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. 9. Retrieved27 May 2020 .^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (4.11 – 11.11 1999)" .Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 5 November 1999. p. 10. Retrieved6 October 2019 .^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – She's the One ".Irish Singles Chart . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One ".Top Digital Download . ^ "The most popular songs in Latvia " (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. 26 December 1999. Retrieved3 September 2024 .^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1999 " (in Dutch).Dutch Top 40 . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One " (in Dutch).Single Top 100 . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One / It's Only Us ".Top 40 Singles . ^ "Los Discos Más Vendicos En Iberoamérica y Estados Unidos" .El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 2000. Archived fromthe original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved6 February 2023 .^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 13/11/1999 – Top 100 ".Official Charts Company . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One ".Singles Top 100 . ^ "Robbie Williams – She's the One ".Swiss Singles Chart . ^ "Official Singles Chart on 20/11/1999 – Top 100 ".Official Charts Company . ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF) .Music Week . 13 November 1999. p. 21. Retrieved27 April 2024 .^ "European Radio 1999" (PDF) .Music & Media . Vol. 17, no. 1. 1 January 2000. p. 13. Retrieved18 June 2021 .^ "Jaarlijsten 1999" (in Dutch).Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved11 May 2022 .^ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100".Music Week . London, England. 22 January 2000. p. 27. ^ "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF) .Music Week . 22 January 2000. p. 31. Retrieved24 April 2022 .^ "Most Broadcast of 2000: Airplay Top 50" (PDF) .Music Week . 20 January 2001. p. 31. Retrieved24 April 2022 .^ "Italian single certifications – Robbie Williams – She The One" (in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved19 September 2024 .^ "New Zealand single certifications – Robbie Williams – She's The One" . Radioscope. Retrieved23 January 2026 .Type She's The One in the "Search:" field and press Enter. ^ "Robbie Williams' Official Top 40 Biggest Dingles in the UK Revealed" .Official Charts Company . Retrieved13 September 2022 .^ "British single certifications – Robbie Williams – She's The One/It's Only Us" .British Phonographic Industry .
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