View source for Eternity/The Road to Mandalay

{{Short description|2001 single by Robbie Williams}}
{{Split|Eternity (Robbie Williams song)|The Road to Mandalay (Robbie Williams song)|date=September 2022|discuss=Talk:Eternity/The_Road_to_Mandalay#Propose_splitting_Eternity_/_The_Road_to_Mandalay_into_standalone_articles}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Eternity" / "The Road to Mandalay
| cover      = Robbie Williams - Eternity- The Road to Mandalay - CD double cover.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Robbie Williams]]
| B-side     = Toxic
| released   = {{start date|2001|7|9|df=y}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2001/Music-Week-2001-07-07.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting July 9, 2001: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=25|date=7 July 2001|access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref>
| recorded   =
| studio     = Master Rock, [[Hook End Recording Studios|Sarm Hook End]] ("The Road to Mandalay")
| genre      = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
| length     = {{unbulleted list|5:02 ("Eternity")|3:57 ("The Road to Mandalay")}}
| label      = [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]
| writer     = {{hlist|Robbie Williams|[[Guy Chambers]]}}
| producer   = {{hlist|Guy Chambers|[[Steve Power]]}}
| prev_title = [[Let Love Be Your Energy]]
| prev_year  = 2001
| next_title = [[Better Man (Robbie Williams song)|Better Man]]
| next_year  = 2001
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|E16qbwzlxBM|"Eternity"}}}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|KohurXfPb7s|"The Road to Mandalay"}}}}
}}
"'''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 (Robbie Williams album)|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 (band)|Queen]] plays electric guitar on the track.
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]]''.
==Music videos==
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://robbiewilliams.com/pages/video-road-mandalay-music-video|title = The Road to Mandalay: Music Video}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/tv/miss-france-2020-robbie-williams-invite-d-honneur-15-11-2019-8193909.php|title=Miss France 2020 : Robbie Williams invité d'honneur|date=15 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.public.fr/News/Miss-France-2020-Presence-exceptionnelle-de-Robbie-Williams-1625185|title = Miss France 2020 : Présence exceptionnelle de Robbie Williams| date=15 November 2019 }}</ref> 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 petit" ("Open or I kill the little one"), 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 their Ford Transit 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 [[billiards|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.
==Track listings==
'''UK CD and cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Eternity / The Road to Mandalay|others=[[Robbie Williams]]|year=2001|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Chrysalis Records]]|id=CDCHS 5126, 7243 879538 2 6}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Eternity / The Road to Mandalay|others=Robbie Williams|year=2001|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=TCCHS5126, 7243 879538 4 0}}</ref>
# "Eternity" – 5:02
# "The Road to Mandalay" – 3:57
# "Toxic" – 3:48
'''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Eternity|others=Robbie Williams|year=2001|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=7243 879674 2 7}}</ref>
# "Eternity" – 5:02
# "The Road to Mandalay" – 3:57
'''French CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=The Road to Mandalay / Eternity|others=Robbie Williams|year=2001|type=French CD single liner notes|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=724387987722}}</ref>
# "The Road to Mandalay" – 3:57
# "Eternity" – 5:02
==Credits and personnel==
==="Eternity"===
Credits are taken from the ''[[Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams album)|Greatest Hits]]'' album booklet.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Greatest Hits|title-link=Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams album)|others=Robbie Williams|year=2004|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=724386681928}}</ref>
'''Studio'''
* Mastered at [[Metropolis Studios|Metropolis Mastering]] (London, England)
'''Personnel'''
{{div col}}
* Robbie Williams – writing, lead vocals
* [[Guy Chambers]] – writing, piano, production, arrangement
* [[Gary Nuttall]] – backing vocals, acoustic guitar
* Claire Worrall – backing vocals
* [[Phil Palmer]] – acoustic guitar
* [[Brian May]] – electric guitar
* Melvin Duffy – [[pedal steel guitar]]
* [[B. J. Cole]] – pedal steel guitar
* Dave Clayton – keyboards
* Andy Duncan – percussion
* [[Steve Power]] – production, mixing
* Richard Flack – [[Pro Tools]]
* Tony Cousins – mastering
{{div col end}}
==="The Road to Mandalay"===
Credits are taken from the ''[[Sing When You're Winning]]'' album booklet.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Sing When You're Winning|title-link=Sing When You're Winning|others=Robbie Williams|year=2000|type=UK CD album booklet|publisher=Chrysalis Records|id=7243 5 28125 2 3}}</ref>
'''Studios'''
* Recorded at Master Rock Studios (North London, England) and [[Hook End Recording Studios|Sarm Hook End]] ([[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], England)
* Mixed at Battery Studios (London, England)
* Mastered at Metropolis Mastering (London, England)
'''Personnel'''
{{div col}}
* Robbie Williams – writing, lead vocals
* Guy Chambers – writing, backing vocals, piano, organ, [[Mellotron]], [[clavinet]], [[Omnichord]], production, arrangement
* Andy Caine – backing vocals
* [[Steve McEwan]] – backing vocals
* [[Phil Palmer]] – acoustic and electric guitars
* [[David Catlin-Birch|Dave Catlin-Birch]] – bass guitar
* Melvin Duffy – [[pedal steel guitar]]
* [[Chris Sharrock]] – drums
* Andy Duncan – drum programming, Pro Tools
* [[Bob Lanese]] – trumpet
* Pauline Boeykens – tuba
* Edgar Herzog – clarinet
* Alex Dickson – [[autoharp]]
* Steve Power – [[glockenspiel]], production, mixing
* Richard Flack – Pro Tools
* Jim Brumby – Pro Tools
* Tony Cousins – mastering
{{div col end}}
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2001)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Austria|9|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true|refname=austria}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|6|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|9|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Denmark|3|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-07-28.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=18|issue=31|page=7|date=28 July 2001|access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref>
|5
|-
{{single chart|France|45|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany|7|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|songid=4797|rowheader=true|access-date=15 December 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|2|song=Eternity / The Road to Mandalay|rowheader=true|access-date=16 January 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Italy|4|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|17|year=2001|week=35|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|11|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-08-25.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=19|issue=35|page=12|date=25 August 2001|access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>
|8
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|2|date=20010721|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|34|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|10|artist=Robbie Williams|song=Eternity|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|1|date=20010721|rowheader=true}}
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2001)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=2001|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 2001|language=de|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>
|43
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2001|title=Jaaroverzichten 2001|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=nl|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
|53
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2001|title=Rapports annuels 2001|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=fr|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
|70
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-12-22.pdf|title=Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=18|issue=52|page=14|date=22 December 2001|access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref>
|46
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-2001|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|language=de|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
|33
|-
!scope="row"|Ireland (IRMA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irma.ie/#verticalTab16|title=Best of Singles 2001|publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]]|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>
|15
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2001|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001|publisher=[[Dutch Top 40]]|access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref>
|62
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2001&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|language=nl|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
|60
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2001-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 2001|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|access-date=11 December 2017}}</ref>
|16
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/2001|title=Swiss Year-End Charts of 2001|language=de|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
|51
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2001.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2001|work=[[UKChartsPlus]]|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
|20
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=1 May 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Robbie Williams|title=Eternity/The Road to Mandalay|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2019|id=2106-533-1|access-date=14 August 2020|salesamount=418,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/robbie-williams-official-top-40-biggest-singles-in-the-uk-revealed__16972/|title=Robbie Williams' Official Top 40 biggest singles in the UK revealed|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=13 September 2022}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Robbie Williams singles}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eternity The Road To Mandalay}}
[[Category:2000 songs]]
[[Category:2000s ballads]]
[[Category:2001 singles]]
[[Category:Chrysalis Records singles]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Vaughan Arnell]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Robbie Williams songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Guy Chambers]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Power]]
[[Category:Songs written by Guy Chambers]]
[[Category:Songs written by Robbie Williams]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]