B-side "Elastik" Genre Pop rock | Released 8 March 2010 | |
Format CD single, digital download Recorded June 2009
London, United Kingdom Length 4:06 (Album version)
3:50 (Radio edit)
3:55 (Music video) | ||
"Morning Sun" is the third official single from British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams' eighth studio album, Reality Killed the Video Star. It was released on 8 March 2010, and it is the official charity single for Sport Relief 2010. Written around the time of pop star Michael Jackson's death, the song was originally meant to be a tribute to the late star. However, Williams' later commented that it was more about himself.
Contents
Music video
The music video for the single was directed by Vaughan Arnell and filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood. It shows Williams as an astronaut on a mission in the International Space Station.
Critical reception
UK website Digital 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' for George Martin to consider giving his lawyer a bell. Sure, it's not 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."
Promotion
Williams performed the song on 23 January 2010 at the NRJ Music Awards where he also received two awards for International Male Artist of the Year and the NRJ Award of Honour. "Morning Sun" was performed on 13 February 2010 (Williams' 36th birthday) on the UK TV show So You Think You Can Dance. The song was also performed as part of a greatest hits medley at the 2010 BRIT Awards where Williams won the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Music Award on 16 February. "Morning Sun" was performed by Williams at the 2010 Echo Awards in Berlin on 4 March, where he won the award for Best International Male Artist. He performed the single yet again on appeal night for Sport Relief 2010.
Track listing
- "Morning Sun" (radio edit) — 3:50
- "Elastik" — 4:37
- "Morning Sun" (album version) — 4:03
- "Morning Sun" (Live from BBC Electric Proms) — 3:57
- "Elastik" — 4:37