Released 30 September 2016 Recorded June - July 2015 Label Columbia | Format Digital download Length 3:02 | |
Writer(s) Robert Williams
Guy Chambers
Sergei Prokofiev
Chris Heath | ||
"Party Like a Russian" is a song by British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released as the lead single from his eleventh studio album The Heavy Entertainment Show (2016). The single was released in the United Kingdom on 30 September 2016. The song was written by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Chris Heath. The chorus of the song samples Sergei Prokofiev's Montagues and Capulets.
The music video for the song satirizes the hedonistic parties of the Russian elites. It drew criticism for its portrayal of Russian culture.
In "Party Like a Russian", Williams sings from the perspective of a leader who "alleviates the cash from a whole entire nation, takes loose change and builds his own space station." He continues "Ain't no refutin' or disputin' - I'm a modern Rasputin." Williams dismissed speculation that the song was an oblique criticism of Vladimir Putin, writing on Twitter that "this song is definitely not about Mr Putin" and elsewhere observing that "Russians are ridiculously good partiers".
An email that surfaced due to the Surkov leaks revealed that Russian businessman Roman Abramovich hired Williams to headline a New Year's dinner for President Putin's inner circle. The party took place in Moscow in 2014 and appears to have been the inspiration for "Party Like a Russian".