Life Thru A Lens

Album: Life Thru a Lens (1997)
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Songfacts®:

  • Robbie Williams wrote this for Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, a well-known one-time English "it girl," television personality and columnist. Williams admitted later that the song was not very complimentary. The couple had been long-term friends and both had been in rehab for cocaine addiction.

    Tara Palmer-Tomkinson tragically died from a perforated ulcer in February 2017. She was only 45.
  • "Life Thru A Lens" hears Robbie Williams making cynical, tongue-in-cheek jabs at the elite. Writing on his website, Williams explained he meant no offense: "When you listen to this it sounds like I'm being vindictive and I'm not. It's about society girls. I hope they can see the funny side."
  • This is the title track to Robbie Williams' first solo album after sensationally quitting the boy band Take That in July 1995. The album heard Williams adopting more of a Britpop-influenced sound – a significant departure from the pop music of Take That.

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