Rock DJ

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2000 single by Robbie Williams

title: "Rock DJ" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2000-songs", "2000-singles", "brit-award-for-british-single", "capitol-records-singles", "chrysalis-records-singles", "irish-singles-chart-number-one-singles", "music-video-controversies", "music-videos-directed-by-vaughan-arnell", "body-horror", "number-one-singles-in-iceland", "number-one-singles-in-new-zealand", "number-one-singles-in-scotland", "robbie-williams-songs", "song-recordings-produced-by-guy-chambers", "song-recordings-produced-by-steve-power", "songs-written-by-guy-chambers", "uk-singles-chart-number-one-singles"] description: "2000 single by Robbie Williams" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_DJ" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 2000 single by Robbie Williams ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameRock DJ
coverRockDJ.jpg
typesingle
artistRobbie Williams
albumSing When You're Winning
B-sideTalk to Me
released
* Nu-disco<ref nameGardner2010
length4:15
prev_titleWin Some Lose Some
prev_year2000
next_titleKids
next_year2000
misc
::

| name = Rock DJ | cover = RockDJ.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Robbie Williams | album = Sing When You're Winning | B-side = Talk to Me | released = | recorded = | studio =

"Rock DJ" reached number one in Costa Rica, Estonia, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom whilst reaching the top 10 in 16 other countries. It was the fourth-best-selling song of 2000 in the UK. In the United States, it peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. The music video features Williams trying to impress a female DJ by stripping naked and eventually resorting to removing his skin and muscles, ending up as a skeleton. The song won British Single of the Year, and the video won British Video of the Year at the 2001 Brit Awards.

Chart performance

The song became Robbie Williams' third number-one solo single in the United Kingdom, going on to sell over 1.2 million copies and being certified 2× platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The song also became a hit around Europe, charting inside the top 10 in several countries and becoming his first number-one single in New Zealand. The song also became a top-five hit in Australia, where it went on to sell over 70,000 copies, being certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). In the United States, the track reached number 24 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. "Rock DJ" was named the Best Song of 2000 at the MTV Europe Music Awards and Best Single and Best Video at the Brit Awards 2001.

Music videos

The accompanying music video for "Rock DJ" was directed by Vaughan Arnell. It was released on 6 July 2000. It begins with Williams dancing on a roller disco with women skating around him. He wants to get the attention of the female DJ (played by Lauren Gold) standing above the stage, so he begins taking off his clothes. She ignores him at first, but after she finally notices he is completely naked, he proceeds with stripping off his skin, muscles and organs, until the only thing left of him are his bones, which is performed by special effects. In the end, the DJ dances with his skeleton. The video ends with the note, "No Robbies were Harmed During the Making of this Video", a jocular take on the "No animals were harmed" note. The skinless Robbie also appears on the single's cover art, as well as on the cover of the DVD release of In and Out of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990–2010 in 2010.

The video's ending (beginning with Williams taking off his skin) was cut by most music channels around Europe, including VIVA, MCM, The Box and VH1 Europe. However, in the recent years, some of the music channels in Europe (including MTV Classic and VH1 Europe) airs the "studio recording" version of the music video, even on late night, which made the edited version of the music video fall into obscurity. Examples of TV stations that still play the full video are Bulgarian channel MM, former German located channel B.TV (often in daytime) and Canadian channel MusiquePlus, some channels ran the edited video during the day and the unedited one overnight, while The Hits played a version which cut from Williams dancing in his underwear to dancing as a skeleton, filling the gap by repeating previous footage. This is the version that is currently played on channels owned by The Box Plus Network. In 2001, "Rock DJ" won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects. In 2006, it was voted by viewers as the seventh Most Groundbreaking Video Ever on MTV and in 2007 it was ranked at number 48 on MuchMusic's 50 Most Controversial Videos. The video was banned in Dominican Republic due to allegations of Satanism.

The video has been shown numerous times on Fuse's Pants-Off Dance-Off, despite its gory content. Toward the end of the dancer's dancing/stripping to it when the video is shown in the background like any other, they only show Williams, briefly, ripping and throwing his skin, and dancing in muscle form before cutting to the hostess of the show. The video appears as an instance of the re-use of the motif of "dancing with the dead" in a book about medieval images of death and dying in art and literature.

A 'video single' "Rock DJ", containing the music video and a making-of documentary, was released on VHS on 11 September 2000 and DVD on 16 September. The DVD was intended to be released concurrently with the VHS, but was pulled because copies lacked the '15' certification from the British Board of Film Classification due to a printing error, and needed replacing with the new 15-rated copies. The music video also carried a 15 certificate warning when uploaded to Williams' official website. As of March 2001, "Rock DJ" was the biggest-selling music DVD in the United Kingdom to date, selling over 64,000 copies on what was then still a nascent format.

A second video shows Williams in a studio while recording the song.

Track listings

UK CD and cassette single, Australian CD single

  1. "Rock DJ" – 4:15
  2. "Talk to Me" – 3:28
  3. "Rock DJ" (Player One remix) – 5:34

UK DVD single

  1. "Rock DJ" (full length video)
  2. "Rock DJ" (a short documentary feature)

European CD single

  1. "Rock DJ" – 4:15
  2. "Talk to Me" – 3:28

European maxi-CD single

  1. "Rock DJ" – 4:15
  2. "Talk to Me" – 3:28
  3. "Rock DJ" (Player One remix) – 5:34
  4. "Rock DJ" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Sing When You're Winning album booklet.

Studios

Personnel

  • Robbie Williams – writing, lead vocals
  • Guy Chambers – writing, all keyboards, production, arrangement
  • Kelvin Andrews – writing
  • Nelson Pigford – writing
  • Ekundayo Paris – writing
  • Andy Caine – backing vocals
  • Derek Green – backing vocals
  • Katie Kissoon – backing vocals
  • Sylvia Mason-James – backing vocals
  • Tessa Niles – backing vocals
  • Paul "Tubbs" Williams – backing vocals
  • Steve Power – vocoder, production, mixing
  • Neil Taylor – electric guitar
  • Winston Blissett – bass guitar
  • Andy Duncan – drum programming
  • Dave Bishop – brass
  • Neil Sidwell – brass
  • Steve Sidwell – brass
  • The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
  • Gavyn Wright – concertmaster
  • Nick Ingman – orchestration
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestral contractor
  • Steve Price – orchestral engineering
  • Richard Flack – Pro Tools
  • Tony Cousins – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (2000–2001) | Peak position | Canada (BDS) | Costa Rica (El Siglo de Torreón) | Czech Republic (IFPI) | Denmark (IFPI) | El Salvador (El Siglo de Torreón) | Estonia (Eesti Top 20) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | Europe (European Hit Radio) | Guatemala (El Siglo de Torreón) | Hungary (Mahasz) | Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) | Latvia (Latvijas Top 40) | Poland (Music & Media) | Poland (Polish Airplay Charts) | Portugal (AFP) | UK Airplay (Music Week) | Uruguay (El Siglo de Torreón) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (2000)PositionAustralia (ARIA)Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)Brazil (Crowley)Estonia (Eesti Top 20)Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)Europe (European Hit Radio)Germany (Media Control)Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)Ireland (IRMA)Latvia (Latvijas Top 50)Lithuania (M-1)Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)Netherlands (Single Top 100)New Zealand (RIANZ)Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)UK Singles (OCC)UK Airplay (Music Week)
21
94
76
27
29
38
7
78
12
6
17
40
34
70
21
59
5
8
::

::data[format=table]

Chart (2001)PositionTaiwan (Hito Radio)
63
::

::data[format=table title="{{sro|Year-end chart performance}}"]

Chart (2025)PositionArgentina Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
65
::

Decade-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (2000–2009)PositionUK Singles (OCC)
41
::

Certifications

Release history

::data[format=table]

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).AustraliaUnited KingdomUnited States
31 July 2000CDChrysalis
22 August 2000Contemporary hit radioCapitol
25 September 2000
17 October 2000Rhythmic contemporary radio
::

Notes

References

References

  1. Gardner, Elysa. (12 November 2010). "Listen Up: Weekend Plugs". [[USA Today]].
  2. (19 October 2000). "Robbie video banned for 'Satanism'". BBC News.
  3. Kinch, Ashby. (2013). "Imago Mortis: Mediating Images of Death in Late Medieval Culture". Brill.
  4. (12 September 2000). "Shock...DJ!".
  5. (6 July 2020). "20 Facts You Probably Never Knew About Robbie Williams' Rock DJ".
  6. (3 March 2001). "Music Rides the DVD Wave with Those Little Extras". Music Week.
  7. "ROCK DJ: MUSIC VIDEO". RobbieWilliams.com.
  8. (2000). "Rock DJ". [[Chrysalis Records]].
  9. (2000). "Rock DJ". Chrysalis Records.
  10. (2000). "Rock DJ". Chrysalis Records.
  11. (2000). "Rock DJ". Chrysalis Records.
  12. (2000). "Rock DJ". Chrysalis Records.
  13. (2000). "Sing When You're Winning". Chrysalis Records.
  14. "Canada Airplay Chart: 1 - 50".
  15. (1 November 2000). "Backstreet Boys acaparan listas de popularidad". El Siglo de Torreón.
  16. "Hitparada radia - 39/2000". [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
  17. (26 August 2000). "Top National Sellers".
  18. (11 December 2000). "Los más vendidos en Iberoamerica y EU". El Siglo de Torreón.
  19. (9 September 2000). "MUUSIKAEDETABELID: EESTI TOP 20". [[Sõnumileht]].
  20. (2 September 2000). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
  21. (2 September 2000). "EHR Top 50".
  22. (14 October 2000). "Top National Sellers".
  23. (15 September 2000). "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 16.9. – 23.9. 2000 37. Vika)". [[DV (newspaper).
  24. (24 September 2000). "''The most popular songs in Latvia''". Lanet.lv.
  25. (9 September 2000). "Major Market Airplay – Week 37/2000".
  26. "Polish Airplay Charts - Lista krajowa 35/2000". PiF PaF Production.
  27. (23 September 2000). "Top National Sellers".
  28. (19 August 2000). "Top 50 Airplay Chart".
  29. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
  30. "Jaaroverzichten 2000". [[Ultratop]].
  31. "Rapports Annuels 2000". [[Ultratop]].
  32. (3 April 2018). "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2000". [[Crowley Broadcast Analysis]].
  33. "ESTONIA – Raadio 2 AASTAHITT 2000". Raadio 2.
  34. (23 December 2000). "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000".
  35. (23 December 2000). "Year in Focus: Eurochart Hot 100 Radio 2000".
  36. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2000". [[GfK Entertainment]].
  37. (5 January 2001). "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". [[DV (newspaper).
  38. "Top 100 of 2000". [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]].
  39. "The 50 most popular songs in Latvia 2000". Lanet.lv.
  40. "LITHUANIA – Radio M-1 Top 100 of 2000". M-1.
  41. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2000". [[Dutch Top 40]].
  42. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000". [[MegaCharts]].
  43. "End of Year Charts 2000". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
  44. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2000". Swiss Music Charts.
  45. (20 January 2001). "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". [[UBM plc.
  46. (20 January 2001). "Most Broadcast of 2000: Airplay Top 50".
  47. "年度百首單曲: 2001". [[Hit FM (Taiwan).
  48. (December 1, 2025). "Chart Anual Monitor Latino 2025 – Del 1 de Enero al 30 de Noviembre de 2025 – Argentina – Anglo – Tocadas – Top 100". [[Monitor Latino]].
  49. "Chart of the Decade".
  50. "Robbie Williams". [[EMI Music Australia]].
  51. "Rock DJ".
  52. Stavenes-Dove, Siri. (29 July 2000). "Airborne".
  53. (29 July 2000). "New Releases – For Week Starting July 31, 2000: Singles".
  54. (18 August 2000). "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds".
  55. (11 August 2000). "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates".
  56. (22 September 2000). "Hot AC: Going for Adds".
  57. (15 September 2000). "Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates".
  58. (13 October 2000). "CHR/Rhythmic: Going for Adds".

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2000-songs2000-singlesbrit-award-for-british-singlecapitol-records-singleschrysalis-records-singlesirish-singles-chart-number-one-singlesmusic-video-controversiesmusic-videos-directed-by-vaughan-arnellbody-horrornumber-one-singles-in-icelandnumber-one-singles-in-new-zealandnumber-one-singles-in-scotlandrobbie-williams-songssong-recordings-produced-by-guy-chamberssong-recordings-produced-by-steve-powersongs-written-by-guy-chambersuk-singles-chart-number-one-singles