Robbie Williams
Sun, 2001-11-18 21:52
#1
Robbie Williams
I don't know if anyone caught the Robbie Williams "Tribute to Swing and the Rat Pack" concert from the Albert Hall last night, but it was phenomenal! Robbie played to a dinner-suited audience, singing such old favourites as My Way and Mack the Knife along with Have You Met Miss Jones? from Bridget Jones Diary. He even did a virtual duet with Frank Sinatra on that one that begins "When I was 17, it was a very special year" (sorry, I can't recall the title). However, both Sue and I agree that the master piece was Mr. Bo Jangles, with a live tap dancer. I've watched it twice and it still sends shivers down my spine.
You may be wondering how come I've watched it twice. Well, having found babysitters in the form of Kai's grandparents, we went out last night with friends for a drink and a chinese. Kai's a great fan of Robbie. Rock DJ was the one that converted him. He'd seen the concert advertised and had insisted we video it for him. Probably not the only child in the country who made the same request off his parents.
Luckily we decided to watch a bit of the concert before going to bed. Half way through the concert, some compare type bloke came on while Robbie took a break and asked the audience four questions:
1) Do you like Robbie Williams?
2) (I can't remember this one, but it was probably along the lines of "Are you enjoying the concert?)
3) Would you like to be fucked by Robbie Williams?
4) No matter what gender you are, would you enjoy getting down on all fours and being royaly shagged by Robbie Williams?
Now regular readers will probably be aware that I'm not easily offended by bad language, but I never swear in front of children. And Little Kai's only four-years-old, for Christ' sake.
As mentioned earlier, countless children (of all ages) will have asked their parents to video the concert for them. My question is simply this:
"Knowing that children would be watching the show eventually, was there really any need?"
Luckily we managed to cut out all the bad words by briefly recording over them before Kai got to watch the video, but many parents may not have been so lucky.
stormy
deep purple!
that is the first time I have seen them mentioned in the forum by anyone but me.
where were you when I needed some 'heavy' artillary support Karl?
I had a Fatwah of Smiths after me and I barely escaped the Jihad unscathed.
For a moment I thought they would force me to listen in a kind of ABCTorture chamber of dripping notes often mistaken for music.
luckily Mississippi got caught in no mans land and I was able to effect my escape.
ps Karl, maybe it is best not to use the words 'blew me away' and 'robbie williams' in the same sentence.
stormy
i
Liana
......a fatwah of smiths....what a MARvellous image Storms :o))))))
Wolfgirl
Trust Stormy to get mucky. I'm sure that Karl's comment was very innocent, just like the man himself.....
(laughs into hankie)
the roman poet ...
robbie williams is just a lucky guy who overcame mediocre vocal and dance talent to strike it rich in the prepackaged world of emi loungecore extravagance.
i say mediocre vocal talent because his vocals are treated digitally and supplemented live with reverb, equalizers to remove his natural nasality and usually additional vocal tracks, much like the lothario singers he tries to emulate, who in the first place were routinely talentless.
i would be the first to say that one of the reasons i hate him so much is because i envy his looks, which is fair enough. It's not his fault he's good looking, but when it's obvious this is the only reason he's famous, he should really step down.
catullus
AJ
I sat down to watch Robbie, with the view that there was nothing else on telly. Love Robbie, hate Frank, Sammy etc.
Anyway, there I was the telly on in the background, me on my computer, typing away, when Robbie started to sing. Oh boy, I stopped. Every cliched song that the so called greats had ever sang suddenly came alive. Computer off, me on. He made me tingle. He has that rare talent of that rare breed.
Shame about that stupid Rupert Everit bloke, he really wasn't needed. And when the end came, "Wow," I cried with Robbie. So well done. You are truly a STAR.
AJ
tajhayer
Robbie Williams is handsome? Can't really see it myself - seems no more handsome than any ordinary man. His music seems very ordinary to me also. I hear he's planning to release a book of poems - should I burst into laughter or tears?
Liana
If he knocked on my door wanting to take a daughter of mine out, I'd have a bleedin' fit.
Any other life, he'd be six years into a prison sentance for aggravated burgalry by now I reckon....
Cheeky rogue or something is what hes supposed to look like...
Liana
Yep, my mum was saying much the same this afternoon, in conversation over coffee. I was allowed me to watch it 'cos lm 37 :o)
She adores Robbie Williams, and l just gave her a copy of Swing When Youre Winning (out tomorrow, *ahem* dont ask)
My eldest is the Robbie fan in this house, she's 11 going on 21, but even so......We watched it together with a tub of ice cream, me with a bottle of merlot and she with a carton of juice, and she asked me; "Who's this idiot?" when the compere started.
Glad she's got a good head on her shoulders....
It did spoil it a bit. Or am I turning into my dad?
Karl Wiggins
Point taken, Stormy.
Wofie, hand on heart now, have you ever known me be anything but innocent and respectable?
Ralph Dartford
Karl me old sausage.
The song in question is called 'It Was a Very Good Year'. Its a Frank Classic.
The chap who asked the questions was that preening peacock Rupert Everett.
Robbie is a rare talent whom I worry about. I feel that he is rushing in front of the headlights and something bad is going to happen to him.
I'd have a few beers with him, but i dont think I could have it up the old Ribena if you get my drift.
Hope to see you soon mate.
ralph
Stoke Fan
The idiot was Rupert Everet and should have been cut completely from the whole show. Marred by it!
The star was the swinging enigma of RW. Quite awesome really. I couldn't believe what I was watching at times, such bravado and poise, and cheek not always on key with voice but enough to enthrall.
"It was a very good year" is the song Karl and I've been listening to Frank for most of the day.
Caught the duet with Nicole Kidman too. Is there any end to his power and range? Shame he's a Port vale fan though.
Wolfgirl
I too worry about Robbie Williams; he looked very young, very emotional and almost vulnerable on that night. I think that he should slow down and find himself rather than adulate his heroes constantly. He's undoubtedly a very attractive guy but underneath it all, there is an ego that might destroy him. He needs to keep a head on his shoulders.
As for the original question, Everett was trying to be hip and waggish but yes, I think he made unnecessary comments. To be honest, I think that the whole thing lacked a little dignity and je ne sais quoi. I think that Robbie Williams has a fine voice but it lacks the strength and character just yet to really get away with 'doing' Frank etc.
I wish him well though, the guy does have 'it'.
Stoke Fan
His Mum was in the audience after all, and probaaly has all his records. Frank's too for that matter, may even prefer to listen to the old crooner.
Sooner or later he will fall again we wish and suppose, but in the leantime better to bring the kids a slice of nostalgia.
His mum might worry, but really wolfie - are you related?- or from Smallthorne?
How do you find yourself if not through some kind of hero worship. The journey has been hard. You try pulling up those pop socks after leaving a boy band.
What does waggish mean, by the way?
John L
Err, excuse me - I missed this so I've got absolutley no right to comment. Obviously that is not going to stop me.
Are we talking about the same Robbie Williams here as in 'the fat dancer from Take That' as in middle-of-the-road, naff-pop, over-slick, over-worked pretentious lyrics, nothing-new-to-say and no-new-way-to-say-it-in' Robbie Williams?
Guess I must have been down in the basement of Lewis Mansions listening to my old Bob Dylan vinyls when the metamorphosis took place. When I was young, pop music was meant to make you want to go outand get stoned, burn up the A5 on yer Harley with Marion Faithful on the pillion pressing her naked (under the leathers) and ample bosom up against you, blow up a Governement Building or shag the older Mrs. Robinson type-woman from next door. A really good tune could make you want to do all four at the same time. Somehow, singing about your Mom being an angel just ain't got the same impact as Eve of Destruction for me but then again I am getting on a bit. So I checked with my daughter who is of an appropriate age and knows about these things.
'Would you' I asked, with a fair amount of trepidation 'let Robbie Williams f**k you?'
Imagine my surprise, dismay and, yes puzzlement when she replied 'Yes but not until January.'
Well what she actually said was 'It'll be a cold day before I let that sad bastard anywhere near me.' Not surprising really, she's a Jarvis Cocker girl.
If you really do want to see a so-called 'pop star' sing a Sinatra song I refer you to Sid Vicious (or was it Johnny Rotten - anyway thay bloke with the blonde bird called Nancy - they're both (surprise, surprise) dead now) and his amazing rendition of My Way. Now that's what I call attitude.
PS. Who is Rupert Everett and why is a man named after my least-favourite fictional bear saying the 'f' word on prime-time TV? Has the World gone completely bonkers? Again.
John L
Sorry, forgot to mention.
We tried to protect our Steve from this kind of stuff. Then one day he went off to nursery aged approx. 3 years 9 months.
That very same afternoon we were sitting with him (watching Button Moon if memory serves) when he suddenly piped up 'Mommy, Robert Hancox told me to 'F**K OFF today.'
I wouldn't bother if I were you.
chant
i liked Rupert Everett in 'Another Country' but think he's lost his way a bit since then.
Robbie Williams is a star but, to my mind, an uninteresting one. he suitably represents the age, which is to say, he's hyper-insecure, very retro, and without much imagination.
other times have produced more interesting stars who seem to have offered rather more in the way of thought and complexity. i can't help feeling that other times must have been more interesting.
can anyone confirm?
justyn_thyme
I must say that this whole Robbie Williams things mystifies me. He's got a decent voice, but there is nothing special about him that I can see. I don't get it.
John L
If you mean by 'other times' chant, Friday May 11th, 1979 then, yes, I can confirm that this was more interesting.
Radiohead offer something in the way of thought and complexity as do, in a quirky sort of way, Divine Comedy.
On a slightly different tack(y) Kylie Minogue gives you plenty to think about in a kind of 'small but perfectly formed' sort of way.
Am most disappointed that there are not loads of you taking me to much task for my somewhat needlessly cruel attack on the little Pottery cherub, Robbie.
Mark Yelland-Brown
Looking at the credits on the Robbie Williams gig believe it or not Richard Curtis of "Four Weddings" and "Notting Hill" fame wrote the `Script`. It's true, so all that guff was actually scripted by a so called `comedy` writer. My 7 year old son and my wife love Robbie too so we had to edit it. I thought he sang brilliantly. I like him a lot for a `pop` star, for one he acknowledges the contribution of Guy Chambers his co-writer, where most of the other so called `pop` stars never do that. He is self destructive and vulnerable, it's having to cope with being a huge idol in the full knowledge of understanding your just another jo public whose hit the big time but certainly not deserving of all the adulation. I hope he survives it, really.
John L
I understand this only too well, MYB on account of, like Robbie, I'm self destructive and vulnerable.
It comes from being a 'Jo Public' kind of bloke who thinks he's some kind of star.
I am particularly vulnerable to bribery and corruption, flattery (well I would be if anybody ever bothered), strong liquer and pert bottoms. What's Robbie vulnerable to, do you reckon?
Andrea
Laryngitis?
Wolfgirl
By the way...waggish as in 'bit of a wag' ie a wit, a joker or facetious person. However, now I know that it was scripted...obviously he was just reading lines. Shame on Curtis, he's usually much more witty than that....
Fecky
I only saw a bit of the show but I had a little snigger, as Robbie reminded me of his father, who always did/does that sort of thing on Channel 5's Saturday Night Fever... (Phew!...bloody hell! That was a long seentence.) Does anyone watch that?
Fecky
OK, I'm ready for the looonggg seentence!
Linsi
My "Inlaws" recorded the show and we were *forced* to watch it!
I had my own negative opinions before they played it, and sat down in the armchair composing various witty (Or so I thought!) remarks.
I floundered!!!!!!!!!!! *begrudgingly* it was quite good!
I liked the show, by somehow my negative vibes somehow creeped through.
I thought he entertained quite well, but I could not determine whether he was really emotional or just faking?
I did think it was quite good though!
Linsi *begrudging Robbie fan* lol
Linsi
In reference to John L's post.... I liked the Sid Vicious version too......did you see the video for that song???
Shame he "did it my way" and died a rather unheroic death..... Still a King through in my eyes....if a rather misunderstood one!!!
Robbie_Williams
cor ta very much chucks!
Linsi
lol......... *though refusing to get down on all fours and be royally shagged*.............oh...go on then *hic*
Karl Wiggins
Linsi, I'm pretty sure he was faking it.
John L, for the most part I'd agree with you. I can't stand boy bands (being brought up on Deep Purple, Hawkwind and Jimi Hendrix) but RW blew me away on Saturday night.