― Tom, Friday, 8 September 2000 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 8 September 2000 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― Nicole, Saturday, 9 September 2000 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― David, Sunday, 10 September 2000 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
Already I'm unsure of my argument. I think that the above stands up OK, but then again, so much in your overall response to Williams will depend on your very particular response to his records. Then again, one's response to the 'music' might be just as conditioned by one's response to the overall 'phenomenon'. A two-way street, maybe, a dialectic of crosstown visceral traffic.
When I say that Williams focuses broader things, I mainly mean it negatively. I think he focuses - or, what would the right word be? Simply 'exemplifies'? - things like - well,
a kind of cultural melting or implosion, where categories have appeared to have dissolved. A world where he could be in a boy band that seemed naff, then started getting plaudits as actually rather good (Elton blah blah George), and meanwhile was 'OK to like' as camp, kitsch or what you will. From about 1994 on (though I'm afraid I'm very imprecise about Take That dates, save that I know that 'Never Forget' was no 1 in the first half of August 1995), then, he was *already* in that twilight zone where 'bad' is called good, where values shade, where there are things it's 'OK to like'. The solo career seemed a strange business for a while: he seemed not quite set to succeed - and I think a lot of the sympathy that he's ridden on since somehow came from that fear that he was about to drop like a stone.
But it all worked out for him, with the odd song that you might raise your eyebrow at and say 'Well, it's not so bad, really' (I appreciate that others may have always been made of sterner stuff than this: and I salute them), then the odd song that was wildly overrated. 'Angels' started coming in ahead of Elvis P, let alone Elvis C, in every poll you saw, and things were clearly silly. So the most obvious point about Williams is: he was sort of tolerable when he was 'down', or the underdog; but he rather rapidly became the overdog, and to my mind intolerable.
That 'cultural melting' - what I had in mind was something like the old divide between mainstream and independent, which was already looking different at the time of 'Suede', 'Parklife', certainly 'Morning Glory'. A nether world formed, it seemed to me, save that it was a mega-world, a large sphere of cultural activity, of which we might take TFI Friday as the exemplar. Which may, again, be to say that Robbie Williams is the exemplar.
I don't know, there are nuances here. Suede - Blur - Pulp - Oasis - Radiohead (oops!) - Chris Evans - Robbie Williams - Danny Boyle - Chris Tarrant - Alastair Campbell - Zoe Ball - David Beckham - these things are all different, maybe significantly so. The point I'm trying to reach for is, how does the UK 90s look if you take them as exemplary? Good, bad, indifferent, or mixed? I think that our response to that larger question must be linked to our response to Williams specifically.
― the pinefox, Thursday, 14 September 2000 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
Maybe he and madonna could become a strip act (you know to old fags out for the night)
― adelle smith, Sunday, 3 December 2000 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― Phil, Sunday, 10 December 2000 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― Jimmy Mod, Monday, 18 December 2000 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― cyclotron, Monday, 18 December 2000 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― Hymie Schloima, Wednesday, 3 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― Barrington Wall, Wednesday, 3 January 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― ivan mandic, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― anthony, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Ally, Sunday, 12 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― anthony, Sunday, 12 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
― Ally, Monday, 13 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
new single here - http://www.whatsyourfuture.com/
just heard it for the first time, and seen the super-bizarre video. he's, er, kinda gone rocksteady. i don't understand it really.
― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 18 September 2005 06:31 (nineteen years ago)
― Pvt. Dave Goes To Far (scarlet), Sunday, 18 September 2005 08:39 (nineteen years ago)
― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 18 September 2005 09:53 (nineteen years ago)
― Jon Benet Taxidermy (piratestyle), Sunday, 18 September 2005 12:00 (nineteen years ago)
This is the best summary I've ever read of Robbie's schtick. And I have a feeling the new song's gonna grow on me like "Rock DJ" did.
― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, 18 September 2005 20:12 (nineteen years ago)
― RoxyMuzak© (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/gallery/2002/01/31/willliams_.jpg
― RoxyMuzak© (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 16:37 (nineteen years ago)
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 14 February 2006 19:45 (nineteen years ago)
― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 21:51 (nineteen years ago)
― Purple Eric, Friday, 5 May 2006 10:54 (nineteen years ago)
― gekoppel (Gekoppel), Friday, 5 May 2006 20:00 (nineteen years ago)
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 5 May 2006 21:00 (nineteen years ago)
http://www.its-behind-you.com/images/ll.jpg
Robbie Williams plagued by Little and Large dreams
― NickB, Friday, 24 October 2008 09:52 (sixteen years ago)
I want melodic songs to be somewhat musically complex, not just standard pop songs. Plus Gary Barlow wrote only part of their material, a lot of it was just the same old crap thrown out by professional songwriters caring more about the musical taste of 12 year-old girls than their own or the band's.― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 5 May 2006 21:00 (2 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Whoa: Shtop!
The non-original Take Thatty songs were cover versions of either well established hits ("How deep is your love"), or obscure "Relight my fire", but nothing "bought in"...
― Mark G, Friday, 24 October 2008 10:03 (sixteen years ago)
Little and Large dreams, does that mean he can't listen to Oasis' first single anymore?
― Mark G, Friday, 24 October 2008 10:04 (sixteen years ago)
what golden age of ILM?
― Eric in the East Neuk of Anglia (Marcello Carlin), Friday, 24 October 2008 10:08 (sixteen years ago)
Take Thatty? Have they taken up golf?
― Eric in the East Neuk of Anglia (Marcello Carlin), Friday, 24 October 2008 10:26 (sixteen years ago)
ho hum
― Dave from Norwich, Friday, 24 October 2008 13:56 (sixteen years ago)
Almost a clever title:
The amazing ROBBIE WILLIAMS, who has sold a staggering 55 million albums worldwide has announced that he will release his brand new album Reality Killed The Video Star globally on November 9th followed by a digital release in the U.S. on November 10th on EMI’s Virgin Records.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 14:21 (fifteen years ago)
That's the thing with Robbie, it always almost. I do like the Bodies single but by god you have to turn of your brain.
― Nathalie (stevienixed), Thursday, 15 October 2009 20:28 (fifteen years ago)
I like Morrissey's take on the Robster: "Robbie Williams is fantastic, except the voice and the songs."
― AJD, Friday, 16 October 2009 16:10 (fifteen years ago)
That's a lot left though.
― Mark G, Friday, 16 October 2009 16:11 (fifteen years ago)
i seem to remember enjoying his episode of cribs, seemed like a funny guy. him and his friends would get together and watch The Sound Of Music once a month or something
― guammls (QE II), Sunday, 18 October 2009 00:14 (fifteen years ago)
My brain has collapsed.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 6 November 2009 22:33 (fifteen years ago)
Wasn't "Millennium" w the Nancy Sinatra sample kinda okay?
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 6 November 2009 23:07 (fifteen years ago)
He's always had great videos! Come Undone was a totally amazing extended freakout.
Robbie is probably my favourite active male popstar? I think he has made lots and lots of great records!
― Gravel Puzzleworth, Friday, 6 November 2009 23:22 (fifteen years ago)
The Pinefox, upthread, is incredible - one of my favourites of his posts.
― Gravel Puzzleworth, Sunday, 8 November 2009 14:54 (fifteen years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjuFdJ-osJY
― piscesx, Wednesday, 14 July 2010 11:06 (fourteen years ago)
RIP
― ⓢⓗⓘⓣ (am0n), Tuesday, 12 August 2014 17:29 (ten years ago)
guilty lol
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 12 August 2014 17:30 (ten years ago)
That's initially what I thought I read yesterday. My brain couldn't quite process the real words on the screen.
― The Ape In The Outhouse (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 12 August 2014 17:34 (ten years ago)
hard one to process, much less believe. goodnite sweat prince
― am0n, Wednesday, 13 August 2014 17:25 (ten years ago)
That 'You Know Me' video is still my favorite. Also one of my favorite songs of his.
Have been on a bit of a Robbie kick lately - rediscovered Rudebox which was weird and not as unfun as I expected
― SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 4 September 2014 04:53 (ten years ago)
Didn't follow Robbie's albums since Escapology, but I can listen to I've Been Expecting You any day, very good album imo.
Here's my top10
1. She's the One2. Millenium3. My Culture (1 Giant Leap)4. Angels5. No Regrets6. Rock DJ7. Eternity8. Feel9. Come Undone10. Strong
― niels, Thursday, 4 September 2014 08:02 (ten years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ccw1djJ_Js
― global tetrahedron, Thursday, 4 September 2014 10:55 (ten years ago)
I remember when Radiohead were better than RW then they weren't then it all got kinda murky
― nakh is the wintour of our diss content (darraghmac), Thursday, 4 September 2014 11:24 (ten years ago)
For anyone sitting on the fence, definitely dud.
Robbie Williams believes in the pizzagate conspiracy theory pic.twitter.com/RZ01LfXA4L— Mic Wright 🏳️🌈🌋🏴☠️ (@brokenbottleboy) November 1, 2020
― Dan Worsley, Sunday, 1 November 2020 10:37 (four years ago)
welp
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 1 November 2020 16:30 (four years ago)
Aw manhis episode of mtv cribs was cool, he would have his friends over for wizard of oz watch parties
― brimstead, Sunday, 1 November 2020 17:41 (four years ago)
― brimstead, Sunday, 1 November 2020 17:42 (four years ago)
read that as "for anybody sitting on his face, dud" the first time
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Sunday, 1 November 2020 17:43 (four years ago)
can't believe Robbie Williams has had enough time on his hands, sat at home, with nothing to do, and nobody calling him, to get sucked into the world of wacky internet fascist conspiracies
― big man on scampus (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 1 November 2020 17:47 (four years ago)
He's been a UFO chaser for years; would guess it's that energy that's being displaced into Q shit in lockdown.
― edited for dog profanity (sic), Sunday, 1 November 2020 20:11 (four years ago)
He was on Adam Buxton's podcast recently and came across as a pretty decent bloke really - desperate to be liked, but also self-aware and self-deprecating enough to know he's into all sorts of batshittery.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 1 November 2020 20:17 (four years ago)
Fully accepting that Adam Buxton + Robbie Williams will sound to many sane people like forcing actual broken glass into one's ear canals but there it is.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 1 November 2020 20:20 (four years ago)
Any talk yet about that biopic? Director of The Greatest Showman, Robbie voices himself...but is played by a CGI monkey. No one in the film ever addresses this. There's a solemn scene of him with Nicole Appleton holding her hand while she gets an abortion...and it's a fucking CGI monkey.
― Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 10 September 2024 09:24 (eight months ago)
Well there's no way i can unread that sentence, or regain my lost innocence and the fragile sense that the world still had potential for good.
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Tuesday, 10 September 2024 10:35 (eight months ago)
what the fuck lmao
― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 10 September 2024 14:47 (eight months ago)
This is gonna be the best shit biopic ever
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Tuesday, 10 September 2024 16:15 (eight months ago)
The Pharrel biopic is done using Lego, so must be something in the air. A CGI monkey though, that’s a bit too on point for old Robbie.
― Dan Worsley, Tuesday, 10 September 2024 20:51 (eight months ago)
The thing is the Pharell movie is very upfront about being lego, from what I've heard the promo for this movie basically doesn't mention the elephant, err, monkey in the room at all. So the report I caught of a guy who'd seen it was like "I went because I knew there was a monkey, the rest of the room were Robbie Williams fans and seemed to have no idea".
― Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 10 September 2024 21:15 (eight months ago)
it feels like a v Robbie thing to do, like to him it’s self deprecation & parody & commentary etc etc but no one in the room wants to be the one to say to him “dude that is a bad idea” i lovw him but he is king of going over like a lead balloon
― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 10 September 2024 21:45 (eight months ago)
*love
I think it's a great idea. Normally I'd have no interest in a Robbie Williams biopic but now I really want to see it.
― bored by endless ecstasy (anagram), Tuesday, 10 September 2024 21:50 (eight months ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbdmCGG4jzg
― milms and foovies (sic), Friday, 3 January 2025 06:52 (four months ago)
It’s sound torturous imo, undecided about watching it
― PaulTMA, Friday, 3 January 2025 15:37 (four months ago)
i saw the full trailer at the movie theater the other day - the changing hairdos on robbie-monkey is v funny so i will
― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 3 January 2025 16:45 (four months ago)
so i will prob see this