Death of a disco dancer
Oh woe is him
Some facts to chew over: Robbie Williams' most recent single Sin Sin Sin went into the Official UK Singles Chart two Sundays ago at number 22. Last week, it dropped out of the Top 40 altogether, after just one week, falling to 41. Since August 1996, when his first single Freedom went to number 2, his lowest chart placing, out of 25 consecutive Top 30 hits (six of them numbers ones), has been number 14 with South Of The Border in September 1997 (no, I can't hum that one either), which was, crucially, before Angels, when the world fell in Robbie's miserable lap. Not once has peaked outside the Top 10 since that date. To contextualise, his last single, Advertising Space (tum ti-tum ... der-der-der ... nope) reached number 8 in December, and Sexed Up (la-la-la-la) reached number 10 in November 2003. My conclusion? ROBBIE WILLIAMS IS ALL OVER.
Why aren't executives at EMI going up to the roof of the building and tossing themselves off? Robbie Williams! The man they paid fifty million quid for! The one who hasn't cracked America! The record-buying public have gone off him. Admittedly, Sin Sin Sin was shit. And I mean really shit. But so are other records he's put out and they've gone Top 10, wafted along by the warm current of goodwill that's supported him all these years, but not made him any happier. People in the country have loved Robbie. But they seem to have stopped. They heard his latest single, didn't much like it, and decided not to go and buy it in the shops. I repeat, and I do so because I haven't read this headline anywhere since Sunday: ROBBIE WILLIAMS IS ALL OVER. Knebworth suddenly seems a long time ago.
I am actually worried, because Robbie seems like a very delicate flower, emotionally, addicted to fame and yet so clearly ill-equipped to deal with it. Most of his songs are along the lines of woe-is-me-fame-hasn't-bought-me-happiness-what's-that-piece-of-fluff-in-my-millionaire-navel (latest album title: Intensive Care), but what kind of song will he write now? Are there words in the dictionary to express the kind of existential turmoil a number 22 hit and one week in the chart must spell? And can the great British public take it? The blood will be on our hands. Well, yours, if you ever bought one of his records and contributed to his unhappiness.
Did anyone else see self-loathing in all those tattoos?
Perhaps this would have made the papers if there wasn't a World War on. Sorry, World Cup.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 6:21 AM
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Robbie's history, thank god.
I can't tell you how happy I was to see you mention the World War in the same breath as the World Cup, as it's given me the perfect chance to get something off my chest (not sure if typed stuff can be in the same breath, but you know what I mean).
As a German-born Scotsman, I'm astonished, offended and more than a little pissed off at some of the anti-German hype that's going on just now, seemingly with the blessing and support of the English press and public. The wonderful Stan Boardman chirping on in song, with the catchy chorus about the Germans bombing his chippy. Some other nonsense song, no doubt backed by the glorious 1966 squad, to the tune of Dads Army. Plastic Jerry helmets (leave it!), with the England logo on them. Come on, for fuck's sake! The World War ended 60 years ago and isn't something that should be dragged up like this for a sporting event. For the record, England didn't win the last war on their own!
Does anyone else find it a bit distasteful to see the national news headlining, every day with crap like Wayne Rooney's toe (who gives a fuck?), or which hotel the England squad are holed up in? Especially when there is real news going on in the world.
This rant may come across as anti-English, which it certainly isn't supposed to be. It's the English sporting media which gets my goat. They can all go to hell on a hand-cart, as far as I'm concerned. I actually hope that England win the competition, if nothing else so that we don't have to suffer any more 1966 references!
I suppose I'll get ripped to shreds now, but I'd like to think I'm among friends here.
Cheers
Well, my colleague here at work, who writes our pop column, tells me Robbie's got nothing to worry about. Apparently - so he tells me - Robbie's an album man, and never particularly promotes his singles. Plus, this has been the third release from an album that's apparently been doing the rounds for some time, and has long since been plugged to death. So, no, according to Pop Bloke. This is certainly not the end for Robbie. Best print a late edition of the blog, Andrew, with a revised headline.
Not that I've ever been much of a fan - though a showman and proper pop star in the old-fashioned sense Robbie most definitely is - he's gone right down the dumper since he teamed up with Stephen "Kiss of Death" Duffy.
I like the odd bit of The Lilac Time and, of course, Kiss Me is a student disco classic, but he's never been at ease with the mainstream. So binning off Guy Chambers was a big mistake, IMHO. Goodbye Robbie.
ah Doug, you're not on your own. Of course I want England to do well and with any luck win the thing but I'm sick of the hype - and yes, let's say it, zenophobia - that inevitably accompanies it. (I'm not keen on all the flags either, though that's now pretty much an untenable view point, it seems.)
For me, the world cup is just as much about internationalism and the players & countries we get to know because of it. (One of my best memories of Euro 96 was being asked by two Mexicans in Mexico shirts to take their photograph outside Hillsborough after the Denmark-Croatia game; that & Davor Shuker's lob over Peter Schmeichel in the same match.)
Of course, I've only gone & drawn England in the sweepstake I'm in...
Third single off the album, no real publicity apart from a dodgy video, EMI releasing it on 7" vinyl.. it was bound to be a flop. It was telling that Williams would rather do the publicity for UNICEF than his own single. "Advertising Space" is still being played to death on commercial radio, so "Sin Sin Sin" didn't stand a chance.
However, the album sold shedloads and he's got a sold-out tour so I'm sure he's not arsed. Add to that new material due out in the Autumn - I think we'll hang on before we announce the end of his pop career.
Apparently Robbie's now making a dance album, with two tracks already recorded with Pet Shop Boys (who of course have experience of producing drama queens - Liza, Dusty....).
Nah I agree it is over although to a certain extent that may well be wishful thinking. However considering the small amount of talent he has he's gone a long long way.
I've stood in a pub in London when Scotland played Brazil, and everyone in there was English and supporting Scotland. I've also stood in a pub in Glasgow during an England World Cup match, and everyone in there was supporting Argentina. I'll leave that thought with you...
Tim
I certainly won't deny that what you've said does tend to happen. My opinion is that it's most likely a result of hearing about 1966 during the commentary of practically every sporting event involving an England team for the last 40 years. It does grate a bit.
Nothing to do with hating the English - more to do with wiping the smile off the collective face of the british (sorry english) press.
Without sounding bitter, if the roles were reversed, I'm confident that the Scottish team wouldn't be receiving the same level of coverage from the english-biased British broadcasters. I don't recall Scotland being crowned World Elephant Polo champions once again last year being headline news! ;-)
September is when the best part of 200,000 people descend on my part of Leeds for two nights of glorified karaoke with Mr Williams at Roundhay Park. Surely he'll sell a few more records on the back of that?
Don't most artists gradually stop selling shed loads of singles as their fans grow up with them? His songs are still played on Radio 1 and all the ones with Acronyms so he seems just as popular as ever.
Robbie Williams Is Over
(If You Want It)
You can all wishfully keep Robbie's career going by the power of positive thought, but I will continue to hold the view that ONE WEEK in the singles chart is an ominous sign that all is not as it once was. Are you telling me the last time he released a third single from an album it only spent a week on the chart? I think not. He had FIVE singles out from Life Thru A Lens, all of which were Top 10 hits. There were four singles off I've Been Expecting You, again, all higher than 22. Five from Sing When You're Winning, all hits. For "an albums artist" he's put an awful lot of singles out, and whether he's promoted them much or not, they've all been hits. Four from Escapology, al hits. Sin Sin Sin, a useless song, is the fourth single from Intensive Care - all the other three went Top 10. Make up your own minds!
And let's see how Ghosts, his next single, and fifth off the current album, does . . . I can't wait.
Poor Robbie... I do genuinely worry about him. 'Fragile' is definitely a word I would use too. What will become of him without his music career? I hope he can bow out gracefully when it looks like it is beyond the point of no return. Let's just hope he doesn't try to get up on stage with Arctic Monkeys!
Oh - just realised that you said 'delicate' not fragile - same difference roughly...
There was a bit on a Radio 2 documentary about plagiarism in music on Robbie Williams. So Guy Chambers tells the story about how he has written all the songs for the albums, b-sides etc and suddenly Williams decides he's going to write one, and only goes and gets sued for blatant plagiarism in this sole effort - could it really have just been bad luck?
Williams is not gone yet though, the tabloid newspapers will probably still give him the time of day, in the same way, they care nothing for Babyshambles' music but write endless Pete Doherty stories.
Andrew, I'd advise you to stay a good distance away from the Stars in their Eyes studios for the next month or two. With your new "summer" hair cut, I fear you may be dragged off the street and forced into performing one of RW's many hits. Stick on tattoos?
I never see the tabloids, seems to save a lot of worry.
Robbie Williams is all over? Well, he is now! NOT! He's tried various genres and he's been good at most. He will be around for some time yet, we don't generate much talent in his department. Unlike the talented Mr Lee Mack, who will never be over. Do you have one another rolling in the aisles when you're working on the sit-com? Or is the office too small for that? We saw him on tour in Kendal recently - what a breath of fresh air - we haven't had such talent since Hancock was around (the Tony variety). Not Nick, although he tops him too.
When do you think the sit-com will be wrapped up? We can't wait.
Gill
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Gill, the sitcom goes into production in a week's time. We finish the writing period next Friday (June 16) after which it's rehearsals, filming etc. I don't know where you live, but you could always come to the studio recordings, which start on July 10. More details nearer the time.
Thanks for that Andrew. I live in West Yorkshire, but even if I lived in John o' Groats, I wouldn't pass up this opportunity. Will you be posting more detailed info. on your daily blog? Hope so. I am originally from London, so I won't get lost! Keep blogging or I'll get withdrawal symptoms! I catch up with you every day. Gill
I was forced to go and see Robbie Williams prance about in front of 80,000 people in Dublin last night - I had to review the gig for work. It was particularly annoying as the huge stadium in which he was performing is down the road from my parents' house and I grew up loathing it and everyone who performed in it with a passion, as every event drew thousands of people who took over the entire neighbourhood and weed in everyone's front gardens. So it was pretty dreadful having to enter the awful place for the first time to see Robbie bloody Williams.
Anyway, the gig was incredibly dull - Williams himself was surprisingly likeable, but the music is just shite - the new stuff is really atrocious. It makes 'Let Me Entertain You' sound like a work of pop genius. The crowd did absolutely adore it, though, so his fans aren't deserting him just yet. Unfortunately. On the plus side, he did get stranded on top of a crane when some stage machinery failed to work properly...
Bet he got all depressed about that after the gig. Probably wrote a song about it. I do actually truly feel sorry for him, he's addicted to himself, and to publicity, which is a horrible addiction. But I wish he'd stop putting out records, like Victoria Beckham had the dignity to eventually do! I much prefer her now.
I have a sneaky respect for Victoria Beckham too. The celebrity thing seems to be a game that some people very much enjoy playing without taking it or themselves too seriously. Mrs B (and Mr B come to that) fall into that category, and there's something vaguely appealing about it. Robbie Williams takes the line that he hates the game but he keeps on playing it, and that in itself suggests he takes himself too seriously. A lot of people do still seem to like him though. I suspect his lurch towards the dumper is simply due to the fact that his latest album is cack (all things being relative of course). It probably will be all over if the next one is too.
Well being a major fan of Robbie Williams myself cos he has had a couple of singles not reaching the top ten why should people be saying he is over thats why he is no doing another tour in which most dates are sold out Robbie williams will live forever in the pop industry
Robbie is stronger than ever, he doesn't need top ten hits to keep him going he has his loyal fans and come september I will be one of them standing in Roundhey Park as proud as hell to be witness to Robbie performing his heart out, so obviously you have a very jealous streak over Robbie and I suggest you seek help
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i enjoyed the site (seriuosly) and i understand that perhaps at this moment self promotion is bad and may seem superficial, but nevertheless i cannot resist the temptation of inviting you over to my blog to take a look at one thingie and to say what you think. thanks in advance :-)
i enjoyed the site (seriuosly) and i understand that perhaps at this moment self promotion is bad and may seem superficial, but nevertheless i cannot resist the temptation of inviting you over to my blog to take a look at one thingie and to say what you think. thanks in advance :-)
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