‘Permit me to re-introduce myself,” Robbie Williams declares, with actual gravitas. “That is my band. That is my ART.” Then he holds his mic to his crotch and waggles it. Yep – standard Robbie.
After eccentric diversions into movie and visual arts, the pop star’s grand return to stadium reveals begins with a philosophical bent: a sombre video critiques the impression of know-how on the pop sphere, replete with a deepfake Elvis, and implies that just one man – maybe one with a whopping 15 No 1 albums – may probably save the trade. As campy and braggadocious as he’s ever been, after 35 years within the biz Williams crowns himself the “King of Leisure” and tonight will not be a mere present however a “journey”.
That journey entails: Williams bathing flirtatiously in a handsy viewers; T-shirts chucked out throughout Previous Earlier than I Die, of all of the songs to decide on; belting Take That’s Relight My Fireplace with sparkly visitor Michelle McManus. He even dives off a pyro-laden bridge to hold suspended by his ankles, in a visible tribute to his biggest-selling album Escapology. Much less enjoyable: the prolonged skits with but extra deepfakes, and a few tedious preaching about “embracing our internal cringe”.
All through, Williams carefully displays our progress: “That was actually good,” he confirms, with a cocky shrug, after a psychedelic efficiency of Youngsters. “I received goose bumps!” he grins, when the group bellows the refrain of Sexed Up. After a flamboyant Rock DJ, with the Broadway-style association from the Higher Man soundtrack: “I’m shitting out hits!”
However the meta narrative works greatest when it goes unsaid. Ending on My Method, a swinging big-band second with cacophonous brass, Williams has the famous person glow of a person residing as much as that regal title. The encore then begins with Really feel, a tune which stares bleakly at “the position [he’s] been given” and for the primary time Williams is completely sombre. The distinction is genuinely shifting.
“Are you not entertained?” he roars gladiatorially, as we karaoke to Angels. After all we’re! Tonight’s frenzied, overcompensating maximalism may point out a splash of insecurity or complete, outrageous confidence. As with all issues Robbie, it’s in all probability each.
