Hello Robbie! (Robbie Williams - Live)

Member Name: jacquelina

Product:	Robbie Williams - Live
Date:	25/07/01 (336 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots

Disadvantages: Few

I've never really understood the Robbie Williams phenomenon. My friends all worship him (female and male), he's constantly voted number one in the sexiest man in the world stakes, he has had a string of successful beautiful girlfriends and respected artists willing to collaborate with him.

So, when my flatmate asked if I knew of anyone who might like to go and see Robbie Williams at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 15th July - for free, I might add (by some blag or another), I thought - why not? Let's go and see what all the fuss is about.

Feeling slightly guilty at not being a Robbie fan and knowing there were plenty of others who'd kill for a ticket (VIP seats no less), but all in the name of research, I found myself Cardiff-bound on a sunny Sunday morning a few days later.

I'd just like to say at this point that I was pleasantly surprised by Cardiff - for some reason I had images of a depressing, drizzly backwater, but really, once you get used to that accent it's not that bad. Quite pleasant in fact, particularly the area around the castle and another nice stretch of bars and restaurants near the train station. Indeed, this was where myself and flatmate John spent most of the afternoon, soaking up the sun, the atmosphere and the booze, though probably not in that order.

There was a great buzz in the air, with Robbie's hits blaring out of the bars, and some pubs even going to the 'extreme' of changing their names for the day - one had a white sheet hung flimsily over the pub sign with 'Robbie's Tavern' scrawled across it - I'm sure he'd be honoured.

The gates were opening at 4.30pm so we made our way to the stadium, only a 5 minute walk from Cardiff Central train station, at around 6-ish. The stadium was pretty impressive - it was only half full at this point and I had difficulty imagining it full to capacity (about 40'000, or 60'000 I'm not sur
e), but boy, did it fill up. There were several bars dotted around near the entrances, but with a pretty poor selection of drinks and they weren't cheap.

At about 6.30pm the support started - first up 'hip' 80's outfit ABC!! I didn't know who they were at first, until I heard 'The Look of Love' and 'Shoot that poison arrow' and other such classics. They were good, but on for too long and I think the crowd began to get a little impatient after about 45 mins. I spent about half of the set searching for cigarettes - no machines inside the stadium - fair enough I suppose. Smoking is permitted inside the stadium 'at one's own discretion' - personally, I don't feel comfortable smoking in close proximity to non-smokers - but others didn't seem to mind.

After ABC, we were greeted by Toploader. I was pretty impressed by this and they played a great set which included all their hits - dancing in the moonlight received the most rapturous reception, unsurprisingly. The set was faultless, but I was beginning to itch to see Robbie, and was getting more excited than the 14 year old girl in front of me in anticipation. Funny what such a semi-hysterical atmosphere can do to a person.

Our seats were above and to the right of the stage - they were ok, but too far to make out any facial details etc. I knew I'd spend most of the concert watching the giant TV screens rather than the stage. Eventually, at about 9pm and after a great deal of build up ... 'Robbie will be on the stage in 5 mins.....2 mins.... 20 secs etc' ..... the man himself appeared, and launched straight into 'Let me entertain you'.

I was pleased to find Robbie very easy on the eye - he was sporting a blond mohican and a very nice, ok, sexy black shirt and trousers combo. For some reason I'd been expecting him to swoop onto the stage in full warpaint a black leather trouser suit and grabbing his crotch,
but he was surprisingly reserved. In fact, only at one point did he do anything remotely 'lewd', lifting up his shirt to reveal, I have to say a rather nice toned tanned stomach. Only briefly mind you. Back to the music..

He performed all of his hits... Millennium, Angels, Rock DJ, Kids (with no guest appearance from Kylie and the audience singing her part) and some of his newer stuff e.g. Eternity and Road to Mandalay. He also scorned his former Take That bandmates and sang a spoof of Back for Good, which would have had more impact if I hadn't already seen him do it during his previous concerts shown on TV.

After a brief interlude, Robbie returned to the stage dressed in some Eminem-type get up of white vest, baggy jeans and a cap and sang a very in your face cover of a Limp Bizkit track - don't know what it was and don't care as I can't stand them. Robbie - I hear you are bored with your look and want a change of image, but please don't go down the American grunge/hip-hop/whatever it is route - you're better just being yourself. As covers go though, it was impressive.

Robbie has an excellent voice that didn't fail him once - he is powerful and confident on stage and at some points seemed genuinely overwhelmed by the whole thing, standing with his arms crossed and just staring out at the packed stadium with a look that seemed to convey gratitude, disbelief and just a touch of that old Robbie arrogance too. The band and backing singers were good, and the predictable posse of scantily clad female pole-dancers / Bond girl beauties were an almost continuous presence writhing around the stage.

He also swore alot on stage, we're talking f-word here. "This is f******* fantastic", "I'm f******** this" "you're f******* that" - until eventually the women in front of me gave up clasping her hands over her daughters ears every 5 seconds. Well, what do you expect f
rom Robbie - he's hardly renowned for his good behaviour is he?!

Robbie finished with Rock DJ, but returned for an encore with a cover of Queen's 'We are the Champions' which had everyone in the stadium singing along. This is incidentally the theme song for the new Gladiator-influenced film 'A Knights Tale' which was repeatedly advertised (along with that irritating Impulse ad) before the music started.

So, has my opinion of Robbie changed? I certainly have more respect for him now having seen what an excellent live performer he is, although with the exception of the Limp Bizkit episode there were no real surprises to be had. I still feel that some of Robbie's songs are pants - namely 'Millennium and 'Rock DJ' - come on, even HE has admitted that he's embarrassed by these tunes. On the other hand, tunes such as 'Kids' and 'Angels' and possibly 'Eternity' (though this is bordering on slush) are of a very high standard - and I seem to recall a couple of funky jazzy interludes which reflected that Robbie does take his music seriously. And yes, the man does have sex-appeal - I think its the eyes.. or is it the stomach? Come to think of it that bum looked pretty hot in those black pants, er..

Robbie comes across as a big kid who can't quite believe his luck, and I think this is what endears him to his audience and helps him stay on top. He's also struggled hard and overcome his demons, eg drink and drugs and insecurity (ok, I read Heat magazine), which makes us appreciate him more and him probably appreciate himself more. Some of his songs are quite sad, and others quite scathing, but all are honest. Just my own little bit of psychoanalysis there, sorry folks! But what I'm trying to say is, credit where it's due, I think.

One final note - the concert finished about 10.30pm, and myself and John had missed the last train back to London and found ourselve
s stranded in Bristol until 3am. We shared the waiting room with a Japanese girl who had travelled alone to see Robbie. We asked what she thought of the concert and she replied... 'I don't know, I was a bit disappointed.... he is supposed to be the great entertainer, yes?...'

I arrived back in London at 6am Monday morning and crawled to bed for those vital few hours sleep. Was Robbie worth it?

Just!

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