News

Has Robbie Williams Got The X Factor?

• 5th Oct 2009

Next Monday sees everyone’s favourite ‘fat dancer’ return with his latest single. Yep, Robbie Williams is back. Actually, he’s not even fat but that famous Liam Gallagher insult was just such a good opener. Too be honest calling someone fat isn't big or clever, fancy insulting someone because of the way they look, it's not nice. Ok, I digress, but now we are clear where I stand on being mean about people, so let’s get back to the Robster.

When I was younger I actually thought I would marry Robbie Williams when I grew up and the only thing that stopped that from happening, in my opinion, was the restraining order. Anyway Robbie was always my favourite Take That member, he was funny, handsome (swoon) and surprisingly he was deep. He was meant to be the joker of the group, but while the rest of the band were fucking around doing back flips (with the exception of Gary) Robbie was telling people how lonely he felt, binging on food, drink and drugs (allegedly) to fill this emptiness. So it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that Robbie has written some flawlessly thought provoking lyrics. His watershed moment came in the form of 'Angels', which established him as ‘Robbie Williams Solo Artist’ as opposed to just Robbie who used to be in Take That. But in my opinion his best work was 'Escapology'(2002), which had songs like ‘Feel’, declaring “before I’ve arrived, I can see myself come in”, and “I got too much love running through my veins going to waste”. And ‘Sexed Up’ with resonating lyrics such as “why don’t we talk about it I’m only here don’t shout it, given time you’ll forget, let’s pretend we never met” Oh, I hear that. But the highlight for me has to be ‘Come Undone’ with its antithetical lyrics being nothing short of genius. I tried to pick a few of my favourite lines but couldn’t choose as the whole song is just sublime.

For me ‘Escapology’ is Robbie’s defining album and although there is no real complexity in the lyrical content of the songs, the meanings are fairly self explanatory. Yet at the same time they have depth and perception. And in Robbie’s case this is what makes me less eager than other‘s to write him off. I know he has the ability to produce great songs he’s already showed us this, but I also think he sells himself short and doesn’t quite reach his full potential. Granted we all know Robbie has collaborated with Guy Chambers and I’m not 100 per cent sure if he wrote all the songs on 'Escapology' single handily, but according to Chambers Robbie was the lyrical mastermind and he the music man. Regardless of this I defy anyone to argue with those lyrics. Although, granted great lyrics are partly down to the subjective view of the listener and how they relate and interpret them. Or are they? Are great lyrics great lyrics regardless, and the listener either understands them or they don't? Hmm, this is a whole other debate really isn’t it?

These days I’m not a massive Robbie Williams fan, I wouldn’t necessarily go and buy his work, but every time I contemplate writing him off I think of those songs from ‘Escapology’, and that anyone who can write in that way must be undoubtedly talented. So with Robbie about to unleash his new album ‘Reality Killed The Video Star’ on 9th November, proceeded by the single ‘Bodies’ which is out next Monday, 12th October, will his new work lyrically impress once more? Who knows, I guess we will have to wait and see.

Before all this Robbie can be seen performing exclusively on the X Factor this coming weekend, his first UK performance since 2006 apparently.

On the website this week we have all the latest news, reviews and music videos. We have live reviews from the likes of Senser and many more. We also have competitions to win albums by The Beatles and upcoming band Buster Shuffle, all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer a simple question. Easy. Also, as always we have Glasswerk's featured gigs which are, All Forgotten, The Parlotones, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster and Goldie Lookin Chain.