Robbie Williams live review by Ryan Beardsley
The self-anointed ‘King of Entertainment’ Robbie Williams is at North London’s Emirates Stadium to put on a show, and what a show it was, fireworks, stunts, Lulu, AI, Grime? You name it, this show had it and then some!
In typical English Summer timing, mere seconds before the show begins, the heavens open for a thunderous downpour, credit to the thousands in attendance that didn’t let it dampen their spirits, and as Mr Williams quipped, “if it’s raining here it’s raining for Beyonce!”
We kick off with Robbie descending from the top of the stage like Evel Knievel, launching into his latest single Rocket. Let’s not forget it’s the Britpop tour and he’s promoting his first new album in 5 years, but do grown-ups even buy albums anymore? Who knows but there’s 50,000 people at the Arsenal (boo) Stadium belting out every word so it’s likely another no1 LP in waiting.
Clad in a glammed up version of the red tracksuit he infamously wore whilst on a post Take That split bender at Glastonbury 95, he smashes through Let Me Entertain You, and you’d struggle to find a better opener for a pop concert anywhere. The trademark interaction with the crowd is a massive highlight throughout the night, with the set resembling a stand-up routine at times as he’s always been genuinely funny and self mocking, none more so tonight when he’s having conversations with an aged version of himself on the big screen.
What is sometimes underestimated is the genuine quality of the songs that Robbie Williams wrote alongside Guy Chambers in what was one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of a generation, and it wasn’t just smash hits like Rock DJ, but thoughtful singalongs like Strong that show how much depth there has always been just under the surface.
In a nice twist, there’s a mini stage set up in the middle of the audience where RW is joined by Lottery Winners frontman Thom Rylance to run through a medley of crowd pleasers, culminating in take that classic Relight My Fire with Lulu herself making a special guest appearance much to the delight of the soaking audience.
It’s back to the main stage for Something Beautiful, a song memorably portrayed in the recent Robbie biopic Better Man, in which, just in case you’ve been living under a rock, I’ll tell you he’s played by a CGI monkey, and it’s fantastic, so go watch it.
The night becomes even more special for one megafan from China as RW makes his way into the front row and chooses her to dedicate She’s The One to in a lovely moment that is genuinely moving. Again, harking back to Better Man and his now legendary Royal Albert Hall performance, it’s My Way to round things off, a better version you’d struggle to find.
Out for the Encore and we get Feel, one of the best, most underrated songs of the 2000’s which I cannot believe never hit number one. A truly sublime pop ballad and one of Robbie’s best vocals brings the Emirates Stadium to a goosebump-laden standstill still but there’s one more to go. Angels, of course, and it’s a truly special moment for all of those in attendance, tears aplenty, thousands of twinkling lights around set the scene while Robbie ascends the stage for one last tearful goodbye on what has been an emotional night for fans and performers alike.
The King of Entertainment, I can’t argue with that, but he’s also so much more. On nights like this, it’s clear that Robbie Williams has a real, genuine connection with people that has rarely been seen in the history of popular music; he’s a national treasure and should be treated as such. If Glastonbury has pop stars headlining these days, I can think of no one better for next year.
Comments are closed.