November 18, 2001

6:17 AM

Now, I've never been a BIG fan of either Frank Sinatra or Robbie Williams. Sure, I've a lot of respect for the former, and the latter's a great singer and entertainer from the UK. But last nite, I was converted. Anyone see A Night With Robbie Williams on TV in the UK last night? (more inside)
posted by wibbler (18 comments total)

Fank's family was so impressed that they allowed clips of Frank to be played throughout the songs, and as they were played, Robbie looked around the stadium in wide-eyed amazement at what he'd acheived. That was his first little cry. And as he held back tears at the end, he told the audience, "Thank you for making my dream come true." The whole of the Albert Hall stood for a ovation. How can he top that?!
posted by wibbler at 6:18 AM on November 18, 2001

Robbie Williams is a plagiarist. A convicted one at that...
posted by Dark Messiah at 7:13 AM on November 18, 2001

yeah i though it was good.

But was there any need for that little interval when some guy came on and started running his mouth about how paranoid Williams is, asking for assurance that everyone was having a good time - Egotist
posted by monkeyJuice at 7:19 AM on November 18, 2001

Just a personal thing - I don't really like these sorts of "tributes" This probably stems from a fear that my memory of the original will be somehow displaced. Also, even if they have a brilliant voice, it's so difficult for singers to emulate Sinatra's uncanny sense of timing and unique tonal qualities (not to mention his larger-than-life persona) if indeed they try. I haven't seen this however, so I can't comment specifically.

Was there a link to info about the show?
posted by lucien at 8:16 AM on November 18, 2001

I wish I could have seen it. Any planned US runs ? This appears to be very crafty marketing. Wasn't Robbie once the lead singer in the (much-hated) Take That ? Remarkable how these former "stars" have these make-overs, are relauncheded and rediscovered and (I liked Robbie's last release), and then have TV specials for musical legends. What's next ? Kylie Minogue's TV tribute for Shirely Bassey ? Vanilla Ice for Roy Orbison?
posted by Voyageman at 8:54 AM on November 18, 2001

Kylie Minogue's TV tribute for Shirely Bassey

I can see that happening. Seriously. Speaking of TV, and sorry to go off on a tangent, but did you know that if you've got Sky Digital then Walking With Beasts is on a permanent loop with interactive features if you press the red button. It's much better than the actual programme. It has proper science in it. "This is a world where birds eat horses". Ho ho.
posted by Summer at 9:02 AM on November 18, 2001

Despite my comments, I would like to see Judy Davis playing Judy Garland in "Me and my Shadow"
posted by lucien at 10:06 AM on November 18, 2001

lucien: I saw Judy Garland half a dozen times (1959-) and watched "Me and My Shadow" on television. Judy Davis was believable; her depiction of JG's getting-revved-up to go on at Carnegie Hall (1961) gave me cold chills.
posted by Carol Anne at 10:13 AM on November 18, 2001

Lucien, here's a page at the BBC explaining the setup.
The concert was broadcasted live on the web, apparently, but that's no good after the facts.
I zapped by it yesterday, merely thinking "hey that's Robbie Williams trying to look really cool with a cigarette in the corner of his mouth. Singing Sinatra even. But he ain't. Cool." Zap.
posted by houbi at 10:30 AM on November 18, 2001

I pray that Robbie Williams continues to flop in America.
posted by jragon at 10:36 AM on November 18, 2001

www.msn.co.uk/specials/windowsxp/robbie/

What kind of a URL is that ? What does WinXP has to do with former boysband stars ?
posted by XiBe at 11:20 AM on November 18, 2001

Thanks Carol Anne, I wish I could have seen Garland perform. I have a lot of respect for Judy Davis, I can see full well why the project was entrusted to her.

Thanks for the links houbi.
posted by lucien at 11:46 AM on November 18, 2001

Don't think I've ever heard of Robbie Williams, but in regard to Frank Sinatra, you must remember this:

IT IS FRANKIE'S WORLD - WE ONLY LIVE IN IT.

No voice matches Frank's; some came close, but he was truly the embodiment of 20th century pop -- he essentially created the path for so many other "stars" to follow, and he was the first to have his fans grow up with him, while at the same time attracting legions of new fans of each subsequent generation.

Arguably the greatest entertainer of the 20th century. (By "arguably" I mean "definitely.")
posted by davidmsc at 12:05 PM on November 18, 2001

From a business standpoint, it can't fail: Robbie's realised that his strength lies in the middle ground. The grannies will love it and the album/DVD/whatever will sell bucketloads at Christmas. He also looks very handsome in that Rat Pack look.

But while his singing's improved, he's no Frank Sinatra. He's not even Harry Connick Jr. There's no musicality there and little depth - the tracks I heard lacked the smooth and confident grace of a true crooner. I don't blame him for trying, because most pop musicians would love to work with a Big Band at some point (Bjork has done it twice) but it's all a bit of an insult really.
posted by skylar at 1:55 PM on November 18, 2001

jragon: bite your tongue!
posted by goneill at 6:34 PM on November 18, 2001

Are we deep enough in the thread yet for me to be sarcastic?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:07 PM on November 18, 2001

Voyageman: Robbie Williams wasn't the lead singer in Take That - that was Gary Barlow. Robbie was one of the backing singers who was kicked out after he started taking drugs and hanging around with the Gallagher brothers (who would probably be a bad influence on anybody!)
posted by salmacis at 1:30 AM on November 19, 2001

For what it's worth: Complaints over Robbie's TV show, from BBC.
posted by Carol Anne at 1:01 PM on November 19, 2001