Disco de Robbie Williams: “Sing When You're Winning [UK Bonus Track]”

I really didn't dig Robbie Williams' music when I first heard him back in '98, '99. When I heard that he used to be in the boy group Take That, I really didn't want to hear what he was singing at the time. You heard one pop artist you heard them all right? Wrong! Robbie Williams is not your typical pop artist and never will be. Categorizing him with every other cheeseball known as boy groups and solo pop artists (i.e Ricky Martin) out there would be a crime against humanity. It took me awhile to get into The Ego Has Landed" but when "Sing When You're Winning" came out I immediately bought the cd on the day it was released here in the US.

"Sing When You're Winning" is a infectious blend of pop and rock. The lyrics for the most part are tongue in cheek for example "Kids", Robbie's duet with Kylie Minogue, another huge pop star overseas but not here in the US. "Better Man" is a lovely ballad that picks up where "Angels" left off. "Rock DJ" is a fun, catchy little number that I love to turn the volume up on the radio. "Supreme" uses a sampled bit of the eternal disco classic "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. On the US version of "Sing When You're Winning", there is a video clip to "Rock DJ" which is probably a bit too explicit for MTV/VH1 to show (although I did see it once on MTV2). I must say that it was both funny and gross at the same time but only Robbie can pull off a video like that.

Why Robbie Williams isn't huge here as he is in Europe is beyond me. His music is obviously not being exploited to the masses here. Then again maybe people just don't have the sense of humor to understand songs like "Kids" and "Rock DJ". Either way, the US is missing out on a terrific artist.

1. Name three hits by Kylie Minogue.

If you answer includes "Better The Devil You Know" and "Spinning Around" score 10. If you answer includes "The Locomotion" score 5. If you answer what's a Kylie Minogue, score zero.

2. In the song "Strong", Robbie says "my breath smells of a thousand fags". What does he mean?

If you answer too much smoking, score 10. If you answer anything else score zero.

3. The game shown on the cover of this album is..?

If you answer Football, score 10. Soccer, 5. Anything else, 0.

4. The end of this album contains a 17-minute gap of recorded silence, then, instead of a hidden track, Robbie announces that he doesn't feel like recording one this time. What's your reaction?

If you roll on the floor laughing, score 10. If you just don't get it, score 2. If you want your money back, score zero. If you immediately play the track again, score 100.

Personally, I love Robbie Williams music. I was championing him two years before his CD came out on this continent. But I just doubt that he's going to ever really become BIG in America. There are many reasons for this, label apathy, radio's reluctance to play anything by anyone over 20 these days, but most importantly Robbie steadfastly refuses to do things in an American way.

He is witty without dumbing down, vulgar without anger, self-effacing when most artists brag, and relentlessly, proudly British. His humour, his references, and his music are styled by a country that is these days as foreign to America as Khurdistan.

Yes, he's also one of the best live artists I've ever seen in my life, but not many have seen him live over here.

I wish Robbie the best, but I'm not holding my breath that this will be his breakthrough album.

But if you score above zero on the test, buy the CD.

Robbie Williams has always been one to not follow the rest of the pop crowd with his individualistic music. Each of the 12 tracks he has written on this album are superb! This is pop at it's finest!

1. Let Love Be Your Energy - Great way to start off his album. It has a rock vibe to it that really kicks into gear in the chorus! A treat for the ears! (5/5)

2. Better Man - I think this is without a doubt one of his best ballads. The lyrics are so touching ("Rest assured my angels/ Will catch my tears/ Walk me out of here/ I'm in pain") you can't help but listening to this to relax. (6/5)

3. Rock DJ - An interesting song with an even more interesting video to boot. Again, has a rock vibe to it with some of the most infectious lyrics to make a killer track! His first tracks on this album are definately his strongest! (5/5)

4. Supreme - My 2nd favorite song on this album! Instead of following another rock song pattern, he turns to a more darker pop song. Sounds like it has a night time vibe to it. Great job, Robbie! (6/5)

5. Kids - MY FAVORITE SONG! It's so weird considering Kylie is known for her dance songs, but she does even better with Robbie on this rock type song! The chorus is definately the highlight of this song! Guitar driven beats and great vocals! (6/5)

6. If It's Hurting You - This is an ok song. His first five songs on the album are his best. It's a little too slow compared to his other songs. (3/5)

7. Singing For the Lonely - An uplifting song that starts off slow, but soon kicks into gear with some great guitars and drums. It sounds simplistic, but it works with this song and his great vocals. (5/5)

8. Love Calling Earth - Wow! This song is so soothing! It's a slower ballad but it is great nonetheless. Robbie really knows when to throw in all the music instruments or let his voice just do the work. Just plain awesome! (5/5)

9. Knutsford City Limits - Robbie kicks the album back into gear with another great rock tune. Has some great lyrics too! (When the meter ran out on life/ I used my tokens lady) Fantastic (4/5)

10. Forever Texas - When I saw the title of the song, I thought it was going to be some lame country song and boy was I wrong! This is another great rock song! (4/5)

11. By All Means Necessary - Another great slow song with some rather depressing lyrics. I am still dumbfounded by the lyrics, as I am guessing it has something to do with a girl just sleeping around with a lot of people based on what they have or something? LoL either way. Something to listen to. (5/5)

12. The Road to Mandalay - This song sounds a little weird at first, but takes a while to grow on you. Kinda sung in some storytelling fashion. Very interesting. (4/5)

As you can see by most of my reviews (Shawn Desman, A-Teens, etc.) The United States misses out on several opportunities to pass the pop torch to more deserving artists rather than simply giving it to mediocre performers. If you liked this, you should check out his even more emotional, Escapology!

This is not Robbie Williams' first solo CD, nor his latest, but it is arguably his best. Full of straight-ahead, at times derivative-sounding pop tunes, it typically echoes the clever writing and vocal versatility of the Brit entertainment phenom. But unlike his earlier efforts that were, with only a very few notable exceptions such as "Angels" and "Millennium," unsophisticated, rudimentary, or chaotic, most of the songs on this album reveal a maturity in composition. Together, Williams and his collaborator, Guy Chambers, have breached the abyss. The lyrical statements, bleeding with the now-familiar, classic Robbie conflicts, are not just entertaining but clear, the musical motifs similarly pronounced. "If you're looking to change the world, 'Let Love Be Your Energy'" barks the the first selection, followed by a plaintive "Lord I'm doing all I can to be a 'Better Man,'" then the smash single, disco-techy, bass-throbbing "Rock DJ," the I Will Survive-sound-alike "Supreme" in which Williams forlornly though eloquently wails, "Oo-h-h, seems like forever stopped today . . ." and even more. The duet with Kylie Minogue on the danceable "Kids" ends with Williams rapping at his self-promoting, but irresistibly, cheeky best: "I'm an Honorary Sean Connery, born '74, There's only one of me, single-handedly raising the economy . . ." A balance is present here that has simply been absent from much of his previous and, sadly, later work. The music shouts out that Robbie Williams is aware he's arrived and that he recognizes that his firmly-staked (at turns self-doubting) claim has been acknowledged. In truth, there are two or three weaker selections ("Forever Texas" is one), but they're not enough to mar the overall triumph that this album has achieved. While it is still feel-good pop, this time it is well-measured and honed. To hear it once beckons a second and a third and . . . 'till you find that you too will be singing: "Ca-mon!! I Don't Wanna Ro-ock . . ."

I can't say enough great things about this album. I must admit that I am a latecomer to Robbie's music, as I have only been listening to him for the past four years. However, better late than never! I have come to love Robbie's cheekiness and his often sarcastic remarks on what it's like to be famous. This album is fun, both lyrically and musically, and I want everyone to listen to it! Some standout tracks include "Let Love Be Your Energy," "Supreme," "Kids," "If It's Hurting You," and "The Road to Mandalay." I would also recommend purchasing the DVD of Robbie's live performance at Knebworth in the summer of 2003 - a spectacular show that will certainly go down in his career history!