Robbie Williams: 'I'm an entertainer with a compulsion to entertain'
Regardless of how you might feel about Williams — and there may be huge swathes of you who think they know everything there is to know about the man, too much possibly — I encourage you to pause judgement until you've seen him live. Over the past two decades I've seen him perform a number of times — Wembley Stadium, Fashion Rocks at the Albert Hall in 2003, the rehearsal for a private performance in LA about a decade later, yada yada yada — and he has never been less than extraordinary. There are many things Williams isn't, but there is no one who can control an audience like he can. All those clichés about his days in the working men's clubs paying off are true: there is literally no one who can walk on to a stage and own an audience so quickly and so comprehensively. You might not like his music (you're wrong) and you might just think it's the kind of stuff you listened to 25 years ago when you couldn't escape a day without hearing Angels blaring out of a car radio, a café or a TV screen — but watching him live is something everyone should once in their life. Even if only for 10 minutes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
21 hours ago
- Time Out
The Ritz has been named the UK's best restaurant at the National Restaurant Awards
Congratulations are in order for a little spot known as The Ritz. Maybe you've heard of it? Yes, this plucky up-and-comer has been named Best Restaurant in the UK 2025 at this year's National Restaurant Awards. We jest, of course. The Ritz Restaurant is world-famous, but seems to be having something of a second wind. Earlier this year, their executive chef John Williams secured the Mayfair spot's second Michelin star (after getting the first in 2016). The Ritz Restaurant has been open since 1906 (when the hotel itself opened), and Williams has ruled the roost since 2004. Speaking about the win for The Ritz, restaurant editor Stefan Chomka commented: 'As a bastion of fine French food served in unashamedly refined surroundings, The Ritz stands alone in the UK. 'The top 100 restaurants list reflects the diverse nature of our eating out scene and the changing trends within it, whether they be less formality, more farm to fork menus, or embracing new cuisines, but it's also wonderful to see a restaurant unwavering in its focus finally get the recognition it merits. The Ritz is an exemplary restaurant, one fully deserving of the title National Restaurant of the Year.' We had similar thoughts when we last visited the restaurant, awarding it a glowing five star review. 'It's a performance worthy of any world-beating theatre down the road, and it's all we can do not to burst into applause after each dish,' we wrote. The awards - which were held on June 9 in London - also saw another local win, with David Carter named Restaurateur of the Year 2025. Carter has two restaurants on the winning list of 100 UK restaurants, including the Highest New Entry, Oma (in at number six!), and Agora at 51, both in Borough Market. Oma also features highly in Time Out's very own Best Restaurants of 2025 list, which you can read here. Other London wins included Opening of the Year, which went to AngloThai in Marylebone. The newly opened One Club Row in Shoreditch was named 'One to Watch', while 'Gastropub of the Year' went to The Devonshire in Soho and 'Lifetime Achievement Award' went to Skye Gyngell of Spring in Somerset House. Other London restaurants to make the top 10 included Notting Hill's The Ledbury at number 3, Trinity in Clapham at number 4, Bouchon Racine in Farringdon at number five, Oma at number six, AngloThai at number seven, and Notting Hill's Dorian at number 10.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Britpop king Robbie Williams proves he's still got star power
Robbie Williams took Murrayfield by storm, says top fan Susan Dalgety Last weekend Robbie Williams, infamously dubbed the 'fat dancer from Take That' by Noel Gallagher back in the day, showed Edinburgh and his old sparring partners Oasis that he's still got star power. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... He may be a 51-year-old, grey-haired dad of four, but he is no longer fat and he can sing as well as dance. And, like Oasis, he has written some of the greatest pop anthems of the last 30 years. Robbie, toned thanks to the diet drug Ozempic and a rigorous weight training regime, took Murrayfield by storm when he opened his Britpop tour there two Saturday nights ago. I was one of the 60,000 or so adoring fans who danced their way through his greatest hits, from Millennium to Angels. My particular favourite, Come Undone, is one of the finest pop songs ever written about the impact of sex, drugs and rock and roll on a vulnerable youngster. And while Michelle McManus is no Kylie Minogue, her duet with Robbie was as dazzling as her dress, which looked suspiciously like a Shein special. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Twenty-five years ago, Robbie and the Gallagher brothers were at loggerheads, vying to be the kings of Britpop. Now they are engaged in a battle to see who is the greatest fifty-something pop icon. My money is on Robbie. The Gallager brothers, who barely move when they are on stage, save for lead singer Liam banging a tambourine occasionally, are no match for the former boyband star. His irresistible charisma, touching vulnerability and show-stopping wardrobe is pop magic. He is, as he told us, the 'king of entertainment'. His rendition of Frank Sinatra's classic My Way may have verged on the cheesy, but it was schmaltz with a touch of class. I have no doubt that there will be tens of thousands of dads in parkas screaming for joy when Oasis strike up Live Forever at Murrayfield in August, assuming of course that Noel and Liam haven't fallen out before their comeback tour reaches Edinburgh. And there won't be a dry eye in the stadium when Noel warbles Wonderwall. But for me, and every loyal Robbie fan, there is only one Britpop king – he's the one.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
‘How far?' – Robbie Williams brutally trolls Arsenal fans with Spurs joke during his own gig at the Emirates
Arsenal fans reckon that Williams needs to brush up on his knowledge NOT GUNNER LIKE IT NOT GUNNER LIKE IT 'How far?' – Robbie Williams brutally trolls Arsenal fans with Spurs joke during his own gig at the Emirates Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROBBIE WILLIAMS took aim at Arsenal's lack of European success during his gig at the Emirates Stadium last night. The former Take That singer performed at the Gunners' stadium as part of his international tour on Friday and Saturday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Robbie Williams poked fun at Arsenal during his show at the Emirates Stadium Credit: X While entertaining the fans packed into the ground, Williams couldn't help but take a cheeky dig at Arsenal - teasing them for the success of local rivals Tottenham. Joking about Tottenham's Europa League glory this season, and Arsenal's failure to win a European trophy since the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup, Williams asked: "How far are Arsenal from a European trophy?". Only to reply: "Four f*****g miles". Tottenham fans were absolutely loving the tongue-in-cheek jibe, which was met with a huge cheer inside the stadium. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL SCOUT'S HONOUR I was jailed for robbery aged 15 - now I'm an academy scout for Arsenal On social media, one fan wrote: "I always liked Robbie". While another added: "No way I've just seen Robbie Williams bantering Arsenal on their own turf". Arsenal fans were quick to point out that Williams was only right with his assessment of the men's team, after Arsenal Women won the Champions League this season. One wrote: "Literally won the UWCL two weeks ago, my friend..." 5 Tottenham won the Europa League this season Credit: Getty 5 Arsenal Women won the Champions League this season Credit: Getty CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And a second posted: "I think, Robbie, you'll find you're actually stood in the home of a team that has two Champions League trophies…" Spurs fans are already fond of Williams after they nicked his hit song 'Angels' to create a chant for now sacked manager Ange Postecoglou. Robbie Williams sings version of Angels for Ange Postecoglou And Williams even posted a video of himself belting out the tune with the Tottenham lyrics back in 2023, declaring: "Guess I'm a Spurs fan now". In reality Williams is a diehard Port Vale fan, regularly attending the club's games. While he was named as Port Vale's Club President in February last year and has a bar named after him at Vale Park. 5 Robbie Williams is a Port Vale fan
