If Robbie Williams knows one thing, it’s that he’s a star…just wonder why some people don’t like him? Sour grapes!!!… Williams’ solo career has provided him with a means to explore the ins and outs of fame itself.
On his third solo album, “Sing When You’re Winning”, he continues his trademark blend of egotism and self-deprecating humor. Williams doesn’t deliver a lot of surprises musically, I mean perfection cannot be improved right?
The album opens up with the lead track; ’’Let Love Be Your Energy’’ explains what I like about Robbie, his voice has some sort of uncorked energy it even sounds somewhat like ’’Lazy Days, ’’ with its lilting beat and simple optimism. Nevertheless, the song is a truly guilty pleasure, the type of perfect pop concoction that only Williams could deliver so well. The same can be said of ’’Kids, ’’ Robbie’s highly publicized duet with Kylie Minogue, and the only song as heavily dance-oriented as ’’Rock DJ.’’ and he steals the song when he pseudo-raps that he is ’’Single-handedly raising the economy / Ain’t no chance of the record company dropping me.’’ It’s a statement that is cocky, laughable, and absolutely true. In fact, much of the album is laced with a tinge of melancholy. ’’. While the lead single, ’’Rock DJ, ’’ is where Robbie outdoes all his previous efforts, I think its easier to say what I don’t like about the song and its just one thing … nothing. “By All Means Necessary’’ is a spiteful indictment of a star-chaser at whom Williams snarls, ’’You won’t be dating a teacher / you’d rather shag a Manic Street Preacher.’’ On the lovely ’’Singing for the Lonely, ’’ he acknowledges ’’The hooligan half of me / that steals from Woolworth’s / While the other lives for love’’ and admits ’’I’m so sick of people’s expectations.’’ “i” is a track where Robbie talks about struggling to be at the top in spite of being on top. While there are many light-hearted moments on Sing When You’re Winning, one is ultimately left with the feeling that the world’s favorite singer may be growing up (I’m sure some of you are gonna burst in with comments like who ever knew someone called Robbie Williams exists). It’s probably no coincidence that the last lines of the closing track, ’’The Road to Mandalay, ’’ reinforce this feeling: ’’Save me from drowning in the sea / Beat me up on the beach / what a lovely holiday / there’s nothing funny left to say.’’