VIDEO! New Robbie Williams

NEW VIDEO
Robbie Williams: "You Know Me"

Robbie Williams has released the video to his latest single, "You Know Me" and, well, he wears a bunny suit for pretty much the entire thing. The song is the second to be taken from his new album Reality Killed The Video Star so check out the, erm, inneresting clip now...



You Know Me - Robbie Williams (Official full-length video)

Robbie Williams | MySpace Video

Aliens? Fine, we've all come to terms with that... but rabbits?? Either way, Sir Bob has high hopes for the single which he is predicting will be a Christmas No.1 in his native UK. Hmmm... well, it does have strings so we'll see.

--
Carolyn Stewart
I've been doing what I like, when I like, how I like o'clock, November 7, 2009

REVIEW: Robbie Williams "Reality Killed The Video Star"

'Brain Track-By-Track:
The Return Of Sir Bob
After an altogether too-long wait, Robbie Williams - officially one of The 'Brain's all-time faves - returns with his new album Reality Killed The Video Star (it's like Christmas in November!). Ahead of its release this weekend, we've had the chance to devour it and, of course, are all-too-willing to deliver our opinions.

While right-thinking people recognise his last album Rudebox as a flawed masterpiece that looked to be setting Sir Bob up for a much-needed change in direction, British tabloids and disappointing sales seem to have convinced him it was time to regress to rock ballads. As such he has reunited with former writing partner Guy Chambers and enlisted Trevor Horn (of Frankie Goes To Hollywood fame) as producer.

The result is a competent mixed bag...

Morning Sun
A surprisingly low-key opening to the big “comeback” album, "Morning Sun" is classic mid-tempo ballad Robbie that goes all Beatles halfway through. Lyrically and melodically it probably harks back most closely to I’ve Been Expecting You. Perfectly acceptable, but should have come later in the track listing.

Bodies
The album’s first single may have a killer chorus – which brings a welcome oomph to the album five minutes in - but the Jesus-packed verses are a little lacklustre. What on Earth is the swear word under that beep? Why is there a beep on this version? BAH! Still, this one will probably be looked back on fondly in years to come. And the strings are still awesome.

You Know Me
The second single, this is certainly less polarizing – but not nearly as big – as “Bodies”. It’s mid-tempo Bob again, but sounds suspiciously like it could have been recorded in Vegas in the early ‘70s; we’re talking Barry Manilow-style piano, strings, claps and “shoo-da-bop” backing vocals.

Blasphemy
Wow this is a slow starting album; don’t people normally stuff the ballads at the back? This one is confessional Robbie, with nods to his depression and the stresses of trying to write hits. One of the simplest offerings here, it has really grown on me with more listens. Probably worthy of a teary listen with a scotch.

Who's a happy boy, then?

Do You Mind?
Hang on, what’s this? Rock guitars? Drums? Hey “Do You Mind?” might be laid-back rock, but it’s a stark change of pace to the preceding tracks. While it never quite hits the heights you wish it would, there is no doubt this song will go off live (and yet it was notably missing from his Electric Proms concert the other week). Certainly a possible single, but could maybe do with a bit of amping up in the (very catchy) chorus. Remix, anyone?

Last Days Of Disco
And now what’s this? Now we’re all synth and drumpads and Rudebox-y? How delightful. “Don’t call it a comeback/look what I’ve created here” he sings, seemingly not realising that the reason people are calling it a comeback is because he hasn’t created anything in years and years. Aurally pleasing, but a bit middling.

Somewhere
“Somewhere” clocks in at the grand total of one minute and two seconds. And a thoroughly enjoyable one minute and two seconds it is. So enjoyable that it could have been at least three times this long. He seems to be telling listeners that they don’t need to worry about his love life as they have their own to worry about. Or something.

Deceptacon
This song successfully merges all of the albums influences into one song. Part rock ballad, part swing, part electro, it’s one of Bob’s more complex tracks. As if embracing his very Englishness after years in America, Robbie the witty lyricist is in fine form here. Plus, it’s all tied-in with Transformers – marketing genius! Bob says he overlooked this one for inclusion on the album until Trevor convinced him otherwise. Thankfully! It’s one of the best tracks on the album.

Starstruck
I love strings as much as – possibly more than – anyone, but by this stage in the album Trevor Horn’s overuse of the old string section gets a little tiresome. This appears to be a disco song that is near-impossible to dance to. Well, I suppose you could shuffle. Or just drink more. In a recurring theme, the impressive verses lead to a chorus which doesn’t really go anywhere.

Difficult For Weirdos
Ooh we’re back to electro now. Very Pet Shop Boys, this one (as was “Last Days Of Disco”). It’s a pity that Rudebox didn’t entirely work, because this is a sound that Rob sounds very comfortable with. He even gives some sort of insight into his relationship (one presumes) with whatshername, as he suggests the answer to his life-long love issues was to find somebody as weird as he is. Oh, and he also finally admits to being a lesbian. Another highlight.

Superblind
Not a look back at Bob’s days on the booze, this ballad is about a critical person and … look; I’m not entirely sure what it’s about. I think being “superblind” is not judging people with preconceived notions, and whether he’s talking about an ex or a friend or critics, I have no idea. But when he declares “I’m the genius behind me” I sure did laugh.

"I'm loooooking at you!"

Won’t Do That
Okay, so this one really is about his girlfriend, whatsadoo, and Sir Bob really does sound happy – which is rather nice seeing as that hasn’t happened in a whole lot of his songs, really – and it turns out that he plans on treating whatsachops very well, thankyouverymuch. Plus he knows whatserface must be the one because he’s not jealous any more. Lovely. This could also be a single. I hope he’s writing down my single choices. OR THERE’LL BE TROUBLE.

Morning Sun (Reprise)
We’re brought full circle with an instrumental version, culminating in a rousing chorus, of the first track. He closes with the question “Who am I to rate the morning sun?” As if somehow suggesting that I shouldn’t be critiquing his life’s work. Which is fair enough, but a bit late!

The biggest problem with Reality Killed The Video Star is not the songs themselves, but the sequence of them. It takes too long to kick off, and then only really does in a muted fashion.

What is really missing is two or three massive potential singles, as Robbie himself laments in “Blasphemy”, he has struggled to come up with hits. These songs are all good, but there is nothing that really anchors the album as a whole and it feels as if it floats from one song to the next – often confusingly.

My favourite Robbie is “Rock DJ” and “Let Me Entertain You” and “Kids” Robbie. This album delivers none of him.

One can’t help wondering what might happen if he really mixed things up in the writing department. Working with RedOne or Timbaland might sound very basic, but it could just be awesome. Or, you know, that Gary Barlow guy.

Just a thought.

That said, Robbie certainly does seem to be back on track, and I can always hope that he delivers everything I’d like next album. Right? Right!

You can download an album medley (more accurately "a shabbily pasted together group of bits of songs") HERE.

Scott Keenan
We've Been Expecting Him O'clock

Robbie Williams in studio with Take That

Could it be magic?
Robbie talks Take That!

The original Take That: Mark Owen, Gary Barlow,
Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams

Ever since Take That reunited in 1996 without Robbie Williams there has been constant speculation about whether he would return to the fold.

He mended bridges with the boys after years of bitterness, recorded an intro for a TT tour for "Could It Be Magic" (which he sang lead on originally), went to the football with Gary Barlow ... and then nothing.

But just this week Robbie was surprise guest at Mark Owen's buck's night (Mark was the only member he'd stayed in contact with during the lost years) in New York. And THEN he was spotted going into the very same NY recording studio the boys (including Jason Orange and Howard Donald) are working in.

Well some clever folk from GMTV stopped Sir Bob out the front of the studio to get to the bottom of things ... sort of.

"I'll tell you exactly what we're doing here," he says. "The Winter Olympics are coming up and we're thinking of entering the first five-man bobsleigh team for the UK."

Oh. See for yourself.


But let's be honest, the boys have a live album due at Christmas, and while they say they're in the studio mixing that, it hardly needs Rob to be there on consecutive days.

Could they be working on a studio single for the live album? Or starting work on a whole new record?

No doubt they'll keep us guessing. Bastards.

Psychic Scott says: "The reunion single had better be better than 'Bodies'!"

Scott Keenan
Sure so sure that Robbie wants to rejoin the group already o'clock

NEW VIDEO! KYLIE & ABBA

Kylie Minogue joins ABBA on stage!

In the VMA Taylor v Kanye hysteria and Robbie marriage madness, we totes forgot about Kylie Minogue and the ABBA tribute concert at London's Hyde Park. Check out the way-dodge footage that has emerged and we'll update it with new stuff as it arises on the interwebs. Enjoy...





"You sound delicious!"

--
Carolyn Stewart
Soooooo very TeamTaylor o'clock, September 14, 2009

ROBBIE WILLIAMS GOT HITCHED?

Is Robbie Williams secretly married?*

* Expect to know far less on this pressing topic after watching the below interview

Robbie Williams was interviewed by Rove in London last week and the results aired over the weekend. Despite the subject constantly dropping lines like "met the missus" and referring to his mother-in-law... erm, were there any follow-up questions by the host about who the hell this "missus" is?

Nuh.

Robbie and Ayda wait for a UFO... sorry, I mean, plane

Well, plenty of peeps I know are in a tizz wanting to know: is Robbie now a married man??! Just to clear the air, Sir Bob has been dating US actress Ayda Field for three years and that is quite long term for him but, no, he has not tied the knot. He is just affectionately referring to her as his significant other but still.... not one question? Not one statement either side of the interview to clear up who Robbie is talking about for the entire interview?

Nuh.

Oh, OK then...

Meanwhile, it was a fun interview and here at The 'Brain we love the crazy UFO talk.

Sir Bob, you're a lunatic but, O...M...G..., how we loves ya.

--
Carolyn Stewart
We haven't seen him anywhere. He must be dead... which is a huge leap o'clock, September 14, 2009

SEE: Robbie Williams “Bodies” and Natalie Imbruglia “Want” music videos

Nat and Robbie back together!
Sort of.

Today we have two very exciting firsts: the debuts of both Robbie Williams’ full “Bodies” video, and Natalie Imbruglia’s for “Want”.

Actually, The Daily Mirror has some bloody exclusive on the Natalie video, and have disabled embedding so we have to LINK to it. LAME. Rest assured, as soon as this pointless exercise is over, we will paste the “Want” vid on our page as if it was always there.

Spookily enough Nat and Bob once dated (way way back in 1996) – even though she will tell you otherwise. Well all know it’s true Natalie! Because Deni Hines told us!

And remember when he wrote “Sexed Up” for you, and you told him to rack off, and then he recorded it himself? Yeah, we do too!

Ahem.

Update: Natalie is in the building

Scott Keenan
I want bodies o’clock

HEAR: Robbie Williams' new single "Bodies"

Mystery Solved!
Robbie uncovers BodiesSo today was the big day: Today, at 6pm (as promised) Robbie Williams finally unveiled his first single in 100 million years (approx.) "Bodies", from his long, long, long awaited forthcoming album Reality Killed The Video Star. We were at the pub at the time, but being RobbieNerds™, were quite swift to cop an earful. And what do we think of it? Well, it's not instant. It's not, say "Rock DJ". It's maybe "Feel" bit without such a haunting chorus. It's maybe a bit better than "Radio". Oh, you really just have to hear it for yourself.

Things you might notice almost immediately: There's A LOT of Jesus talk. A LOT.

Where are the bodies?: All over the shop by the sounds. Variously "making chemistry", "in the way I mean" (huh?) and perhaps most suitably "in the cemetery". And that's just the lyrics we could understand.

What is it that Robbie seems to think is all we have ever wanted?: To look good naked, apparently.

Amusing bits that sound a bit odd: Robbie yelling "yeah!"

And?: It has fun strings in it. Which we like.

Listen:


When is the album out?: November 9. Aaaaages away. Aaaaaaaaaaaages.
What can we do about that?: Check out the official Sir Bob widget below (which, let's face it, seems more like a shop for you to buy the album through). It features a tiny bit of the "Bodies" video, which seems to have been shot at that aeroplane graveyard in Mojave where S Club 7 did a video that one time.



What's Sir Bob got to say about it all?: "I want people to feel elated, I want them to dance, I want them to forget about who they are and where they are for 50 minutes – and, within those 50 minutes of forgetting who they are, I also hope people relate to the songs. This is a record that I’m very proud of – I think it’s fucking brilliant. I want it to be the record that, if people think of Robbie Williams, they go, Yeah, Reality Killed The Video Star." Sort of just what we were thinking. But with more swearing. Uncalled for, really. We came here to hear your new record, Bob, not to be abused.

Scott Keenan
But you're making me feel so nice o'clock

Robbie Williams mystery e-mail

Where are the bodies?
Robbie might have the answer

We just recieved this mysterious e-mail in our inbox. What do you suppose it all means?
Guess we'll find out Friday. At 6pm.

Scott Keenan
Didn't he already have a single called "Radio"? o'clock

Robbie phones home

"Shhh! I seen a black triangle!"

Robbie Williams loves UFOs. He can’t get enough of them. And during his self-imposed exile in Los Angeles over the past few years he became an almost full-time UFO fancier, frequenting spooky websites and taking trips to Area 51 and the like and having several sightings of his own.

The UK tabloids loved it, painting him as a modern era Howard Hughes (admittedly the Grizzly Adams beard he grew – apparently inspired by a post-Beatle Paul McCartney – didn’t help); isolated, rich and crazy.

Sadly it’s now all over, with Sir Bob moving back to the UK and announcing, via his website, that he has decided to take a break from UFO watching so he can release a long-awaited new album. While I am delighted by the prospect of finally having some new material from him (he’s currently recording with legendary producer Trevor Horn), I am sad it has put a halt to his plan for an alien-themed TV show. (Yes, really)

The LA move came after the lukewarm reception to his last album Rudebox (which I have to say I really quite like) and he decided to disappear for a while.

“I looked for something else to do, something not to do with music,” he writes on his blog. “As you probably now know I’ve always been fascinated with the paranormal (and the people that surround it), still am, so I tried to make some in-roads and thought I’d maybe do a TV show with a paranormal theme, something like the Arthur C Clark shows that I loved as a kid (Arthur C Clark backed with Tales Of The Unexpected can really make for a terrifying Sunday when you’re eight). That's what the UFO thing was all about. But that’s been shelved for the time being on the grounds of I couldn’t really be arsed.”

Robbie proves his identity to fellow posters on UFO and conspiracy site Above Top Secret

The show would be worth seeing if only to hear Robbie tell the stories of his own close encounters.

“I was at the Beverly Hills Hotel and I was lying on my sun lounger outside at night, looking up,” he says of his first close contact. “Then, about 300 foot above me, there was this square thing which just passed over my head silently and then shot off.”

But the “square thing” wasn’t Bob’s only run-in with UFOs. Oh no. His love of the paranormal and relocation to the US had made him a veritable magnet for strange floaty things.

“The next one was the weirdest one yet. I'd just written a song called ‘Arizona’, and it's all about alien contact and I was playing that,” he pips. “I stood on the balcony and there was this big ball of gold light that turned up - we thought it was Venus or Mars or something. Then the song stops playing and it disappears. But then we put ‘Arizona’ on again and the ball turned back up. It happened four times. After that a massive electrical storm started and these two big massive balls of light started dancing in the sky. It was like a whole light show for about an hour."

It doesn’t end there kiddies! Course not. The aliens (it should be pointed out that Robbie never says they are aliens, and rather UFOs. I just felt a need to mention aliens as it seems more alarmist) love his music so much they even visited him in the recording studio in the form of a “big strip of black light”.

“It was three inches thick and it shot from one end of the room out of the window,” he chirrups. “It's absolutely bonkers. It’s something to do with LA.”

Now he’s remembered he’s a pop star it may be some time before we hear more alien (sorry, UFO) shenanigans from Sir Bob. I just hope to see some spooky flying shapes should he perform “Arizona” at his next concert.

Scott Keenan
I seen a UFO but nobody believes me o'clock