Search - Robbie Williams - Live at the Albert on DVD

Are You A Swinger?

Mr. N. Carnegie | Kirkcaldy, Scotland, UK. | 10/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The rat pack's cool image made something of a comeback in 2002 with Stephen Soderbergh's remake of Ocean's Eleven, although it seems that for Mr Robbie Williams, in his 2001 concert Live at the Albert, the rat pack sense of style never went out of fashion. Live At The Albert is primarily a showcase for Robbie's multi million selling Swing When You're Winning, an astonishing album of vintage classics from the '50s swing era, originally sung by Robbie's heroes, namely, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr and of course, the legendary Frank Sinatra. Live At The Albert features several live duets including "Well, Did You Evah?" with Jon Lovitz and thanks to the miracle of modern technology, a duet with the late great Frank Sinatra himself. Live At the Albert is a young man fulfilling a childhood dream; wearing a tux, backed by an old style big band and playing to an adoring (sold out) audience at London's famous Royal Albert Hall, with his mom in the front row.The first time I watched Robbie Williams live concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, on a Saturday evening last November, I was so impressed I went straight online at Amazon to review his debut U.S. release The Ego Has Landed. "The Ego Has Landed" refers to Robbie's often brash public statements about himself, which (if taken at face value) suggest that he is a bit of an ego-maniac. However, despite much of his rhetoric, Robbie Williams has in the past turned to both booze and drugs to conquer his fears and self-doubt. Thankfully he survived both or we would have been deprived of the world's greatest showman. For in a pop world inhabitated by characterless pre-packaged record company girl and boybands and goody two shoes solo-singers (a la Ricky Martin and Britney Spears) Robbie Williams is something of a rarity; the genuine article, a complete showman with a checkered past and a very bright future, having recently signed a British record deal with EMI worth a cool £80 million (approx $110 million), to deliver four more albums. Robbie Williams formerly of Boy band Take That graduated to the forefront of the British music scene with his single "Angels" and has never looked back since. Several number ones and many many hits later he is not only established as a credible singer/songwriter, he is quite simply Britain's biggest and brightest star. Robbie Williams makes fantastic, original and very funny videos (Rock DJ, She's The One, Millenium and A Love Supreme for example) and regularly plays to sold out stadiums around the world and the only two nuts he still has to crack are America and the movies. But why is America still cynical? A lack of airplay in America? A lack of record company publicity? I don't know. All I know is that, in my opinion, he is the greatest showman to have graced a music stage since the late great Freddie Mercury. He is so good live that he has played at several festivals on the same bill as Indie bands such as the Prodigy, and stolen the show from them, in front of what would traditionally be hostile audiences for a pop performer. Live tickets for Robbie Williams shows are like gold dust in every place bar North America, such is his reputation for putting on a great live show. If you don't believe the hype then you need to watch Live at the Albert and be converted. Robbie Williams has got a great sense of humour, a great sense of style and a great deal of class and frankly America, you don't know what you are missing!!"

Consumate entertainer

Michael T. Rognlien | Chicago, IL USA | 03/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't imagine any American pop star at the top of his game taking a risk like Robbie Williams did in recording "Swing When You're Winning" and this accompanying DVD.Fresh off a string of huge chart successes, Mr. Williams has created a tribute to the Rat Pack like nobody else could. Allergic to taking himself too seriously, he threw caution to the wind and released the CD and then, to a packed house of fans and stars like George Michael, Rupert Everett, etc, brought the house down at the Royal Albert Hall last October.This DVD is a great memento of that concert, and, unlike the British version, has lots of extra features such as the making of the album, and the video/making of for "Something Stupid", the UK Christmas #1.Robbie Williams may not be for everyone, and he may not be Sinatra, but he's turned a potentially risky career move into a fine album and video. Don't forget to check out his other great work, including one of my favorite albums ever, "Sing When You're Winning" - you won't be disappointed.Let's hope for a successful bid for stardom here in the states!"

Another Robbie Triumph!

G. Paula | Clifton, NJ United States | 07/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why hasn't the U.S. wised up and gotten on the Robbie Williams bandwagon?! I think he's amazing. When I first heard that Robbie was doing a swing album, I was very disappointed. I love all of his previous albums, so I wanted something else in the same vein. I did give "Swing When You're Winning" a try, though, and I have to say it is good. The CD won't be one of those that never leaves my CD player, but it is worth listening to. I liked the DVD a whole lot more, however. Robbie is a born entertainer, and that shines through in whatever he does. Even if he got on stage and read from the phone book, I think I would find it compelling. Watching Robbie spend an evening performing the swing music that he loves was intoxicating. The bonus material on the DVD was quite good as well. I would recommend this DVD to anyone who likes Robbie, even if you don't like swing."

Brilliant

G. Paula | 12/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If he dared to be any more fabulous, God would strike him dead."