What's up with Robbie Williams' mass appeal?

A TT peer and I have been talking about the apparent love-affair Europeans have with Robbie Williams. What’s the f@$*ing deal? He certainly isn’t this popular in the States. I can understand why certain pop bands and artists appeal to the masses. But for some reason, the appeal Robbie Williams seems to have over here is truly mind-boggling. Is it his easy to sing-along lyrics? Am I missing some sort of deep sentimentality in his songs? Do I have any other TT sympathizers on this issue or am I just a Robbie Williams-hating freak that somehow fails to see the big picture in popular music? I was hoping that someone could shed some light on this perplexing, yet deeply troubling, Robbie Williams phenomenon.



Is this guy for real?

I really like Robbie - I think he's a born entertainer and one of life's characters. I've seen him a few times in concert and he is such a versatile and engaging performer.

Plus, of course, he is gorgeous and got that cheeky boy-ish charm that us girls love!

But men seem to love Robbie Williams just as much as women, right? Still confused...

I'm not a fan of his music... although I find some of it tolerable.. but damn, I definitely would. He's toight.

Don't see the appeal either.

His music annoys me and he's nothing special in the physical department.

You are just a Robbie Williams-hating freak that somehow fails to see the big picture in popular music.

Get with the program.

Seriously people, this guy is a joke...

Alright. A secret.
I went to one of his concerts with my mum. This is not something I would normally admit around people I know. (She made me, honest).
She bought me a concert t-shirt too, which I've only worn when I know she's visiting.

It was fine though. Most of his bad music was drowned out by other mums screaming and carrying on... and I could just make out his fine ass if I squinted my eyes. Suhhweet.

more than sympathize, mr brain. I've posted similar questions many times. even with a blind fold, ear plugs and a shot of insulin to counteract, i can't stand his stuff.

I love that. Big, macho men tossing around male cheuvenistic and sometimes homophobic comments whilst chugging beer.. then, in a drunken moment, as Robbie comes through the speakers, they all sway in arm-around-each-other bliss and sing along, and, of course, know all the words.

hmmm do i smell a troll ???

several million album and singles sales plus mass popularity clearly say the man has what the public want

If we still had the karma thing, you would get a whole bunch from me mrbrain.

I didn't like him just by listening to him, and I thought he had to be great looking for being so popular.
Then I saw him, and not only I don't find him good looking at all, but I really can't take his whole "I'm great, I'm amazing, look at me" act.
Anyway, I had my worst night last sunday at karaoke at GM. A guy kept singing RW's songs, and he also thought he was good looking and that he could sing. Maybe they are relatives or something. What a TORTURE that was.

When I left the states 2 years ago, I had never heard of him. Not sure if many Americans know of him now.

After being exposed to him, I must say I like 3 or 4 songs.

Different strokes for different folks peeps.
I can't stand pop music, but as far as pop artists go, he is definitely one of the better ones.

You guys are just jealous he gets more pussy than you do. I think he's all right. Nothing fantastic.

You sent us The Hoff, Backpassage Boys, Peter Fucking Andre and the like and you are moaning about Robbie???

Its all relative.
What about that inbred 50 cent.
Has he got an STD or something. He is always rubbing his willy.
Yuck

If I'd missed the last bus I'd shag it.
Music is more than a bit vanilla, but goes exactly to the market it is aimed for.

He's kept trying to make it in the US but.

@ Crawlie, beofre "Peter Fucking Andre" was an growth on the side of Jordan wasn't he a Kiwi, no?

prob best person to ask would be the boy from bozlem, they both from same town, maybe went to school with him

Please tell me DW wasn't out singing Real Love again.


Pussy? Don't be silly. He's after dick and only dick.

@crawlie - no, we moan about those no-talent assclowns too.

(and somewhere in the US my mom is hopping a plane to come wash my mouth out with soap)

His music is moderately entertaining and he looks hot without his shirt on. I'm not wild about him but I have a much harder time explaining the mass appeal of "singers" like Britney Spears - what a horrid, horrid pile of worthless trash she is.

Side note: An Austrian ex-boyfriend of mine used to have a Robbie Williams live in concert DVD that he watched obsessively. Needless to say, that relationship ended pretty quickly.

it's weird that he never became big in the US..

There are only a few songs I can tolerate, none of which include any ballads or let me entertain you crap

Supposedly he lives in LA just because most people dont know him there and he can blend in.

C'mon, at least the guy can SING. Up close, he is NOT gorgeous (but would make a good Son of Bond). And he is a great entertainer, albeit in love with himself. Some of his stuff I like, some I can't be bothered with, same as with lots of other artists. It's like in Paul Simon's "Boy in the Bubble": "Every generation has its hero of the pop charts".

I don't think he's good looking at all...and he's completely up his own arse...but I do like his music. have seen him twice in concert too he's really good!
my mate's cousin dated him in LA, apparently he's really screwed up; and he's a right chain-smoker, she says kissing him was like kissing an old ashtray. yeuch.

I'd rather listen to 50 Cent than to Robbie, though

this is another thread that should have been a poll...

I will grudgingly give you that - his voice itself is quite good. It's just what he does with it that isn't.

I don't think it's weird at all that he never became big in the US. What is weird is why Britney and the Backdoor Boys did.

Personally, I think he's hideous. I can't stand to look at him. He reminds me of a monkey. And his music is just awful...like nails on a chalkboard everytime he comes on the radio. I've threatened to throw my fiancee's CD out the car window if he plays it again while I'm in the car. Hate it...awful awful stuff! I don't understand why Germans are obsessed with such rubbish!

I agree about the poll thing.
But 50 cent seriously you like him?
He creeps me out more than Britney. She is annoying and bland but he is just off.
Can you bear to watch him. That guy makes me feel ill.

i like some of 50 cent's music
i wouldn't say i particularly like to look at him, though - he's not really my cup of tea to look at

i think the appeal of britney is not necessarily her music (although she's not my cup of tea, either, I have to say)

Can you get more shallow than this?


That is the most stupid reason I've ever heard for giving up drugs.

I tried to add the link, but it didn't work

so you think he should get over his vanity and succumb (sp?) to his drug addiction?

I think its the home turf thing - both Britney and Backass Boys are from the US and so naturally they're going to market there. I think this is pretty much the reason why Robbie isn't big in the US - don't think he was ever marketed there. And why wasn't he marketed in the US? That's the question...

Robbie Williams is God
Birttney Spears is Goddess

fact and fact.

If that keeps him off the charts, then Yes.

I'm still not convinced. Robbie Williams makes me PUKE. This thread needs to end.

No, you Roots are god!

He'd make a better Bond than that Putin-look-alike that I am still sulking about. That's all I have to say about him. And perhaps that he is so popular because there are so few other good-looking guys around in the entertainment business nowadays. So he has no competition really and he can sell himself well.

Is MB talking about me Ulysses?

I agree with MajorBummer in that I don't think there are too many good-looking, charismatic male pop stars/rock stars nowadays. Gone is the era of rock sex gods like Roger Daltry and Jim Morrison. Nowadays we only have horrible, sexually ambiguous boy bands and thuggish rap stars to choose from. So, when faced with the competition - Robbie looks pretty damn good if you ask me. Although the Adam Levine kid from Maroon 5 is pretty cute too.

I saw his new song a few times the other day on MTV. (Of course, it has to get played over and over because there are only about 12 artists who make it on to MTV.)
It's pretty fucking terrible.. I'm sure his old stuff was more friendly to the senses.
After these last few shockers though I think he just needs a right proper spanking. (And I know just the girl to do it.)

From Bozlem to LA.. Not bad..

I actually though he lived in Tunstal.
My sister used to play 10pin with him and Jason Orange at the festival park Superbowl.
I met the chap once, whilst installing satellite at his brother in laws house. He is arogant alright.
His sister is just the opposite, his dad is just as bad at golf as I am,

Fitted satellite for 3 of the "Take that" bunch when they were recording at Jelly street records in Knutsford.

Ho hum

G

My own personal theory. Because he is gay and they are scared of a backlash if he was officially "out"
EDIT WHERES THE POST GONE:
Someone was asking why he is not marketed in the USA
Edit
found it

You do know where Robbie started out?

gay.

@ Ulysses
Yes, smart ass. In "Take That," a boy band. However I do not find Robbie Williams to be anything less than quite masculine, something that I cannot say for any of the other current or former boy band members.

Edit: @ worm

I'll have to disagree with you GG on that one.
[img]http://www.nndb.com/people/453/000044321/mcgrath.jpg[/img]
HOT.

I once spent a day working with gary barlow. He was quite laddish.

Just because a mans gay doesn't mean he is less masculine.
Just means he's less available. Well to us girlies anyway

Is he really gay?

I live under a rock.