July 2, 200619 yr latest pictures of Robbie in Sweden. :wub: He is looking very happy, seeming we lost the footie. perhaps he was just leaving his hotel to watch the match. http://usera.imagecave.com/jackie1/AA/robbie.jpg http://usera.imagecave.com/jackie1/AA/robbie2.jpg http://usera.imagecave.com/jackie1/AA/robbie4.JPG
July 2, 200619 yr Thanks for the pics jackie he does look gorgous in an England shirt dont u think :wub:
July 3, 200619 yr http://www.svd.se/images/dynamiskt/bildspecial/13091370/fullsize/%7BE7EAFC2F-C4CF-4781-B577-58F2D142EFE1%7D.jpg http://www.svd.se/images/dynamiskt/bildspecial/13091370/fullsize/%7BC15825E6-427A-4A74-8A60-A31C13401B0A%7D.jpg http://www.svd.se/images/dynamiskt/bildspecial/13091370/fullsize/%7BAEA93DBD-BAA1-4C19-9C06-F9802C669A40%7D.jpg http://www.svd.se/images/dynamiskt/bildspecial/13091370/fullsize/%7BEC175BCD-B6C1-4AB5-BB50-53BEB41F464E%7D.jpg http://www.svd.se/images/dynamiskt/bildspecial/13091370/fullsize/%7B06586D8F-8843-49F7-98DE-EA078B828111%7D.jpg http://www.svd.se/images/dynamiskt/bildspecial/13091370/fullsize/%7B81178B0F-63F0-4BA8-B7A8-BF572C327934%7D.jpg http://www.svd.se/images/dynamiskt/bildspecial/13091370/fullsize/%7BF817D764-1E64-4468-AF78-0B09F12E7D31%7D.jpg
July 3, 200619 yr OK, here goes... Setlist: Radio/Rock DJ/Tripping/Monsoon/Sin Sin Sin/Millennium/Make Me Pure/Me And My Shadow/Strong/Back For Good/Advertising Space/A Place To Crash/Come Undone/Feel//Let Me Entertain You//Angels//Kids After enduring the gruesome circus that was Basement Jaxx (whatever happened to the Ordinary Boys???) and worrying endlessly about whether Robbie was actually going to show up after the dismal penalty shoot-out, it was such a relief to see him emerge "from under the floorboards". Yes, I was half expecting Robbie to pull the plug after the football disaster, and when the roadies and guitar techs seemed to take forever I was soon beginning to envisage David E. stepping onstage, taking the mike, clearing his throat and croaking a desperate 'Robbie is feeling unwell and, sadly, won't be joining us tonight. Thanks for coming, hope you enjoyed Basement Jaxx. Goodnight.', and then making his escape just in time before the stage got invaded by 56,000 livid Robbie fans. Luckily this scenario didn't happen. Robbie did turn up, at 9.40 pm. The first three songs were performed pretty much without any introduction at all. I think he introduced 'Tripping', but apart from that - nothing. I was feeling a little wary at this point. I genuinely thought he must have felt so gutted after the football defeat that he just didn't feel like adding any witty banter at all. Honestly, I feared the very worst and, knowing what he has said before about performing live, I felt certain Gothenburg would end up getting a miserable show from a very reluctant live performer. The crowd were behind him from the word go; everybody was up on their feet with their hands in the air and singing along. This must have been just what Robbie needed, because some time around 'Tripping' and 'Monsoon' he owned up to feeling gutted after the football and thanking the crowd for such a brilliant welcome. He then very clearly told us that his crew, the band and himself were staying at the 'Eliiiiiiiite Hotel', repeating the name about three times, and invited us all along to give the paparazzi outside a hard time. (It's not like everyone didn't already know where he was staying. It had been all over the papers and there seemed to be fans outside from Friday afternoon onwards.) The reviews after the show singled out 'Me And My Shadow' as the worst performance by far, and I must say I agree. Silly me had started filming the song (because I knew there would be loads of Robbie banter) and then it just dragged ooooonnnn and oooooonnnnnnn, complete with the football kicking episode. It really did get mightily tiresome after 8.5 minutes, I'll tell you! I commented to my friend how I always found their friendship terribly endearing, but even so, the song needs to be cut down to four minutes as the prolonged "funny" exchange between Robbie and Jonny just isn't that amusing at all... It's laboured rather than witty and spontaneous. (For those of you who want to see what I mean, I've got the whole spectacle on my camera and will try to upload it onto Yousendit at some point.) But Robbie was totally amazing in all the other banter between the songs. He made me laugh so much, he was so naughty and totally unstoppable. After 'Back For Good' he asked if anyone ever saw Take That in concert, and then singled out a pretty blonde girl who indicated that she had. He asked her how old she was (24), then calculated that she must have been about 12 when she saw them. He asked her who her favourite had been and she pointed at him (well, one would...). At that, he feigned modesty and then turned around, skipped back to the main stage repeating 'Elite, Elite, Elite...' into the mic. It was so funny. And guess what? The girl in question was Finnish! She was holding a balloon and a scarf with Finland on it. I did like his quip during the football kicking episode, too. When the crowd were to shout out whose ball flew the farthest, he said, 'I don't want any favouritism. Don't feel it has to be me just because it says Robbie Williams on the ticket...' It may have been rehearsed but it sounded dead funny the way he said it. As for the best songs, I really loved 'Come Undone' and the cracking last-minute addition of 'Kids'. 'Come Undone' was stunning with the yellow and orange tones of the set. I think the same colours added a nice touch to 'Advertising Space', too. I am quite sure Robbie's eyes were again welling up during 'Feel', which is always nice to see. He was genuinely impressed with the Swedish crowd. After that first 'thank you for helping me get over the disappointment by giving me such a warm welcome' he mentioned the wonderful audience response a number of times. He said that we were the best crowd he had had so far on the tour ("I know you think I say this every night") and that he really meant it. Well, he said it again later on that night, when he was saying how he couldn't believe what a wonderful time he ended up having despite coming in feeling really down. He was beaming for most part of the set and I'm quite sure the comments were heartfelt. And what a ruuuude little boy he is...! There was so much naughty innuendo, humping the stage and suchlike that I think Robbie gigs should come with a 'parental advisory' warning. He did his round in the moat a few times and had a bit of a pash with some girl at the front. This was, naturally, followed by much compliment on her technique and an announcement that she'd stuck her tongue in. The best bit was when he then commented 'I'm sure your mother is very proud of you'. :D He also said this was the bestest-looking crowd he'd ever had. 'Even the guys are better-looking than me!', then, singling out the typical blond types, lapsed into singing 'I am a blond viking' in a mock-operatic voice. Again, I think there was some reminders of the name of the hotel he was staying at. He was much taken by the attractive audience, one could tell... I have never been to a concert with 56,000 people before, and whilst I prefer an intimate indoor setting to these mass affairs, I've got to give it to the Gothenburg crowd: they were an awesome audience. I was totally amazed at the impromptu chant that went out and swept across the whole of the stadium just out of the blue. I don't recall what it was, but it was sudden, it was loud, and absolutely everyone joined in. Twice it happened. Robbie looked bewildered but well pleased. The crowd followed every sign Robbie gave, right on cue. It was quite spectacular to see from where we were sitting. He had us safely wrapped around his little finger but he seemed to genuinely feed on the energy from the audience. I had saved the remainder of my memory stick for 'Angels' and was really peeved I'd wasted 8.5 minutes on 'Me And My Shadow', thus missing out on the very wonderful 'Come Undone' and some of his classic witticisms that were rife towards the end of the show. But 'Angels' I had to have. I expected the show to be over after that, but, instead, there was a bit of impromptu deliberation going on with the band before they launched into a wonderful rendition of 'Kids'. I think he just enjoyed the crowd too much to leave!!! The weather was sensational - a perfect blue sky and a lovely warm summer evening after a sweltering day. The problem with these Scandinavian summers is that it just doesn't get dark till very, very late (if at all), so most of the gig was played when it was still light. When Robbie made his entrance for the encore it was amazing to see him up there against the dusky sky, and for 'Angels' it was finally getting quite dark. Quite a few lighters out there... So, all in all, it was an amazing night. After so much unnecessary worry at the beginning it was fantastic to see Robbie just come up trumps again. I was again reminded of what a unique entertainer he is, to have the whole of that gigantic stadium eating out of his hand. Oh and he's still looking bl***y gorgeous. I hope I'm not just imagining things when I say he seemed genuinely humbled by the love the crowd sent out to him. I'd like to think our love went some way towards providing consolation for the World Cup defeat. I'm quite sure it did.
July 3, 200619 yr Thanks for sharing Twinkle :heart: I love those long, personal, and very detailed reviews, it's so much better than paper ones, especially when it's written so well And thanks to Bunny as well
July 3, 200619 yr Author Thankyou Twinkle. And thank Bunnykins for allowing her review to be posted. I enjoyed reading that :cheer: Must admit, I'm kind of dreading 'Me and My Shadow' now. :(
July 3, 200619 yr Thankyou Twinkle. And thank Bunnykins for allowing her review to be posted. I enjoyed reading that :cheer: Must admit, I'm kind of dreading 'Me and My Shadow' now. :( No it was good but the fact that Jonny stayed for Strong as well was a bit much <_<
July 3, 200619 yr Thanks twinkle and Bunnykins for an amazing review. Makes me look forward to his Oz dates even more...I doubt that we will get Johnny though :unsure:
July 4, 200619 yr fantastic review...thanks Twinkle and Bunny....I'm so glad it is all going so well for him.
