surprises

Robbie Williams Britpop

★★★★☆

ROBBIE WILLIAMS hopes new album Britpop will be his lucky 16th No1, after he surprised fans by dropping the record today.

He moved the date forward from February 6 to coincide with new tour dates.

Robbie is aiming for the top spot in next week’s charts, which would surpass The Beatles’ record of the most UK No1 albums.

And he has a good chance, as Britpop is packed with punchy, rock-infused tracks which are a departure from his usual fare.

Fans have already been treated to my personal favourite, Rocket, with the highlight of a blistering 16-second guitar solo by Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, but there are some previously unheard gems on the 11-song album.

For those who prefer Robbie’s older work, All My Life captures everything he is best known for, with strong vocals and sentimental lyrics including: “Masochistic but I’m always entertaining. And I know I’ll die, but I’ll never leave the stage.”

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It’s OK Until The Drugs Stop Working follows a similar path, with a distinct nod to his 1997 track Angels – recorded before he went into rehab – with the lyrics: “I have to smile when she offers me protection.”

The reflective song includes the lyrics: “It’s all good until the birds stop chirping, the strangers leave and the drugs stop working.”

You is one of my favourites on the album, with Rob seemingly emulating Liam Gallagher in his blunt, direct delivery.

Fans will no doubt be poring over Morrissey, the song he wrote and recorded in lockdown with his former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow.

It could be easy to pin the lyrics to their own rocky friendship, with Rob singing: “I like the singer, he’s a little eccentric.

“He did an interview, I think what he meant is I’m lost, I’m lonely, I’m hurt, I’m abused. I need love, baby, just like you.”

The pair previously insisted the track was about Morrissey, who went on to have his own successful career after The Smiths disbanded in 1987 and has long been locked in a war of words with his ex-bandmate Johnny Marr.

That doesn’t half sound familiar . . . 

It’s a change from the norm but one I enjoyed.

And even if Robbie’s devoted fans aren’t totally into it, you can guarantee they’ll be doing everything in their power to get it to No1 next week.

This is the moment Robbie Williams made a 94-year-old fan’s wish come true.

Norma, a resident of Humberston Care Home in North East Lincolnshire, told staff she had followed the singer from when he was in Take That and had always wanted to see him.

The home organised for her to see a Robbie Williams tribute act and then went one step further by organising for her to speak to the singer, who admitted he was urged to call her by his daughter, who had seen Norma’s story online.

Norma said: “I was absolutely amazed. I really was surprised.

“Nothing like this has happened to me before.

“He was in America, laid out on the bed. I nearly said to him you could have got done up for me!”

The moment was organised by Bailey Greetham, who holds fitness and wellbeing sessions with residents, and films videos on behalf of the home.

He added: “She said I was off to a Robbie Williams tribute but I am a little bit upset because it’s not the real Robbie.

“I had the camera with me so I said let’s film something and we put it on the internet and it got a million views and Robbie was tagged 5,000 times.”