Few musicians are capable of making a smile just by showing off their cockiness, but Robbie Williams' self-confidence has long since earned the affection of his fans, including those from Barcelona, who after eight years of waiting enjoyed last night a review of the great successes of the former Take That, the first of the two concerts that the one from Stoke will give in Barcelona.
The 49-year-old musician and showman appeared before the public at Sant Jordi flaunting the sobriety that has characterized him throughout his career, and which he now combines with his proximity to an already mature audience that he makes part of his show. In front of him, and with the tickets sold out, 18,000 followers of the British willing to continue communion with the musician who presents XXV, a collection of songs re-recorded together with the Metropole Orkest to celebrate his 25-year solo career.
Surrounded by a large band of nine musicians, two choristers and six dancers, Williams made his appearance on stage dressed in a shiny gold coat. From the top of the stage, he let himself be loved by the audience singing Hey Woh Yeah Yeah and then spilling out onto the catwalk wrapped in the audience as he attacked Let me entertain you. Because that's what last night's concert was about, entertaining his legion of followers with his unbeatable hits and his friendly hooligan humor that hasn't gone too far with alcohol yet. "This is my band and this is my ass" he said as a greeting, taking the microphone to his crotch before the revelry of the public. "I remember you from last time," he said, pointing to a girl in the front rows, "is he your husband now?"
He showed that things were going to be fun by making the audience sing as soon as he began with Land of 1000 dances and his well-known “na-na-na-ná”, proof that he has not lost his sense of showmanship or his taste for using the word “fuck”. At the back of the stage, the giant screen bounced the signal from the numerous cameras that followed everything that happened in the concert, turning it into a colorful live video clip with several appearances by the public, who became the protagonists of the show during the two hours that the show lasted. .
After singing Monsoon with the audience completely delivered, waving their arms in unison as William asked "are we amigos?", it was Strong's time, a reminder of his weaknesses, such as those that led him to fall into alcohol and drugs. . A distant time in his life for a married Williams, father of four children and far from bad life, who laughs when he sings songs from those years like Come undone, a theme for which he received a randomly chosen couple Among the audience, she made her go up on stage with her opinion against men and in favor of women. "She always wins," he said after leading them upstairs.
Take That also had its little corner in the heart of Robbie Williams, showing the video clip of Do what U want, “written 33 years ago, when Mandela was released and Barça won the league, fucking Tiki Taka”. The moment became a gag when Williams froze the image in a frame where he showed his behind, remembering that that was his 1990 ass. The review of his musical prehistory continued with Don't look back in anger, a reunion with the brothers Gallagher whom he bumped into at Glastonbury in 1995, "with bottles of champagne and a bag full of cocaine", at an event tying in with his Take That march. And finally, a version of The flood, a song released by the boy band in 2010, during Williams' return to the band. "If you can't beat them, join them," he said, combing his finger.
With Love my Life, he returned to his solo discography, with a golden trench coat and a confetti throw to mark the sweetest part. It was time for Eternity with the new arrangements by XXV, using a recording with the string section of the orchestra with which she recorded the song. Candy electrified the public once again while Williams threw out gift T-shirts, a step prior to the ecstasy that was experienced with Feel, performed among disco rays and the choirs of the public, who were in charge of singing the chorus while Williams knelt gratefully before them. And with the attendees in combustion came Rock Dj, with the musician dancing and shouting to ask for the collaboration of the public. "Barcelona", he yelled, as if necessary.
After the pertinent break it was time for the encores with No Regrets, performed in an orchestral version, as well as She's the one, which he performed hugging Paula, a girl from the audience who could not contain her tears while Williams held her hand and sang the first verses of the song. "Tonight I can feel your spirit, and it overwhelms me, thank you friends," he said before recalling his thirty-year career and his rise to fame, and explaining how he managed to overcome some of his worst moments thinking that there was an audience that wanted to see him. A speech that sounded like a farewell before closing the show with Angels, the beautiful tune on the piano that serves both for a funeral and to close a concert that communion with the public turned into an enjoyment of the best years of Robbie's life and of his fans.
