Let Me Entertain You
Want to know more about Robbie Williams? Let me educate you.
I’ve bet you’ve seen the ads for the movie Better Man and wondered “what’s up with the monkey?” The monkey is Robbie Williams and the film is about his life. Robbie’s always been upfront about his demons and I expect that will be the case in the film. The monkey is a way into his story, especially for North Americans who don’t know him. He’s was a supernova everywhere else in the late 90s through mid aughts though. I’ve been a fan and the movie has taken me back to the music, so welcome to Robbie Williams week!
The best way to start is to introduce you to him the way I was introduced. It was Live 8, where the broadcast included stages from around the world, including Canada. I had watched the original Live Aid and wanted to see this too. In London, David Beckham introduces Williams, and this happens.
With this, he stakes his claim as the heir to Freddie Mercury. He had been using that section of We Will Rock You in his concerts already and he said in an interview later that he wanted to bring a bit of Freddie back from the original Live Aid. There were so many historical performances that day but this was the one that stayed with me. I had to find out who this guy was.1
The song was written for Williams’ debut album Life Thru A Lens in 1997. Williams had just met Guy Chambers and this was one of the first of a long line of hits the two wrote together. Robbie said:
We watched (The Rolling Stone’s) Rock (and Roll) Circus and after that we went and recorded Let Me Entertain You. When we started writing the demo there was a furious jungle beat underneath it. It was so hardcore it got me very excited, and I still get excited listening to it now. It’s not really heavy metal, it’s more like camp rock opera!
I’ve never really looked deeply at the lyrics. According to wiki, they are “mostly innuendoes and double entendre, telling the story of a man trying to persuade someone to cheat on their boyfriend with him. Although the sex of this person is never mentioned, they are addressed mon cher, which means my dear only when referring to a male.” No idea if this it true, however I find it intriguing.
This song was the follow-up single to Williams’ big hit, Angel. It actually charted well and it’s now cemented as the concert opener for his shows. It’s high energy, incredibly fun to sing, and has a wonderful 70s rock retro feel to it.
You won’t find the original video on Williams’ YT channel but it’s fascinating and something I’ve never seen before. Williams wanted to riff on Kiss (he has Gene Simmons’ makeup and Paul Stanley’s outfit) but in the video you definitely see shades of Freddie Mercury there as well. (The very beginning made me think of the monkey of Better Man.
It’s directed by his frequent collaborator Vaughan Arnell, a longtime British music video director and it’s a spoof on 70s rock using camp and self-parody. Williams’ website has collected a group of behind the scenes videos from the shoot which I didn’t find interesting but you might.
Enjoy your song of the day!
Turns out I had already heard some of his music but had no idea who the artist was.
Two great Robbie videos. I didn't know Robbie until I moved to the UK, where they couldn't believe I didn't know and love him. He's remarkably entertaining not only onstage but in interviews, often does UK talk shows and says outrageous things. Of course I became a Robbie fan too. How could you not?
Not surprised that that was influenced by Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus as he was reminding me so much of Mick!