Robbie 'Fucking' Williams Puts On Heavy Entertainment For Melbourne

Robbie Williams really lives up to the title of his ‘The Heavy Entertainment Show’ tour. It is heavy on entertainment.

A Robbie Williams show is a musical tonight show. The amount of talk balances a setlist of mainly his best-known hits. His first words were “Let me reintroduce myself. I am Robbie ‘Fucking’ Williams, this is my band, this is my cock’. And at that moment he had everyone’s attention.

This is the ultimate pop show. Right from the opening notes to the opening words to the opening screen Robbie calls it like it is on the big screen, “one of the world’s biggest stars except in the USA”.

PHOTO GALLERY: ROBBIE WILLIAMS AT ROD LAVER ARENA MELBOURNE BY ROS O’GORMAN

Robbie Williams knows who his fans are. If there is a line to cross, he will cross it. He had no off switch. “I’m not gay but if I was that’s one cock I’d suck”, he said of George Michael after performing a tribute to George in ‘Freedom 90’.

This show was sprinkled heavily with covers, a strange move considering Robbie was dropping many of his own hits to play songs by other people. There was a rapid-fire jukebox moment with Bon Jovi, Bee Gees, Culture Club, Human League and MC Hammer all mashed into a single medley. He was in Melbourne so local heroes Men At Work were given a nod with ‘Down Under’ as well.

Williams’ dad Pete, a regular touring companion and many Robbie tours, joined him for Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’. Pete Williams (aka Conway) is a former comedian and club singer so he is right at home on stage with his son.

Robbie found a male fan in the audience to replace the female role played by Nicole Kidman on his version of Sinatra’s ‘Something Stupid’. What a shock to discover at the end Robbie’s pick wasn’t gay!

The show itself is larger than life. If Williams can cause his audience to react he will and he has the props ready to do it, such as his giant boxing glove that circles him across the arena above the crowd.

It was an interesting crowd. Robbie’s fan-base is aging. This was a mainly 40+ audience.

In the old days this would have been called “a variety show”. It has something for all ages dating right back to 1931’s ‘Minnie The Moocher’.

Robbie has never professed to be a shining light of musical genius. His song is called “let me entertain you”, not “let me musical inspire you”.

‘The Heavy Entertainment Show’ is a lot of more, no less, no more.

Robbie Williams is touring Australia for Chugg Entertainment.

Robbie Williams, Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, 24 February 2018

The Heavy Entertainment Show (from The Heavy Entertainment Show, 2016)
Let Me Entertain You (from Life Thru A Lens, 1997)
Monsoon (from Escapology, 2002)
Minnie the Moocher (from Swings Both Ways, 2013)
Freedom 90 (George Michael cover)
Love My Life (from The Heavy Entertainment Show, 2016)
Medley: Livin’ on a Prayer / Rehab / Take on Me / The Best / Kiss / U Can’t Touch This / Don’t You Want Me / Stayin’ Alive / Candy / Here Comes the Hotstepper / You’re the One That I Want / Back for Good
Come Undone (from Escapology, 2002)
Never Forget (from Take That, Nobody Else, 1995)
Millennium (from I’ve Been Expecting You, 1998)
Something Stupid (from Swing When You’re Winning, 2001)
Rudebox (from Rudebox, 2006)
Kids (from Sing When You’re Winning, 2000)
Sweet Caroline With his father Pete Williams aka Conway)(Neil Diamond cover)
She’s the One (from I’ve Been Expecting You, 1998)
Feel (from Escapology, 2002)
Rock DJ (from Sing When You’re Winning, 2000)

Encore:
Better Man (from Sing When You’re Winning, 2000)
Angels (from Life Thru A Lens, 1997)
Down Under (Men at Work cover)
My Way (Claude François cover)