Robbie Williams – “Live In Paris – 2015”
By Johnny Spice
(Please note, this review refers to the Best of release that is considered the Standard
Edition of the album. For more detailed reviews of each of the shows contained in the
deluxe edition check my Facebook page in the future)
It’s always a dangerous proposition to go see an artist who is touring, but doesn’t have a
new product to push. For every Grateful Dead who didn’t need a new record to justify
you showing up, some artists go on tour without anything new just as a cash grab and it
shows in their performance and set selection. With this latest release, Robbie Williams
joins the company of those artists.
This disc, a selection of highlights from his three night stand in Paris just reaffirms why
people who love Robbie him do.
After the always crow pleasing set opener “Let Me Entertain You,” he follows with two
other popular hits before the fun really begins.
After using an acapella arrangement for the opening of “Tripping,” he follows is with a
cover of Lorde’s “Royals” played into his own “Bodies,” one of many times he chooses
to put together two songs you wouldn’t have expected and they work.
After a mini three song tribute to his swing tour last year, the real fun starts.
An all acapella rendition of R. Kelly’s “Ignition” (which must be heard to be believed)
Robbie and company tear through the Isley Brothers classic “Shout” and then chase it
with “H.E.S.” and song from the recently released b-sides and rarities record.
To close the mini-acoustic that started with “H.E.S.” Robbie invites his dad Pete on stage
to duet with him during a full band arrangement of “Better Man” (a song Robbie
typically plays by himself on acoustic guitar)
The set begins to move toward the finish line at this point. An amazingly arranged cover
of “We Will Rock You” played into “I Love Rock & Roll” would surprise anyone who is
a fan of these songs at how well they work together.
But the moments that make this set worth the price of admission are the encore opening
cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody” that feature some pre-recorded Queen vocals that make
seem like they are singing with Robbie.
And finally, “Angels” his biggest hit, this time, the crowd out sings him in places and
forces him to come back to stage after the song is over and lead one more crowd sing-along of the chorus.
An amazing set from an artist who is criminally underrated. Rush right over to his
website and buy this NOW!!!
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