Singer Robbie has died. Robbie Williams

Celebrity biographies

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13.02.15 13:21

British music legend Elton John compared his colleague Robbie Williams, whose biography is a bizarre alternation of resounding successes and struggles with his own demons, to the Frank Sinatra of our time. After all, the Briton has a unique timbre and a special manner of performance. No wonder his compatriots called him the most popular singer in Great Britain.

Biography of Robbie Williams

Little clown

Robbie Williams was born in the large industrial center of England - Newcastle on February 13, 1974. But his parents separated when the boy was just 3 years old, and his mother took Robert and his sister Sally to provincial Stoke-on-Trent. The future singer spent his childhood there. His full name is rather pretentious: Robert Peter Maximilian - no wonder that, having become famous, he shortened it to the usual “Robbie”.

The biography of Robbie Williams did not start out at all stellar. At St. Margaret's School, he was known as a scoundrel and a clown; the student's grades left much to be desired. But gradually the boy’s singing and artistic gifts began to emerge. He successfully performed at school concerts, played in an amateur theater troupe, and was entrusted with central roles in musicals. It became clear that the artist is growing!

In a successful boy band

The mother shared the teenager’s aspirations; it was she who advised him to go to the audition for the Take That group. The audition was a success, and for five years the biography of Robbie Williams was closely connected with this group. Later there will be attempts at reunion and joint projects. In the meantime, young Williams was glad to be among like-minded people. The most cheerful member of the group, he was known as a joker and joker. And Take That's business was confidently going uphill. It was the most successful boy band in England at that time. Not since the days of the Beatles has the country seen such huge record sales and sold-out performances.

Break out of the dungeon

The crisis came in the sixth year. At first, author and vocalist Gary Barlow disagreed with his comrades, but he did not have the courage to directly state his dissatisfaction. But Williams did not stand on ceremony. He declared that he did not intend to continue to vegetate in this “prison” and hit the hardest. Binges, a sudden change in image (bleached hair), bad company - everything led to Robbie parting with his associates. And in July 1995 it finally happened. And when he celebrated his twenty-second anniversary, the group itself “decided to live long.”

The thorny path to success

After revelry and drinking bouts, it was difficult to regain his good name, so it was not immediately that “single player” Robbie Williams managed to win the trust of the public and producers. It was only at the end of 1997, with the release of the single “Angels”, that he was able to break through to the top of the charts. Listeners turned to Robbie's debut album (which had been on sale for a long time) and swept it off store shelves. Surprisingly, this disc (“Life Thru a Lens”) took first place in the British chart. This is how the star of vocalist Robbie Williams rose.

The singer had to fight not only his bad habits, but also accusations of non-traditional sexual orientation (clips of the previous group sometimes suggested that the guys were gay). Collaboration with vocalist Nicole Appleton (and romance with her) was supposed to dispel these rumors. The second disc (“I"ve Been Expecting You”) became a sensation. In 1998, Robbie Williams’ biography was supplemented with the title of “best-selling” singer in Britain, and the “conquest of America” was not far off.

Unexpected duet: Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman

New compositions, advertising campaigns, meetings, necessary connections - the mechanism worked like a clock. Europe adored the sharp-tongued idol; the States reluctantly accepted the Briton into their arms. After all, in the album “Swing When You Are Winning,” the singer paid tribute to the memory of Sinatra, and the rock legend’s single “Somethin’ Stupid” was recorded together by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman. The unexpected duet was liked by music lovers, the song topped the British chart for three weeks.

Behind were 4 superbly selling discs, a solo concert in London, a lucrative contract with a recording studio (EMI, according to various sources, paid from 50 to 80 million pounds to release Williams’ new album). The album "Escapology" was recorded in Los Angeles and became very successful on both sides of the Atlantic.

I made it to St. Petersburg!

The news of the 2006 world tour excited the singer's fans, and he was included in the Guinness Book of Records (1,600,000 tickets to the singer's concerts were sold on the first day).

The work continued, the former “bad guy” finally settled down. There were many more performances and discs. Released in the fall of 2013, the disc “Swings Both Ways” was a real gift to Williams fans. And in April 2015, he made St. Petersburg fans happy for the first time by coming to the Northern capital with a concert.

Personal life

Fighting with yourself

Problems with drugs and alcohol for a long time did not allow Robbie Williams’s personal life to return to a normal family course. He also had to painfully get rid of drug addiction (Xanax and Vicodin for some time replaced all the blessings of life for the singer).

Won my heart

American Ayda Field became a real “lifeline” for the star. A little-known actress of Turkish origin captured the heart of the British man in 2006, and in 2007 they declared themselves a couple. They traveled for a long time, “getting in touch” with their characters - both were not too young and were afraid of making mistakes. But at the end of the summer of 2010, Aida and Robbie Williams, whose personal life was completely dependent on his lover, got married.

Robbie Williams' daughter is daddy's joy

In the spring of 2012, the singer told the press that he would soon become a father. Robbie Williams' daughter was born on September 17. The baby was named Theodora Rose. The middle-aged daddy adores the baby, just like her brother Charlton Valentine, who was born at the end of October 2014.

Popular British pop singer Robbie Williams, author of numerous songs, a favorite of women and just a wonderful person, began his career as part of the boy band Take That, but became more famous thanks to his solo work and defiant behavior.

Childhood and family

Robert Peter Maximilian Williams was born on February 13, 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. His father, Peter Williams (Conway), was a comedian in his youth, his mother, Janet Farrell, owned a flower shop, and they later opened the Red Lion pub together.

When Robbie was three years old, his parents divorced. He stayed to live with his mother. The boy attended Mill Hill Primary School and then St. Name of Saint Margaret. He studied poorly, was lazy and the first clown in the class, but he had artistic talent, danced and sang well.

At school, he took part in theater productions, plays and musicals, where he often played leading roles, and also appeared in the soap opera Brookside with a cameo role. During the summer holidays, he spent a lot of time with his father, who shared his experience in comedy acting with him. In addition, Robbie played on the school football team, but did not do well.

Take That

After graduating from school in 1990, Robbie worked for some time as a double-glazed window salesman. Fortunately, he listened to his mother's advice and signed up to audition for a boy pop group.

At the casting, he performed the song “Nothing Can Divide Us” by Jason Donovan in front of the producers and, to his surprise, became one of the five members of the boy band called Take That. Robbie was given the role of the impudent one. Together with Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Jason Orange, he recorded three highly successful albums: Take that and party, Everything changes and Nobody else.

Take That – I found heaven

In July 1995, after a weekend with Noel and Liam Gallagher at the Glastonbury Festival, Robbie announced that he wanted to leave the band: “People looked at me like I was a pimple on my back! And it's all because I'm a member of Take That." In the documentary Take That: Look Back, Don't Stare, released in 2010, Robbie said that the main reason for his departure from the band was the competition with Gary Barlow that crossed all boundaries (he dedicated one of his first solo songs, “Ego,” to his opponent a Go Go"). There is also a widespread version that the rest of the group gave Robbie an ultimatum: either he quits alcohol and drugs, or leaves.

After the trial with the BMG label, Robbie began his solo career. In 1996, shortly after Robbie Williams announced his departure, the group disbanded. Other members of Take That also set off on their own, but only he managed to surpass his previous success. In 2006, the boy band reunited without Robbie, although in 2010 he took part in the recording of their album “Progress”. The reunion turned out to be short - in the summer of 2011 the singer finally left the group.

Solo career

In 1996, Williams signed a contract with Chrysalis Records and released his first solo single, Freedom, a cover version of a George Michael song. In March, the singer, in collaboration with composer Guy Chambers, began recording his first album, Life Thru a Lens, which was released in September of the same year and started at number one on the UK Album Chart. The single "Angels" created a sensation and sold over a million copies in Britain alone. Sales of the singles "Old Before I Die", "Lazy Days" and "South of the Border" were slightly less high.

Robbie Williams – Freedom

At the beginning of 1998, Robbie began work on his second album, “I"ve Been Expecting You.” The album’s first single, Millenium, became very popular in Europe, selling more than 400 thousand copies. Soon after the album’s release in October 1998, the singer signed a contract with an American company Capitol Records and released a collection of songs, “The Ego Has Landed,” intended for the American market. The album was received lukewarmly, ranking only 63rd on the US Billboard Albums chart.

The next album, “Sing When You"re Winning” in 2000, turned out to be more successful. The single “Rock DJ” became one of the best-selling in the UK and was nominated for many prestigious awards: MTV Europe Music Awards, BRIT Awards, Best Single of the Year. In the video clip for this song, Robbie performs a striptease, removing his skin and tearing off his muscles. The video received an MTV VMA award for best special effects.

Robbie Williams – Rock DJ

In the summer of 2001, Robbie went on tour in support of the album. The album sold 2.4 million copies in the UK and 4 million copies in Europe, went 8 times platinum and became one of the best-selling albums in the history of British music.

In 2001, Williams released his fourth album, “Swing When You"re Winning,” recorded in the Swing genre. Nicole Kidman took part in the recording of the album. After its release, the album immediately became a hit, selling more than 7 million copies. The song “Beyond The Sea" was included in the soundtrack of the cartoon "Finding Nemo". In October 2001, Robbie Williams performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Robbie Williams performing at the Royal Albert Hall

In 2002, Robbie Williams signed a contract worth 80 million pounds with the EMI label, becoming the highest paid pop artist. In the history of music, only Michael Jackson was offered a more lucrative contract in 1991. He bought a house in Los Angeles and began conquering the American music market.

The benefits of popularity were overshadowed by bouts of depression and self-doubt, although it would seem where they could have come from for an iconic figure of the British pop scene.

In 2005, Williams released his sixth album, Intensive Care, recorded with composer Stefan Duffy. In November 2005, at the MTV Europe Music Award, Williams received the award for "Best Male Artist".

Robbie Williams – Tripping

In 2006, Robbie Williams began recording his next album, Rudebox. The album turned out to be the most unsuccessful in the singer's career (but even so, it went platinum twice). At this time, a high-profile Take That reunion takes place, and the singer, saddened by the success of his former colleagues, decides to go to a rehabilitation clinic and get rid of drug addiction, which he did on his 33rd birthday.

Having cleansed himself of addictions, Robbie began to improve his life: he had a girlfriend with whom everything was serious - in an interview he called her his wife and admitted that they changed his life. Together they moved to England, and in 2009 Williams made a triumphant comeback to the scene with the album Really Killed the Video Star, followed by two greatest hits albums. The latter also included a new song “Shame”, recorded together with Gary Barlow.

In October 2011, Robbie signed a contract with Universal, which resulted in the release of the album “Take the Crown” in the fall of 2012. In June 2013, Robbie Williams went on tour in support of the album.

In 2016, the singer released the disc “The Heavy Entertainment Show,” which included the song “Party like a Russians.” In the video for it, the musician ridiculed the vacation of Russian oligarchs and the local entertainment culture. It is believed that Williams' song was inspired by Roman Abramovich's corporate event, where he performed in 2014.

Robbie Williams – Party Like a Russian

Personal life of Robbie Williams

During the heyday of Take That and thanks to the ambiguous lyrics of the songs, Robbie's image of a gay representative was established. And the singer only fueled interest in himself with jokes on this topic. In fact, Robbie is also a connoisseur of female charms, so during the Take That era he was terribly annoyed by the contract clause prohibiting the boy band members from entering into relationships. After leaving the group, he began dating the daughter of a dentist, Jacqueline Hamilton-Smith. Soon he proposed to her, but in 1996 the couple broke up.

Then the singer seemed to break loose: a short affair with actress Anna Friel, engagement to Canadian TV presenter Nicole Appleton, affairs with Irish singer Andrea Corr, Danish model Tanya Strecker, actress Victoria Schweiser, model Rachel Hunt.

In 2004, Robbie Williams became interested in actress Nicole Kidman, with whom he recorded the single “Somethin’ Stupid” back in 2001. However, nothing serious came of it - the same year the handsome man was caught having an affair with actress Valerie Cruz.

Robbie Williams is now happily married to Ayda Field

In 2010, Robbie and Ayda got married, and on September 17, 2012, their daughter Theodora Rose Williams was born. On October 27, 2014, a new addition appeared in the family - Aida gave birth to a son. The boy was named Charlton. Now Robbie Williams is an exemplary family man, but his forgotten lifestyle still comes back to haunt him: he often has bouts of depression, and in 2018 he complained of memory lapses.

Robbie Williams now

At the opening of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Robbie Williams showed his middle finger to the Channel One camera with a sly smile while performing the song “Rock DJ.” He later stated that this was not an indecent gesture - this was his way of showing the number “1”.

Robbie Williams showed his middle finger at the opening of the 2018 World Cup

Becoming famous is what Robbie Williams always wanted. And he managed to fulfill his dream. Even if you have never come into contact with the work of this British musician, you have undoubtedly heard about his scandalous behavior. This bad boy knows how to shock the audience. He also knows how to charge a huge crowd with his energy and unique sense of humor. His concerts are a real drive. This is what fans of the pop star say, who see Robbie as a complex and interesting personality. Is this really true?

Brief biography

Ordinary boyish games, ordinary conversations with friends, ordinary family gatherings - Robbie Williams' childhood was quite ordinary for a British boy. He was born on February 13, 1974 in the beautiful English city of Stoke-on-Trent.

Rob is the child of Teresa and Peter Williams. In addition to him, the family grew up with a girl, Sally, a child from her father’s first marriage. While the children were playing and exploring the world, the parents were developing their own pub. Three years after Robbie was born, the marriage broke up. Teresa began raising the children alone, and Peter took the pseudonym Pete Conway and decided to make a career as a comedian.

It is unknown whether genes or constant meetings with his comedian father influenced the development of the boy’s sense of humor, but at school he was known as a clown. He was also lazy and a loser. But this did not stop Robbie from participating in theatrical productions on the school stage, singing songs on the guitar and captivating the hearts of those around him with his charm. In addition, in musicals he often got leading roles. If you look at childhood photographs of this British singer, what immediately catches your eye is his signature slightly askew smile and cheerfulness - he was charismatic from a young age. No wonder people came to school plays just for him.

Robbie's school life ended with failure in exams and... joining the new boy group "Take that". Just on the day when 16-year-old Rob left the walls of the educational institution, his mother came across an advertisement for recruitment into a boy band. Teresa, without doubting her son’s talent, invited him to try his hand at it. He took her advice and was right: his audition impressed the members of the new group. Ahead lay 5 years of success as part of “Take that”, recognized as one of the most successful British teams.

Tours, constant concerts, awards, crowds of fans - this is what the life of an attractive young man consisted of in the early 90s. Participation in the boy band turned out to be more than just popularity for Robbie Williams. He became addicted to alcohol and drugs. The young man understood what this meant, but he didn’t care. Even persuasion did not help the intractable guy Elton John , who has already experienced all the harmfulness of the habit. But the musician turned to rehabilitation only in the late 90s, and in the new millennium he will still have to undergo treatment for addiction with antidepressants. In the meantime, the charming Briton is enjoying life and basking in the love of fans.

But, as often happens, the well-coordinated team begins to disintegrate. This happened with “Take that”. After 5 years of working together, disagreements arose. And if someone in the group tried not to talk about it, then Rob decided to rebel. He dyed his hair, started fooling around and eventually left the group in 1995, admitting that it was a real prison for him. Why? All work came down to rules and obligations that pressed on him.

Robbie Williams is out of the music world for a year. Fans have a very ambivalent attitude towards him; in addition, problems arose with violating the terms of the contract concluded with “Take that” - in general, the popular Briton had no time for music. Having dealt with all the legal issues, he began his solo career and in the summer of 1996 he released a cover version of George Michael's song “Freedom-90”. The public did not accept this single, nor the subsequent one.

Robbie was not going to give up and at the end of 1997 he recorded the song “Angels”. The touching and tender track not only conquered the British charts, where it was on the chart for 27 weeks, but also became a national hit. It was with this single that the real popularity and demand of Robbie Williams as a solo singer began.

The musician's fame grew. In the UK, sales of his albums and singles reach record levels. In 1998, Robbie was even recognized as the best-selling singer. But besides Europe, there is also America. To conquer it, the artist records the album “The Ego Has Landed” - a compilation from two previous collections. But the American public reacted coolly to the appearance of the British singer on their soil. But the British couldn't wait for the release of his next single and album. The musician tried not to disappoint them and released new hits.

In 2006 - 2007, Robbie slowed down. He actively took care of his health, which was failing. The abuse of various substances and personal problems affected. After giving up bad habits, the confirmed bachelor decided to surprise the public with a wedding. In 2010, he married American actress Ida Field. The pop musician found true family happiness a little later: in 2012 they became the parents of a charming girl, and in 2014 - a boy.

Happy, matured and popular, Robbie Williams admits that his children have changed his attitude towards life. He is ready to sing their praises and admire their every move. But the performer does not forget about music. A crowd of millions of fans are waiting for his performances and new hits. It's not Robbie's style to disappoint them. That's why he continues to sing and doesn't intend to stop there.

Interesting facts

• The singer's full name is Robert Peter Maximilian Williams.

• Rob's childhood idol was John Travolta's character, Danny Zuko, from the 1978 film Grease. It was he, according to the singer, who influenced the development of his artistry.
• In addition to numerous awards, the singer was awarded an entry into the Guinness Book of Records. He didn’t do anything special for this: he simply announced the start of a world tour. 1.6 million tickets were sold per day. This was the reason for his name to appear in the book about record achievements in 2006.
• School plays weren't the only thing Robbie was interested in. He loved to play ball. The artist admits that if it weren’t for the music, now we would see him in a football uniform.
• The singer's name is included in the British Music Hall of Fame. He was recognized as the best performer of the 90s.
• In the performer's hometown, three streets are named after his songs. Angels' Road, Candy Street and High Street were a gift from the people of Stoke-on-Trent for Robbie's 40th birthday.
• The single “Have Fun Like a Russian” caused a lot of noise. On the part of the singer, it was a joke, tomfoolery. But the Russian public was very interested in the British attitude towards Russia. Feeling his responsibility, Robbie even began to look for a reason to communicate with Russian journalists. He told them that he admired the strength and spirit of Russia and that, if possible, he would definitely talk with Vladimir Putin. Although the song did not take high positions, it caused a lot of conversation.
• The singer's rider includes 48 eggs. This is how he takes care of his own staff. After all, they also need to eat something.

• A career in the group “Take that” turned into a scandal for the Briton. The posters with the boy band members were ambiguous: fans had questions about Robbie’s sexual orientation. This was the policy for promoting the group. Subsequently, Rob even sued print media that accused him of unconventional relationships. The British court issued its verdict - Williams is a normal man. The newspapers had to pay the musician compensation for moral damages.
• You can get acquainted with the personality of Robbie Williams in his autobiographical book “Robbie Williams: All About Me.” The name sounds quite “modest”, however, the image of the artist obliges. In addition to this book, there is another one - “Feel”.
• In 2001, the musician recorded a duet with Nicole Kidman on the song “Somethin" Stupid,” which was once performed by Frank Sinatra. The single topped the British chart, and the video shot for it allowed fans to enjoy a beautiful video.
• By the way, Elton John nicknamed Robbie modern Frank Sinatra . The reason for this comparison was the singer's voice - tenor.

• The pop artist’s body is decorated with more than 20 tattoos. Among them, family “inscriptions” stand out: Robbie immortalized the memory of his mother, grandmother Betty and grandfather Jack.
• The famous singer suffers from dyslexia. Skipping words when reading or writing so that no one understands anything is in the spirit of people who have encountered this violation. The musician is also nearsighted.
• Rob spares no money or time for charity. In 2012, he captained the football team in a charity match. All funds went to support the UNICEF organization, which provides assistance to children. He later became its ambassador.
• Robbie's ex-women say he is a very sensitive person. He is far from indifferent to public rumors concerning his work and personality. Such impressionability led to dependence on antidepressants - he could not live in constant stress.
• Before becoming a member of the popular boy band, Williams helped his mother in a flower shop. He also worked as a window salesman, but was fired for his honesty. The director did not like the young man telling customers about the poor quality of the products.
• Robbie is partial to all things supernatural. The song “Angels” was written precisely under the impression of paranormal phenomena. The meaning of the composition, according to the musician, is literally this: loved ones pass away, but return to look after us.
• The artist also collects everything related to Star Wars.
• Robbie Williams is famous for his extraordinary antics. To undress in a video, to be naked in public, to get drunk or to fight is quite in his spirit. The scandalous fame fuels interest in him, although many fans do not share this behavior of the idol.
• In 1999, the football game FIFA 2000 was released. She has a direct connection with Robbie. Firstly, he recorded the title track for her - " It's Only Us" Secondly, he was a 3D model, whose movements later became part of the computer graphics of football characters.

• The United States did not submit to the musician’s work, but he achieved resounding success in Latin America. There he is always expected and greeted with joyful exclamations.
• Robbie has his own idols. He listens to the vocals of Freddie Mercury and the music of John Lennon. His favorite bands are U2 and Queen.

The best songs of Robbie Williams

His signature and most successful single is, without a doubt, “Angels.” For the British, it's already a classic and a jukebox staple. The song is still a leader in sales compared to other songs by the singer. Although 20 years have passed since its release (1997). Time has no power over her. Even Robbie himself considers “Angels” the most successful. How else did the musician captivate the audience?

• « Feel" is another international hit that touches with its lyrics, musical accompaniment and the singer’s characteristic voice. The track is framed by a clip. The best known is the black and white footage, although a color version was also recorded. American actress Daryl Hannah took part in the filming of the video. Thanks to her, the song managed to attract the attention of the American audience.

"Feel" (listen)

• « Millennium"became the first single to reach the top position of the UK chart. The composition itself has social overtones and accuses people of their vices. It's time to stop - God sees everything, sings Robbie. It is noteworthy that in the video the artist acted as James Bond.

• « Supreme" - the success of this track went far beyond the UK. It entered the top ten on the islands of New Zealand, and even reached gold status in France - it’s not for nothing that the musician recorded a version in French. In addition to the song itself, the video for it is also attractive. In the video, reminiscent of old tapes, the performer appears as a racing driver seeking to win the championship. The prototype for Robbie's character was Scottish racing driver Jackie Stewart.

"Supreme" (listen)

• « Rock DJ" is a catchy and danceable song that opened the top of the charts in Argentina and Mexico. And again the clip - it’s impossible to pass by it. In it, Robbie is presented as a DJ who gradually undresses and eventually removes his... muscles. The video contains both entertainment and the singer’s usual satire.
• « Candy" - another successful track, for which an equally attractive video was shot. Robbie took on the role of a guardian angel in a soft pink suit. According to the plot, he protects the “honor” of a narcissistic girl with her head in the clouds. The entire video sequence, like the song itself, is an attempt to make fun of young beauties.

"Candy" (listen)

• « The Road to Mandalay“he wrote under the influence of impressions about the most wonderful summer that the singer managed to spend after many years of constant work. The vacation ended and led to the writing of a song that topped the hit parade.

The best films about and with Robbie Williams

DVD recordings from concerts are an opportunity to touch the artist’s work and feel the atmosphere of a live concert. Robbie has released at least 10 such concert films. The most striking and iconic are:

• "Live At The Albert"
• "What We Did Last Summer";
• "Live in Tallinn".

Discs have also been released that show the star's life behind the scenes. The following films chronicle the preparations for the tour and also reveal the faces of those with whom Robbie worked at different times:

• "Nobody Someday"
• "Inner Sanctum".

There is still an episodic role in the musician’s work. In 2004, he starred in the film Darling, which is dedicated to the life of composer Cole Porter. In this film, Robbie appeared as a performer at a ball.

The film industry cannot do without the work of the scandalous Briton. His lyrical, energetic songs serve as soundtracks to many famous films. Here are just some examples:

Movie	Composition
"One Meeting" (2014)	"Feel"
"Musketeers" (2011)	"When We Were Young"
"One Day" (2011)	"Angels"
"Cars 2" (2011)	"Collision of Worlds"
X-Men: First Class (2011)	"Love Love"
"As God Commands" (2008)	"She's the one"
"Love and Other Disasters" (2006)	"Angels"
"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" (2004)	"Misunderstood"
"Finding Nemo" (2003)	"Beyond the Sea"
"Sweet November" (2001)	"Rock DJ"
"Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998)	"Man Machine"

Robbie's track record also includes various TV series and talk shows where his music and voice are heard. So, under his " I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing"In one of the episodes of Friends, Ross and Monica dance.

Features of Robbie Williams' creativity

The musician is considered to have a tenor voice that delights Elton John. The lyrics were written by Robbie himself. He most often works in collaboration on music.

What genre does Robbie Williams work in? This is dance pop music mixed with rock sounds. There's a reason he's a U2 fan. The musician's style has changed over time. He rose to the musical Olympus as a performer of lyrical ballads, then proved himself to be the author of daring, provocative songs.

Among all the albums, “Swing When You"re Winning” stands out, which the Briton released under the influence of creativity Frank Sinatra. By the way, it was a long-time dream of the artist - to work in the swing genre, presenting his vision of classical compositions.

Rob released his last, eleventh studio album in 2016. It is called “Heavy Entertainment Show” and is performed in the musician’s usual manner.

Robbie Williams is called the darling of fate. He managed to conquer Great Britain and become the third most talked about in this country. Yes, sometimes conversations are not the most pleasant, but still. Interest in this personality does not decrease; fans continue to buy tickets to concerts and sing “I"m loving angels instead.” Robb really has that spark that can ignite millions of hearts. To be convinced of this, just listen to his songs.

Video: listen to Robbie Williams

, violin, harmonica And marimba

Robert Peter (Robbie) Williams(English) Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams; genus. 13 February, Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK) - British singer, songwriter and actor, former member of the band Take That.

For his characteristic voice timbre and performance style, Elton John called Williams “the Frank Sinatra of the 21st century.”

Global album sales exceed 59 million, and singles have already sold more than 18 million. In the UK alone, about 16.2 million discs were sold. Robbie has 10 albums and compilations, 10 UK singles and many awards under his belt. Robbie Williams is also considered the best-selling foreign artist in Latin America. As of 2016, Williams' net worth is $200 million.

Encyclopedic YouTube

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✪ Robbie Williams | Party Like A Russian (Official Video)

✪ Robbie Williams - Angels (Live at Knebworth)

✪ Robbie Williams - Feel (Live at Knebworth)

✪ Robbie Williams | Love My Life (Official Video)

✪ Robbie Williams / Robbie Williams / Robbie Williams - Mack The Knife / Balad about Mecca-nizh

Subtitles

Biography

1974-1989: Childhood and youth

Robert was born on February 13, 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent to Peter and Janet Theresa Williams. His mother and father, stand-up comedian Peter "Parp" Conway, divorced when his son was three years old. Robbie and his sister Sally grew up with their mother. The singer studied first at Mill Hill Primary School, and then at St. Margaret Ward High School and often participated in school plays. After graduating from school, the singer’s mother brought home an advertisement that said that all over England they were recruiting for a boy group.

1990-1995: Take That

In support of the album, the singer performed at the Albert Hall and in December 2001, a film was released called Robbie Williams Live at the Albert Hall. It soon became the top seller in Europe and was certified 6 times platinum in Britain and 2 times in Germany.

2002-2005: Escapology and Intensive Care

In 2002, the singer signed a £80 million contract with record company EMI. It was the most successful deal in British music history. Due to a quarrel with his frequent collaborator Guy Chambers over the rights to write the songs "Angels" and "Let Me Entertain You", the songs "Nan's Song" and "Come Undone" were recorded without his participation. Most of the tracks were recorded in Los Angeles, where the singer moved in 2002.

On May 17, 2012, at the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, Take That won the Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music award for their contribution to the development of British music. Despite the fact that Rob himself did not come to the presentation, technically he also received the award. It was received from the group by Gary, Howard and Mark.

On October 6, 2011, Rob's new project, Rudebox Radio, was released. This is a radio show, led by him as the host, recorded in his home studio, with the invitation of his friends and family. 2 hours of jokes, jokes, favorite music and hidden details of your plans. By the end of the year, 3 issues of RR were published, including a special Christmas one. Rob also shared two demo songs: “Cocaine” and “Ice Cream Headache.”

Debut single “Candy” from the new album Take the Crown, released in the UK on October 28, debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, and on November 11, the album reached number one on the Albums Chart, just a week after release. The last time the artist had this was only in 2001, during the era of the album Swing When You're Winning, when both the album and the lead single “Somethin" Stupid” (in a duet with Nicole Kidman) were in the leading positions. At Christmas 2012, One of Robbie's singles (as part of the charity group Justice Collective), “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,” reached number one on the British Singles Chart, and in June 2013, a collaboration with Dizzee Rascal, “Goin' Crazy,” reached number five. the same chart. On November 26, 2012, the Take the Crown concert tour was announced, which kicked off on June 14, 2013. This is the singer's first solo tour in 7 years, since 2006's Close Encounters Tour.

On November 18, 2013, a new album, “Swings Both Ways,” was released, consisting of covers and new songs in the swing genre.

2013-2017: Present

On April 9, 2015, Robbie Williams performed for the first time in St. Petersburg as part of the “Let Me Entertain You” tour, reports the NCA concert agency.

On March 20, 2017, the singer said on the air of the “Let them talk” program that he would not mind performing at Eurovision 2017 with a song from Russia. “I love Eurovision. Everything is so colorful there, a grandiose show. I would like to represent Russia at Eurovision - I’m just saying this now, but my manager is already clutching his head. But I would like to represent Russia at the competition. Come on, Russia, we can win,” the British singer said casually.

In June he took part in a charity concert One Love Manchester, organized as support for the victims of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. In the same month, he took part in the filming of the video clip “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as part of a charity project Artist for Grenfell .

Other projects

Success in North America

Following his worldwide success, especially in Europe, Williams signed a record deal with Capitol Records in the US, which was part of EMI. Robbie Williams conducted an all-American promotional tour, followed by the release of his first single in the US and Canada, "Millennium", which peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album "The Ego Has Landed" was released in the US and Canada in July 1999, but did not such success as in Europe. It ranked 63rd in the U.S. Billboard Albums Chart and 17th place on the Canadian Sound Scan album chart. Despite this, Williams made a fairly good video, for which he was presented at the MTV Video Music Awards in the category “Best Male Video.” He didn't win, but it helped album sales. After this turn of events, the singer decided to concentrate on Europe, Australia and Latin America, where he was already a big star.

Video game

Personal life

Relationship

In 2006, Robbie met American actress Ida Field, whom he began dating in 2007. On August 7, 2010, they married in Los Angeles. On September 17, 2012, the couple had a daughter, Theodora Rose Williams (Teddy). On October 27, 2014, their second child was born - son Charlton Valentine.

Charity

On May 28, 2012, at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, the fourth Soccer Aid charity match was played, in which Rob acted as team captain. The event raised £4 million, which went towards UNICEF's support for children. Before the match, Rob visited the Mexican capital, preparing a documentary about the problems in these areas, which would be shown before the match. For 4 matches (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012) Soccer Aid earned 11.5 million pounds. The performer is also a goodwill ambassador

Alcohol and drugs, women and suspicions of homosexuality - the scandalous life that Williams led until recently was not discussed only by the lazy. But there was also something valuable about him - his undoubted talent, which turned Williams into an idol of millions.

Robbie Williams - biography

The future singer was born in 1974 in the city of Stoke-on-Trent in England. His father and mother filed for divorce when the boy was three years old. He and his half-sister Sally then lived with Williams' mother, who was a florist.

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At school, the guy was lazy and had a clown-like behavior. But from an early age he showed artistic inclinations and enjoyed playing in school plays. Singing and dancing were also easy for the young man. Probably his talent was noticed already at that time, since he often got leading roles.

At the age of 16, Robbie Williams graduated from school and, at the insistence of his mother, went to audition. The guys from the Take That team appreciated his talent, and Williams became one of their participants. First successes as part of a boy band At first, the guys sang only other people's songs and did not rush to the big stage. However, in 1991, the boy band released their first album, Take That and Party. At first it did not find a response from the public, but after the participants signed a contract with the BMG record company, they gained fame and fame. And their debut album topped the charts and won seven awards. For five years the guys were at the peak of their fame, but then the bully woke up in Robbie again. He drank, fought and argued with the rest of the participants and even dyed his hair white. In the mid-summer of 1995, Williams finally left the group, which caused discontent among Take That fans.

First solo projects

The group broke up, and the ex-vocalist of Take Тhat began to think about performing on his own. However, the signed contract did not provide such an opportunity, and Williams was forced to sue BMG for a year.

All this time, the singer led a riotous lifestyle, drank and used drugs. Over the course of a year, fans of the group practically forgot about its former member. And when his first song, “Freedom,” previously performed by George Michael, was released in the summer of 1996, listeners did not receive it very warmly.

Robbie Williams begins recording his first album. The first single, “South of the border,” was written by Williams himself and leaned towards rock music. It didn't cause a stir. But the 1997 song “Angels” was undoubtedly triumphant. Thanks to this composition, the singer's entire album took first place in the UK chart. A year later, the composition was published in the USA, and it sounded in various charts for two whole years.

The relationship with Nicole Appleton found expression in the singer's next album, co-written with Guy Chambers. The composition “Millenium” from this collection was expected to become popular in Europe, where 400 thousand copies were sold out.

Bloody scenes from Williams and duets with hot Australian beauties

Robbie Williams' third album, “The ego has landed,” released to US audiences, was met with rather indifference. In contrast, the collection of songs "Sing when you're winning", created at the beginning of the new millennium, sold more than six million copies in Europe and England. And the video for the single “Rock Dj” included in the album, in which Williams undresses and tears off pieces of his skin, received an MTV VMA award.

The song “Kids” from this collection was created in a duet with Kylie Minogue, and another Australian beauty, Nicole Kidman, participated in the recording of the fourth collection, which sold seven million copies.

The following years saw the release of the albums Escapology and Intensive Care, as well as the collection of songs Greatest Hits. The least successful album for Robbie was “Rudebox” in 2006 with a rather provocative single of the same name, which, despite this, led the charts in different countries.

So it is absolutely justified that in 2005 the singer was recognized as the best male performer according to the MTV Europe Music Award.

Williams' radio project and new Take That compositions

In 2010, a collection of the singer’s best songs, recorded by him since the early 90s, was published. During this period, the album “Progress” was also released, created by the boy band Take That in full force. In mid-autumn 2011, Williams became a DJ on his own show, Rudebox Radio. The show continued until the end of 2012. And the album “Take the Crown”, two singles from which took the top lines of the charts, once again confirmed the talent of the hot British guy. One of the latest collections, “Swings both Ways,” included covers of old songs and new compositions in the swing genre.

Robbie Williams - personal life

Ever since this hot British guy was a member of the boy band Take That, he was suspected of homosexual inclinations. The singer himself only laughed it off, thereby casting even more fog on this issue. And the ambiguous lyrics, videos and photographs of the group completely confused fans and caused speculation in the press.

However, the singer managed to derive double benefit from this: for many years, the ranks of his fans were replenished with representatives of non-traditional orientation, and when he got tired of these rumors, with the help of lawyers, he sued the publishing houses for a significant amount.

The final refutation of all the rumors was a whirlwind romance with All Saints vocalist Nicole Appleton. The result of the affair was Nicole's pregnancy, which the girl was forced to terminate. According to her, she did this at the insistence of the producers. Robbie Williams and Nicole then went their separate ways.

This hot British guy had other affairs, in particular, with another singer - Geri Halliwell and actress Cameron Diaz, but these relationships did not end in anything. In 2006, Williams went into the meeting blindly. There he met actress Ida Field. Soon they began a relationship.

However, the singer’s character has not changed: in 2009, Robbie Williams proposed marriage to the girl on live radio. Then he said that he did it for laughs and the show's ratings. It wasn’t easy for Ida, but apparently she had a strong character. And at the beginning of August 2010, their wedding actually took place. Now the happy couple lives in Los Angeles, they already have two children: daughter Theodora Rose was born in 2012, and son Charlton Valentine was born in 2014. And surprisingly, the singer began to behave exemplary for the first time: he stopped smoking even before the wedding and dotes on his children. The taming of the obstinate Robbie took place...