Does anyone actually think Robbie Williams is a good singer?

[Twoism]

I hate him.

[DominoDancing]

I don't really care if he's a good or bad or mediocre singer, but some of his songs are just great. Angels, Old Before I Die, No Regrets, She's The One, Kids, Eternity and Road To Mandalay all have fantastic melodies.

[weirdalfan1980]

He is OK, but Neil makes his songs better

[Vince]

He is a great enterainer. But an average singer. But with some excelent tracks and personality you don't need a great voice now, do you?

Agreed!
Nail on head as the saying goes.

Me three..

[Kris]

I've never understood the UK's fascination with him. And listening to the BBC concert just now has reinforced my opinions on his completely lacklustre singing abilties.

Anyone care to explain how he got so huge?

When you say BBC concert, do you mean the PSB Radio 2 concert? If so, I thought Robbie sang Jealousy pretty well. He didn't impose himself too much on the song and sang it with a good deal of dignity, in my opinion.

Personally I think Robbie is better live than most singers in the pop business at the moment. I saw him in concert in Milton Keynes in 2001 and he was fantastic. Also, every time one of his concerts has been televised he's always sounded note-perfect to me.

What I like about him is that he actually sings his songs properly when he's on stage. Compare/contrast that with some of the acts I saw on the V Festival highlights last night, most of whom were simply shouting. That guy from Hard-Fi was absolutely abysmal and Thom Yorke disappointed me too - and both Hard-Fi and Radiohead are supposedly top live bands.

As for why Robbie is so popular in the UK, I admit that part of it is simply default. Most male UK artists are so bland it hurts - think Will Young, Lemar, Shayne Ward, James Blunt etc. Robbie stands out from the crowd because both he and his music have a unique and interesting personality. Lyrically, especially, he is underrated. And of course, he already has an excellent back catalogue of hits - Angels, Rock DJ, Millennium, Feel, Trippin', The Road To Mandalay, Let Me Entertain You, Advertising Space and, of course, the sublime No Regrets.

[cannibal]

I've never understood the UK's fascination with him. And listening to the BBC concert just now has reinforced my opinions on his completely lacklustre singing abilties.

Anyone care to explain how he got so huge?

When you say BBC concert, do you mean the PSB Radio 2 concert? If so, I thought Robbie sang Jealousy pretty well. He didn't impose himself too much on the song and sang it with a good deal of dignity, in my opinion.

Personally I think Robbie is better live than most singers in the pop business at the moment. I saw him in concert in Milton Keynes in 2001 and he was fantastic. Also, every time one of his concerts has been televised he's always sounded note-perfect to me.

What I like about him is that he actually sings his songs properly when he's on stage. Compare/contrast that with some of the acts I saw on the V Festival highlights last night, most of whom were simply shouting. That guy from Hard-Fi was absolutely abysmal and Thom Yorke disappointed me too - and both Hard-Fi and Radiohead are supposedly top live bands.

As for why Robbie is so popular in the UK, I admit that part of it is simply default. Most male UK artists are so bland it hurts - think Will Young, Lemar, Shayne Ward, James Blunt etc. Robbie stands out from the crowd because both he and his music have a unique and interesting personality. Lyrically, especially, he is underrated. And of course, he already has an excellent back catalogue of hits - Angels, Rock DJ, Millennium, Feel, Trippin', The Road To Mandalay, Let Me Entertain You, Advertising Space and, of course, the sublime No Regrets.

Kind of agree; I'm not a Robbie fan, but he sure can entertain. "Tripping" is top-drawer pop too.

[Tony Cologne]

I don't really care if he's a good or bad or mediocre singer, but some of his songs are just great. Angels, Old Before I Die, No Regrets, She's The One, Kids, Eternity and Road To Mandalay all have fantastic melodies.

Does he write his own songs? Just curious.

[Kris]

Yes, he writes all the lyrics. The music is almost always written by his co-writer (previously Guy Chambers, now Stephen Duffy), though there were a couple of totally self-penned songs on his Escapology album.

[DominoDancing]

I don't think he writes any of the music, but the partnership between him and his songwriting partner (as mentioned before, Guy Chambers and now Stephen Duffy) is always pretty tight.

[Hillbilly]

Yes, Robbie is a good singer, though maybe his voice isn't that great per se.
He's a great entertainer though and that's what really matters here. And his songs are very good of course. He has deserved all the success that he's had!

[Jareth]

Gary Barlow is a better vocalist.

[patrick]

Surely as PSB fans we should all be more aware than most that actual singing ability has little to do with that je ne sais quoi that makes a great pop act?

[MD]

I think he has a very good voice. Not the best in the world but good. My problem with him are the CDs. All but " the ego has landed" have 2 or 3 great songs with the rest being poor at best. If i'm going to buy a CD I expect a majority of the tracks to be good. If not I feel cheated. You are better off geting a "best of" set than buying each cd. However, as stated above, the one excption is "The ego has landed" I like almost all of the songs on this one. By far the best of his work.

He does write some really great liyrics.

" Oh it seemed forever stopped today.
All the lonely hearts in London caught a plane
and flew away. And all the best women are married and the handsome men are gay.
You feel deprived.

Yeah, are you questioning your size?
Is there a tumour in your humour,
are there bags under your eyes?
Do you leave dents where you sit,
are you getting on a bit?
Will you survive?
You must survive!....

Yeah, turn down the love songs that you hear,
cause you can't avoid the sentiment that echoes in your ear.
Saying love will stop the pain.
Saying love will kill the fear.
Do you believe?
You must believe!

[Undertaker]

I suppose it's similar to me being British and not understanding all the shite America churn out, like RnB, Hip Hop and this 'Gangsta rap' bullshit.

Anyway, popular music never seems to be about how good a singer someone is. If that was the case, all the Opera singers would be battling out for number 1 every week.

Dave

[BlueSwan]

I think he's a sublime vocalist. One of my favourites.