Amazon.co.uk
Robbie Williams's Somebody Someday takes fans behind the scenes of his 2001 tour, laying bare both the mechanics of the pop machine and a man who can undoubtedly claim to be one of the biggest stars in the business. Williams rose from the ashes of teeny boy band Take That, confounding critics who had housewives' favourite Gary Barlow down as the only member with a musical future. Robbie had a shaky start to his solo outing but the massive hit "Angels" sealed his position as Britain's Clown Prince of Pop. His 2001 Tour was the pinnacle of his career so far and writer Mark McCrum had unprecedented access. The result is not simply a diary of the energy and vibrancy of live performance and the backstage madness that helps keep the show going, but of a rather vulnerable and sensitive pop star who loves what he does. Robbie talks candidly about himself, revealing a far more mature individual than the egotistical womaniser image perpetrated by the tabloids. The photographs by Scarlet Page are wonderfully unintrusive but at the same time capture many sides of Robbie that are rarely caught on film. Yes, there is Robbie pulling his pants down (again) and weeing against a fence, but we also see Robbie relaxing in his hotel room, strumming away on his guitar and kicking a football about by himself in a stadium corridor. It's a far cry from the bright lights and over-the-top personality he lets emerge on stage. Robbie fans would buy this whatever the quality, but it's a genuinely well-written and enjoyable journey through a few whirlwind months of a true star. In one of his earlier hits Robbie sang "Let me Entertain You"--from the talent and star quality than shines through here, he shouldn't even need to ask. --Jonathan Weir
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Booklist
British singer Williams, a megastar in Europe, has attracted attention here for his cheeky and introspective lyrics in such songs as "Millennium" and "Angels." He successfully made the transition from boy band member to successful solo star, but it wasn't easy, and following McCrum following Williams on tour, readers can see why. The mercurial star battles addictions to alcohol and drugs. Fortunately, the musicians and crew who tour with him love him. McCrum interviews the band, the managers, and Williams, going behind the scenes to give an idea of how a tour goes. Toward the end Williams admits, "I failed to see all of the great things about my life and there are so many." Though not as popular in the U.S. as in the U.K., Williams is a charismatic, flawed, ultimately captivating character, and the book's absorbing look into a rock star's life should hold curious readers once they start it. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
