Robbie Williams live at BST Hyde Park

Reviewed by Deban Aderemi

Photos Decibel Report

Let's start this review with facts:

Robbie Williams is a born entertainer.

Last night, he headlined his exclusive UK festival date at the British Summertime Festival in Hyde Park to a crowd of over 65,000 adoring fans.

Kicking off his setlist, he commenced his two hour show backstage and had this projected onto the massive stage screens as he was serenading his all-female dance troupe.

With bundles of humour and a carefully choreographed swing in his hips, he made his way to the main stage whilst belting out one of his signature anthems ‘Let Me Entertain You’.

For this opening, he wore a white blazer over a white vest and baggy white trousers. His pair of white-brimmed mafioso-style sunglasses was paired with a huge silver chain which read, 'FUCK OFF'.

This whimsical accessory helped with setting the tone for the rest of the evening. As foul-mouthed as this pop sensation is, Robbie Williams is funny, charismatic and really endearing.

On stage, he bares his soul. Some of the stories that he shared were deeply personal. He unpacked the highs and lows of his battle with casual sex and substance abuse without a filter. His rawness didn’t shy away from acknowledging where he's at now. "I love my life, I love my wife and I love my four children" he belted out with pride.

Despite the packed crowd he worked the length and breadth of the stage with confidence and candour. There were a few moments when he engaged in random one to one conversations with lucky fans, and some other frantic moments when he gifted memorabilia to the excited crowd.

Musically, this concert was a thirty year journey. Robbie shared some memories of his time with Take That and paired some anecdotes with a cover of Barry Manilow's ‘Could It Be Magic’. Back in 1992, this cover song was led by Williams as part of Take That, and peaked in the Top 3 of the Official UK Singles Chart.

Next he crooned along with surprise guest appearances from Supergrass, Danny Dyer and the Coldstream Guards which was a highlight for all in the park.

When he reflected on his (stoned) highs at Glastonbury, he paid tribute to Oasis by performing a rousing cover of ‘Don't Look Back In Anger’. A crowd rouser if there ever was one!

And he kept the hits coming. Yes, it was a hit setlist! Robbie Williams discography includes seven No. 1 singles and thirteen No. 1 albums. He has won Best British Male Artist multiple times, and has a growing number of MTV European Music Awards.

He has been a staple of British music culture for several decades now, and here on home turf, he really was electric!

He worked through some of his finest tunes ‘Millennium’, ‘Kids’, ‘Feel’, ‘Come Undone’ and ‘Advertising Space’ with aplomb.

For the show closer he delivered a rousing ‘Angels’ and an acapella version of ‘Football's Coming Home’ — nodding to the hour earlier victory of England over Switzerland at the UEFA football championship. He quipped in perfect Robbie fashion that he was very plessed he didn’t have to play in front of an English crowd where England were out.

Was it a good night? Of course it was. Did he top his last smashing BST appearance a few years back? Of course he did!

For years, his 2013 headline gig at Knebworth Festival raised the bar, and broke several live entertainment records. Last nights BST appearance will serve as a timely reminder that Robbie Williams, at 50, is current and at the same time, a living legend.

Rock on Robbie.