Robbie Williams’ album – and this, the first single – came out last year and some people got offended. As in #notallRussians, etc.
I didn’t get offended. I loved it. It’s clear the real target of the song.
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This is perfect for now.
Isn’t it?
The song is not only super catchy and apropos, but the music video choices are also spot on! I especially love everything about all of the female dancers: the different ways the two groups are styled (the grey pointe shoes and black wigs!), the way the girls in white get to “sing” the Russian male chorus and thrash around in their tulle skirts and run with complete abandon through the gardens. It looks like they’re all having a blast!
I love the closeups of the ferocious female drummer.
But yes – it looks like it was a blast filming this. Love the concept.
This is amazing. How did I miss it?
Isn’t it great?
I honestly don’t know what to make of him saying that the song isn’t about Putin. It makes me wonder if he was threatened, or at least if there were concerns that the song might make him a target for an unfortunate unexplained dose of radiation poisoning.
I can’t stop watching this video, either, though. Everything about it is perfect. The decadence, the jerky ballet choreography (what incredible talent!), the rocket-fired rhyming lyrics, and yes, that drummer (and the whole female band). And his facial expressions! I can’t get enough of it. Thanks for sharing!
I wondered if this song was written – in part – in solidarity with Pussy Riot.
He grew up in the tail end of the Cold War – as I did – when Russians were the bogeyman – so – speaking for myself – the rise of Russia as enemy #1 has a queasy feeling of deja vu. Only now it’s the criminal-gang government as opposed to the Communist government.
I love when the ballerinas are racing down between those hedges – their faces are maniacal. Imagine being a ballerina and getting THIS job?? How much fun it must have been?
Can’t. Stop. WATCHING!
Also can’t stop yelling, “impoooseeeeble” randomly.
Ha! It’s fabulous, isn’t it.
I don’t follow current music closely and I certainly don’t get (or want to) the nuances of social commentary, but this totally takes be back to the birth of music videos (when I was in college). I really enjoy it so much and can barely imagine what the mysic by itself would be like. The images are so delicious and decadent and loaded with Russian inscrutability. Love it! I’m with you, Phil, “imposseeeeble”!
A doll inside a doll inside a doll…
Robbie is my favorite thing going. I first heard him back in the late 90s when I was in Ireland – he dominated the airwaves over there with his first solo album. He did not really “cross over” – well, maybe he has now – but still, his fame in Europe so far surpasses his fame here. What made him fascinating was that he was part of a boy band – and nobody thought that him “going solo” would amount to anything. But he has become one of the biggest superstars on the planet. He broke records for his live concert set by Queen and the Rolling Stones! He’s awesome. He’s so huge now he does whatever he wants. He’s come out with a couple of “swing’ albums – his main influence being the Rat Pack era – and it’s not schtick or kitsch, the way he does it – he leaves Michael Buble in the dust (although they did a wonderful duet on Robbie’s album from a couple of years ago).
My favorite thing about Robbie, though, is that he is prolific. and he has barely written one boring song. He knows how to write a pop anthem, that’s for sure.