UK pop sensation Robbie Williams is the topic of a brand new biopic, however a whole lot of Individuals have completely no thought who he’s.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The biopic “Higher Man” opens in theaters throughout the nation this weekend.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “BETTER MAN”)
ROBBIE WILLIAMS: I am Robbie Williams. I am one of many greatest pop stars on this planet.
(SOUNDBITE OF ROBBIE WILLIAMS SONG, “ROCK DJ”)
WILLIAMS: That is my story.
SIMON: The movie launched right here in restricted launch final month, and critics favored it, but it surely grossed lower than $92,000. Paramount, which acquired “Higher Man” for $25 million tells Selection they hope for two million from this weekend’s wider launch. However this would possibly simply be a biopic for a bio not so well-known.
(SOUNDBITE OF TIKTOK VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Y’all, we’re not attempting to place a wool over your eyes. We actually do not know who Robbie Williams is.
(SOUNDBITE OF TIKTOK VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: I hold coming throughout movies about Robbie Williams. Who’s Robbie Williams? Why does it matter?
(SOUNDBITE OF ROBBIE WILLIAMS SONG, “ROCK DJ”)
SIMON: Now, Robbie Williams is without doubt one of the greatest pop stars on this planet. He is offered greater than 75 million information and holds 40 No.1 albums. However right here within the U.S., he could also be much less well-known than B. J. Leiderman, who writes our theme music.
(SOUNDBITE OF TIKTOK VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: There is a purpose Robbie Williams by no means made it huge in America. It is ‘trigger we do not like him. The music is just not good, and the music, y’all hold taking part in to inform us that he is good, we do not prefer it.
(SOUNDBITE OF TIKTOK VIDEO)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: The U.Ok. is mad at us Individuals for not realizing who Robbie Williams is. Am I the one one which thought they had been talking about Robin Williams for a second?
SIMON: When Robin Williams starred in “Awakenings,” Robbie Williams simply began his profession within the boy band Take That when he was 16.
(SOUNDBITE OF TAKE THAT SONG, “COULD IT BE MAGIC”)
SIMON: He left the band in the midst of a 1995 world tour, simply in regards to the time Robin Williams was filming “The Birdcage.”
DAISY JONES: They really initially turned well-known for being form of barely homoerotic. There was one thing a bit tacky about them.
SIMON: That is tradition author Daisy Jones, who’s obtained a bit on this month’s British Vogue – “America Does not Want To Get Robbie Williams.”
JONES: He would not conceal his Britishisms. I do know a whole lot of U.Ok. artists attraction to U.S. viewers. I really feel like Harry Kinds is an ideal instance of that. He could possibly be American. He would not, like, sing with a very robust accent. He would not actually use, like, British slang and his music, and Robbie Williams undoubtedly does. He says issues that simply would not make sense within the U.S. In considered one of his songs, “Children” – his duet with Kylie Minogue – he says he would not need some chook that appears like Billy Connolly. I do not assume Individuals use the phrase chook, possibly.
SIMON: Yeah, besides to speak about, you realize, a chook like a pigeon or an eagle. Even an awesome thoughts like Ted Lasso would not find out about Robbie Williams.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “TED LASSO”)
JEREMY SWIFT: (As Leslie Higgins) Good afternoon. We’ve an enormous downside – our musical visitor, Robbie Williams, has canceled.
HANNAH WADDINGHAM: (As Rebecca Welton) God.
JASON SUDEIKIS: (As Ted Lasso) Oh, no. Who’s that?
JONES: I believe there’s a feeling that simply ‘trigger somebody’s not well-known within the U.S. doesn’t suggest he isn’t well-known worldwide.
SIMON: And Robbie Williams is legendary worldwide. He is had No. 1 songs in Argentina, Brazil and Australia. His tune “Angels” has been in comparison with “Piano Man” and “Candy Caroline.” Folks all around the world simply comprehend it.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ANGELS”)
WILLIAMS: (Singing) There’s an angel…
JONES: He is at all times been in all places to such a level that you do not even discover if his tune comes on. I can assure that for those who enter any karaoke night time within the U.Ok. on any given night time, somebody could be singing “Angels.”
SIMON: Robbie Williams has struggled overtly with dependancy. He is had very public feuds. He is suffered from anxiousness onstage, and all of that’s captured in “Higher Man,” and all of that has endeared him to his followers.
JONES: We have grown up with him, and he is grown up with us. He is virtually, like, the nation’s brother or one thing or, like, the nation’s son or…
SIMON: However not but America’s son, like, say, Prince Harry has develop into, which is not misplaced on Robbie Williams, who was requested to deal with his American followers when “Higher Man” was proven to the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition in September.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
WILLIAMS: Yeah, I will converse to that one fan. Hello, Linda. You all proper? Good to see you. Sorry I have never been again to America because the final century, but it surely’s good that you simply, you realize, nonetheless take a look at my stuff on-line. And the way are the household? Are they good?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ANGELS”)
WILLIAMS: (Singing) And thru all of it, she affords me safety.
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