Robbie Williams: Britain’s Gainsbourg?
A new album is prompting a re-evaluation of Robbie Williams’ place in British pop culture.
- Robbie Williams’ latest work culminates in the song “It’s OK Until the Drugs Stop Working,” a 60s-style orchestral ballad.
- Critics are drawing comparisons between Williams and Serge Gainsbourg, suggesting he embodies a uniquely British eccentric.
- The album seems to position Williams as the true inheritor of the Britpop spirit, a genre he was closely associated with.
Robbie Williams’ new record reaches a powerful climax with the song “It’s OK Until the Drugs Stop Working.” This track, a sweeping 60s orchestral ballad – with lyrics like “The look of love becomes the beast of burden” – initially evokes the style of Scott Walker, but ultimately feels closer to the work of Serge Gainsbourg. And that raises a compelling question: isn’t Robbie Williams, in many ways, Britain’s Serge Gainsbourg?
A ‘Loveable Wrong ‘Un’
He’s a loveable ‘wrong ‘un,’ an eccentric figure who speaks volumes about the British national identity. Britpop, often touted as a cultural movement, was always something of a fabrication, a media-driven term largely disowned by the bands themselves. Interestingly, Williams was arguably the artist closest to the true spirit of Britpop during that era, and he’s now fully embraced that legacy.
He embodies the essence of Britpop – a pop star who represents the real, messy, weird, funny, and wonderfully odd side of Britain. A side that’s a bit rough around the edges, but consistently entertaining. As Williams himself puts it: “A wise once said use your delusions/I’d like to point out that man was me.”
The artist’s ability to capture the complexities of British culture is undeniable, prompting some to playfully suggest, “Robbie for PM anyone?”
