Rating: 
Summary: Great DVD--with a warning!
Review: I confess I have never heard of Robbie Williams. I'm a 52 year old Southern USA father of four sons (9 to 23) who loves all sorts of music, and particularly jazz, big band and swing.I was enamoured with the great cover of "Beyond the Sea" at the end of Pixar's "Finding Nemo". Looking the singer's name up on amazon.com, I found this DVD--a whole collection of swing songs--and a lot of great reviews from Amazonians, and ordered the DVD. Having heard the DVD now, there is one caveat--while the singing, arrangements, band, DVD all amount to great entertainment, Robbie does utter three profanities, inclunding the "F" word on two occasions between songs. Also under the theme of a tribute to both the "Rat Pack" and Vegas, there is quite a show, including dancing girls, who certainly aren't nude, but dressed, err...provocatively...as in blazers and hosiery--no shirt or bra underneath. You might want to preview this entire DVD before you let your kids see it. What was particularly amazing was watching a couple of other DVD highlights, including "My Day Job" which is a collage of music, video and information about Robbie's huge pop following in the UK. After seeing this video you'll certainly admit that Robbie (who turns 30 Feb. 04) is absolutely loaded with talent. Relatively unknown in the USA, he has an extensive following in the UK. I found myself thinking if I were a director making a movie about Frank Sinatra, this is the guy to play that role. If I were putting on a Vegas tribute to Frank, this is the guy for that show. My favorite comment on the entire DVD came from the old Capitol Records studio drummer, who remarked that the old swing songs on the DVD are great songs, and here's to hoping that a younger generation can revitalize them out of the dustbin of history. My appreciation to Robbie is for just that--I wonder how many have been reexposed to these great songs through Robbie's pop status and his music's appearance on "Finding Nemo". A LOT, I hope. If you have a decent monitor/DVD player and Dolby 5.1 Home Theatre system, and like having "concerts in your home", I highly recommend this DVD, as well as the Diana Krall: Live in Paris; James Taylor: Live at the Beacon Theatre; and the Andrew Lloyd Weber Tribute at the Royal Albert Hall. All of these are available at amazon.com.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the BEST
Review: I simply have to say that this is oen of THE best DVDs that I own. Whenever I am in a blue/down/depressed mood, this is what I will put on to bring a smile to my face. I find myself dancing around the living room every time! I knew of his song "i will talk hollywood will listen" and thought it was just ok, but after watching his performance on this dvd, it is my new favorite song. To go along with this dvd, I would DEFINITELY say that his "swing when you're winning" cd is THE BEST cd I own. I am a total Robbie fan. You will NOT be disappointed if you buy this dvd.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful !!!!
Review: I was surprised and delighted when I saw his show.He sings with heart and swings in a very special way !!! I recommend that DVD , everything is perfect, the orchestra , the songs , his voice , his talent ... his interpretation for "My Way" brought tears in my eyes . But he is too charming singing "Beyond the Sea" and "Things ". It is always a pleasure to see that show again. Buy !!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Entertainer of All Time, Bar None!
Review: Sure he has musical talent, a soothing voice, great looks, sexy body and charisma but Robbie Williams is something more. He's the real thing folks and this DVD proves it. There were thousands in black tie and ball gowns in the Albert Hall that night and some paid thousands of pounds for their tickets, but I would bet that each person felt they were in a room alone with Robbie. That's his gift. This homage to Dean, Frank and Sammy is genuine, but also listen to "I Will Speak and Hollywood Will Listen," a song Williams wrote with Guy Chambers. It will break your heart. I was a sophomore in college when the Beatles sang "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on Ed Sullivan's show. Cute, I thought, but then they recorded "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" a few years later and changed popular music forever. I am utterly convinced that Robbie Williams is next in line to change music in the same way the Beatles did. Fellow Americans, listen to his voice, hear his lyrics, and you will understand, even if it is one person at-a-time.
Rating:
Summary: Franky and Dino would be proud....
Review: This concert swings! In a special night at the Albert Hall in 2001 Robbie Williams not only show-cased the recordings from his very successful album "Swing When You're Winning", but showed the world that he is more than ex boy-band material or teen star. This concert should erase the doubt in any critic's mind that Williams is the real deal - the guy is an entertainer in the truest sense. With a great voice and an intense stage persona, backed by a phantastic big band he sets the audience on fire! When he sings the great swing classics like "Mac the Knife", "The Lady is a Tramp" or "Mr Bo Jangles" you can also see, hear and feel that the guy has been a swing cat all his life and that this music is very close to his heart. Total highlight of the evening: his performance of "It was a very good year" with the great Frank's voice. The DVD has interesting additional features about the making of his swing CD and also previews the now released album "escapology"
Rating:
Summary: A favorite
Review: This is a favorite of mine. I love the songs that he sings, the visual was wonderful, very intimate and inviting!!! Robbie is just the best. I also own the CD that features most of the songs from this DVD and must say that it is rare that I have it out of my CD player in the car. I listen to it all the time.
If you like swing, Frank, Dean-o and Sammy... you will love this!!!
Rating:
Summary: Swing! Swing! Swing!
Review: Put aside all of your preconceived ideas about Robbie Williams and watch this concert. He handles this genre of music like he was born to it. His voice and phrasing are spot on excellent. The staging is wonderful. I have yet to play, or loan, this dvd for someone and have them not rave about it afterwards. The related album (Swing While You're Winning) is also a must have.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!
Review: I learned that a man called Robbie Williams existed because a British friend of mine carried Robbie's first CD in his car. When I listened to it, I could not believe that Robbie was not all over U.S. TV and radio. I burned (copied) the CD right away. A couple of years later I got on Amazon.com to buy all of Robbie's CDs, brand new. Among those CDs was "Swing When Your Winning". I never thought this CD would be a big-band-swing production. I was surprised when I first listened to it, but I fell in love with it the second time. I also thought to myself, "this is something that my parents have to listed to" This work was obviously different from his previous stuff, but it was still very Robbie, you know? Then I bought the DVD. Oh man that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. What a DVD, ladies and gentlemen! I had never seen Robbie perform live, and let me tell you something: this guy is one amazing entertainer. "Robbie, I do indeed let you entertain me!" It is such a joy to see him perform on this DVD. It's like you don't want to miss any bit because he's always doing something entertaining, be it dancing or doing a funny face. It's absolutely wonderful! I truly admire and appreciate this tribute that Robbie paid to some of the greatest entertainers of the history of music. Robbie made the show his own, but at all times he reminded us, the audience and the viewers, that it was about those entertainers and their incredible songs. I really enjoyed the duets. Too bad he didn't perform the duet "They Can't Take That Away From Me", which is on the CD. I think it was a very good move from Robbie to bring those songs back to life. I don't really listen to Sinatra, or Martin, or Davis Jr., but I like them a lot when sang and performed by Robbie. It also shows the extent of Robbie's talent. I hope Robbie does something like this again in the near future. Perhaps he could write a few big-band songs and put together another amazing show. But before that, I really hope that Robbie breaks into the U.S. market. I need to see one of his life performances at some point in my life. "Sir Robbie, keep kicking behind...and don't tell your mama!"
Rating:
Summary: EXHILARATING
Review: Being an American, I was almost completely ignorant of Robbie Williams and his enormous talent until purchasing this DVD. I was only vaguely aware of his too seldom shown (but wildly intriquing) "RockDJ" video and although I was blown away by "Millenium" the oh-so few times I got to hear it on the radio, I ashamedly wasn't ever able to find out who he is. Not until I had rented a copy of "The Birthday Girl" and (by way of the DVD's extras) saw his duet, "Something Stupid" with Nicole Kidman did I realize what I (and the rest of America) had been missing! With his performance on "Live at the Albert", Robbie awakened me to an American inheritance that I took for granted. Robbie makes all those songs and the sound of that time his own and does so in the most endearing and captivating style. Since purchasing this DVD, I have scoured the entire Dallas/FtWorth area for any and all of Robbie's material and have had to resort to purchasing the bulk of my RW collection on the internet. I can't imagine anyone not loving this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Live at the Albert
Review: When will America wake up ?
With todays music scene as it is, Robbie does wonders for sore tortured ears.
Robbie Williams is simply excellent !
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