Robbie Williams celebrated the arrival of 2022 by rolling back the years in an exclusive gala performance.
The British pop star was in vintage form with a crowd-pleasing show at Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm, that should set the tone for the year for the artist.
The former Take That singer will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his solo career in 2022.
Stepping on stage just before 11pm and clad in a gold sequinned jacket, Williams delivered an almost chronological greatest hits set.
Beginning with the triumphant Let Me Entertain You, from 1997 debut album Life Thru A Lens, the singer aged 47 belted out a catalogue of hits representing the evolution of British pop music over the past 25 years.
Come Undone soared on the back of powerful guitars recalling the Britpop era, while the somewhat kitschy Rock DJ and Kids aged surprisingly well, courtesy of those stadium-ready choruses.
“This is my first gig two years,” Williams told the crowd. “I am trying to remind myself who I am and what I do.”
This is my first gig two years. I am trying to remind myself who I am and what I do.
Robbie Williams
However, the reality of the present did manage to crash through the nostalgic set.
Perhaps for the first time in his career, Williams had to ask the crowd to follow social distancing measures by moving away from the front of the stage.
“This is the reality of the day with Covid and we have to be safe,” he said. “As you know, there is nothing I like more than having a big gap between me and the people.”
The distance aside, tracks such as the heartwarming Feel, She’s The One and Better Man managed to envelop the crowd and served as an exhilarating prelude to the New Year’s Eve countdown and fireworks.
Next up is the big screen
Speaking to The National before the show, Williams said an encore Dubai appearance is planned for later in the year.
“Sadly, this time, I’m only here for about 36 hours,” he said.
“I will be back a few times this year though. I have big plans in Dubai.”
While not revealing what they are, it will encompass what is set to be a busy year for Williams.
The coming biopic Better Man will begin production in Australia this year.
The film will feature Williams and many of his career-defining songs.
“I’m going to be in Melbourne later this year filming the movie, with [Australian filmmaker] Michael Gracey directing and who has also written the screenplay,” he said.
“I’m really excited for this and I’ve been very involved working with Michael, who’s a friend”.
Better Man is billed as a warts-and-all look into Williams’s life, tracing his transition from boy band Take That to solo stardom, in addition to his much-publicised struggles with mental health.
It is a subject Williams is open about in interviews and 2004’s unflinching biography Feel: Robbie Williams by Chris Heath.
“Talking about this is all part of the therapy for me and hearing that other people relate to my experiences makes me feel good,” he said.
“For sure, hearing other people’s stories has inspired me, and I hope in telling mine I’ve been able to help one or two people out there, too.”
New album will be a mixed bag
Williams also plans to return to the studio to record a follow-up to 2016’s The Heavy Entertainment Show.
“2022 is my 25th anniversary as a solo album, so I’ll have an album out later in the year to celebrate that,” he said.
“It will have some new songs on and some new versions of old songs.”
Some of the reworked tracks will come from Sing When You're Winning.
Released in 2000, the album was a global success and spawned the hits Rock DJ, Kids and Better Man.
Williams is proud of the album, yet surprised by its runaway success: “Sometimes it’s a moment in time and sometimes it’s a wave that happens — it’s hard to explain and even harder to plan.”
While glad to be back on stage in Dubai, Williams said the time off the road, owing to Covid-19, has been beneficial.
In addition to turning his hand to painting, the singer said the pandemic taught him to get a better grip on his personal and professional life.
“Family time is important and so is being creative,” he said.
“The last two years have been very different for me – usually I spend long chunks of time away from my family, but I’ve been able to be around my family a lot and be around the kids as they grow older, which has been very special.
“I’ve also spent time being creative, including some art which I’ll be revealing to the world in 2022.”
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
MATCH INFO
What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
Specs
Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
Results
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Emblem Storm, Oisin Murphy (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Wildman Jack, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Matterhorn, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Loxley, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
