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Original poster

Robbie Williams doc on Netflix

334 replies

MaliciaKeys · 08/11/2023 15:19

I've just watched it (day off work and it's raining out, don't judge me) and would be interested to hear other people's opinions.

OP posts:
Original poster
MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 13:30

There's an ostentatious and quite vulgar display of his wealth as the camera pans round the exterior and interior of his house in Switzerland.

He also owns a 17.5mill house in London and a house in LA as well.

He's never known financial hardship, and wouldn't know how to buy a loaf of bread if he was told he had to.

He's very rich indeed, but the people above him in the food chain will be even richer. I don't begrudge him his money, but it must be galling to see, for other aspiring musicians and songwriters, who haven't had the same opportunities.

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itsmyp4rty · 09/11/2023 13:59

I think at the heart of all Robbie's problems is that he's ND and pretty much everything is pretty overwhelming for him. This documentary reminds me of Lewis Capaldi's documentary, he's also ND and has developed terrible anxiety and tourettes. Both actually very sensitive I think, but both out of their depth, terrified of letting people down and dealing with it with humour, being a big character and drink.

When Jason Orange said he was arrogant and blase I actually really felt for Robbie, You can see he was completely shocked and hurt by it, almost like it's a smack in the face. He tries to come back with a bit of banter but Jason just puts him in his place again. I've no doubt what JO said appeared to him to be true but I think it was all just an act on Robbies part and that's why it stung so much - if he was really arrogant and blase about everything then he wouldn't have cared what JO thought.

Haven't got as far as the split with Guy yet, but Guy was the writing talent IMO just like Gary was before him. I think that is something Robbie really struggles with for some reason. Perhaps because although he was the one that appeared charismatic and the entertainer he never was able to enjoy that aspect because of his anxiety.

Iheartpizza · 09/11/2023 14:05

I've just got to the end.

I stand by what I said earlier, I really like him!

He came across as vulnerable and self aware. Nothing like the egotistical character that a lot of people portray him to be. But that's just my take on it!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Music
User14March · 09/11/2023 14:07

@itsmyp4rty I think his writing talent is underdeveloped & limited & this bothers him. He had lots of star quality & charisma & a good voice. Guy had a musicality he didn’t also.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 09/11/2023 14:15

Just finished it.
My take.
Me, me, me, me, me.
I can't be bothered to wear clothes.
Me a bit more.
I'm terribly hard done by.
Me.
Oh, look, here's my daughter(the one I didn't buy), isn't she so talented.
Me.

Original poster
MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 14:17

He got very offended by critics writing that his music is for people without imaginations or something along those lines.

OP posts:
Hearmenow23 · 09/11/2023 14:26

Liam Gallagher will say, I'm a singer, write me some fucking decent rock and roll songs and I'll sing them. Perfectly confident and happy about this. Its a shame Robbie can't think similarly.

Didn't he say at the start, I'm either at work or in bed? I thought- what about your kids?? All that money and it sounds like my life 😂

User14March · 09/11/2023 14:38

Didn’t he write that he thought Geri was a ‘demonic little girl’ back in day? More neutral here. He said Gary was cold but he felt so too, detached.

User14March · 09/11/2023 14:51

Also, what a first date with Ayda. I am surprised a second. Poss only as he looked to commit to getting straightened out.

Livelovebehappy · 09/11/2023 14:58

MattDamon · 09/11/2023 12:49

What's the book called if you don't mind sharing?

Show quote history

It’s called Reach for the Stars. Not heavy reading, just something to read whilst sat on the beach!

RainbowZebraWarrior · 09/11/2023 15:08

MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 14:17

He got very offended by critics writing that his music is for people without imaginations or something along those lines.

Music for people with no feelings.

Which I personally disagree with. I hate Angels with a passion, but I love some of his other stuff. Feel, She's the one, Road to Mandalay all spoke to me as at the time I was also struggling and had a tenancy to self destruct and feel misunderstood.

I moved on and grew up though.

Original poster
MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 15:15

User14March · 09/11/2023 14:38

Didn’t he write that he thought Geri was a ‘demonic little girl’ back in day? More neutral here. He said Gary was cold but he felt so too, detached.

Yes, he did, but maybe it was with regard to the fact he thought she was calling the paps on them? I think she almost certainly was. She came across very well in the documentary, and looked amazing. I couldn't work out if they were boyfriend and girlfriend or just friends though.

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lemmein · 09/11/2023 15:49

I think their phones were probably hacked and that's why the paps appeared unexpectedly. Of course they wouldn't have known that at the time though so you're bound to suspect those in your circle. I heard Jeff Brazier say once that he and Jade Goody split up because she thought he was leaking to the press, when actually she was being hacked - sad really, the press in the country is vile.

I enjoyed the doc, of course it's going to be a whole lot of navel gazing, it was about him and his life - criticising him for being 'me me me' is a bit weird, that was the point of the documentary 🤷🏻‍♀️

happyl · 09/11/2023 15:53

and Sadie Frost/Jude Law said the
phone hacking was a big factor
in their divorce.

Original poster
MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 15:58

I'd forgotten about the phone hacking!! Of course, that was all happening at the time. It must have been horrible, thinking people close to you were talking to the press about your whereabouts on a private holiday.

OP posts:
happyl · 09/11/2023 16:09

all those talking about how
old he looks. He's a lifelong smoker, isn't he? Nothing ages you more.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 09/11/2023 16:15

Hearmenow23 · 09/11/2023 14:26

Liam Gallagher will say, I'm a singer, write me some fucking decent rock and roll songs and I'll sing them. Perfectly confident and happy about this. Its a shame Robbie can't think similarly.

Didn't he say at the start, I'm either at work or in bed? I thought- what about your kids?? All that money and it sounds like my life 😂

He has a wife to look after the kids, although we did see one of them cuddling him because he asked...

I saw him last year, he puts on an amazing show, but I'm not a fan.

Original poster
MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 16:23

I don't think he's a hands on dad. They probably have a team of nannies, the younger two are still toddlers. I don't like the way Teddy, the oldest girl, was filmed performing for the camera. We don't need another nepo baby!

OP posts:
User14March · 09/11/2023 16:26

@MaliciaKeys you’d think he’d want his children out of the limelight & show business.

Ramalangadingdong · 09/11/2023 16:29

MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 15:58

I'd forgotten about the phone hacking!! Of course, that was all happening at the time. It must have been horrible, thinking people close to you were talking to the press about your whereabouts on a private holiday.

Yes. A lot of celebs have said that it led to them accusing close family and friends of selling stories. They were paranoid.

Original poster
MaliciaKeys · 09/11/2023 16:40

User14March · 09/11/2023 16:26

@MaliciaKeys you’d think he’d want his children out of the limelight & show business.

I know - surely his own experience with being propelled into the limelight aged 16 would make him hesitate about encouraging Teddy to follow the same route.

Maybe they're going to record a daddy and daughter duet? I'm already cringing at the thought.

OP posts:
TooTiredAndFedUp · 09/11/2023 16:57

I watched all 4 episodes yesterday and loved it! I've been a fan since the start and attended so many concerts, festivals, album release parties, tv show recordings that I have lost count of the amount of times ive

TooTiredAndFedUp · 09/11/2023 17:06

TooTiredAndFedUp · 09/11/2023 16:57

I watched all 4 episodes yesterday and loved it! I've been a fan since the start and attended so many concerts, festivals, album release parties, tv show recordings that I have lost count of the amount of times ive

Let's try that again...

I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen him, I've also met him a few times. He was a huge part of me growing up and even all them years ago I realised he was "slightly messed up" which reassured me I wasn't the only one.

saveforthat · 09/11/2023 17:07

I used to like Robbie back in the day and went to see him live once but I went right off him when a few years ago at a NYE concert on the telly, he kept using hand gel after shaking hands with the audience. This was sometime before COVID so nothing to do with that.

Ramalangadingdong · 09/11/2023 17:17

saveforthat · 09/11/2023 17:07

I used to like Robbie back in the day and went to see him live once but I went right off him when a few years ago at a NYE concert on the telly, he kept using hand gel after shaking hands with the audience. This was sometime before COVID so nothing to do with that.

He was ahead of the rest of us. We should have been using hand gel well before Covid. Perhaps he was afraid of passing something on to his baby.