Lopez Blogs

It's been a pleasant day all told. I'm slightly pleased that my beloved Josie has reunited with John James. We got a nice new funding contract at work, plus another bit of super news so lots of hard work has paid off. I got to listen to a very exciting bit of new music that I can't write about til next week (ooo, embargo, get me, etc.) AND! on top of all of that, I've spent the day saturated in the new Robbie Williams single. Which I am about to tell you about now...

Shame ~ the single:

It's the much lauded Robbie greatest hits single, following on from his criminally underrated last album Reality Killed The Video Star (I could have easily picked another 3 singles from it, but oh well). It's gotten a lot of extra attention (though a new Robbie single still quite rightly attracts attention) for two reasons:

• It's from his new greatest hits album which celebrates an astonishingly successful 20 years as a pop star...
• He's returning to Take That (full circle and delightful symmetry alert) and someone called Gary Barlow duets on this track...

A small part of me was hoping for some sort of camptastic duet a la the boy version of Your Disco Needs You or some sort of testosteroned Enough Is Enough. This has not come to pass. What you do get is an entirely delicious semi-country tinged ballad that pairs a pretty melody with some insightful lyrics that could quite easily be describing the bumpy Gary-Robbie relationship of the late 90s ("what a shame we never listened/i told you through the television"). There's some lovely harmonising during the wistful chorus that is tinged with sadness and regret. It's not the brash stomper I was hoping for, but there's such honesty and relatability within the tune that everyone who has ever regretted lack of contact between friends/lovers/family because of words of hurt and anger will find hauntingly real. So i'm full of bittersweet memories, but ever so ever so in love with this wonderfully crafted tune...

Shame ~ the video:

• The song starts as a visual representation of the wistfulness of the lyrics - Robbie is staring into a tumble dryer (something I find brings about my most thoughtful and melancholic moments) then wanders through anytown, USA...
• Gary is across the road, sporting some manly stubble and leaning outside a dog grooming parlour. Surely there is a hidden message in there somewhere?!
• Robbie has some nice boots on. I can't believe that I have fancied Robbie since about 1991. He's still fairly handsome, but it is the Barl that is just blossoming as the years tick by...
• Both have been for a bit of shopping and have their groceries in the very American brown paper bags. England has never cottoned onto this have we? We're more "a bag for life" (which lasts about 6 months, but at least you get a free one at the end of it...
• More shoe shots at 40s. It's like a cowboy Sex and The City...
• Rather endearingly, Robbie gazes at The Barl while singing (in his head) "out of some sentimental gain, I wanted you to feel my pain". The Barl just looks down. It's very touching.
• There are some longing looks as they get into their cars. It's very Brokeback Mountain (as the world and his wife has pointed out) but I suppose it could easily be two estranged brothers. Whatever. I'm still eager for Robbie to, uh, "take that" if you know what i mean :P
• Ooo, a proper American bar. They are so different to pubs aren't they? Robbie and Gary are dancing with some girls, but sharing some very meaningful looks. I'm starting to get aroused.
• The visuals are amazing. Gary HAS a beard and is dancing WITH his beard. Literally aceballs on a piece of toast.
• They are now at the old watering hole, throwing stones, having a reet good laugh and if you pause at 2m26s Robbie is either having a very melancholic pause, or eyefucking The Barl. Either works. One provides me with a much better night's dreaming though ;)
• The middle 8 has glimpses of hand holding, some loving shoulder touching and this rather lovely almost imperceptable nod from The Barl which a) makes the bridges that were burnt now rebuilt and b) acts as permission for their relationship (both in the real world and in the video) be ok for what it is. I may shed a tear...
• Oh this is a homoerotic dream - is there anyway to slow-mo youtube? Robbie and Gary are stripping to have a nice dip in the lake. It could still all be entirely bromancey or fraternal, but my pervy mind works over time, and I sense that they would be absolutely ok with that :)
• During a karaoke montage, they run topless to the quite high cliff top, but then decide that it is not the best idea and walk off (into the sunset?) arm in arm. Like the song, this is very lovely indeed.

SMITTEN!