Why Robbie Williams Never Got Famous In America

[@monicamerle1417]

I am Gen X (Robbie's generation). I am a Robbie fan since the 90's, a Justin Timberlake fan since the mid-2000's and a Harry Styles fan since 2017. I have a thing for former boy bands members going solo and doing the kind of music I like, the soft rock mixed with pop that you talked about. But hey, I am from Argentina, not the States, I can tell you Robbie is ultra famous here in South America since forever. He's even more famous than Justin T. who is coming to play here next year for the first time in his long career. I agree with your reasons why Robbie never broke America. He did not want to. He escaped UK press and hid in the only part of the world where no one would know him. He married an American. Now he feels he's a stranger in his adoptive country and that's why he's doing so much press for this movie. Now at 50, he really wants Americans to find out how talented he is. But timing was never on his side as you said.

[@mikewatts867]

You are on point almost entirely. I would make two corrections: Robbie did emulate and identify a pretty important American performer, Frank Sinatra and well all of the rat pack. But I’ll relent on that, in that most younger audiences couldn’t care less about them. So I will go with my gut here (as an American)… the context in which his career was built on. The boyband superstardom, the guy in the band least likely to succeed with the most insecurities. The rawness in which he exposed himself in his music, which only those “in the know” would have gotten. I think British fans (if not the press) were quite literally rooting for the dude, and his success and connection with the audience reflects that. There’s no way American fans would have that context unless they take the time to dive in. I’m thankful that I did, because I can’t think of another artist that has exposed themselves so rawly and regularly. Not even Taylor Swift

[@thelifeprofessorchannel]

Excellent points!

[@supersaiyanjack9233]

Im American and Also live In America too and i love Robbie Williams my favourite song of his rock Dj

[@kombijr]

Well, most Americans of different backgrounds, just didn’t care about English people. Remember David Beckham? He was supposed to make the MLS big in the states, he even won the cup his first year. No one gave a fuck 😂

[@FrapyardLP]

Wow, I'm actually shocked he wasn't big in america. He was fucking huge in europe.

[@johnberida5571]

He was also big in Asia. His music was everywhere when I was growing up

[@thelifeprofessorchannel]

It is quite surprising when you look into it.

[@TimmyTickle]

I once read that "Let Me Entertain You" was meant to be the big song in the Glee Pilot, but that was changed to "Don't Stop Believing". Not sure how true that is, but if this had happened, Robbie may have been able to get a foothold in the States. Also, here's a suggestion for a similar video: "Why Pink Is So Popular In Australia"

[@thelifeprofessorchannel]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@lukewilliams3879]

americans just forget the rest of the world exists at all

[@lukewilliams3879]

i bet most americans think the beatles were american

[@lukewilliams3879]

and now im dumber for watching this video

[@mikewatts867]

@@lukewilliams3879 American fans have often embraced British music. Beatles, Stones, The Who, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Queen, etc. Then the 2nd British invasion in the 80s with new wave and alternative, too many to even name them all, then think of One Direction, Adele, it’s a long list. So timing is huge, American fans from the early 90s through the early 2000s were not into much British music, and that time coincides with Take That and Robbie’s greatest stardom. A few years earlier or later he probably would have fared better here.

[@costylezz]

That thumbnail 😂

[@AtomGee]

I'm an american and Robbie Williams is famous af in my book.

[@gethinap]

Is your book the Robbie Williams autobiography?

[@edwardduarte7393]

I grew in socal so KROQ and 91x were big. U2 toured like crazy to make it. I had a friend that talked about Robbie and I was like. WHO? This is from somebody I love Pulp, Blur, Verve, The Smiths.

[@p.m.8666]

You americans are right, he is overrated