Following the success of his first swing album Swing When You’re Winning, the pressure was facing Robbie Williams upon the release of his second and second album in general in the two years, Swing Both Ways. As always with Robbie, the proof is very much in the pudding and there was really no need to worry with the album going straight to number one, becoming his eleventh number one album, equaling the LP success of Elvis Presley. It was also the 1000th number one album, with the first being from his music icon Frank Sinatra. Unlike his first swing album, Swings Both Ways includes covers and original songs written by Williams.
The album starts with two original songs ‘Shine My Shoes’ and ‘Go Gentle’. ‘Shine My Shoes’ has an upbeat big band background that contrasts with the lyrics; “The way you don’t love me/Kinda makes you look ugly” suggesting that Robbie has finally got to the point of not caring what his haters have to say about him. Top 10 single ‘Go Gentle’ is Williams’s self-penned song for his daughter Theodora. It’s a tender ballard full of advice, yet the swaying beat doesn’t scream corny. In fact, the lyrics are quite comforting. “So when you go dancing with young men down at the disco/ Just keep it simple/ You don’t have to kiss though”. He’s saying what every new father wants to say to his little girl.
The first cover of the album is ‘The Jungle Book’ classic ‘I Wanna Be Like You’, which features fellow cheeky chap of pop (and Williams’ friend) Olly Murs. The song could almost be seen as Murs admitting this to Willliams, as he has frequently espoused Williams as his idol and it’s fair to make these comparisons. Title track ‘Swings Both Ways’ is the second duet on the album and features the talent of Rufus Wainwright. It has a Christmas feel to it, despite the song being about getting high “Pop rock and coke/ I’ll blow your sock off/ Teach you how to laugh at daddy’s dirty jokes” before leading into a cheeky chorus with lyrics that show us why we love Robbie Williams.
Lily Allen features on ‘Dream a Little Dream’ which broadcasts her gorgeous voice to a new standard. The two singers complement each other well and the track showcases Lily’s comeback to the music industry. ‘Soda Pop’ featuring Michael Bublé comes as a striking contrasts that creates a sense of kitsch and nostalgia with its ’50s feel and acts as the strongest duet on the album. If Bublé could make it possible to do a live performance of this song with Williams and a smooth dance routine, I and many others would appreciate it.
Swing classic ‘Putting on the Ritz’ is Williams first solo cover on the album and it fits his personality perfectly. However, his voice does sound slightly Americanised here but when using the original Irving Berlin lyrics credit most be given where credit is due. A Williams favourite ‘Minnie the Moocher’ is a song most people wouldn’t recognise on paper but one with a broadly familiar chorus. He often performs it at his concerts so it seemed fitting for him to cover it for his album.
The final song on the album ‘No One Likes A Fat Pop Star’ is reminiscent in sound to the album’s opener, this time bemoaning the superficial public standards that have seen Williams’ suffer in recent years. He laments for kebabs and curries, knowing that he would be ridiculed for eating such things by the media; a strong message, but one which fails to acknowledge the partly beauty induced success of a Take That era Williams.
Swings Both Ways has everything that makes a Robbie Williams album good, plus some bonuses. It has tracks filled with witty lyrics yet manages to showcase a more tender, mature side on others. With great duets with some of the biggest names in music and solo songs that stand out in their own right, it is clear why this album went to number one and why Robbie Williams is one of Britain’s best music talents.