Robyn, much described as the most ‘killing-est’ pop star on the planet has enjoyed the luxury of Worldwide praise for her forward thinking approach to pop music, this critical acclaim unfortunately has come with nowhere near the commercial recognition she should receive. As the two volumes of this year’s three part ‘Body Talk’ series has proved, if you want to be thrilled by new approaches to making pop music, there’s no-one better to go to than Robyn.
With the final volume of ‘Body Talk’ just around the corner, tonight’s gig is more like a celebration of Robyn’s achievements this year with only occasional acknowledgments of her past. Flanked by a group wearing white romper suits, she bounds on stage like a diminutive shadow boxer declaring “I got some news for you, Fembots have feelings too” as she kicks off with ‘Fembot’. The following hour shows Robyn not only has energy that knows no limits but also has a surprisingly large amount of World beating pop tunes.
‘Cobrastyle’’s ridiculous refrain of “My style is the bomb digi dang di digi” makes total sense backed with furious electro beats, the broken hearted dance floor classic ‘Dancing On My Own’ and the similarly subjected ‘Hang With Me’ are the best pop tunes of the year and epitomise why Robyn is so important for the pop scene, the muscular beats, the feminine heart and Robyn’s fuck you attitude is irresistible. When not being bolshy, she also has an incredible knack to produce tears from the steeliest of heart; ‘Dream On’ and her 2007 number one smash ‘With Every Heartbeat’ ensure the crowd breaks out into a mass hands in the air sing-along, a pure emotional pop moment.
The flashing lights and punishing insistent beats brings memories of banging late 90’s hard house clubs, just watching her continually bound around the stage offering every morsel of her energy is shattering. Mixing together ‘Don’t Fuckin’ Tell Me What To Do’ and ‘We Dance To The Beat’, her most militant tracks from the ‘Body Talk’ series is a thrilling moment of pure genius, the tracks intertwine as if they were made to be played in the hardest last night techno session.
For all the plaudits Lady Gaga receives for her single handed reinterpretation of pop music for the new decade, musically she isn’t up to anything new. Scratch beneath the surface beyond ‘outrageous’ meat dresses, you’ll find her music is nothing more than commercial R’n’B with occasional cheesy Euro-trance leanings. Those requiring a more discerning shot of pop music should head to Robyn, she’s at the absolute top of her game and on this form, no-one can stop her.
Words by Chris Todd
