The recording artist is a novel concept these days. With the inventions of myspace, X factors and youtube theres a heady mixture of “targets” the popstar has to hit if they are going to end up in the most played song on any given mp3 player. Robyn is an act that this blog has long supported primarily because she is never shaped by the industry or the aforementioned environment. Rather, she and her music pulsates through the mediums of the music industry regardless of time, resource and limits. In essence, Robyn is a popstar with no boundaries. She’ll set up her record company, design her stage-set and with the help of a few mates produce an album for the listener and no one else. Indeed, if Robyn’s music had its limits the first would be its tenacity of be devoid of age. Her material is nearly four years old yet it sounds as fresh today as it did when I was first bought the album in Sweden on its initial release. This is part of Robyns appeal. The song Whos That Girl is about to be released as the fourth(ish) single mid-2008 and despite this fact it struts to its own accord leaving ever so current groundbreaking anthems by Timberland, Freemasons, Eg White, Bloodshy/Avant, and Remee blushing at the sides of the dancefloor. I remember hearing the song performed at Malmofestivalen in 2003. It wasn’t complete then but it was like hearing the sound of the next five years. I don’t exaggerate.
The next Robyn single It is when she performs that Robyn truly gets under your skin. Whether it be a tiny venue or something huge like this months live date at Koko (the old Camden Palace) she thrashes her unique embodiment of pop music and manages to thrust that out to the audience. She growls on stage, she purrs and revels in the spotlight. As a post-modernist I hate to use this word but Robyn transcends when she performs. I’ve seen many live acts. From Annie Lennox to Kylie to Meatloaf-all legends of the concert polemic. While others seem to dress up in personas as their modus operandi’s, for Robyn the music is her modus vivendi. No time for facets, caveats or simulacra. Just a brilliant transfer between the musicians and the ones singing back the words of the song-writer to Robyn. It is this interesting stem of energy that makes a Robyn show so much fun. You can’t help but not boogie to Crash and Burn Girl or be drawn into the oddly uplifting melancholia of the songs Be Mine and Eclipse.
In conclusion, Robyn: The Live absolutely upstages Robyn: The Studio Singer. She welcomes you into her world, gets you to shed a tear and laugh heartily at your fears. Her pop is wonderfully bespoke to both you and herself. This ladies and gentlemen, this is Robyn Live! Seek it out for its something you seriously can not buy in shops……….
So a few months ago Dontstopthepop put together a live album that included a number of brilliant bootlegs that captured Robyn live. Over the last couple of months I’ve had a few requests to upload the songs once again. And so I have but with some additions. You can see the original post here. I’ve added a very rare version of With Every Heartbeat with different lyrics & Since You’ve Been Gone. I’d like to thank Ola, Lene and Kane (who did the amazing album cover!). So what follows are performances of material that stretches from her first album to her latest. Moreover it contains songs from other Robyn albums My Truth and Don't Stop The Music. It also includes one or two covers including Robyns version of Since You've Been Gone. In short its pretty expansive! I wanted to do this especially for the newer fans to Robyn too. If you manage catch her live, its an amazing experience. If not I hope this helps.
"RobynLive" Tracklisting
- Fanfare Introduction/Breakdown Intermission
- Gimmie A Motherfucking Breakbeat Medley/Konitchiwa Bitches
- Crash And Burn Girl
- Should Have Known
- Electric
- Handle Me
- Keep This Fire Burning
- Play
- Show Me Love
- With Every Heartbeat (Acoustic Version)
- Eclipse
- Since U Been Gone
- Don't Stop The Music
- Bum Like You
- Blow My Mind
- Jack U Off
- Be Mine
- Do You Know What It Takes?
- Dream On
- With Every Heartbeat (Other version)
Its cosmic.
