Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
How Peculiar
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Johnny long strokes to the grave
Saving all the stamps and spend it on a kettle
Rub me rub me up right lovely
If you lick it, then lick it battery
Good and properly all night if you want
I need for you to love me so much
Jesus what am I gonna do with this crush
Just get the old fella and wack it up against her tush
How peculiar
Bend your long legs against the sofa
In the Dorchester you can get your All Bran
I'm not into hard sports
Oh I haven't got a clue what to do with you
Jesus all the things my head is going through
God what am I going to do with this crush
Just wack the old man out and get it up against your tush
How peculiar
Jesus what am I to do man
I am a depressed man
Not sure what I'm doing all of the day
How peculiar
I am all of the above man
I have what you want man
If you want me here I am
Come and get it baby
The lyrics to Robbie Williams's "How Peculiar" seem to be about a sexual encounter between two people who are unsure of what to do with each other. The singer talks about wanting the person to love them and being infatuated with them, but not knowing how to act on those feelings. The lyrics are filled with sexual innuendos and references that are borderline vulgar, such as "If you lick it, then lick it battery" and "Just get the old fella and whack it up against her tush." These crude lyrics are juxtaposed with moments of vulnerability, where the singer admits to feeling lost and depressed.
Throughout the song, the singer is grappling with his attraction to this person and his own insecurities. He seems to be using humor and bravado to cover up his uncertainty about the situation. The chorus of "How peculiar" is repeated throughout the song, which could be interpreted as the singer acknowledging the strange and awkward nature of the encounter.
Line by Line Meaning
I am all of the above babe
I possess all the qualities you desire
Johnny long strokes to the grave
I enjoy having sex until the very end
Saving all the stamps and spend it on a kettle
I save everything, even small things, to buy something I consider valuable
Rub me rub me up right lovely
Please touch and caress me in a way that feels good
If you lick it, then lick it battery
If you do something, do it properly and with full commitment
Good and properly all night if you want
I am willing to do something right and with dedication for as long as necessary
I haven't got a clue what to do with you
I am confused about what to do in my relationship with you
I need for you to love me so much
I require your love and affection strongly
Jesus what am I gonna do with this crush
I feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to handle my infatuation
Just get the old fella and wack it up against her tush
I am suggesting a physical expression of my feelings by using crude language
How peculiar
What a strange situation this is
Bend your long legs against the sofa
Change your sitting position
In the Dorchester you can get your All Bran
A reference to a hotel that serves healthy breakfast options
I'm not into hard sports
I am not interested in physical activities that require a lot of effort
Oh I haven't got a clue what to do with you
I am still feeling uncertain about what to do in our relationship
Jesus all the things my head is going through
My thoughts are in disarray and causing me distress
God what am I going to do with this crush
I am feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to handle my feelings of attraction
Just wack the old man out and get it up against your tush
I am crudely suggesting a physical expression of my feelings
How peculiar
What a strange situation this is
Jesus what am I to do man
I am feeling overwhelmed and unsure what to do
I am a depressed man
I am experiencing sadness and emotional distress
Not sure what I'm doing all of the day
I am unclear about how to spend my time and what activities to engage in
How peculiar
What a strange situation this is
I am all of the above man
I possess all the qualities you desire
I have what you want man
I possess what you desire
If you want me here I am
I am available for you if you desire me
Come and get it baby
I am inviting you to take action and pursue me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Guy Antony Chambers, Robert Peter Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Win Some Lose Some
Yet another fantastic Robbie Williams song. Absolutely fantastic.
Philip Kassabian
on Millennium
What a fantastic song by Robbie Williams.
Edy Souza
on Advertising Space
:)
Edy Souza
on Angels
Love! Love!