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.
I Wan
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, the jungle VIP
I've reached the top and had to stop
And that's what botherin' me
I wanna be a man, mancub
And stroll right into town
And be just like the other men
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!
Oh, oobee doo
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too
You'll see it's true
An ape like me
Can learn to be humen too
Gee, cousin Louie
You're doin' real good
Now here's your part of the deal, cuz
Lay the secret on me of man's red fire
But I don't know how to make fire
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
I made a deal with you
What I desire is man's red fire
To make my dream come true
Give me the secret, mancub
Clue me what to do
Give me the power of man's red flower
So I can be like you
You!
I wanna be like you
I wanna talk like you
Walk like you, too
You'll see it's true
Someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like me
Can learn to be
Like someone like you
Can learn to be
Like someone like me!
In the song "I Wan'na Be Like You" by Robbie Williams, the singer sings about his desire to be like a man instead of a monkey. The singer is the "king of the swingers" and has reached his pinnacle as a jungle VIP, but he is not content with his life. He wants to be able to walk, talk and be like the other men in town instead of "monkeying around." He wants to be a mancub, which is a term used to describe a young boy who has been raised in the jungle by animals.
The singer turns to his cousin Louie for help to become like a man. Louie is doing well, and the singer wants him to share the secret of man's red fire. Louie tells the singer that he made a deal with him and what he desires is "man's red fire" to make his dream come true. He asks the singer to give him the power of man's red flower so that he can be like him. The singer wants to learn how to make fire and be just like Louie, who is succeeding in the world of men.
The song is a reworked version of the song "I Wan'na Be Like You" from the 1967 Walt Disney movie "The Jungle Book." The original song was written by Robert and Richard Sherman, with Louis Prima providing the voice of King Louie. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for best original song.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I'm the king of the swingers
I am now the leader of this group of apes.
Oh, the jungle VIP
I am the most important and popular ape in the jungle.
I've reached the top and had to stop
I have achieved everything I wanted, but now I feel stuck.
And that's what botherin' me
This feeling of being stuck is bothering me.
I wanna be a man, mancub
I want to be like a human, not just an ape.
And stroll right into town
I want to walk confidently into human society.
And be just like the other men
I want to blend in and be like a human male.
I'm tired of monkeyin' around!
I am tired of acting like an animal and want to be civilized.
Oh, oobee doo
This is an expression of enthusiasm and excitement.
I wanna be like you
I want to emulate and be like a human.
I wanna walk like you
I want to learn how to walk with confidence like a human.
Talk like you, too
I want to learn how to speak and communicate like a human.
You'll see it's true
I believe that I can learn and become like a human.
An ape like me
Despite being an ape, I believe it is possible.
Can learn to be humen too
I believe I can learn how to be human too.
Gee, cousin Louie
This is a phrase of excitement and enthusiasm towards another ape.
You're doin' real good
You are making real progress and doing well.
Now here's your part of the deal, cuz
Now you need to fulfill your part of our agreement.
Lay the secret on me of man's red fire
Tell me how to make fire like a human does.
But I don't know how to make fire
I really don't know how to make fire and need your help.
Now don't try to kid me, mancub
Please don't try to deceive me, human baby.
I made a deal with you
We agreed to help each other.
What I desire is man's red fire
What I really want is the ability to make fire like a human.
To make my dream come true
Having fire will help me achieve my dream of being human-like.
Give me the secret, mancub
Please share with me the knowledge of how to make fire.
Clue me what to do
Give me some tips or instructions on how to make fire.
Give me the power of man's red flower
Give me the ability and knowledge to make fire.
So I can be like you
So I can become more human-like and achieve my dream.
You!
Referring to the human character, trying to emulate them.
I wanna be like you
Once again expressing the desire to be human-like.
I wanna talk like you
I want to learn how to communicate like a human.
Walk like you, too
I want to learn how to walk and behave like a human.
You'll see it's true
I believe that it is possible to achieve my goal.
Someone like me
Despite being an ape, I believe I can achieve what a human can.
Can learn to be
It is possible to gain the knowledge and skill to become more human-like.
Like someone like me
Other apes like me can learn and become more human-like too.
Can learn to be
Repeating the sentiment that it is possible to learn and become more human-like.
Like someone like you
Referring to the human character and once again expressing the desire to become like them.
Can learn to be
Reiterating that it is possible to achieve the goal of becoming more human-like.
Like someone like me!
Other apes like me can also achieve this goal of becoming more human-like.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Leonardo_davinci_
Who else is here after watching the duet in the boat ?😅🚢
@hogie5446
Yup yup!!
@mariopiras7245
Me 😂
@reginapacocha7903
Me 😂
@thomaslist6149
😂😂 💪
@altheavallenberg9203
Me
@georgiagcd
Robbie was born to be on a stage
@bobbywright8778
Very talented
@anitadavid76
I love how much they enjoy singing this song. I watch it again and again with a huge smile on my face.
@terryfinn125ify
I do soo sooo much xx