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.
Life Through A Lens
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything feels so boring
Is that where it ends
Live your life through a lens
Hair is the new hat, brown is the new black
She shouldn't wear this, he shouldn't wear that
Pleasure and leisure, make mine a double measure with friends
Who laughs the longest who drives the hardest
Pleasure and leisure, make mine a double measure with friends
Just because I ain't double barreled
Don't mean I haven't traveled well
Can't you tell!
Oh no it's quite appalling
Your conversation is boring as hell, oh well!
Wake up on Sunday morning
And everything feels so boring
Is that where it ends
With your life through a lens
And now your boyfriend's suspicious
So go home and wash the dishes
And wash them well so he can't tell
She's looking real drab just out of rehab
I'm talking football she's talking ab fab
Your clothes are very kitch
Just because your daddy is rich
You sound so funny with your voice all plummy
Now your check's just bounced better run to your mummy
And you know it's a class act she'll never ask for it back
Just because I ain't double barreled
Don't mean I haven't traveled well
Can't you tell!
Mix with the local gentry and don't crash Tarquin's Bentley
I'll take the bends with our life through a lens
You're scared of the poor and needy
Is that why you're all inbreedy?
They're just like you, they need love too
Wake up on Sunday morning
And everything feels so boring
Is that where it ends
With your life through a lens
And now your boyfriend's suspicious
So go home and wash the dishes
And wash them well so he can't tell
The lyrics of “Life Through A Lens” by Robbie Williams are a reflection on modern society’s obsession with fame, fashion, and financial status. The song describes the emptiness of living life vicariously through a lens, whether it be through social media or the paparazzi. The opening lines set the tone by describing the mundanity of life, especially on a Sunday morning. The chorus highlights the message of the song, questioning if living life through a lens is all there is to it.
The verses paint a vivid picture of the social scene where the song’s protagonist resides. Fashion and leisure are a big part of their life, with the singer bemoaning the shallow conversations and stereotypes they encounter. Wealth and social status dominate the conversation, and the singer feels out of place despite having traveled extensively. The second half of the song takes a more confrontational approach, calling out the hypocrisy of those who look down upon the less fortunate while living in their own bubble. The singer urges everyone to recognize that the poor and needy deserve the same love and attention as the wealthy.
The song is a commentary on the shallow veneer of modern society, where people are judged by their status, clothes, and what they post online. The lyrics urge everyone to look beyond the surface into the complexities of human life.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up on Sunday morning
Starting a new day with a feeling of boredom and monotony.
Everything feels so boring
Life seems dull and uneventful, lacking any excitement or adventure.
Is that where it ends
Wondering if life is meant to be lived in such a tedious routine with no real purpose.
Live your life through a lens
Viewing life as a spectator, through the lens of a camera or the media/press.
Hair is the new hat, brown is the new black
Trends in fashion keep changing and evolving, and the artist is keeping up with the latest trends.
She shouldn't wear this, he shouldn't wear that
The singer is passing judgment and criticizing people's fashion choices.
Pleasure and leisure, make mine a double measure with friends
The singer wants to enjoy life to the fullest with friends, indulging in fun activities and experiences.
Fashion tardis down at Quo Vadis
A reference to a trendy and hip location where the artist goes to keep up with latest fashion trends.
Who laughs the longest who drives the hardest
The artist is competing with others to be the best and to have more fun/excitement in life than others.
Just because I ain't double barreled
The artist is not from an aristocratic or wealthy family, but they have traveled the world and have a wide range of experiences.
Don't mean I haven't traveled well
The singer has traveled extensively and feels that their experiences are just as valuable and noteworthy as someone from a wealthy background.
Can't you tell!
The artist feels frustrated that others judge them unfairly based on their background or accent.
Oh no it's quite appalling
The singer is shocked and disappointed by the boring conversation they are having with someone.
Your conversation is boring as hell, oh well!
The singer is disinterested in the other person's conversation and doesn't see any point in continuing the discussion.
And now your boyfriend's suspicious
The singer's behavior may cause suspicion or concern from their partner.
So go home and wash the dishes
The partner may believe that the artist is hiding something, so they are told to go home and do something practical and mundane to divert attention.
She's looking real drab just out of rehab
The artist is passing judgment on someone's appearance, and suggests that the person just got out of rehab.
I'm talking football she's talking ab fab
The singer and the other person have different interests and priorities, with the singer wanting to talk about football while the other person is more interested in popular culture and fashion.
Your clothes are very kitch
The singer believes that the other person's fashion choices are tacky or outdated.
Just because your daddy is rich
The artist implies that the other person's wealth does not automatically make them stylish or fashionable.
You sound so funny with your voice all plummy
The artist mocks the other person's accent and tone of voice, implying that they are snobbish.
Now your check's just bounced better run to your mummy
The artist takes pleasure in pointing out the other person's financial troubles and suggesting they are unprepared for adulthood.
And you know it's a class act she'll never ask for it back
The singer implies that someone from a wealthy family will never need to ask for money back, since they have enough to spare.
Mix with the local gentry and don't crash Tarquin's Bentley
The artist wants to be part of the upper class and not embarrass themselves by doing something considered vulgar or inappropriate.
I'll take the bends with our life through a lens
The singer is willing to take some risks and live a more exciting life, but still wants to view it through the lens of the media/press.
You're scared of the poor and needy
The singer implies that the other person is afraid of people who are less fortunate or from a lower social class.
Is that why you're all inbreedy?
The singer mocks the other person's social circle and their tendency to only associate with people from their own background.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GUY 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!