Robyn @ Highline Ballroom, NYC 2/5/08
By Amrit and Scott
Yeah it's a special sort of show that's able to summon multiple Stereogum staffers from their cocoons. And as the posts from P4K (again) BV, Fluxblog, and yours truly all suggested, Robyn was, in a word, perfect last night. So, just add a few more thoughts to the pile: This was her first real US show, and she seemed really excited to be there! But as obviously swept up Ms. Carlsson was in the room's rabidly demonstrative love, Robyn was all pro, all the way: always flashing that adorably appreciative smile and banter, but focused throughout (mouthing to the kids wanting a handshake front row at encore, "After" -- and then, delivering). Also it was one of the best looking groups we've seen in awhile. Lots of Europeans, lots of gay (in fairness, it's not like we were expecting it to be the Giants tickertape parade afterparty or anything).
The set was short (about an hour all told) and sweet. Too short, some say -- but the amount she put into her moves (like you've never seen), it was totally understandable. Robyn does silly + sexy better than anyone we can think of: She's either not concerned with being cool, or more likely Sweden has a definition of cool that doesn't require being detached. The last two songs (of which we have vid, below) showed her range as a performer. You couldn't help be legitimately sad during the acoustic "Be Mine!" Don't be sad, Robyn. This guy's a JERK if he doesn't realize you're the MOST AWESOME. And, the show offered a unique moment: Singing along to a spare, Konichiwa-appropriate rearrangement of her prior incarnation's '90s smash "Show Me Love," the entire room -- that had been singing every word, all night -- took it up another level, with extra warmth and giddiness. It was like singing along to an ironic, newly hip cover, but knowing it's always been her, and appreciating her stunning reinvention. Robyn said through the cheers: "You can always do SOMETHING with a good song, right?" Damn if she didn't prove that every minute last night.
It was fun. She's our favorite. Take the jump for setlist, pics, and videos of "Be Mine" (Ballad Version) and Prince cover "Jack U Off."
SETLIST
01 "Cobrastyle"
02 "Crash and Burn"
03 "Who's That Girl"
04 "Bum Like You"
05 "Handle Me"
06 "Keep This Fire Burning"
07 "Konichiwa Bitches"
08 "Be Mine!"
09 "With Every Heartbeat"
----
10 "Show Me Love"
11 "Jack U Off" (Prince cover)
12 "Be Mine!" (Ballad Version)
"Be Mine!" (Ballad Version)
"Jack U Off"
More videos here, lots o' pics below.
Posted at 8:12 PM in Concert, Video
Tags: Robyn
For the time being, I'm going to judge a book by its cover and pass on this.
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i honestly think select bloggers, who you may or may not have linked, held an online conference (not irl, obvs) to agree to get a collective hard-on for robyn, simply to see who they could trick into liking her.
honestly.
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For the time being, I'm going to judge a book by its cover and pass on this.
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are you fucking kidding me?
i thought i had accidentally gone to perezhilton.com...
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Robyn rules! Y'all commenters are stoopit!
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Robyn haters?!
WHAT?
Watch her videos. She's fantastic, from some alternate universe of pop.
At least listen to the album before you judge it.
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robyn totally rules. her music is upbeat and fun. she's adorable. her show last night was crazy fucking good; as someone who was there, i can totally understand all the blogger-love.
have you people seen the video for "konichiwa bitches"? COME ON.
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robyn further proves the fact that indie hipster scum have no taste and secretly all want to listen to britney (non-ironically, that is)
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10: this "gal" borrows song titles from Chappelle.. ? And if you've seen one picture of her, you may as darn well have seen 'em all. Ack_/
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nobody gives a crap about robyn. sorry, internet blogmeisters.
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Why didn't she sing "Do You Know What It Takes?" .... Seriously!!!!
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Yes a lot of people "give a crap" (how charming you are, 'chris') about Robyn. #1 singles, international respect all on her own terms in her own time.
She charmed us Tuesday at the Highline, and every single person in the room walked on crushing on her big time. I cannot remember the last time that I stood outside of a venue and watched hundreds of people smiling from ear to ear.
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how much do you think Robyn's label is paying Stereogum to give her this much coverage?
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Silly and sexy, I like the sound of that. Interesting review.
D
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I agree... Something is off here... I will be the first to fall for something good and fun, even if it is embarassing. But this... I don't know. I have listened to the tunes. Just doesn't strike me as anything for bloggers to be losing their minds over. Something is off here...
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4 words
ROBYN... IS... THE... SHIT!!!!
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I like Robyn, I admit it.
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because they are constantly putting on a front where they claim to enjoy certain music just because it is weird and difficult, elitist hipster types suffer from a kind of inner turmoil. so what do they do? they occasionally convince themselves that they love the most saccharine, ridiculously pop act that happens to come along.
remember annie? pitchfork named "heartbeats" the number one single of 2004 but i guarantee you that pretty much all of the people who fawned over her have forgotten she exists. she does have a new record coming out soon though, so beware...
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well, "u," i actually just listened to the Annie cd a couple of days ago. maybe the reason she isn't talked of more is simply that it's been a couple of years since her album came out, and she's been relatively quiet on the release front. i would wager there's a gangload of people who haven't "forgotten she exists." that album is still an amazing pop record. and i never listen to anything simply because it is "weird and difficult." i DO listen to weird and difficult music, but that's because i keep an open mind, and don't dismiss music because it doesn't sound exactly like what i already listen to. that goes for indie, noise, pop, whatever. jeez, walk on the wild side, a bit. what do YOU listen to?
as for Robyn, many of us have been listening to, and loving these songs for many months now, hasn't gotten old just yet. jebus, american radio would sound ten times better with a few of these songs in rotation. maybe i wouldn't hear one-hit-wonder ringtone rappers nearly as much. and, to the general haters, there is nothing wrong with well-constructed and well-composed pop music. it's just been so long since we've actually heard some. who knows if she'll break through to mainstream success, here, but Robyn is the real deal. an independant spirit who composes witty and emotional songs that resonate, and she's done it all on her own terms. i'd think readers of stereogum might appreciate that.
and to Zach, "Do You Know..." mos def should have been in the set. ever hear the remix that borrows the Hall & Oates loop? that was my jam!
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u - you lost your bet. I was listening to "Chewing Gum" just yesterday and thinking about how brilliant it is (and I did fawn over her in 2004). I'm also feeling kind of fat right now, so by default I am MORE than "pretty much all" of the people who fawned over her back in the day. Will you be paying in SEK? Stephen - as to how much Robyn's label is paying stereogum, which I suspect is nothing, your question could be re-phrased as "how much is Robyn paying stereogum?" because she put her most recent material out on her own label. And stereogum, I am hardly an expert on Sweden, but I have some friends in Stockholm who would find the idea that, "Sweden has a definition of cool that doesn't require being detached" wildly amusing!! I think it's just Robyn's cool.
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All indie rock all the time!!!
Robyn is ridiculously fun, charming, and puts on a great show. it seems that whenever a blogger writes about someone who falls outside of the average reader's comfort zone, the negative comments just come from everywhere.
Fair enough if you don't like her, but negativity isn't going to get you anywhere in life. and the snide comments that you all think are so witty... they make it seem like the average stereogum reader is a twelve year old suburban twat who spends way too much time online.
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roxette has a new album? cool!!!
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LOL @ the commenters who get all scared and confused when an artist being discussed isn't a BROOKLYN DUDE WITH A GUITAR.
But yeah, you go on with your Internet Conspiracy Theories. Really, that's very cool how you only like Indie Rock. You should be proud of being so pure.
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man i gotta pull out that annie album again...forgot all about it. Robyn is the shit.
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I'm only compelled to write something here because of all the haters. Why you gotta go and prove how cool you are by saying you'd never listen to her? Here's another list of artists I'd never listen to: Phil Collins, Queensryche, Jack Johnson and Shanice. There you go! I'm cool now, too.
Robyn is different, she's clever, fun and cool. Her concert at the Highline was stellar. She'll never be a success in this country because she's already proved she wants to do things her own way, but this album is the bomb-diggity.
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I don't hate Robyn, actually I don't have much of an opinion of her one way or the other. But I guess it's a sign of our blog-infested world where I view an artist who barely sells any albums and has no airplay as "overexposed" simply due to the orgasmic coverage Stereogum and other blogs give her.
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Amazing pictures - Robyn is the queen and it's nice to know that NYC accepted her with open arms. I've seen Robyn live 4 times and although the show remains the same, I am transfixed under her spell everytime! Thanks guys for the great review and pictures.
Raj - www.electroqueer.com
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