This is Robbie Williams

- A feature from Robbie Williams' second album, I've Been Expecting You

- No. 1 on UK Singles Chart

- BPI Certified Gold

- 541,000 sales

- Top 40 worldwide

- No. 20 on U.S. Mainstream Top 40 chart

(Source - Wikipedia)

Who is Robbie Williams?

On Set List, Robbie Williams, as an English singer and songwriter, does not come across posts too often.  Yet with an impressive background in music and honors, I thought I would write about him now.

Robbie Williams, like so many early into their musical careers, joined the pop group Take That from 1989 to 1995.  His solo career proved to be the most profound.  

Success -

7 UK No. 1 singles

10 albums No. 1 in the UK

Best-selling solo artist in the UK

Best-selling non-Latino artist in Latin America

6 albums reached the Top 100 biggest selling in the UK 

2006 

Guinness Book of World Records - sold 1.6 million tickets for Close Encounters tour in one day

Honors -

Inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame (2004)

A best-selling music artist of all time - 75 million records sold worldwide

BPI (British Phonographic Industry)

Albums and Singles - Certified beyond Platinum

Robbie Williams Background

Alcoholism, drug abuse, and legal battles against the remaining members of Take That complicated his early background.  

"...a near drug overdose the night before the group was scheduled to perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards..." (Wikipedia)

Going solo -

Debut solo album - Life thru a Lens 

(No. 11 on UK Albums Chart)

I've Been Expecting You

(No. 1 on UK Albums Chart...10x Platinum by BPI)

Sing When You're Winning 

(Certified 2x Platinum in the UK)

Swing When You're Winning

(Inspired by love of Frank Sinatra)

Escapology

(Success in the United States)

Live at Knebworth

(Live album)

Rudebox 

(Mixed reviews)

Reality Killed the Video Star

(No background information)

In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990-2010

(No background information)

Take the Crown

(No. 1 on UK Albums Chart)

Swings Both Ways

(No background information)

Under the Radar Volume

(No background information)

The Heavy Entertainment Show

(12th UK No. 1 album - on par with Madonna)

(A more detailed background can be found on Wikipedia.)

"Millennium" - First United States and Canadian single

"Radio" - No. 1 on UK Singles Chart*

*"Radio" was a compilation between Robbie Williams and Stephen Duffy

Awards -

Ivor Novello - 6 Nominations, 5 Wins

Brit Awards - 22 Nominations, 18 Wins

GQ Men of the Year - 3 Wins

Grammy - 2 Nominations

Italian Music Awards - 2 Nominations, 1 Win

Los Premios MTV Latinoamerica - 1 Nomination, 1 Win

MTV Asia - 4 Nominations, 1 Win

MTV Europe - 18 Nominations, 7 Wins

MTV Video Music - 2 Nominations, 2 Wins

NME Awards - 3 Nominations, 3 Wins

UK Music Video - 3 Nominations

- 1997 -

Best Male Singer (The Sun Newspaper - UK)

- 1998 -

Best Newcomer (Nordorff Robbins Silver Clef Award)

Best Male Vocalist (The London Awards)

Best Album - I've Been Expecting You (The Sun Newspaper)

Best Live Act (The Sun Newspaper)

Best Male Singer (The Sun Newspaper)

- 1999 -

Best Solo Artist (New Musical Express Premier Awards UK)

Most Popular Icon of the 20th Century (PlayStation)

- 2000 -

Best Male Solo Artist (Capital Radio Awards UK)

Best British - Single ("She's the One") & Video ("She's the One")

(Capital Radio Awards)

Best Songwriter (Q Awards)

- 2001 - 

Best album (Sing When You're Winning)

(Capital Awards)

- 2002 -

Best Male Artist International (Echo Awards)*

*Echo is in the German music industry.

- 2003 -

Best International Male Artist (NRJ Radio Awards)

Best International Male Artist (Echo Awards)

Best International Artist Of the Year (Amadeus Music Awards)

Best Live Act (Q Awards)

- 2004 -

Best Male International (Echo Awards)

Best Music DVD (Echo Awards)

- 2005 -

Best Male International (Echo Awards)

- 2006 -

Best Male International (NRJ Music Awards)

Best Male International (Echo Awards)

- 2007 -

Best International Male (Echo Awards)

Best Music DVD (Echo Awards)

- 2010 - 

Best International Male (Echo Awards)

Best International Male Artist (NRJ Music Awards)

Best Male Artist (Virgin Media Awards)

Best Collaboration Song (Q Awards)*

*"Shame" with Gary Barlow

- 2011 -

Best International Group - Take That (Echo Awards)

- 2012 -

Best Live Act (Virgin Media Awards)*

*with Take That

Best Male International (The Sun Newspaper)

- 2013 -

Best International Pop/Rock Artist (Echo Awards)

Q Idol (Q Awards)

- 2014 -

Best International Pop/Rock Artist (Echo Awards)

(A detailed background of Robbie Williams' accolades can be found on Wikipedia.)

To conclude this post in one word - Wow.

Britney Spears + Pop Culture

In the United States, the First Amendment declares freedom of speech.  On the Internet, there is a strong gray area.  Set List is U.S. based, so I have something to say.

Britney Spears is a defining icon in pop culture for her generation and younger.  She is a defining icon in fresh music that teenagers and young adults gravitated toward.  Britney Spears and I are relatively the same age (by two years).  I am not one for her music - albums and individual tracks.

Britney's album list includes -

...Baby One More Time (1999)

Oops!...I Did It Again (2000)

Britney (2001)

In the Zone (2003)

Blackout (2007)

Circus (2008)

Femme Fatale (2011)

Britney Jean (2013)

Glory (2016)

Britney Spears is forever known for her "...Baby One More Time" music video to which I will not feature here.  In my opinion, the video showcases what young men wanted to see and what young women aspired to look like.  Sexy and popular are words I would use.

The question is - true talent or an audience by generation?

...Baby One More Time and Oops!...I Did It Again are both certified Diamond.

Talent then.

Yet, this angers me because the "...Baby One More Time" music video attracted a very impressionable audience in a very seductive way.

Diamond certification is honorable of course, but keep in mind the music video.  Why?

Johnny Cash does not have Diamond certification.

Bob Dylan does not have Diamond certification.

The Grateful Dead does not have Diamond certification.

Jimi Hendrix does not have Diamond certification.

Queen does not have Diamond certification.

Rush does not have Diamond certification.

The Who does not have Diamond certification.

Barbara Streisand does not have Diamond certification.

The list does continue on.  (Wikipedia)

My point is - Such names listed above are historically valuable in the music industry and all received Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum status...but not Diamond.  But the video to the song to the album of the same name is Diamond certified.  I am at a loss for words.

This is my opinion alone.

Quadruple Certification

In my research, I have come across very few music artists who have achieved quadruple certification requisites - Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum, and Diamond.  On Wikipedia, however, there is a brief list of artists who have.

RIAA Recap -
Gold Requisite - 500,000
Platinum Requisite - 1,000,000
Multi-Platinum Requisite - 2,000,000+
Diamond Requisite - 10,000,000

- The Coveted List -

AC/DC 
Gold 22...Platinum 20... Multi-Platinum 12...Diamond 1

Aerosmith 
Gold 25...Platinum 18...Multi-Platinum 12...Diamond 1

The Beatles 
Gold 48...Platinum 42...Multi-Platinum 26...Diamond 6

Bee Gees
Gold 15...Platinum 9...Multi-Platinum 2...Diamond 1

Garth Brooks
Gold 21...Platinum 21...Multi-Platinum 15...Diamond 7

Mariah Carey
Gold 15...Platinum 13...Multi-Platinum 9...Diamond 2

Brittney Spears
Gold 9...Platinum 8...Multi-Platinum 4...Diamond 2

Eric Clapton
Gold 23...Platinum 11...Multi-Platinum 7...Diamond 1

John Denver
Gold 21...Platinum 13...Multi-Platinum 7...Diamond 1

Celine Dion
Gold 13...Platinum 11...Multi-Platinum...8...Diamond 2

The Doors 
Gold 20...Platinum 14...Multi-Platinum 5...Diamond 1

Eminem
Gold 11...Platinum 9...Multi-Platinum 8...Diamond 2

Michael Jackson
Gold 15...Platinum 30...Multi-Platinum 9...Diamond 2

Billy Joel
Gold 18...Platinum 17...Multi-Platinum 12...Diamond 2

Elton John
Gold 37...Platinum 27...Multi-Platinum 12...Diamond 1

Kenny G
Gold 15...Platinum 11...Multi-Platinum 8...Diamond 1

Led Zepplin
Gold 19...Platinum 18...Multi-Platinum 14...Diamond 5

Madonna
Gold 20...Platinum 17...Multi-Platinum 12...Diamond 2

Tom Petty
Gold 15...Platinum 8...Multi-Platinum 5...Diamond 1

Pink Floyd
Gold 19...Platinum 15...Multi-Platinum 12...Diamond 2

Elvis Presley
Gold 90...Platinum 52...Multi-Platinum 25...Diamond 1

Prince
Gold 18...Platinum 11...Multi-Platinum 4...Diamond 1

Kenny Rogers
Gold 28...Platinum 17...Multi-Platinum 7...Diamond 1

The Rolling Stones
Gold 43...Platinum 28...Multi-Platinum 11...Diamond 1

Santana 
Gold 21...Platinum 10...Multi-Platinum 7...Diamond 1

Bruce Springsteen
Gold 22...Platinum 17...Multi-Platinum 10...Diamond 2

James Taylor
Gold 20...Platinum 14...Multi-Platinum 5...Diamond 1

U2
Gold 16...Platinum 16...Multi-Platinum 11...Diamond 1

The American Classic - Banjo

Due affiliate disclosure - This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated on any purchase made.

The banjo.  Bluegrass.  All American.  

Far from rock n' roll electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and keyboard synths.

So why the banjo?  

I recently watched a recorded performance of actor Steve Martin showcasing a few favorite songs.  Aside from his Hollywood talent and comedy, Steve Martin is an outstanding banjo player with profound talent.

And so in this edition of Play It Sunday I thought I would share an example here, as brought to you by zZounds.

Epiphone Mayfair 5-String Banjo
$599 OR 12 Payments $49.92

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--EPIEFB2

Features -

- Traditional headstock and Mayfair logo on resonator

- Mahogany resonator

- Traditional banjo tuners

- Remo head

Follow the link above for more photos.

Every person is unique in musical interest.  However!

Always remember to...

Play it!

IFPI Denmark

Denmark's certification process is rather short and to the point, so this post will be too.

IFPI Denmark is the country's division of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

Denmark awards Gold and Platinum.

Albums 
Gold - 10,000
Platinum - 20,000

Singles 
Gold - 45,000
Platinum - 90,000

DVDs
- Video length -
Gold - 7,500
Platinum - 15,000

DVDs
- Full length -
Gold - 10,000
Platinum - 20,000

(Source - Wikipedia)

Sounds of Spain - Enrique Iglesias

In the music industry, there is a sense of title ownership while still attracting a global audience.  For example, Madonna is known as the queen of pop.  Aretha Franklin is known as the queen of soul.  Michael Jackson will forever define the king of pop.  

In this post, however, Enrique Iglesias is considered to the be the king of Latin pop.  I am, then, honoring Spain as a strong musical influence.

In essence, Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer.  His success is split between Latin America and the Hispanic audience in the United States.  

Point of interest -

As of 2015, Enrique works with Sony Music Latin for Spanish albums and RCA Records for English albums.

Genres considered - Pop, Latin Pop, Dance-Pop, Electro Pop

Enrique Iglesias' early life and music background are fairly extensive, so read more on Wikipedia.

Enrique's studio albums include -

Enrique Iglesias (1995)

Vivir (1997) ... Translate - Live

Cosas del Amor (1998) ... Translate - Things of Love

Enrique (1999)

Escape (2001)

Quizas (2002) ... Translate - Maybe

7 (2003)

Insomniac (2007)

Euphoria (2010)

Sex and Love (2014)

Point of intrigue -

The better majority of this post is an exhaustive list of awards and nominations.  Simply put - quite impressive.

Success -

100+ million records sold worldwide (albums and singles)

"...one of the best-selling Spanish-speaking artists ever..." (Wikipedia)

150+ number one songs on all Billboard charts ... Including Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Hot Latin Tracks, and Billboard Dance charts

Awards and Nominations -

VH1/Vogue Fashion - Won

Premio Ondas - Win 

- Translate - Award Waves

ACE Awards - 2 Wins

American Music Awards - 6 Nominations, 8 Wins

Latin American Music Awards - 2 Nominations, 10 Wins

ASCAP (Latin Music) - 20 Wins

Billboard Music - 10 Nominations, 5 Wins

Billboard Latin Music - 53 Nominations, 44 Wins

Billboard Year-End Charts - 73 Nominations, 18 Wins

Billboard Video Music - Won

Blockbuster Entertainment - 2 Nominations, 1 Win

BMI Awards - 14 Wins

BRIT Awards - 1 Nomination

Bulgaria's Fan TV Award - 1 Win

CCTV-MTV Music Honors - 1 Win

Canadian Fannie Awards - 2 Nominations

Comet Awards - Won

ECHO Awards - 2 Nominations

Ev. gerard Video Music Awards - 1 Nomination, 1 Win

The Record of the Year Award - 1 Nomination

Grammy - 3 Nominations, 1 Win

Latin Grammy - 6 Nominations, 5 Wins

Latin Music Italian Awards - 14 Nominations, 7 Wins

Lunas del Auditorio - 5 Nominations

- Translate - Auditorium Moons

iHeartRadio Music - 1 Nomination, 1 Win

International Dance Music - 2 Nominations, 1 Win

Ivor Novello - 1 Nomination 

Much Music Video Awards - 1 Nomination

My VH1 Music Awards - 4 Nominations

Premio Lo Nuestro - 25 Nominations, 22 Wins

- Translate - Reward Us

- 2019 accolades are pending

Premios Eres - 3 Wins

- Translate - Awards Are You

Premios Juventud - 22 Nominations, 15 Wins

- Translate - Youth Awards

Premios Tu Mundo - 1 Nomination, 4 Wins

- Translate - Prizes Your World

National Music Awards - Won

Juno Awards - 2 Nominations

Meteor Music Awards - 1 Nomination

MTV Asia - 2 Nominations

MTV Europe - 9 Nominations

MTV India - Won

Los Premios MTV Latinoamerica - 4 Nominations, 1 Win

- Translate - The Latin American MTV Awards

MTV Video Music - 7 Nominations

NRJ Music Awards - 9 Nominations, 2 Wins

Radio Music Awards - Won

People's Choice Awards - 2 Nominations

Teen Choice Awards - 6 Nominations

Premio Orgullasamente - 4 Nominations, 2 Wins

- Translate - Prize Proudly

Premios 40 Principales 

- Translate - 40 Top Prizes

- Nominations and Wins -

- Spain, America

Enrique Iglesias has been honored and nominated with more awards than can be continued in this post.  Refer to Wikipedia for the continued list.

I will conclude on this note.