Robyn soars in L.A.

November 17, 2010, at Club Nokia

By Aireka Muse
Published: November 22nd, 2010 | 7:00am

Hot on the heels of releasing the third installment of her Body Talk trilogy, Swedish pop star Robyn took to the stage at Los Angeles’s Club Nokia. Backed by two drummers, two keyboardists, and two giant neon pinwheels, she confidently owned the stage, her intensity and commitment to her sound a clear example of a woman who knows exactly who she is and where she should be. Rocking Timberland boots, floral leggings, white bodysuit, and jean jacket, Robyn glided without missing a beat. While some pop stars relay on shiny costumes, elaborate sets, and a crew of dancers, Robyn relies on the moment and with no sense of choreography or any planned movement, has mastered being electro-pop’s Queen.

From the first beat of “Fembot,” the crowd was on their feet, swaying as they recited the chorus of “Fembots need love too.” The set list heavily featured tracks from Body Talk Pt. 1 and 2, moving from “Cry When You Get Older” to the crowd-pleasing “Dancing on My Own.” Robyn confidently spit out “Don’t Fucking Tell Me What to Do” with the raw independence the track deserves. With pride, Robyn pulled out the famed banana and ate as if there is nothing random or awkward about the fruit’s presence. The woman owned every ounce of her unique self as if she knows Christina Aguilera wouldn’t have Bionic and possibly Lady Gaga wouldn’t have The Fame if she never owned her sound and presence with the independent release of her first self-titled experiment into electronica.

When you watch Robyn on stage you wonder: who is she performing for? Deeply invested in her emotional lyrics, you can’t help but question if she was even aware of the crowd. Her commitment to her art is what each concertgoer can’t help but fall in love with. It’s as if she’s throwing her own party and whoever is down with it is willing to join. Though Body Talk was the focus, the Swedish sister revisited Robyn’s “Be Mine”, “With Every Heartbeat,” and “Dream On” for those who have been around before “Dancing on My Own” became an international success, and with a 90-minute set, this dancing queen no doubt gave her audience their money’s worth. The 16 cuts performed gave her fans a live performance different from the album while maintaining the integrity of the hip-hop influenced electronica.

While some artists abandon the encore, Robyn gave her audience two opportunities to scream for more, and “U Should Know Better” made the studio version of the in your face, Snoop-featured song seem soft and watered down. Although the songstress’ sound has dramatically changed since her 1997 hit “Show Me Love,” Robyn ended the show with a stripped version of the melody that birthed her stardom. But of course she couldn’t give it to us straight and began with a mesmerizing rendition of Abba’s “Dancing Queen.”

Knowing Robyn’s history of failed albums and record label feuds, you can’t help but feel her thankfulness is far from a formality, and instead of the utmost sincerity. This woman has worked for this moment and will continue the grind for the next.

__

Robyn official site

Robyn MySpace page

Cherrytree Records