Robbie Williams says that his performance of ‘Parklife’ with Danny Dyer at BST Hyde Park last year “made no sense on paper” but “all the sense in the world on stage”.
When taking to the stage, the actor performed the Cockney spoken-word parts, as originally done by Quadrophenia actor Phil Daniels. “It’s the double act you didn’t know you needed in your life!” exclaimed Williams as the song began.
Speaking to JK and Kelly Brook on Heart Drive yesterday (March 25), Williams reflected on the surprise collaboration.
“I mean, me and Danny Dyer make no sense on paper,” said the singer. “But we make all the sense in the world when we’re on stage together. It was an absolute thrill for me working with Danny, you know?
“I think Danny’s one of those people that was kind of like me, where you’re eccentric and misunderstood through your 20s, because you’re unusual and nobody is like you,” he continued. “I think there was a lot of judgments for Danny, and a lot of judgement for me. Then, hopefully when you get middle aged, you grow into your paws. Because I think we were like both little dogs with big paws.
“I think that we’ve both grown into our bodies, and I think there’s kind of more acceptance for our eccentricities. So that’s why it makes sense.”
Seeing Robbie Williams and Danny Dyer singing Parklife to 60,000 people wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card, but there we are pic.twitter.com/THA5tS85hC
— Charlie Sinclair (@charxsinclair) July 6, 2024
Previously, Dyer told Radio X that he was approached by Williams during a recent Soccer Aid event.
“I was like, what? Are you sure about this?’ And he went, ‘I’ve never been more sure of anything,’ So I said yes, and then I thought, ‘Oh now I’ve got to do it,’” he said. “So, you know. I love the tune. I love Robbie and we done it. We done it. It was great. It was a real moment. I think it went down really well, you know.”
He added: “Once I started I was sweet. And I listened to the song a lot. You’ve got to prepare, you know and I just channelled my inner Phil Daniels.”
Blur‘s Graham Coxon also had his say on the collaboration more recently, describing it as “flipping bizarre”, even though he does like Dyer.
Damon Albarn also responded to it in an interview with BBC Breakfast. At the time, the singer confessed he “fell in love with Danny” after watching his Who Do You Think You Are? episode, which revealed that Dyer was related to King Edward III. Albarn hailed the episode as “the best one ever”.
“It was a true revelation he was a member of the Royal Family – for him and for everybody,” he said, adding: “He’s definitely from the East End, he’s a Cockney, we’re all Cockney.”
Albarn went on to reference the ‘Parklife’ cover, commenting: “It’s a song for us, it’s good. I hope everyone has their own version.”
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