Robyn: Pop Starlet to Superhero

Robyn @ The Phoenix

by Sass Zucket

Nevermind the Met Custom Gala, dressed characteristically to theme in a black caped top and pleather tights, MY superhero this week was Robyn; Swedish 90s' poptart turned hipster dance dynamo.

Everyone has been raving about Robyn, from Perez Hilton to Pitchfork. Toronto's own Eye Weekly even plastered her on their cover and consequently all the streets of Toronto with her platinum blonde bob and signature bandana. You might as well jump on the Robyn-lovyn bandwagon. It's such a fun place to be!

Kicking things off to a boogying start with 'Cobrastyle', there was no doubt that the rest of the show would be as highly energetic and body rocking. With two drum kits on stage, the pumping beat and electro sounds kept rousing the crowds throughout the duration of the concert and beyond. Set list included hits like 'Konichiwa Bitches', 'Be Mine' and popular remix of Snoop Dogg's 'Sexual Eruption'. Due to the excessive screaming and chanting of her name, Robyn blessed the audience with not only one but two encores.

The most endearing highlight occurred in the first encore set with Robyn singing a bare boned with acoustic guitar rendition of her famed 1997 single, 'Show Me Love'. When she stopped intermittently, the whole capacity of the Phoenix would, with perfect memory of the lyrics, sing the song in her stead. She responded with 'Toronto, you are so sweet to me. I feel like we know each other.' Aww.

This revealed to me that a full decade later, even though we have all grown up, as Robyn's musical leanings have, to the uber cool creatures we are now, we will never cease to indulge lovingly in our teenybopper roots.

Having delivered a spectrum of dance party tracks and heartfelt ballads, Robyn ended with the cheeky 'Jack U Off' reminding us that pop music can and should be embraced by adults and always fun fun fun.

Hands down, the best damn concert I have been to in a long time. Possibly ever.

Do yourself a favour:
http://www.myspace.com/robynmyspace
http://www.robyn.com/