Robbie Williams VS Adele? As the popstars take centre stage this week, we find out who packs the biggest punch
This week is all about these much-loved singers, but who is the best?
It’s a big week for Robbie Williams and Adele Adkins.
In a special ceremony from London, Robbie becomes the third artist after Elton John and David Bowie to be named a BRIT Icon, while Adele In New York City sees the singer perform her greatest hits at legendary venue Radio City Music Hall. But which one is the best?
There’s only one way to find out…
1 Robbie’s The Heavy Entertainment Show broke Bowie’s record for solo number-one albums. Add those 12 albums to seven chart-topping singles, and he casts a long shadow over Adele’s three number one albums and two singles.
That said, Robbie’s been around a bit longer, and had a leg up from being in the biggest British boy band of the 90s. Most UK number ones: Robbie.
2 Robbie is the most successful artist in BRITs history, having won 13 of them without Take That. Adele’s eight puts her third, just behind Coldplay. No contest, right? Once you bring America into the equation, the picture changes: Adele has won 10 Grammys and 18 Billboard Music Awards, to Robbie’s none. Most awards: Adele.
3 Robbie’s reported net worth is £160m to Adele’s £108m. That’s three Gary Barlows, eight Mark Owens or 200 million Howard Donalds (only joking!). Most money: Robbie.
4 When it comes to movie music, Robbie had a game stab at Queen (We Are The Champions for A Knight’s Tale) and Frank Sinatra (Have You Met Miss Jones? for Bridget Jones’ Diary),but Adele did Skyfall, and the video for Millennium revealed how much Robbie would love to do a Bond theme. So this round is Adele’s. Best film themes: Adele.+
5 Robbie has voiced Dougal in The Magic Roundabout, Flavio Flavioli in Gangsta Granny and played ‘Man Using Queen Vic Telephone’ in a 1995 episode of EastEnders.
He was terrible in all of them, though, while Adele has never acted in her life (as far as we know), so she wins. Acting roles: Adele.
6 Adele began touring at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music, Robbie at Woking leisure centre. My, how their crowds have grown! His biggest was an unbelievable 125,000 people per concert at Knebworth in 2003. It took Adele six nights at the O2 to match that (and we can’t count Glastonbury). Biggest gig: Robbie.
7 When it comes to sales, Adele walks it, with around 100m global sales to date, compared to just over 77m for Robbie. You can guess who cracked America. Biggest total sales: Adele.
8 Both have sung songs that are now standards on TV talent shows. Adele’s tunes have been, er, reinterpreted 55 times worldwide, but Robbie’s have been sung an astonishing 98 times (and only 97 of those were Angels). Most covers on talent shows: Robbie.
And the winner is…? We’re calling this a draw. How can you really choose between two such likeable legends?
NEW! Adele In New York City Friday 11.25pm BBC1
NEW! BRITs Icon: Robbie Williams Monday 9pm ITV