Robbie Williams tickets go on sale Sept. 14

We admittedly don't know much about Robbie Williams' music -- we lived a sheltered existence in the United States from 1973 to 2002 -- but we do know the guy is huge (as in a huge megastar ... not in any other way ... as far as we know). We also know he is coming to Shanghai on November 4 -- and that show also will be huge. Some 26,000 people are expected to pack Hongkou Stadium. That's not too shabby. Earlier this year, we called the Black Eyed Peas playing Shanghai a "historic moment" because they were the first major contemporary foreign act at the height of their celebrity to stage a show in the city. Scratch that. This is the historic moment.

Williams is bringing to Shanghai the same stage show he would anywhere else in the world. The stage itself is coming from the UK and includes 500 square meters of performance space. It's also got a roof that will support 40 tons of equipment. And they are bringing in lights and speakers from Beijing and Guangzhou ... because Shanghai doesn't have enough.

Because you can only watch the same three episodes from the second-to-last season of Friends so many times, we ended up watching a Robbie Williams concert video at the gym not too long ago. Whether you like the guy's music or not, there's no doubting his ability to entertain. He's a natural. And if we had 60 to 200 dollars to blow on a ticket, we'd think about going on November 4.

While we are mulling that over, we'll stick to YouTube. There are plenty of videos of recent shows -- like September 9 in Leeds. You'll also find two clips that show Williams is one of the best guests MTV Cribs will ever have. And finally, our favorite Robbie Williams music video -- the one where he tears off his own flesh.

Robbie Williams, Close Encounters Tour, Nov. 4, 2006, 8 pm, Hongkou Stadium. Tickets RMB 180-1,580. Tel: 6289 3919. Email: tickets@cwest.cn. Website. Tickets go on sale Sept. 14.

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Let him entertain you