Out of all the members of 'Take That', Robbie William's never really seemed to fit in. Roguishly handsome, where his bandmates were merely cute, Williams was tougher and sexier than the rest, which made him more distinctive.

So it didn't come as a surprise that he was the first to leave the band, departing early in the summer of 1995 to pursue a solo career; by some accounts, he was fired from the group.

Over the course of 1996, he was only heard from in gossip columns, and every published picture indicated he had put on considerable weight. Occasionally, he was quoted as saying his new music would abandon lightweight dance pop for traditional Brit-pop, but his first single was a cover of George Michael's "Freedom '90." Released late in 1996, the single was a disaster.

But his second single, 1997's "Old Before I Die," was more in the vein of his early pronouncements, featuring a distance Oasis influence. Williams released his first solo album, Life Thru a Lens, in 1997. The album became a big hit in Britain, prompting his second I've Been Expecting You in 1998. The Ego Has Landed, a US-only compilation designed for breaking Williams to American audiences, was released in the US in the spring of 1999, Sing When You're Winning followed in late 2000 and most recently the album "Swing When You Are Winning" is proving to be a hit as well.

This will be available soon from M Entertainment authorized dealers. All winners of previous contests can collect their prizes from Maharaja Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd., at 330, T.B. Jayah Mw., Colombo 10.

To enter this contest, all you have to do is to answer the question on the coupon No.76 and send it to the address given below.

The address is "Listen to Original Music Contest, No. 76, C/o Maharaja Entertainments (Pvt.) Ltd., 330, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10. Tell: + 941672425-8, Fax + 941699070. E Mail: me@lgo.lk All the entries must be originals from the TV Times and no photocopies or faxes will be entertained. All correct entries will be drawn by a panel of judges.

The entries should reach the above address by June 25, the latest. The decision of the judges will be final and the names of the winners will be announced in The Sunday TV Times accordingly.

Here are the winners of contest no. 72 . The winners of two Sony original CDs are Lakmali Liyanage of Galle and Brandon Wood Taylor of Nugegoda. Two audio cassette winners are Jayantha Bandara of Beruwela and W.K. Mahesh Sampath Witharana of Ruggawila.

10% off gift Vouchers go to Dilrukshi Paul of Kandana, U.G. Dulakshi Iranga Abeyratne of Panadura, Janaka Abeysinghe of Colombo 6, Aravinda Tillekeratne of Kohuwela, Rasika Dinesh Hewage of Matugama and Mr. S.A.R. Dissanayake of Gampaha.
Posters winners are M. Degamboda of Rajagiriya, Dinesh Gerard Pillai of Colombo 13, Lalindra Ranaweera of Kandy, A.M.D.U. Abeysinghe of Polgahawela and Seamiya Mohammed of Kurunegala.

Father's Day
Golden Oldies at JAIC
The music of the 50's, 60's and 70's holds a special memory for those of us who grew up with it.

"Golden Oldies" will come alive at the Union Bar and Grill Room of JAIC Hilton on June 21, Friday. Joe Jayasuriya and the Big Band Sounds of The Talk of the Town are pumped up to bring old time favourites from 20.00 hrs onwards.

The music of Glen Miller, Billy Vaughn, James Last, UB 40, Cliff Richard and Boney M ABBA, Beatles, Elvis, Stones Queen Marley will surely make you reminisce about the glorious days gone by.

'Fete de la Musique 2002'
The popular French music day 'Fete de la Musique 2002' will be held at the Galle Face Hotel in collaboration with Alliance Francaise of Colombo. The highlights of the day will be tribute to Ameradeva, a concert of French Pianist Naomie Jeanroy and the rock concert by Wild Fire.

The Festival will start at 5.30 p.m. on June 21 at the Galle Face Hotel and the public event will be held at New Town Hall on June 22 at 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Amateurs and professionals are invited to perform at the French Summer Music Festival on June 22.

Year after year, this event is becoming a highlight moment for people to enjoy music in Europe and through the whole world. In France, the first day of summer on this day, people used to go out and play music in the streets. Others sing and dance spontaneously.

The Galle Face Hotel is the historical and prestigious site chosen to unite French and Sri Lankan culture in an exceptional evening Fete de la Musique 2002. Amaradeva will be felicitated at the 'Fete de la Musique 2002' on June 21 at 6.00 p.m.. Amaradeva has written over one thousand songs and for over fifty years now he has been performing his songs over radio, television and concerts. Amaradeva's fluid, resonant voice long ago overshadowed his violin.

Concert of the French pianist Naomie Jeanroy will come alive at 8.00 p.m.. Naomie Jeanroy's sensibility is in a deep touch with delicate and sensible music and with mainly the French music of the beginning of the twentieth century. The works of four great French composers, Emmanuel Chabrier, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Thierry Fournier will be played during the 'Fete de la Musique'. The music of Joaquin Turina (Spain) and Heitor Villa Lobos (Brazil), two composers, who spend many years in Paris, will complete the concert. Finally, a creation (2002) of a young French composer Thierry Fournier too will be played.

Rock concert by Wildfire will come alive at 10.00 p.m. The band is led by guitarist/singer Derek Wikramanayake, Christo Dhason on drums/vocals, Shafi on guitar/vocals, Damian Wikkramattilake guitar/vocals and Nilantha Ariyarathna on bass.
French wine "Rose" coming especially from France and special buffet will go along with those three concerts. Bonsoir will telecast the show.

The three concerts of the French Music Day are free but accessible with an invitation.
The public festival of'Fete de la Musique 2002' will be held on June 22

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