On2009. november 9 November 2009,-én Williams releasedmegjelentette hisnyolcadik eighth solo studio album entitledstúdióalbumát ''[[Reality Killed the Video Star]]'' címmel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/reality-killed-the-video-star/id328221116|title=Music - Reality Killed the Video Star by Robbie Williams|publisher=[[iTunes Store]] (GB). [[Apple Inc]]|accessdate=November 24, 2012}}</ref> The album incorporated elements of [[pop rock]], [[dance-rock]], [[alternative rock]] and [[adult contemporary music]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/reality-killed-the-video-star-mw0001357854|title=Reality Killed the Video Star|publisher=[[AllMusic]]. [[Rovi Corporation]]|accessdate=24 November 2012}}</ref> ''Reality Killed the Video Star'' was viewed by critics and fans as being Williams' "comeback album" after the relative failure of his 2006 release, ''[[Rudebox]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rosie Swash |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/aug/05/robbie-williams-announces-comeback-album?FORM=ZZNR8 |title=Robbie Williams announces comeback album |work=[[The Guardian]]|publisher= [[Guardian Media Group]]|date= 5 August 2009|accessdate=22 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i3b357564e8af014e8cd31b8303cd50d3 |title=Madonna, Robbie Williams Rule In Europe |publisher=Billboard.biz. [[Prometheus Global Media]]|accessdate=22 May 2010}}</ref> The album produced four singles, including the worldwide hit "[[Bodies (Robbie Williams song)|Bodies]]".
Speaking of the album, Williams has claimed: "After the Take That reunion – a busman's holiday, a break from my career which re-energised me in many, many ways – I wanted to come back with a massive solo album. My main priority was to write what I consider, and hopefully what the world would consider, to be hits. I'm very excited".<ref name="RW.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/news-blogs/take-the-crown-new-album-out-5th-november |title=Take The Crown: New Album Out 5th November |publisher=Robbie Williams's official site |accessdate=4 September 2012}}</ref> The album was made available to pre-order from midnight on 3 September 2012. Music industry magazine ''[[Music Week]]'' were given the chance to listen to the record in advance, and gave the following review: "Take The Crown is the big, brash, confident Robbie Williams pop record that his fans have been longing for but maybe didn't dare expect. If it had a sub-title it would be 'In Case You'd Forgotten'. Not wishing to denigrate the art of the record executive, but Island may as well have chosen the lead single by chucking a dart at the inlay sleeve. They couldn't have missed. Because there are no misses. Just hits - huge pop hits."<ref name="RW.com"/>
