Robbie Williams rescues bland ARIAs night

Robbie to the rescue!

Back on Nine after seven years, but only Robbie Williams could inject some spark to the ARIA Awards.

The 2009 ARIA Awards returned to the Nine Network after seven years of being on Network TEN.

No longer produced by Roving Enterprises, the night saw a marked difference in its presentation. Staged at the PBL-owned Acer Arena in Sydney, the night featured a centre-stage surrounded on all four sides by audience members, perhaps borrowing an idea from the MTV Video Music Awards.

It opened without a bang as Keith Urban sang a country song before hosts Gyton Grantley and Kate Ritchie took to the stage. Both are Underbelly actors and although Ritchie has been a Nova radio presenter, neither is known for their music career. All of that could have been forgiven (previous ARIA hosts haven't necessarily been music performers) if they had delivered some spark to the show. Instead they proceeded to read from the autocue, denying us any impromptu moments worth remembering.

Throughout the show we were reminded how easy it was to download the favourite tunes from iTunes. Nine even decided it was time to bring out its entertainment editor, Richard Wilkins. Later in the night we copped Getaway's Jason Dundas and Natalie Gruzlewski. How long would it be before Karl Stefanovic would rock up?

It wasn't until Robbie Williams took to the stage that the audience came alive and pop arrogance reminded us the ARIAs once had attitude. Singing Bodies he had the audience on its feet as he pouted, jumped, gyrated and even dropped the "F Bomb" off microphone. The ego had landed.

Much of Nine's telecast seemed to be done on the cheap, with dubious sound quality and video backdrops in place of true staging. A flamboyant performance by Empire of the Sun brought back some genuine theatre.

For their efforts Empire of the Sun stole the night winning Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Best Group. But Luke Steele's absent co-partner -- only thanked in his final acceptance speech -- could see them with a shorter rein than even Savage Garden ever had.

Sarah Blasko was named Best Female Artist, Daniel Merriweather won Best Male Artist, and Ladyhawke won two awards as Breakthrough Artist and Breakthrough Single. AC/DC also won two awards while multinominated singer Jessica Mauboy walked away with one award for Highest Selling Australian Single.