Well, had a quick read of some of his work. Safe to say he's not a fan of TT which makes his purchase of Mark's record somewhat perplexing:)

 

His reviews of TT are more positive than Gary's but it's evident he doesn't rate any of the band. The phase 'damning with faint praise' is apt when it comes to his reviews of TT - and his disdain for Gary leaps off the page. He seems to be the designated reviewer for all things TT but given his obvious dislike of the band I'm surprised the paper hasn't allocated another journalist.

 

Now going to check out his reviews of Rob :)

 

Nope, Gary never said anything to or about him. He's shown remarkable restraint :D

 

I know this will sound nasty, but it's the only explanation I have for Mcwormick's "sympathy" towards Mark - I think he empathises with anyone who doesn't quite make it in the music industry. Or maybe he truly likes Mark. But allow me to be skeptic about that.

The man praises the likes of 1D and Kanye West, so I wouldn't put too much price on his musical taste.

He also thinks Chris Martin is a great live singer (I do like Chris, but he's more miss than hit when it comes to live performing) AND, the most important thing, he thinks Robbie is the 2nd coming!!! :D

"The biggest absence is, once again, Robbie Williams, who (LET'S NOT DWELL ON MCWORMICK's GRAMMAR SKILLS!! :P ) solo career has exhibited more character, imagination and daring than that of any of his former band mates. His return for 2010s Progress put a belated spring in Take That’s dance steps, pushing them away from formulaic Coldplay-by-numbers and into a surprisingly invigorating realm of joyously bonkers sci-fi stadium electropop. Now Williams has once again threatened to overshadow his former comrades by releasing a previously unannounced album on the same day. It is a typically cheeky move from Williams, and, as if to rub it in, he’s baring both cheeks on the cover. Under The Radar Volume 1 is a collection of Williams’ B-sides, rarities, demos and out-takes available only through his own website. It is clearly not intended to rival Take That in the charts but nevertheless is crammed full of the kind of sparkle, mischief and pop eccentricity that makes Take That’s more sleekly designed offering appear dully conformist."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/c...orward-fun.html

 

That's why I never give any credit to "critics" :D They have their own agenda, which, usually, has nothing to do with the item they review.

Edited April 20, 20169 yr by milly

Yep, you're correct Milly. It's quite clear where Mr McCormick stands re the merits of Rob and TT :)

 

Balanced and favourable in terms of Rob with some constructive comments and reluctant praise of TT with disdain bubbling underneath the surface. It's clear he views Rob as a premier world wide artist but TT as a cheesy throw away pop act. Everyone's entitled to their opinion I guess, but I'd say as a journalist he sails very close to the wind in terms of objectivity - and that's being kind!!

 

 

Have you ever considered that Mr McCormick who has a reputation that makes him even known here in the Netherlands as one of the best in his genre may be right?

May be right about what?

 

Elisabeth, you are really clinging here; I guess the guy could be - and IS - the biggest jerk to grace earth, but he says 2 nice words about Robbie and he's suddenly someone worth listening to? Why not?! Let's ignore all evidence of the contrary! :huh:

Elisabeth, McCormick is a music journalist who has a perfect right to his opinion and that's simply what it is, an opinion. As an opinion it's not scientific so his views can't be proved or disproved.

 

As a reader of his journalistic output I have a perfect right to critique his work and I find it wanting on a number of levels. Primarily it's the obvious bias and disdain that jumps off the page. As a reviewer he should be objective and impartial and I simply don't believe he is. As a music critic irrespective of my musical preferences I would put aside any preconceived ideas or prejudices about an artist and 'judge' them on their performance. Given my views on Robbie I would have difficulty maintaining such objectivity. I would hopefully therefore have enough journalistic integrity to recognise how my personal views could compromise my review and have the foresight to hand that particular assignment to someone else.

 

I'm sorry Elisabeth but many of his comments are infantile and display a malicious undercurrent. By all means pen a negative view but ensure that it's balanced with some level of journalistic skill and impartiality.

Elisabeth, are you a TT fan?

I think McCormick does seem to have it in for Gary. I do have to agree with him on one thing though - and that is Gary's 'patter' between songs. I thought this in the days when I was a huge TT fan. I know when I went to the concerts (all of them) whenever Gary would speak between songs - I kept thinking 'oh just shut up and sing - you sound like an end-of-the-pier bingo caller when you talk' - it was at this point in the shows that Mark came into his own - Mark had/has the gift of being natural and unrehearsed (which Gary always seems to appear - rehearsed and forced I mean). It was a bit of a disappointment if I'm honest as Gary was dryly hilarious when he was on the Jonathan Ross show (at the launch of his book) and on the behind-the-scenes dvd for both the Reunion Tour and the BW tour - he was belly-laugh funny. He was also very funny on Take That - For The Record. As he has become more and more 'invincible' with everyone (who had previously ridiculed him) declared him the new saviour of music - he appeared to lose that natural dry humour and become just plain boring. Even the way he claps his hands is boring.

 

I'm not going to comment on his music as I can't suddenly say he's no good at it when some of the songs he's written for Take That have been immensely enjoyable (and Patience is a killer of a song in anyone's book).

Edited April 20, 20169 yr by Kath

Agree with you Kath re Gary's stiffness on stage.

 

On the two occasions I've seen him live there has been flickers of his dry humour and wit, but he's not a natural on stage in the way Rob and Mark are. That said, he's very, very good live and clearly talented, but he simply doesn't have the natural banter of the other two. I actually think he's rather funny with a strong northern sense of humour, but unfortunately for him it doesn't translate on stage and he can seem a little contrived. I don't think he's boring on stage but I do think he's strongest in a small, intimate venue. His Radio 2 concert is a perfect example of this. He held his own and maintained the crowds interest throughout and it was a lovely concert with his music taking centre stage.

 

Gary's at his strongest as a performer when he's simply sitting at the piano and singing and the memories that stick with me from his solo concerts have been those times. It's evident from some comments I've read by McCormick that he doesn't think any of them can sing. He's actually stated that the reason why 1D and The Wanted had success in the US was because they could sing; whereas the UK boy bands of the 90's couldn't. A strange comment indeed given that he admitted on TV to buying Mark's single - I'm therefore inclined to conclude that he was talking bull in that programme.

I have to agree with you, Kath - to a certain extent, of course :D

 

Gary still is very funny during interviews, but only when he feels comfortable. I noticed that he seems at ease whenever he gives interviews to Heart Fm, for instance.

He probably needs someone to bounce off and banter with - in the behind-the-scenes for III, he was again very funny. But it's true that this is a side of him that we don't get to see as often as we used to, anymore. I know you think it's arrogance on his part, but I believe that, the more exposure he got on tv, the more self-aware he became. He knows that he has too much to lose now and he probably thinks he can't afford to make any mistakes, cause, as we know, anything he says always takes a turn for the worse in the papers.

Let's remember the duet with himself on the New Year's Eve Bash - what was supposed to be a funny, quite tender moment was suddenly perceived as arrogance, infatuation, self-indulgence. When you constantly get this kind of reactions from the press and some of the public, you start being careful with what you say and do.

But the man has recently learnt how to stand on his head, so maybe his sense of humour will make a comeback for good, now that he got some blood flow to his brain :P

 

Everyone knows by now that Gary rehearses, indeed, his lines for the in-between the songs. Mark is more natural, in this way. But there were plenty of moments on Gary's solo tour where he deviated from the set lines and made some hilarious introductions.

Not everyone can be spontaneous on every gig, especially during a long tour.

I've seen plenty of big artists do the same on their tours - they repeat the same jokes and the same lines over and over again, but I haven't seen any of them being put down for this by the reviewers- aside from Gary. Even Robbie, who's considered to be a lose canon, has rehearsed jokes on his tour.

Even actors/comedians do the same, so it's not really fair to hold it against a guy whose job is to sing, not to entertain.

 

I know you don't like Gary, Kath, and that's fine, cause nobody can force you to like him, especially as a person, but can you honestly tell me that this moment from his solo tour is boring?

For those who haven't seen the JR interview I'm talking about (or you'd like a refresher) here it is.

 

 

 

I have to say - I love the bit with the donuts! 'What's goin' on with this one 'ere then?'

Edited April 20, 20169 yr by Kath

Milly, I remember that segment of the concert very, vey well. It was very beautiful and at the show I saw he was pitch perfect, or to my ears at least. The lighting was lovely and added to the atmosphere.

 

I recall seeing a video from one of his 02 shows. He asked a lady up on stage. She was from the Far East and had travelled all the way to London on her own to see Gary. His banter was completely unscripted and very funny. I did fall a little bit in love with him when I saw it and he was lovely with her.

You mean this one?

His one and only fan in the whole of Malaysia :lol:

The AMLS moment on that tour gave way to many laughs - Gary was hilarious when he told Lesley that she didn't look at him once, cause she was too bothered checking her emails :D

There have been lots of funny episodes on his solo tours.

 

I know the interview, Kath, but, since you posted the link, I'm gonna re-watch it cause it's hilarious.

That's the one I was thinking of. A lovely moment and the lady was so, so sweet!!! We've focused on Gary but all the lads, Rob included, have a cracking sense of humour. They play off each other so well and it's much better when it's not scripted. There were some great moments on the lll tour. There's a really funny video of Mark falling over twice and you have to chuckle.

 

The JR videos actually show how much weight Gary has lost since then - he's little more than a shrimp now :) In an attempt to bring the discussion back on track I do hope if they all re-unite the tour is light hearted. I've a feeling it may be with many tongue in cheek moments and montages of their most embarrassing situations - aka the cod pieces, etc.

 

 

Imagine if the greatest hits had all the Take That number ones, and then newly recorded songs sang by Take That including the Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams number one hits. It would have over 20 number ones. Then throw in the number twos and a few songs by Mark Owen and Howard Donald and a couple of new songs. It would be a monster hit.

I was thinking all of their top ten singles would be a good greatest hits. I know for second part would be a disadvantage as aside from leads not many went top 10 but it would still have 20 songs plus a few new ones also.

I certainly hope they include Said It All, AMLS and The Flood, even if they didn't go no 1. Greatest Hits does not necessarily mean no. ones.

I know I'm in minority here, but I'd like I'd Wait for Life to feature on the GH album.

I dont believe their Greatest Hits should be based on chart positions. The Greatest Hits ideally would be a wonderful 2 disc set of all their singles. It is likely this will not happen and some singles will lose out, especially the less known singles that were released from Progress and Three, Id Wait for Life is another that could be dropped from the list. Their early singles that flopped i believe should be included such as Once You've tasted love as these singles were the starting point.

 

All the number 1 hits will certainly make the list but sadly, Sure in my opinion is one of their worst singles and i would not be disappointed to see the track left off the release, i remain puzzled as to why this was ever selected as the single to open the Nobody Else era.

 

 

I do like Sure in its swing version :)

I'm not a fan of the song, but I do believe it showed Gary's versatility as a songwriter at the time and, if I remember right, it got positive reviews.

But I'd much rather have Higher than Higher on the GH album than Sure.

Higher and Higher, i cant see making the cut. That said, including it, would open it to more people hearing it. There are people who will buy the Greatest Hits that wont have purchased Three.

 

Has anyone considered any good name for the Greatest Hits. 5:4:3 The Greatest Hits?