30 Let in the Sun

 

 

So far, the majority of albums have lost at least one single. Everything Changes, Nobody Else, Beautiful World, Progress and This Life have lost one each, Wonderland has lost two (if you count Cry), both Greatest Hits and Odyssey have lost their only singles, and poor Take That and Party has lost six of its eight singles...! That only leaves The Circus and III with all of their singles in the running... until now, where we lose one of III's four contenders. Let in the Sun was the second single from the album, and though it fared much less well than lead single These Days, I still enjoy it as a perfectly competent pop track with some really nice production. That said, it's less standout than These Days was, so I can see why it didn't quite connect the same way, but it was a nice single choice regardless.

 

Aside - A Million Love Songs is definitely one I'd rate higher if this were a more objective list. It's undeniably vital to their career, after all, and it does have quite a timeless sound to it. Unfortunately it's not one I go back to very much, and the replay factor is one of the biggest indicators of which songs I love, I find.

I love the upbeat summer feel of Let in the Sun, though that said it isn't replayed too often by myself. I was amazed that the song didn't chart, even lowly, off the back of their Brit Awards performance.

Edited September 8, 2024Sep 8 by nirvanamusic

29 Reach Out

 

 

Whilst we had I'd Wait for Life as the third single from Beautiful World, parts of Europe received an alternative single choice in the form of Reach Out. The album's opening track, Reach Out sets the tone for Beautiful World really well, fitting into the soundscape of the mid-2000s seamlessly alongside the likes of Keane. It performed modestly across Europe, and I think it would've been a much better single choice here too, even if it still wouldn't have reached the highs of Patience and Shine before it (or Rule the World after). It's radio friendly and has more energy to it at least, so perhaps it could have been a top 10 hit at minimum?

 

I agree Reach Out would have been a better single choice and Top 10 also.

 

I can see a fantastic music video to accompany this track also due to its positive, energetic driving sound. Back then not to have a music video was seen as odd and it would have benefitted the track greatly. I think everything around this third single was rushed whether it was I'd Wait For Life in the UK or Reach Out in Europe, both seem to have been afterthoughts with no strategic plans.

 

Odd considering they had just come off two number one singles and were still in the establishing phase of their reunion.

 

It would be great to get an explanation. I know they cut the promotion of I'd Wait For Life short. Panic at the mid weeks, maybe? Better to claim half in than full commitment. Though as I say Reach Out wasn't given much thought either and did well off fan power and goodwill generated from their previous two singles.

Edited September 8, 2024Sep 8 by nirvanamusic

Reach out would have made a much greater single than Id Wait For Life and I believe would have provided them with another Top 10 hit.

28 It Only Takes a Minute

 

 

The start of Take That's career was surprisingly bumpy given how huge they became, but things shifted with their fourth single. It Only Takes a Minute is one of four covers released as singles by the band across their career (all of which happened before their split in 1996), originally being performed by Tavares (a Billboard top 10 hit, but only peaked at #46 in the UK). With only a #38 hit to their name, It Only Takes a Minute debuted at #16, before spending four weeks top 10 with a peak of #7 - a major breakthrough moment for the group, and the start of a consistent run of top 40 hits that the band enjoyed until Hold Up a Light unfortunately didn't take off. I only know Take That's version so can't compare to the original, but it's a really catchy song and it's easy to see why this took off more than their previous singles to this point. The hook is in your face, and it felt like their dancey sound from the debut era really slotted into place. Only one single remains from the debut album in this countdown now...!

 

The 2 Unlimited style start of the intro then it goes into SAW-style retro soul revival.

Let in the Sun i do like, i forget sometimes it was a single though.

Always liked Reach Out and it was a missed opportunity single in the UK, i always find it crazy id wait for life was picked instead of this in the UK.

It Only Takes a Minute i still really like this plus it was the first song i heard of from Take That they hadnt got my attention before that and i suppose its the song that really got things going and gave them their first UK top 10 although it annoyingly missed out here in Ireland and has a number 11 peak.

I still like It Only Takes a Minute and the difference with Take That compared to Boyzone, Westlife and other boybands is that they made their four covers (How Deep Is Your Love less so) their own. They feel and sound like unique Take That records as opposed to carbon copys of the originals, aided by a savvy manager who picked unfamiliar/different arrangements for these songs.

 

Everything stepped up for this single which is understandable considering this was make or break for them, hence the cover.

 

The image, routines, video, production was great for this single. I still find myself singing parts of it which is testament to its longevity. The comment above is perfect and didn't think of it like that, it is 2 Unlimited merged into SAW with a catchy hook.

I wonder how Gary initially felt when it only takes a minute was pitched to them as them writing their own songs was a big part of Dna.

Just discovered this. Good to see all my favourites still yet to appear.

I wonder how Gary initially felt when it only takes a minute was pitched to them as them writing their own songs was a big part of Dna.

 

I can't remember where I saw it but he said he felt defeated but that he realised it was what was needed to establish an audience. As I said earlier I don't know why they didn't release A Million Love Songs earlier.

With their debut album they released the weak singles first which made no sense when they had stronger to release.

Looking back it was strange the order of releases but in a way it worked as they were building interest and aiming to build the fanbase, while we will never know i wonder how a million love songs and it only takes a minute would have performed if they were the first 2 singles, would they have went unnoticed.

27 Giants

 

 

At the time of release, Giants didn't feel like anything special to me. It felt a little predictable for Take That, and despite what I thought of it at the time, I could never have said that about These Days. Looking back, I was definitely harsh, because Giants has a pretty solid anthemic quality to it, even if it's definitely not reinventing the wheel. It was probably the best choice of lead single for the Wonderland album, even if it did seem to paint a clear picture of how the band's singles chart days were numbered. It's certainly grown on me recently, it does what it sets out to do pretty well, but its departure does mean Wonderland loses all three of its singles (Cry included), intriguingly before The Circus has dropped even one single.

 

Giants is great and was the clear standout for a single. I still like the production and it feels anthemic. The best thing around the single release was when they did the carpool karaoke in Los Angeles with James Corden.

 

The song has a very LA vibe to it.

 

It feels like their last pop hit and as the records show, it was.

Edited September 11, 2024Sep 11 by nirvanamusic

Giants is great and was the clear standout for a single. I still like the production and it feels anthemic. The best thing around the single release was when they did the carpool karaoke in Los Angeles with James Corden.

 

The song has a very LA vibe to it.

 

It feels like their last pop hit and as the records show, it was.

 

I agree, really like the chorus of the song the most.

26 Everything Changes

 

 

The fourth single from Take That's second album Everything Changes was its title track, a catchy uptempo number with Robbie on lead vocals, which became the group's fourth consecutive #1, sticking at the top for two weeks. Its breezy, disco-inspired sound felt like a step forward from the sound the band carved out on Take That & Party, and it pulls it off really well with a catchy chorus that became one of the group's most recognisable hits. We're at a point now where I feel strange not to be putting this even in the top half of my countdown - I really like every song at this stage, and I'm splitting hairs to separate songs!

 

Everything Changes has grown on me over the years yet remains at the near bottom of their EC singles selections in my opinion. I still prefer Could It Be Magic out of Robbie's two solo leads as I feel it is more fun and infectious, dance orientated as opposed to pop. The music video for Everything Changes is great and the song has some nice jazzy parts to it, which is different.

 

As we know, it also meant 4 of the 5 members have a number 1 hit to their name. Setting them apart from other similar groups.

 

I agree the chorus is fantastic and has stood the test of time, familiar.

Edited September 12, 2024Sep 12 by nirvanamusic