nirvanamusic

Windows and Brand New Sun were my least favourites from the singles. Good but not as memorable or enjoyable as the ones that followed. This made me a little apprehensive at the time about the album after this track debuted. I wondered if this would be the first studio album of theirs I wouldn't connect with. Once the album was released there were songs I liked on the record and so my fears soon subsided. I think over time other songs from the campaign will have more legs than this one.

I like the sound and tone of All Wrapped Up, it has a great classic sound to it. This would have been fantastic on Radio 2. The structure of the song and style suits Mark's voice well. I'm just baffled by Windows, no one is saying it's a bad track, however, these later songs deserved that initial attention and spotlight. I didn't even realise You and Me and All Wrapped Up were out until a little later down the line. Hopefully these songs will have a second life and more wider recognition some day. The interesting thing is that when they performed in continental Europe for television promo appearances they chose to perform Where We Are instead of Windows. I think that would have been a good, but not outstanding, lead option.

Hey Boy might need a re-evaluation from myself. I remember hearing it at the time and it just didn't click for me. I haven't heard or played it since the release. It is also a song which I might miss were I ever asked to name as many Take That songs in a minute. Forgotten.

I'm sure I once saw Robbie say on camera not too long ago that he prefers Everything Changes out of his two Take That leads.

Relight My Fire is fantastic and such a key song in their setlists. The inclusion of Lulu was unexpected genius --the manager definitely thought outside the box for them-- and she really makes an entrance on the track, taking it to a higher level. It is just a fun track from start to finish, the joy in the lyrics and memorable vocal cues ''all stand up'' etc are just so memorable and infectious. The music video was great and notable at the time for its LGBT representation and culture being displayed prominently as well as Mark's ripped crop top ''junkies baddy powder'' causing a minor stir. Interesting to see Amazon are selling the shirt online, though you would have to cut/rip the bottom part off to match Mark. There are single promo shots of Mark wearing the shirt so clearly they knew what they were doing. The song's production still holds up and it comes on with intent and doesn't let up. It also gave them something different to work with visually. An inspired choice.

I agree, This Life was my favourite as well and crossed so many generations in its sound. I agree about the tone that it is a good counter to their other songs and a good addition to their canon. It is odd they didn't lead with this considering it was the theme to their podcast in the build up to the first single and an instrumental of it was teased for a good while during the promotion of Windows. Maybe they thought it held more power as a second single to sustain interest? It could have had a fantastic music video, it gives me 1970s New York City vibes.

I love the storytelling of Babe and the fact it is so different, histrionic and dramatic with the orchestral swirls. It is everything you want in a dramatic boyband ballad. A partner who leaves only to come back and find out he has fathered a child is more Cat Stevens lyrical narratives than boyband fluff. The song was massive across Europe becoming their big Top 10 breakthrough in many countries and Mark's vocals suit the tempo of the song well. Gary certainly had a knack for writing and arranging to other band members strengths. The Day After Tomorrow was the equivalent on the next album 'Nobody Else' earmarked as the fourth single that never was, but clearly hoping for the same results. It is a beautifully arranged song just like Babe, though I would say holds less dramatics and is my preferred of the two Mark leads from the '90s. I love the sombre mood of it and vocal harmonies. Going back to Babe the music video was fantastic with the band members playing different roles/cameos. It also won an MTV International Viewers Choice Award as announced at the main show in New York City hosted by comedian Roseanne Barr. Take That definitely had global attention by this point. I'm just glad the song hit #1 in the UK with big sales even if Mr Blobby denied it the Christmas number 1 the following week.

I have 15 favourites left in.

The review for Said It All is spot on and Mark really does steal the show here, his contrast and style to Gary's works a treat. It is my favourite single from 'The Circus'. Also, the song was hampered in the weeks after its #9 peak --it had a swift rise in the two weeks prior, jumping multiple spots higher-- by the news of Michael Jackson's death, the first time the singles/albums charts became flooded with re-entries --he had 13 songs throughout the Top 10/40 and more across the Top 100 in the weeks after, this rule would change after the Ed Sheeran album release debacle to only three entries--. Said It All remained in the lower Top 40 during this period but understandably was eclipsed in both press and airplay, without this unexpected event it would have potentially been a sizeable hit. I can't understand why this wasn't released internationally and was a UK only release. It is fantastic, love it when it really drives with urgency towards the end.

Could It Be Magic was my introduction to Take That through my older sisters who must have bought the single as it was on repeat in the car. It is also my favourite from their debut --well the Rapino single mix is not the awful album version-- as it is fun, frantic, energetic, infectious and has a great dance beat as opposed to a softer pop beat. Their momentum was clearly building and this was the right song, production, music video and possibly lead singer? How much of the song's popularity was down to Robbie's charisma and appeal. It was also their first song to break top 10 in some European nations and to go Top 40 in general, including Australia. They were truly on their way now. Overall it would be in my Top 10.

I liked all the new songs released for the Deluxe version of This Life. You and Me is a great song and has a memorable chorus. I think had the standard album included these songs it would have been stronger and You and Me would have been an acceptable choice of lead single for the campaign.

Greatest Day... honestly I get it and I don't. It takes forever to get going, 1 minute 45 before the first chorus. I prefer Said it All and The Garden from 'The Circus' singles. The problem with Greatest Day is it was written to formula. They wanted to write a song to open their concerts. This makes any song less natural and free flowing, contrived. This makes it both good and average in equal measures.

Higher Than Higher is my favourite single from 'III', I love the production, sentiment, and vibe of it. I agree it should have had more recognition at the time and now.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

There was a huge possibility that A Million Love Songs could never have seen the light of day. The sixth single from their debut this should have been released a lot sooner than it was. Based on their chart trajectory they could have been history and no one would ever have known this song. This after all was THE song which got their managers attention and started everything for them. Their Angels in the back pocket, in case of emergencies. Robbie said he always knew they would be alright because they had this song. It is a classic and as such sounds that way, devoid of trends and gimmicks, timeless.

I like Promises, it has a great catchy chorus and sound which keeps it infectious still. The video is also great for capturing that early new excitement and fun. Promises going in at #38 and being on the Chart Show remains the most exciting chart position Robbie ever had. On hearing it announced and played, he jumped so much on the bed in the hotel he broke it. It also marks the debut of the iconic TT logo.

What a nightmare system for clarity of sales. I did wonder why certain songs/albums were taking forever to add small sales to be certified. Hopefully BPI and The Official Charts Company will do a complete sales update for their singles/albums to be used as reference.

For groups from their era Take That have done well, sales from others (East 17 - Stay Another Day the exception -, Boyzone etc) have been frozen in time. Back For Good, Never Forget, Everything Changes, and A Million Love Songs have all reached higher sales certifications since the reunion. There are three 90s Take That songs I'm surprised haven't reached Platinum based on their status and longevity: Pray, Relight My Fire and A Million Love Songs. The last two being on Silver (!) though Relight My Fire is closing in on Gold status.

They didn't release The Day After Tomorrow as the fourth single as planned in Christmas 1995. In early January they decided to split with the announcement in February which killed the sales for Nobody Else dead in the water. Between Never Forget released in July and February the following year when they announced the split --on Robbie's birthday-- there wasn't the planned single released to fill that void and bump sales. How Deep Is Your Love was announced at the press conference as the next and final single and the Greatest Hits to follow meant attention turned to this. That is what has been said anyway. There are a lot of their 90s songs which should have higher sales certs in today's context but they were succesful for the times and population. Few singles went Platinum and even the top 10 year end best sellers were filled with Gold status singles. The pop/general cd sales boom came after them in the late 90s. Take That & Party had 7 singles released. Everything Changes, 6. Nobody Else, 3, so even with two huge hits that is still a lot less promotion, visibility, and longevity for the album.

I like Sure and feel it is a good single option, though not as a lead. It sounds very American New Jack Swing and East 17 inspired, trend of the year 1994 as opposed to being original or classically constructed (timeless). This also marked the (brief) change in their image: shaved head, dreadlocks, eyebrow piercing, beards, Mark nose ring, jet black single artwork and dingy lighting etc. Again perhaps copying East 17 for a stronger, broader image. Nobody Else had loads of great single options in my opinion: The Day After Tomorrow, Sunday to Saturday --Japan only release, #9 peak--, Nobody Else, Holding Back the Tears. With the exception of the TV show 'Derry Girls' which loves to play a snippet of the track -the pause after the piano intro when the song comes back in and lyrics begin ''sure, so sure'', it is largely forgotten. I agree the two classics which followed this doesn't help Sure's cause and identity. Interesting note about the graphics, I read Tom Watkins (East 17 manager) comment in an interview about how Nigel Martin Smith (Take That manager) was clueless about artwork in contrast to himself and East 17. I have to agree he was right, they had better artwork. The long music video isn't a hit with me either and makes me want to skip the track altogether. I suppose Robbie coming back from the shops is mildly funny but what was the purpose? Did music video stations at the time play it in full? I have only ever seen the video start on music channels when the group first sing and are dancing in the string vests. Basically the part Derry Girls loves.