MOTTFAN

What a surprise... I really loved New Day on An Evening With Take That tonight! Hopefully it came across well to first-time listeners too (fingers crossed). Was nice to hear Babe sung live again too, even though it was a condensed version.

Great thread! I was a fan from *near* the beginning. At first I dismissed TT as just another generic and not-particularly-talented boy band if I'm honest. (How awful of me!!) I'd heard about the band before they had chart success (through smash hits I think) but never really liked any of their early releases. I wasn't even a fan of It Only Takes a Minute, and definitely not I Feel Heaven (little did I know that TT also hated that song too lol). It was only when Why Can't I Wake Up With You got released that finally made me go and buy Take That And Party, and when Pray came along a while later it was such a knockout song that i became fully converted. I've followed the solo careers to varying degrees over the years but it's only really Marks career that Ive followed obsessively from day 1 to now.

Was surprised they performed Wonderland but it might not have been a bad move. I've found the song to be a bit of a grower - so when they perform it again tonight on Audience With it will be the 2nd time in quick succession that the general public hear the song. Hopefully they'll like it enough after performance number 2 to go and buy the album!

That doesn't surprise me to be honest (although does disappoint me!). They only ever seem to air a few of their new songs when doing this kind of tv special and then go heavy on all the old/obvious ones like pray and never forget. It would be nice if they could let go of their back catalogue for this kind of show and go "sod it, we're going heavy on new-album songs" and maybe just chuck in one or two of the old anthems.

Am not a westlife fan at all so clicked on this thread with both trepidation and curiosity!! I do love reading about sales figures, even more so when TT come out on top. Deservedly so in my (admittedly biased) opinion haha. Great to see Boyzone in the mix. Despite the number of cheesy covers in their back-catalogue I am a big fan of theirs. Their comeback songs/albums have all been superb (if we forget that Dublin to Detroit ever happened). the gap in sales between BZ (in 4th) and JLS (5th) is staggering!! I hear BZ are going on tour again soon; I assume that means another album is due which will help their numbers a bit :)

Gosh, I really can't believe that this the reality facing the band nowadays. I remember being extremely disappointed that Up All Night didn't continue Marks run of number ones on lead-vocal (even with it being the second single from The Circus). I really do have to lower my expectations lol.

Have to admit that I'm still yet to establish my faves from this album. On first listen I did enjoy New Day but it doesn't exactly scream THIS MUST BE A SECOND SINGLE at me. Loving the Soho Sessions. The intro to Giants is very reminiscent of a version of Mark's Alone Without You that I have somewhere (not 100% sure but I think is the one from the Live At The Academy DVD). I'll see if I can find/post a link so you can see what I mean. A box set of Greatest Hits will be quite interesting/intriguing. Despite their comeback period spawning more albums and (arguably) better quality songs overall, they haven't exactly racked up the hits singles-wise since 2006. I probably should have researched this more thoroughly before posting but if we are talking Top 20 hits then I guess we're only talking about 11 or 12 overall. I hope the earlier post about some new songs with Robbie being added to the mix is true, that would definitely make things more interesting. I'm not desperate for him to return to the band as such but do think he would bring something to the party (Eight Letters was/is just beautiful). Speaking of which, maybe a new Greatest Hits would be a great time for them to finally release The Party Is Over . I'm dying to hear that song! (But only on the basis that the "party", as it were, keeps on going :)

I need to come back and do a proper review later, but I just had to share my thoughts about Come On Love (which I really like). It's got a real New Radicals vibe about it - does anyone else a) remember them and b) agree ?? Love the Saturday Night Takeaway appearance . And you have to hand it to Ant and Dec for learning all the dance moves to Pray. Ps - forgot to say in my last post: how funny was Howard's "can't be arsed comment" about breaking the US :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Had about 3 listens to the album so far and I'm enjoying it more on each listen. Slightly disappointed that there's only 3 leads for Mark (and shockingly only one for Howard - even worse for him is that it's the worst song on the album lol !). With only 3 members nowadays coupled with the extra tracks that you get on special/repackaged editions the Wonderland and III eras have been disproportionately Gary-heavy. It's like he's re-asserting his authority after the share-the-leads-around period at the start of their comeback. It seems slightly odd from a fan's perspective but as long Mark and Howard are both fine with it then that's all that matters really. Carpool karaoke was ace!!!! Really enjoyed part one and thought that was my lot - then they said there's a part 2 still to come, which was even better! I agree that the US audience must've found it a bit strange (Take Who?) - but I guess a show that's on 5(?) nights a week can't always have high profile celebs on it as there just aren't enough to go round for a sustained length of time.

Half way through my first listen. YES!!!! The boys have still got it :)

Yes probably better that way :) I heard a snippet of Superstar today and am beginning to get a bit worried. From the new album we've already heard Cry, Giants, Loving or Leaving, New Day and now Superstar... and not one lead vocal for Mark in sight ! :( EDIT - oops my mistake it seems as though Superstar is indeed a lead vocal by Mark (I'd only heard a brief snippet - which I'm sure wasn't Mark singing!)

Meant to say, what's the deal with TT appearing on US television? Are they really hoping to crack the US or did they just turn up because they're mates with James Corden? I assume they must be releasing Giants in the US though, is that right?

Really enjoyed that performance of Giants. It certainly gains something from being performed live (although I really liked it anyway). I've listened to the 30 second snippet of New Day that was posted in the TT Facebook page - don't want to listen to the full song til I have the album in my hands!- and quite enjoyed it too. ( Although I wasn't overly keen on the funny vocals just as it faded out lol.) It sounds as tho style-wise the new album is going to be a cross between III and The Circus, which gets the thumbs up from me. I really enjoyed the the bold strides the band took with Progress and and the modern-day production on III but I'm more than ready for stuff that leans more to the BW/Circus era of their career.

oh dear the video is quite disappointing. after seeing all the wonderland artwork and outfits I was expecting so much more :(

I read somewhere that the tv special will be aired on Sunday 2nd April. One week too late... But better late than never I guess!!

Great news!!! :) I think there was a circus-related show at the start of that era (it was the only time I remember them singing Julie live).

Played the album to my partner today who reckons much of it is quite samey (have to agree that some of the ballads do kind of blend into one another, although that may just because they are new to my ears). The most amusing comment, however, was being asked whether or not the into to Barcelona featured guest vocals from Rolf Harris!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Really liking this album so far. Of the new - not heard til today - songs I'm loving Galway Girl, New Man and Supermarket Flowers (i think he could've picked a better title for the latter however; it really doesn't do it justice) And I don't get why Ed thinks Perfect tops Thinking Out Loud ! *scratches head*

Thanks for sharing the chart position. May you rest in peace Giants. Your life may have been short and you were known by only a few, but those that DID know you loved you dearly. Sob!

Even the promo for Mark's "The Art of Doing Nothing" was more visible than the Wonderland campaign (so far). I remember they faffed around with the release date of Stars and there weren't any exclusive b-sides but at least Mark got to sing the lead single on the one show and Alan Carr. Oh well, hopefully there will be a 2nd single to coincide with the album release which will totally smash it. (I'm not going to hold my breath though!)

Ouch!! :(

Yes the lack of promo elsewhere (outside of let it shine) is strange really. I agree that Gary is possibly spreading himself too thinly at the moment - and that it would be best to delay the album release until it can be given everyone's undivided attention. Leaving it to promote itself when your album sales have begun to decline is a big mistake in my opinion. As has been mentioned before they went to the whole trouble of 2 CDs for Giants, exclusive b-sides and a signed bundle... and then done pretty much nothing to back it up. Such a waste!

I can KIND OF understand the BBCs stance on this, given that they have to be seen to be impartial etc, but when you break it down its a bit of a flawed policy really... BBC - sorry Gary you can't perform Giants tonight as we can't be seen to be allowing you to use Let it Shine as a promotional vehicle for take that. Gary - what??? cant you just ask graham to do that thing afterwards that the BBC always does by saying "other songs by reformed 90s boy bands are available"? BBC - no. Sorry. [PAUSE] BBC - but...if you want, feel free to promote one of your old songs instead. In my mind, if the BBC have decided it's ok for TT to perform on Let it shine then it shouldn't matter what song they sing. Whatever they sings its "promotion" of sorts.

If it helps, I've preordered the deluxe edition from Tesco direct for £12 with free postage (and club card points!) - should be delivered on the delay of release.

Hi, relative newbie her. Yes the stormzy rap transforms SOY. I could take or leave the original but I've downloaded the stormzy version today, and it will be replacing the original on my itunes version divide when it's released. (Also downloaded the acoustic version of castle on the hill which is def worth a listen)