The start of the nineties saw the pop generation explode as a massive influence to British music was born; Take That consist of five very different members that create one of the best UK pop sensations ever made. Six years of boy band intoxication throughout the nineties was sometimes too much for young teenage girls and music lovers alike. Fans went wild for the five piece as they sold out tours, got number one singles and changed people’s lives with their music.
They pumped out hit after hit and nothing seemed to be able to stop them, even with competition coming in thick and fast over the years with the likes of Boyzone and East 17 always nipping at their heels.
Take That’s cheesy dance-orientated pop masterpieces and tear jerking ballads dominated the UK charts for the first half of the nineties. Its hard to think that their first ever single released in 1991 only reached number 82 in the UK charts; ‘Do What U Like’ from the bands first album ‘Take That and Party’ has now become a favourite for many as they look back at their cheeky young faces covered head to toe in sweet treats.
The brain behind the bodies, haircuts and leather was bleach blonde cutie Gary Barlow who wrote all their music back in the day. The band first begun to be recognised seeing the release of 1975’s Tavares cover ‘It Only Takes A Minute’ which saw the band get their first top ten hit in 1992. The video for this track was jam packed full of ridiculously low lunges, ripped torsos and booty shaking beats! Take a trip back in time here below…
The start of their continued roaming of the charts was imminent as Take That released one of the most beautiful love songs ever wrote ‘A Million Love Songs’. It’s hard to believe that Barlow wrote this as a child but the lyrics and piano pieces really do tip on genius.
Then a year on a new album was in sight as ‘Everything Changes’ was unleashed to the world which housed the bands first number one single, ‘Pray’. The five piece were then unstoppable as they teamed up with vocal diva Lulu to bring us ‘Relight My Fire’; nobody can forget that legendary ‘Junkie’s Baddy Powder’ t-shirt worn in the video by baby faced cutie Mark Owen even nearly twenty years on.
They went on to embark on more number one hit singles from their second album ‘Everything Changes’, which came in the form of ‘Babe’ and album title track ‘Everything Changes’. This saw a change in the band as leading man Gary Barlow took a step out of the lime light to give Mark Owen and their youngest member Robbie Williams a taste of leading vocal.
As the number one hits flowed so did the fan base. The awards then started to fly in as the band were continually nominated; their performances on Top Of The Pops also got them noticed as they become famous for their flamboyant dance routines and jaw dropping costumes.
1995 came and after five years of stardom, they delivered their third studio album ‘Nobody Else‘, again based on most of Barlow’s exceptional material. This year also saw the loss of outstanding member Robbie Williams as his drug addiction became too much to handle. Single ‘Back For Good’ was the last video that Williams shot with the band and many fans, to this day, still look on this video drenched in rain and soaked in emotion. Grab your tissues…
The band continued to promote themselves as a four piece and we all hoped and prayed this was not the end. Take That are arguably one the best British pop bands of our generation and seeing them crumble in front of our eyes would be devastating. As they released ‘Never Forget’ the final single of their ‘Nobody Else’ album, everyone looked upon them and wondered – What next?
Sadly 1996 accommodated their ‘Greatest Hits’ album which always spells out goodbye and as ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ was released the 13th February arrived, a date of despair as Take That publicly announced their split; for some this was one of the worst memories from their childhood as journalists worldwide filmed teenage revellers sobbing the hearts out up and down the country.
Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange were no more but there is no denying that within these six years that they produced countless amounts of phenomenal musical gems that people still call their favourite hits.
Thank goodness, the band has reformed now in this day and age and continues to pour out classics and wow audiences in the thousands year after year. If you mention those two words in any part of the country, every single person will know exactly who you are talking about. In this day in age of stereotypical musical disasters that is a beautiful trait to own and Take That work it with style and ease, and will continue too for many years to come.
