Have you connected the names together yet? Yes, it's Gary, Robbie and Mark. Sorry Jason and Howard, you don't get a look in. While the latter may be doing a bit more singing nowadays, to me they will always be the tall break-dancers who make the others look good.
The reason I have specified these names rather than Take That is because I am including their combined song-writing ability with their individual work. I own every TT album (old and new), Gary's solo CDs, all of Robbie's collections (aside from the God-awful Rudebox, did anyone buy it or listen to it more than once?), and yes, I own Mark's album too. What's more I liked it. So nurgh!
So I've clumped them together for the purpose of this selection because I think they are a rather talented bunch. Between the three of them as solo artists and as a group they have:
- sold over 100 million albums worldwide;
- won over 20 Brit awards between them;
- won 5 Ivor Novello awards;
- and one of them has been voted the greatest British songwriter of all time.
So here are my favourites:
Old Take That song;
- Everything Changes But You (cheeky and lively; love the video)
New Take That song (pre-Robbie);
- Rule the World
New Take That song (post-Robbie);
- Kidz
Gary Barlow solo song;
- Open Road
Mark Owen solo song;
- Four Minute Warning
Robbie Williams solo song;
- I will talk and Hollywood will Listen.
The songs are good, old-fashioned, middle-of-the-road, songs with good melodies and rousing lyrics. I like them and am unashamed of it*!
(*Ok, I possibly feel the need to excuse my choice, but admit it you've got a favourite Take That song too!)
