[新聞]Older and wiser(馬來西亞新聞)
Older and wiser
By JASON CHEAH
A more mature-looking Take That hits the right notes during a short promotional
stint in Taipei last week.
It has been more than 11 years since British boy band Take That last visited
this region, and 14 years since it first visited Taiwan.
Yet, things seem to be looking good for this much talked about comeback from
the seminal boy band of the 1990s, what with a No.1 single and album, as well
as an upcoming Brit Award nomination and an appearance to sing on the awards
show on Feb 14.
The quartet comprising Gary Barlow (35), Mark Owen (34), Jason Orange (36) and
Howard Donald (38), now well parked in their 30s, were as accommodating as
they come, during an Asian press meet at the swank Sheraton Taipei.
And it all started with a TV documentary back in late 2005 that aired over
Christmas that year in Britain. The documentary has since been screened all
over Europe and Asia.
High viewer ratings led to various promoters persuading the four to hit the
tour trail again.
That led to that phenomenal sold-out 30-date nationwide tour in 2006, and
subsequently to the signing of a record deal for the new album, Beautiful
World, that spent six weeks at the No.1 at the end of last year.
"We were totally blown away. We never expected this,” Barlow enthused.
“But we’re letting it take its course, taking it week by week.”
All four are also glad to be back in the fray, albeit with some apprehension
at times.
Looking good: Take That lads (from left) Jason Orange, Howard Donald,
Mark Owen and Gary Barlow.
“When the band split (in 1996), it was Howard who probably missed it the most
,” Owen joked.
“I enjoyed 10 years of not being in the spotlight,” Orange added.
“I didn’t miss the spotlight until we got back together.”
“How we’ve come back proved how influential we are to each other. Seven
years ago, I vowed never to appear on stage again, but it was through
talking with the guys, that’s how I came back in,” Barlow said.
The family road was also a major concern. Both Barlow and Donald have two
children, while Owen became a father six months ago.
“It was probably more difficult for Mark than the rest of us, his son is
only five-and-a-half-months old,” Donald said.
“We have to think of the responsibility for our children at home.”
That apprehension naturally followed them when it came to recording Beautiful
World.
“We really didn’t know what to expect when we finally stepped into
the studio,” Donald said.
Nevertheless, it certainly went better than they expected, he felt.
“Within two weeks we came out with I’d Wait for Life. It was the first time
the four of us were writing an album together.
Rocking on: Take That performing at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei
last week.
“The album actually took us 10 weeks to complete and it’s not a million
miles away from our old style. It’s still poppy but with a rocky edge to it,
and the backing vocals is still Take That but more organic.”
Of course, what would a Take That press meet be without questioning the
whereabouts of a certain former founding member – Robbie Williams (33) –
who declined to reunite with the rest.
“He’s still playing hide-and-seek with us,” Owen joked.
“We’ve all spoken to him over the years, but he’s OK on his own,”
Orange added.
That said, the Take That bandwagon continues to roll this year,
with new single, Shine, due for release, featuring Owen on lead vocals.
(Check out the video clip on their official website www.takethattv.com).
Album promotions continue and then, after a short break, they go back in
September to start preparing for a European tour, which is slated to begin
in October.
“We’re best known for our tours, so it’s about trying to make a better
show than the last one,” Donald added.
http://ilook.tw/9e6n 新聞來源
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