Our Top 10 Take That Songs list will look at a pop band that formed in 1990. The group consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen. The original lineup included Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Take That has 28 Top 40 singles and 17 Top 5 singles on the UK charts. Twelve of their songs topped the UK charts. Some of the songs that peaked at number one are “Back for Good,” “Never Forget,” “Patience,” “Pray,” “Relight My Fire,” “Babe,” “Everything Changes,” “Sure,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Shine,” “Greatest Day” and “These Days.”
Eight of their albums reached number one on the UK charts. They have sold over 14 million albums. They have won 35 awards throughout their career. Take That was known for their party anthems and love ballads when they first started. When they reunited in 2006, they changed their style. They wanted to be more experimental.
In 1989, Nigel Martin-Smith was looking to recreate the pop group New Kids on the Block. He wanted to look for a teen group that could appeal to multiple demographics. He met Gary Barlow and was impressed by his material. He wanted to create the band around Gary Barlow’s musical abilities. He held an audition for guys who can sing and dance. Howard Donald was picked in the audition. He was one of the oldest to audition but was picked for the group. Jason Orange was picked next. He was a breakdancer on the show The Hitman and Her before he was in the group.
Mark Owen was a bank employee when he was picked. Robbie Williams was the last to join the group. The group made appearances on TV shows performing Gary Barlow’s music.
Take That originally sang new jack r&b, soul and pop music. They eventually switched their style to dance and adult contemporary music. Their breakthrough single was the remake of Tavares’ hit “It Only Takes a Minute.” The song peaked at number seven on the UK charts. The group had their first taste of big success when they covered Donna Summer’s version of Barry Manilow’s hit “Could It Be Magic.”
The song peaked at number three on the UK charts. They released their first album Take That & Party was released in August 1992. The album peaked at number two on the UK charts. It features the singles “Do What U Like,” “Promises,” “Once You’ve Tasted Love,” “It Only Takes a Minute,” “I Found Heaven,” “A Million Love Songs” and “Could It Be Magic.” The album sold over one million copies worldwide.
Everything Changes was released in October 1993. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts. It features the singles “Why Can’t I Wake Up with You,” “Pray,” “Relight My Fire,” “Babe,” “Everything Changes” and “Love Ain’t Anymore.” The album sold over two million copies worldwide. Nobody Else was released in May 1995. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts and number 69 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Sure,” “Back for Good,” “Every Guy,” “Never Forget” and “Sunday to Saturday.” The album sold over three million copies worldwide.
This is the last album they recorded with the original line-up. The group had issues with Robbie Williams and his personal demons. They gave him an ultimatum. He had to follow the rules of the group or he had to leave. He chose to leave the group. Take That promoted the album as a quartet. After they went on tour, they were planning on doing another album. Unfortunately, they decided to go their separate ways. By February 1996, the group broke up.
Take That released a greatest hits album less than a month after announcing their breakup. The Greatest Hits was released in March 1996. It peaked at number one on the UK charts. It features the single “How Deep Is Your Love.” The single was their final number one song before they reunited in 2005. They released Beautiful World in November 2006. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts. It features the singles “Patience,” “Shine,” “I’d Wait for Life” and “Rule the World.”
The album sold over three million copies worldwide. The Circus was released in December 2008. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts. It features the singles “Greatest Day,” “Up All Night,” “The Garden,” “Said It All” and “Hold Up a Light.” The album sold over two million copies worldwide. This is the last album Take That did before Robbie Williams returned to the group. Robbie Williams started writing songs with Gary Barlow. In July 2010, Robbie Williams announced he was coming back to the group.
Progress was released in November 2010. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts. It features the singles “The Flood,” “Kidz” and “Happy Now.” The album sold over three million copies worldwide. This is the last album they did as a quintet. Robbie Williams left the group again. He wanted to focus on his solo career. Jason Orange also left the group. He didn’t want to be in the group anymore.
III was released in November 2014. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts. It features the singles “These Days,” “Let in the Sun,” “Higher Than Higher” and “Hey Boy.” The album sold over 579,000 copies worldwide. Wonderland was released in March 2017. The album peaked at number two on the UK charts. It features the singles “Giants” and “New Day.”
Take That is a popular group. They were able to evolve from a pop group to an electro pop group. Despite their member changes, they were able to persevere. They recorded a lot of hit singles throughout the years. It was a challenge to come up with 10 songs because there were a lot of songs to choose from. Our Top 10 Take That Songs list will feature their best songs.
# 10 – Love Ain’t Here Anymore
The 10th song on our Top 10 Take That Songs list is “Love Ain’t Here Anymore” from the Everything Changes album. “Love Ain’t Here Anymore” was released in June 1994. This song is about a relationship that is estranged. They feel that the love they have doesn’t exist anymore. The couple have lost their passion for each other. They are on the verge of falling apart. He begs for her to show some emotion towards him and ask him to stay. She doesn’t give him what he wants. He realizes that the love has gone away.
He thinks about their relationship and wishes they could connect with each other again. He is aware that love fades away, but they must acknowledge it and move on with their lives. Love has gone away like yesterday. He doesn’t want to let go of her so he is hoping she will change the way she feels. He wants them to open up to each other the way they did before. He believes they wouldn’t be over if they communicated more.
This is a song about a lost love. The song is about a man who is trying to hold on to a relationship that doesn’t work. This theme is familiar territory for artists. Most singers sing about losing love. Gary Barlow created a “what if” scenario. He has you thinking about whether your relationship could last if you made different decisions. He is a talented songwriter because his lyrics make you think about heartache.
This song teaches you that love can be painful and the best thing to do is to move on with your life. This is a slow and steady ballad. The music is breathtaking. The music is a little misleading because it doesn’t match the theme. The music fits for the bedroom. You would think that the instrumentation is a love song and not a song about heartbreak. With that said, the music is soothing.
Gary Barlow’s vocals are phenomenal. He sounds like a man who is heartbroken. He misses an opportunity to hit a high note during a climactic moment of the song, but it doesn’t take away from how good of a job he did. The rest of the group delivers on the harmonies. Their voices blend so well together.
# 9 – It Only Takes a Minute
The ninth song on our Top 10 Take That Songs list is “It Only Takes a Minute” from the Take That & Party album. “It Only Takes a Minute” was released in May 1992. The song is about how quickly a man fell in love with a woman. It took him a minute to fall in love with her. He talks about time being wasted doing various things. He goes into details about the different things that could waste your day. He wants her to give him a chance. He lets her know that it only took him a minute to fall in love. The chorus reassures the listeners that it only takes a minute to fall in love with someone.
This song tells a story about love happening quickly. Take That lets you know that it doesn’t take long to fall in love. This is a cover of Tavares’ hit song. Take That had big shoes to fill because this song is closely linked to Tavares. Did they make a mistake covering this song? We will analyze that right now. Take That changed the instrumentation of the song. They turned the soul and disco song into a dance and pop song.
The tempo in this version is faster than the original. They kept the dance element the same, but they took it to the next level. The music is energetic and will have you on the dance floor. There is no way to sit still while you are listening to it. There is a musical pause that will give you a chance to appreciate the music. Gary Barlow does a good job with the vocals. His vocals get a little lost during the fadeout of the song, but it doesn’t hurt the song. Their harmonies more than make up for that. The harmonies are excellent. This version is just as good as the original.
# 8 – Shine
The eighth song on our Top 10 Take That Songs list is “Shine” from the Beautiful World album. “Shine” was released in February 2007. This is an inspirational song that encourages someone to let go of their negative thoughts. The song opens with our narrator telling his friend that he is a big star. His friend is everything he wants to be. The narrator notices that his friend is lost and he wants to help him. He encourages his friend to let go of his fears and negativity.
The narrator knows his friend is facing challenges, but it is time to move forward. The friend in the song has a lot of negative thoughts and they are holding him back. The narrator wants him to stop being so hard on himself. It is not healthy to bring yourself down so much. He informs his friend that self-doubt and self-criticism can be harmful to you. He wants his friend to learn to be more positive. He wants him to embrace change in a positive way.
This song tells a story about overcoming obstacles. “Shine” teaches you to keep going even when you are feeling down. This uplifting song will help you get over negative thoughts. If you are feeling depressed, this song may help you feel better. The lyrics speak to you if you are ready to give up on life. The lyrics are universal and can be about anyone in your life. If you have a friend or loved one who is down, you should play this song for them. We picked this song for our list because it has a positive message.
This is a subject that will never get old. We all need encouragement at some point in our lives. This song is rumored to be about Robbie Williams, but anyone can relate to it. The music has an upbeat sound that will put a smile on your face. It keeps you from being depressed. Mark Owen takes the lead in this song. He does a great job singing this song. His vocals are strong. He belts throughout the song. The rest of the group do an amazing job in the background. They sound great with four-part harmony. The chorus is catchy and memorable.
# 7 – Patience
The seventh song on our list is “Patience” from the Beautiful World album. “Patience” was released in November 2006. This song is about a man who wants the woman in his life to be patient with him. He is healing from a former relationship and needs the new woman in his life to have patience with him as he deals with it. He knows she is frustrated because of what he is going through, but he promises the pain will go away. He wants her to hold him close in her arms. He doesn’t want her to be too hard on him. He needs time because his heart is numb. He has no feeling in his heart. He asks her to have patience with him while he is getting over his heartbreak.
In the next verse, he lets her know that he is ready to start over. He knows she wants to be his salvation. She wants to be the one he can depend on when he is down. He promises to be strong. He is trying to move on with his life. It is a complicated situation, but he wants her to understand. His scars run deep and moving on has been hard for him. He asks her to have patience as he deals with it.
“Patience” tells a story about a man asking his partner to understand his situation. He is dealing with a heartbreaking loss and needs her to understand that he is trying to heal from it. He knows that she is upset, but he wants her to stand by his side. This situation requires a lot of understanding and “patience.” We like this song because it is a different take on love. We don’t usually hear songs about the protagonist wanting their new love to wait for them to get over their old love. It is a hard thing to do when one is ready to move forward in a relationship, but the other can’t do it.
Take That told a unique story about love. This song is relatable to anyone who is in a relationship like this. The song is told from a man’s point of view, but women can relate to it. The music is a mature sound for them. This is a departure from their dance and pop friendly song. This sound is a good fit for the group. They showed that they don’t fit in a box. They can take on different genres. Gary Barlow’s vocals are strong. He belts and holds notes that he didn’t do in our previous entries.
# 6 – Relight My Fire ft. Lulu
“Relight My Fire” is from the Everything Changes album. “Relight My Fire” was released in September 1993. This song is about someone who feels insecure about their worth in a relationship. Our narrators teach us that love is the answer to our problems. If everyone stands up for love, we can make the world better. The narrator wants to rekindle a relationship with his former lover.
He is hoping the sparks will be rekindled in their relationship. He implies that the relationship has lost its spark. He hopes that they can reignite the passion they once had for each other. As we get to the chorus, the narrator talks about relighting the fire in their relationship. He says their love is his only desire. He needs her love.
In the second verse, the narrator talks about when their love was new. They were there for each other no matter what. The narrator wants that feeling again. The narrator wants you to stand up for what you believe and dream of a better world. When we get to the bridge, our narrator talks about staying strong through tough times. She believes that love can heal and reconnect people. There will always be hope on the other side.
“Relight My Fire” reminds listeners that relationships may have their problems, but there is always hope that you can reignite the passion in your relationship. If you feel like your relationship could be on the verge of ending, you should listen to this song. It will give you hope that you can work things out. This is a cover of Dan Hartman’s song. The original version has a 70s disco beat, while this one has a dance pop and house beat. It has a 90s classic beat. Both versions will have you on the dance floor.
The original has a long instrumental pause, while this version gets started right away. Gary Barlow’s vocals are perfect with this music. He sings this in a lower pitch from Dan Hartman. Take That’s harmonies are stellar. Lulu joins Take That on the bridge. She shows off her powerful range. The beat was excellent for her range. It gives her vocals a chance to soar. You can also read our Top 10 Lulu Songs list for more about this song.
# 5 – Everything Changes
The next song on our Top 10 Take That Songs list is “Everything Changes” from the album of the same name. “Everything Changes” was released in March 1994. This song is about a man who must leave the woman he loves. He is about to go in a cab, but he wants one more kiss before he leaves. He wants her to know that their situation has changed, but he still loves her. He can be miles away from her, but his love for her will never fade. He will be thinking about her every day.
In the second verse, he admits that he has been with other women. He informs her that they didn’t mean anything to him. He doesn’t want her to throw away their love because he will be back in her arms soon. He doesn’t want her to cry because he is not there anymore. He assures her that they will be the same as they were before. He loves her every single day. Things change but their love for each other will remain the same.
This song tells a story about a love that is still strong even if they are not with each other. It has a message that even though things change, their love for each other will remain the same. This song will let you know that you don’t have to be around each other to love each other. The lyrics speak to people who must leave each other for one reason or another. If you are missing someone who has moved away, this song is right up your alley. The pop song has soul elements.
The music is dance friendly. It will allow you to let loose on the dance floor. It is bouncy and infectious. You will be ready to dance as soon as the first beat drops. What’s not to like about this song? It has a bouncy beat and a catchy chorus. It also has great singing. Robbie Williams takes the lead in this song. He does a great job in the lead vocals. He will have you singing along with him. His vocals are sweet and charming. This song will make you happy whether you are in a good mood or not.
# 4 – Back for Good
“Back for Good” is from the Nobody Else album. “Back for Good” was released in March 1995. This song is about a man who wants the woman he loves back in his life. He admits that he was wrong and regrets what he did. He asks her to allow him to make things right. He promises things will be different this time. He knew he was a hard person to deal with and wanted to apologize for the way he treated her. He still has feelings for her and wants to get back together with her.
He realizes it is time to give up because he knows she isn’t coming back to him. He feels he has to take action if he wants to get her back. The narrator made a mistake when he let her go and will do anything he can to win her back. He pictures a future when they are still together. He promises to give up his bad habits. He knows that she walked away but he hopes that she has room in her heart for him. He assures her they will be together forever. They will be fighting for their love forever. He believes they will never break up again.
This song tells a story about not giving up on love. He knows he messed up, but he wants another chance. This song will strike a chord with people who are in bad relationships but want to get back together with the people they lost. This song is also relatable to people who have found love again. The lyrics are simple and to the point. What’s good about this song is Take That isn’t placing the blame on one person.
This song is about accepting blame on both sides and trying to work things out. This is an alluring soft rock and soul ballad. The guitar strings are melodic. The music is soft and comforting. Gary Barlow sings this from the heart. It is easy to see that this song means something to him. You can hear in his voice that the song is personal to him. The background vocals add to the finesse of the song. The song has a memorable chorus that stands out.
# 3 – Pray
Coming in at number three on our list is “Pray” from the Everything Changes album. “Pray” was released in July 1993. The song is about a man who regrets losing the woman he loves. He regrets not showing her how he felt about her while they were together. He regrets it because they aren’t together anymore. He prays every night that they will get back together. He longs to be back with her. He was hesitant to show her how he felt when they were together. He feared hearing certain words while they were together. He is afraid he won’t hear those loving words anymore.
When they were together, his nights were warm. The morning always came too soon. He longs for those days again. He thinks about the past and it hurts him because he doesn’t have her anymore. He hopes she can forgive the past. He doesn’t know why he hurt her the way he did. He regrets the pain he caused her every night. He wants her to picture her life with him back in it. He wishes she could see that he is cold and lonely without her. He prays that she will come back to him.
This is a touching song about a man who prays that he can get the love of his life back in his life. The lyrics are emotional and talk about the regret he feels about the woman he loves leaving him. You can hear his emotions in the chorus. The verses provide the backdrop of the story. The lyrics read like a story from a soap opera. We applaud him for taking responsibility in the breakup.
The music fits in with the 90s era. The music doesn’t sound dated. The drums give the song tempo and allow you to move around to it. The song is perfect for the summer. Take That’s vocals are superb. The group tries to take you to church in the background. Their harmonies are beautiful. They sound soulful and heartfelt. Gary Barlow’s vocals are strong and powerful.
# 2 – How Deep Is Your Love
This cover of the Bee Gees’ classic track “How Deep Is Your Love” is from Take That’s Greatest Hits album. “How Deep Is Your Love” was released in February 1996. This song is about love between two people. The song talks about the intimacy between two people. He asks his partner how deep her love is. He wants to know how deeply she feels for him because there are people who want to tear them apart.
He feels the naysayers should leave them alone because they belong with each other. He believes in their love. She is the light in his darkest hour. He considers her a savior when he falls. He hopes she doesn’t doubt his love for her. She knows deep down that he loves her. He wants her to show him how deep her love is for him.
This song tells the story of a romantic and intense love. He wants to feel love when the world wants to bring them down. The message in the song is that love will conquer all. This is a song that was originally recorded by the Bee Gees. Take That took a chance covering this song when it was a hit for the Bee Gees. Take That proved they were up for the challenge by covering this song. Take That changed the melody of the song. This version has a Latin pop beat instead of a soft rock beat. The Latin beat gives Take That a chance to make the song different from the original.
Gary Barlow basically tries to stick with the way Barry Gibb sang the original. The group adds harmonies throughout the song that aren’t in the original version. The differences Take That made didn’t hurt the song. They enhanced it which allowed them to make it their own. Take That’s version may not make you forget about the Bee Gees’ version, but they did an amazing job with the song.
# 1 – Could It Be Magic
The number one song on our Top 10 Take That Songs list is “Could It Be Magic” from the Take That & Party album. “Could It Be Magic” was released in November 1992. The song is about a man who is in love and thinks she is the solution to all his problems. He wants to build his world around her. He never wants to let her go. He wonders if their love is magic. He wants her to come into his arms and hold him.
The narrator hopes their love is the magic he is looking for in life. His emotions are intense towards the woman he loves. He expresses how he feels about her in the first verse. He thinks of her as his lifeline. She answers the questions he has been asking. He wants to feel the wonder of her presence. He is not sure if he should hold on to the feeling in case it doesn’t last. He wants to invest in their love and build his world around her. He never wants to lose her.
This is another cover song on our list. Take That covered Donna Summer’s version of Barry Manilow’s song. They gave the song a makeover. Instead of the disco beat that Donna Summer had in her version, they have a dance pop beat. It fits because it was the type of music they were doing at the time. Their version has an old school dance vibe. The drums and keys dominate the music.
There is no way to sit still while you are listening to this track. Robbie Williams takes the lead for this song. He sings this in his higher register. He doesn’t stray too far from Donna Summer’s version. They do add harmonies that aren’t in her version. If you are a fan of Barry Manilow’s version, you won’t recognize it. This version is completely different from his version. This is an excellent cover of the late great Donna Summer’s version of “Could It Be Magic.”
Top 10 Take That Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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