Take That – Up All Night – Single Review
Take That’s latest single Up All Night makes the always ill-advised move of giving Mark Owen lead vocal duties. Nothing against Marky, but it’s immediately obvious that Up All Night is this album’s Shine.
Therefore, I hate it.
Before all you housewives start shouting at your computer screens, hold on a minute. I’m generally a supporter of the Take That reunion. I’ve been to see them live twice. It’s great to hear all the old tunes again.
But the new material, barring a couple of amazing singles has been dreadfully pedestrian. Up All Night falls into that category. It starts off with a folksy intro, then quickly segues into that Beatles-by-numbers sing-along chorus. Because Take That were/are as bug as The Beatles, and tunes that sound like The Beatles remind us of the frenzy of the 90’s.
To make matters worse, the group further try to integrate themselves into British culture by the tried and tested route of setting the video in an old-fashioned postwar-style street party: as previously exploited by the Spice Girls in their Stop video and by Doctor Who (a lot).
The guys dress up as regular barrow-boys, all scruffy like, and play their instruments to the locals as they no doubt tuck into spam sandwiches. They lay on the cheese so thick (I’m talking about the video now, not the sandwiches) that I’m surprised they didn’t have Barlow playing the washboard, Donald on an old tea chest and Orange playing the spoons.
I hate to rag on Take That like this, but I get the feeling that they won’t stop until they find their Hey Jude. Maybe they should just release a cover of Hey Jude?
And to be fair, it’s a decent track, infuriatingly catchy. But it sounds so much like Shine and any rousing Beatles number to be likeable. I hate it when bands repeat themselves, and that’s what the boys are doing on this extremely safe track. I’m sure they’re capable of better.
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Apart from being up-tempo and with Mark as lead, i see no Shine in this song. This review is so full of prejudices, that i am happy to see everything exact reverse. I don’t like people trying to be cool by slagging Beatles.
Oh Dani, you’re so wrong. I expected a backlash for this post, but I’ve given my honest opinion, whether you like it or not. I don’t write reviews for social approval.
And as for the Beatles thing, I wasn’t aware it was fashionable to hate them at the moment, but I’ve always considered them hugely overrated. I now consider myself a trailblazer for hating them before it became cool.
To quote the ’sage of Stoke-on-Trent’: “give in and like it what’s the piont in hating me?, You can’t argue with popularity, well you could, but you’d be wrong!”.
Your review is ACCURATE! it’s a safe,safe song with a fiendishly catchy melody playing to the lowest possible common denominator. It will sell by the truck load, and I will probably buy it!!!!! (I gave in long ago). Rog: Brisbane Australia.
I don’t consider Beatles overrated. They influenced enormously the music in their time and after their time. They didn’t sleep when they get their glory but improve their music further and further, looking for new sound. Especially Revolver and Sgt. Pepper… are two of the best albums in history. That their early music is not so good as the late one is normal for a band who improved.
A lot of their lyrics (esp. from their late era) have a really deep meaning, something that in the modern pop-rock seems to be less important and fast negligible. But for someone like me, growing up in a time when words where half of a song, it is a big plus.
It was always considered cool to hate the one having success oder considered the best by the big media and the middle population. So, no, you are not a trailblazer…
Perhaps you heard to much Beatles in radio, but without trying really to listen to their music, that sound in the background, the words.
Hi Dani! I genuinely don’t know what it is about The Beatles exactly. The whole concept of the band makes my skin crawl.
Oh, there are other bands from history that I love that were popular. And I know that probably a huge percentage of the bands I love have been influenced by The Beatles on some level – especially Aerosmith. But there’s very little I can find to like about them. They just don’t talk to me, you know what I mean?
Hi Roger: Yeah, I totally accept and bow down to Take That’s popularity. I just think Up All Night doesn’t even remotely match up to their better songs. And giving the blatant, poppy tunes to Mark Owen isn’t smart – his voice is annoying.
I agree with you on some things, others I don’t. For one, just because this song has Mark Owen on vocals and is up tempo does not make it a copy of Shine. Have you heard Hello? It’s like a clone. I think Up All Night is great, it’s very uplifting. But I agree with you it is very Beatles-ey, which isn’t necessarilly a bad thing, wether or not you like the Beatles is just down to personal opinion.
parts of this song sounds so much like another song and it really is bugging me. The song it sounds like could have been a70s song sung by a group just cant remember!!! anddont say beatles coz thatss not what im thinking def another band.
That is really sad to hear the person putting this song so down to the trash. First and foremost they trying to do something different, like for example not to do like everybody does, they not scared to do song like this because all the CD is great, its like one song finds something in another one. I mean come on, if you looking for people start talking here, i thing you did a good job, other then that you have no clue what you are talking about. GOING TO CONCERT TWICE, whats that? Does that make you not too like them? Oh yeh go to Justins concert by the way he does sings old songs as well. Oh and other groups and artists as well. Just thought just mention it if you not going to all the concerts you know with other SINGERS.
The whole CD is great the songs are great, you listen to them and you just sitting back and enjoy. I was really waiting for this album which showed me that they are who they are. Like i said before they not scared to show that they are for real, even if this is going to be a last CD, but the fact that they came back and did it again, brought new songs that we can sing in out head, and bring the memories as well. And the funny thing is its not only people in 30s listening, but youngsters as well. That what makes real good group, band, singer who they are.
And to end all this, just start watching other videos from other groups, singers and they do make similar videos in they own country, yeh i know, i did watched few of those ya zurg.
But anyway, good CD, great songs, and i hope they not going to stop.
good luck all :)
JR: Not to be an ass, but please don’t assume I don’t know what I’m talking about just because you don’t agree with me. I get this a lot when I write a vaguely negative review of anything – fans coming on and shouting because they don’t like what they’re reading.
I assure you, my opinion is every bit as valid as yours. And criticism is actually important for a band, because it provides feedback. If you like it, that’s all well and good, but I don’t.
The trouble with critics and fans is that you can never get everyone to agree on something. Others will love the song, others will hate it and others like Gerard will believe TT can do a lot better than this. Personally I fall into the last category. I was introduced to TT by a close friend when “Rule The World” first came around, and I just love their sound. But not every song of theirs appeals to me and the same could be said for many people out there, except for those die-hard fans that love anything that comes from TT, regardless if the song s*x or rox.
Mark’s voice, well it can be awfully irritating, but you could say that it’s a great fit on some of the songs he leads. “Babe”, for one. “Shine” suits him great as well, not to mention the cool “Hold Up A Light” and the mellow “Hold On”. “Stay Together” is absolutely terrible, and “Hello” is no better, it’s as annoying as Howard’s “If This Is Love”. Then again Howard leads some nice stuff as well. “Never Forget” and “Beautiful World” are shining examples, and “Mancunian Way” is strangely captivating as well.
Arguing with the critic and with each other doesn’t get us anywhere. Almost certain fact is that, most Thatters out there are die-hard fans, and their numbers are much greater than the non-fans, so it’s safe to say I smell another no1 single in the air.
Hate em or love em, it’s all good.
Just to let you know that I am a true TT fan and I only agree with you that this song is not that great because it’s Mark Owen. I love the dude but he’s really no Gary Barlow, in any of the songs that he sings. Sometimes he does alright, but yeah.
But you know, really, you can’t fault musicians who play to their strengths more often than not. We’ve heard much worse from other people. Really.
It also sounds very obviously like Simon & Garfunkel’s song ‘50 ways to leave your lover’. I love Take That but this song is a travesty.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Take That are amazing and they don’t repeat themselves at all. Gary Barlow is an amazing song writer and has so many original ideas. xx
every ones is intitaled to an opinion pity some (the review writer) is wrong.. take that are amazing !!! up all night is a great single !
this song is a blatant rip of ‘alloway grove’ by paolo nutini, they sound so similar, shame on you take that, tbh, i hate this song! listen and compare!