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CUDDLY TOY I know you've heard so many people say I've got a different girl in every town but there must be somebody telling lies and spreading rumours, spreading rumours all around Because my only toy is a cuddly toy waiting for me when I get home and what I need is a girl like you to tell my very own Chorus So you've got to feel for me baby So you've got to feel for me baby So you've got to feel for me baby And give me some love Well I don't pour out my heart like this, to everyone and anyone that I meet and I know it ain't the wine cos I feel just fine can't you see baby, I�m still on my feel A cuddly toy is my only toy waiting for me when I get home and what I need is a girl like you to call my very own Repeat chorus, bridge, chorus MEANING OF A LOVE SONG walking to the sound of music and memories so close to your heart strange the way your mood it swings and it changes as each song it starts then the words change fast to slow while the melody makes stop to go and the beat becomes emotion leading to your heart let the loving start that's the meaning of a love song to take the pain away that's the meaning of a love song to help you through each day turn the music down don't let it take over don't let it decide if you're happy or sad, together or lonely, in front or behind, let the music play its song when it ends our lives will move on, seems so cold but I believe it, use it only to get what you need that's the meaning of a love song to take the pain away that's the meaning of a love song to help you through each day, let the music play its song, when it ends our lives will move on seems so cold but I believe it use it only to get what you need, that's the meaning of a love song to take the pain away that's the meaning of a love song to help you through each day Luv Luv Luv Written by Gary Barlow Oh Yeah. You changed my life in so many ways. It's never been easy, no, Making time for love In the past I'd spend each night, Fulfilling someone else's dreams. Then I came face to face with you, And I have everything I need. Just Giving you Luv Luv Luv, Luv Luv Luv. It makes me feel alive. In a minute you changed my life in so many ways I need you wash and cleaning up my crazy days I'm so far from the valley, When I seemed to stoop so low. Now I'm high on the mountain, Making trust to gain control. Giving You Luv Luv Luv, Luv Luv Luv Makes me feel alive -, Gaining (?) my reply Giving me Luv Luv Luv, Luv Luv Luv Till the day I die, Till the day I die. Concentrating, dedicating all my life to you Contemplating, re-arranging where I'm going to Wherever you go I will go and that's my way to prove To prove that my love is true Just Giving You Luv Luv Luv etc I knew you'd change my life in so many ways I knew you'd clean me up (from) my crazy days Now I feel like I've nothing left to say Prove that my love is true Just Giving You Luv Luv Luv etc Take to to me one more time....Bap Bap De Bap Bap Giving You Luv Luv Luv etc. Superhero Written by G. Barlow, M. Martin, K. Lundin, J. Skinner (To be your superhero....) I can't sit and wait For you to say If there's room inside your heart I'm not used to playin' That silly game Turn me down or let me start You have to believe I'll make things right Open your arms, give up the fight CHORUS For all that you want, For all that you're feeling There's a place where you can go For all that you need, I will be waiting To be your superhero Now if you decide To run and hide It's only you you're cheatin' (The key's in your hand) The key's in your hand (You must understand) You must understand I won't be defeated - no! I really believe this goes inside Open your arms, let me see your life REPEAT CHORUS (To be your superhero) I'm sure that you've heard this before so many times (So many times) Girl look inside my heart and you will find You'll find your superhero I'll be the one to hold you I'll never let you go I'll always understand you baby To be your superhero REPEAT CHORUS TWICE I Miss It All Written by Gary Barlow Oh, oh yeah I miss all your love. Oh, yeah yeah. I miss all this now. I think that I found the truth, I think love is no more, but that explaining that it made it's move. Said goodbye and walked through my door. I miss pain, I miss hope, I miss change now, (all you got) I miss all, all your love. I miss days, I miss nights, making up when,when we fine. I miss all, all this now. On the sky, I've never seen so grey, it's been grey for so long. So God forgive me, I never used to pray, I'm praying every night, girl, since you've been gone. I miss pain, I miss hope, I miss change now (all you got). I miss all, all your love. I miss days, I miss nights, making up when, when we fine. I miss all, all this now, yeah. All you said and all you did, it's all your laughing that I miss. all, all your love. I know your love and all your hate, but give it up this mistake. All this is now, yeah. But that's explaining hasn't made it's move. Said goodbye and walked through my door. Repeat Chorus Twice LOVE WON'T WAIT When I first saw your face I knew that I could not hesitate You said: �Baby, don't go too fast, If we do then it may not last." Time went on and I waited for you I didn't know what else I could do I thought that we'd always be together You said: "Hold on, it just gets better." And I believed you I kept holding on You think that I could never leave you You think that I'm not that strong, you're wrong CHORUS: Love won't wait Forever and a day Love was living a year and now Don't ask me how I know So here I am with my heart on my sleeve You said, "Baby, put your trust in me." But I have come to the end of the line And you've wasted up all of my precious time. I hoped to be something special to you Everybody's somebody's fool Won't be your fool, no you've got me all wrong You won't know what you had 'til it's gone And I believed you I kept holding on You think that I could never leave you You think I'm not that strong, you're wrong CHORUS Love takes time But you've been taking too long Time never waited for anyone Don't wait too long Or I'll be gone Don't wait too long I'll be gone, I'll be gone There wasn't anything that I wouldn't do You led me on, you even said, "I love you." How can we go on when it's tearing us apart Are you going to break my heart? 'Cos I believed you CHORUS Love takes time But you've been taking too long Time never waited for anyone Don't wait too long Or I'll be gone How much longer can I wait for you Can I keep holding on? Oh yeah (repeat to fade) SO HELP ME GIRL You could have kissed me like this wasn't gonna last kept me from saying something I'll never take back you could've held me like there was no chance of me waking up where I am you could have stopped short of every dream I've ever had CHORUS: So help me girl you've gone too far it's way too late to save my heart the way it feels each time we touch I know I've never been so loved And I can't help myself So help me girl you had to be there when that old sun came up making last night feel like a vision of things yet to come you just had to hold me like nobody else now look what you've gone and done you had to love me Till just can't get enough CHORUS So help me girl you've gone too far it's way too late to save my heart the way it feels each time we touch I know I've never been so loved And I can't help myself So help me girl And I can't help myself so help me girl MY COMMITMENT you say you need two arms to hold you you say you need a touch that's strong all all all I can give you is a love to last a lifetime long hear what I'm saying baby my commitment my commitment my commitment to you my commitment my commitment is to live to love you I will hold you I will show you you can put your faith in me all of my life I'll be all that you need I'll dry each tear each time you cry I'll love you from the heart yes I will I'll I'll I'll never leave you forever you 'll be safe within these arms don't you hear what I'm saying baby my commitment my commitment my commitment to you my commitment my commitment is to live to love you I will hold you I will show you you can put your faith in me all of my life I'll be all that you need I will give you strength I'll give you faith I'll give you all of me this time this love won't let you down this time you can believe in me let my love be the answer to the questions in your heart baby look in your soul and you'll see I'll be all all all that you need all all all that you need this time I swear you can believe I'll be all all all that you need my commitment my commitment my commitment to you my commitment my commitment is to live to love you I will hold you I will show you you can put your faith in me all of my life I'll be all that you need Commitment commitment make your commitment to me HANG ON IN THERE BABY now that we've caressed a kiss so warm and tender I can't wait till we've reached that sweet moment of surrender we'll hear the thunder roar feel the lighting strike at a point we both decided to meet same time tonight hang on in there baby hang on in there darling I'm gonna give you more than you ever dreamed possible Don't be afraid baby, oh no oh sweet virgin of the world we can't help but make it 'cause there's true love between us girl so let me touch that cloud that everyone dreams of oh we're almost there darling we're truly making love hang on in there baby please don't let me down please don't destroy this new joy we've found what's that now baby what's that you say something's eatin' at you and it's 'bout to get away don't fight it baby open up the door 'cause that's they key to the freedom that we've both been working' for let it go baby let it go honey oh right there, right there baby don't you move it anywhere go baby,l et it go honey oh right there baby don't you move it don't you dare hang on in there baby hang on it there darling I'm gonna give you more than you ever dreamed possible ARE YOU READY NOW can we share tonight the years we've been apart baby from the time was said goodbye until now how the night we laughed and loved still feel like yesterday how I'm hoping you'll still feel the same [so] strange we're standing here after all this time strange when the present and past collides memories of our days apart I feel they're fading fast silence for my questions here at last CHORUS: are you ready now for me to love you are you ready now to give this love a try are you ready now for me to give you trust to give you truth are you ready now for me, ready now for me to say I love you the look upon your face shows no surprise baby guess you always knew when things played on mind I believe in second chances, I believe in love for life I believe you can maybe loose love once but never twice throw the past aside, let's make up for last time if we let this love pass by we may never find these feelings again in our lives EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED you're everything I ever wanted and more you're the girl that I've needed for so long I think I'm old enough to know now the reason I feel the way I do now in my own words this love is so meant to be it's in your eyes each time you're listening to me I'm saying things I've never said before and so naturally I'm coming back for more there's reason why this love is changing my life you're everything I ever wanted and more you 're in my mind in my heart in my soul each time I think about reason my work losing time I just think about you and leave responsibility behind my day it opens with your head on my shoulder I love to kiss touch I love to hold you our time it moves so fast every hour's a second till at last we will sleep one night and that night is forever you're everything I ever wanted and more you 're in my mind in my heart in my soul each time I think about reason my work losing time I just think about you and leave responsibility behind there's a reason why this love is changing my life you're everything I ever wanted and more you 're in my mind in my heart in my soul each time I think about reason my work losing time I just think about you and leave responsibility behind I FALL SO DEEP I'm always thinking about you I wonder if you can tell these things I'm feeling inside me I keep them all to myself scared to show my true emotions don't want to love alone 'cause I fall so deep you never know how far I go and I know why hearts best desperately I fall so deep some people think love is foolish while others think it's a game I think that love is a fire I'm burning up in your flame I'm so lost in my emotions wanting you evermore I fall so deep and I've come so close to the part where I reveal my heart to you but I loose my nerve can't find the words to tell you that it's true I fall so deep I fall so deep X 4 LAY DOWN FOR LOVE I was alone with you on my mind look at me now you've left me behind you're all that matters you are my life you are the one that should be here by my side you are my lover [oh yeah] you should be my friend [yeah] don't you think we've got some talking to do? only love depends on you don't tell me it's over when it's not over yet don't tell me you love me when you're trying to throw this love away [don't throw this love away] don't say that I've changed girl [No no] because change is not enough [so] don't tell me it's over when you know that we can fight it you know we've gotta lay down for love [love yeah] where is your kiss? where is your touch? the taste of your lips I miss it so much you said you'd be back soon you said you'd be here you seem to run everytime love comes near remember when we were lovers [yes I do] remember when we were friends [yeah] don't you think we've got some talking to do in the end it's up to you don't tell me it's over when it's not over yet [hey] don't tell me you love me when you're trying to throw this love away [we've gotta get back to love] don't say that I've changed girl because change is not enough don't tell me it's over when you know that we can fight it you know we've gotta lay down for love lay down for me lay down for you lay down for everything you do cause you know it's right you know it's time gotta love me for the rest of your life your life no,no,no your love no it's true in the end it's up to you my baby don't tell me it's over [it's over] when it's not over yet [you know it's not over yet] don't tell me you love me when you're trying to throw this love away [you 've gotta get back to love don't say that I've changed girl [no] because change is not enough [it's not enough] don't tell me it's over when you know that we can fight it you know we've gotta lay down for love [no no] [ad lib outro] Forever Love Love it has so many beautiful faces Sharing lives and sharing days My love it had so many empty spaces I�m sharing the memory now I hope that�s how it stays None deepest our love I�m still breathing She is holding my heart in her hand I�m the closest I�ve been to believing This could be love forever All through out my life the reasons I�ve demanded but how can I reason if the reason�s I�m a man Ohhhhhh ohhhhhh yeah mmmmm In a minute I�m needing to hold her in a hour I�m cold, cold as stone When she lives it gets harder and harder to face life alone Now my dreams are filled with times when we�re together Guess what I need from her is forever love NEVER KNEW I found the road to nowhere the greener grass it turned to stone your shadowed face shines a rainbow now the sign I found it pointed home never knew that I'd miss you this way never knew that pain could survive here inside never knew that I'd miss you this much I'm reaching out to touch I'm calling out for love I only walked to breathe again I felt the walls were falling down caught a busy train to freedom now here I stand in this lonely town never knew that I'd miss you this way never knew that pain could survive here inside neverknewthat I'd miss you this much I'm reaching out to touch I'm calling out for love and when stars fill the sky it takes me back to the time when we lived for only love, only love only love that I feel for you never knew that I'd miss you this way never knew that pain could survive here inside neverknewthat I'd miss you this much I'm reaching out to touch I'm calling out for love OPEN ROAD My life is extraordinary bare I fought the fear and chased the pain My life doesn�t need to be explained I chose to walk this life as one. Sometimes as I live upon my island Cut off from emotion and it�s pain That�s when I am tempted by the waters The waters that can take me far away. So I�ll just on walking down this open road Hope someone somewhere needs me So I�ll just on walking down this open road Talking to the man who knows me Yes he knows me The man is me. My life was once full of people�s faces Brought to me my love which isn�t strange My life had the goodness of blue waters A day for all I used to say. Sometimes I can sit and cry my heart out Drowning in my autocratic ways That�s when I am tempted by the waters The waters that can take me far away So I�ll just on walking down this open road Hope someone somewhere needs me So I�ll just on walking down this open road Talking to the man who knows me Yes he knows me The man is me. My life is now full of people�s faces Within the light of change I pulled away My life shows that �no man is an island�. I�ve exchanged the piece of life I cut away. Now you won�t see me walking down that open road I�ve found someone now who needs me No you won�t see me walking down that open road I�ve found at last the man who knows me Yes he knows me The man was me The man was me ALWAYS I have been living I have been fooled I have been many things but I�ve always been in love with you I have been travelling Eating life�s food Though I�ve been far away I have still remained in love with you. I�ve been given a chance to share my music with the world Soon my song will be over �Till I sing the song of love For me and you I�ve been sharing with the world my songs of love. Well baby I have been learning I have been used I have been sheltering within this plenty world of love I share with you I�ve been given words of love I�ve been given the reason I�ve been sharing with the world. I�ve been sharing with the world my songs of love That�s why I�ll always be in love I will always be in love Always be in love I will always be in love with you. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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PANICO RADIO INTERVIEW Jovem Pam Radio Station (Brazil), 13th October 1997 Transcribed by Rovana Paludo Rovana would like to add before we proceed with the interview; "The Brazilian people are very creative and some people say they joke about things that are normally serious. Gary was lucky, because he knew how to deal with the guys that were doing the interview, he didn't take anything seriously, that�s why he enjoyed it so much. Gary has a good sense of humor ..." JP.: Is it your first time in Brazil ? GB.: It�s my first time in Brazil. JP.: Tell us : "Full name, age, zodiac and the real color of your hair" GB.: My age is 26, I�m capricorn, and the real color of my hair is the color it is. Do you know ... I don�t wash my hair, I only sleeve it, no shampoo ... I�ve not been washing it for 2 years. JP.: Your full name. GB.: Gary Barlow, born in Manchester, England, 1971. JP.: (Kidding) Could you lend me half of the girls that are outside just to see you ? GB.: For you ? Yeah, only half ! These are my sisters ... Big family !!! JP.: Is this in all the world? A lot of fans, running after you? What�s the place you make more success? GB.: I�m very lucky, because everywhere I go the girls seem to be ... they come, you know, they come to see me, which is beautiful, fantastic ... JP.: What do think of the Brazilian girls? GB.: Brazilian girls, oh Yeah! You know ... I don�t like girls that are too thin, so the Brazilian girls ... they've got ... " Bund�o" ( Meaning: Thin waist and sensual and round hips). JP.: (Japanese guy joking) I like your country music !!! Let me introduce myself : I�m a Japanese from Mexico! GB.: My country music! You like it ... Good! JP.: Tell us your schedule, your shows in Brazil ... GB.: Do you know ... I haven�t got any shows in Brazil yet ! But I hope next year to be doing live shows. �Cause that�s the best thing for me, the live shows... Beautiful! And of course I�ll go to Mexico and Japan just for you ...( continuing the joke for the Japanese guy) JP.: (A fan) Do you know any Brazilian singer ? Do you think about writing a song in Portuguese? GB.: I don�t know any Brazilian Singer but the fans have been buying me Cd's that I�ll take home and listen to. Is a kind of hobby for me to sing in another language. I�ve already sung in Spanish, French, of course in English and sometimes in American and the next song will be in Portuguese. JP.: ( A fan) :Did you have freedom to write whatever you�d like when you were singing in Take that, or you were reprimanded ? GB.: Oh no ! Do you know ... I always write from the heart, it�s impossible for me to think : " OK! Take That, dancing, singing ... It�s no good for me this ...I have to sit and write and then when I�ve written twelve, fifteen songs all the people decided what was suitable for the group. JP.: What were the reasons that took Take That to break up? Were there a lot of homosexuals? ( He's Joking) GB.: ( Laughs) Oh no! This was not the reason! Not enough! You know ... We were together for five and a half years, we had many ambitions and we achieved them all, so we had to decide if we wanted to do all that five years again or have a change ... do something different. JP.: What�s the relationship you have with Madonna? GB.: Very good, yeah! JP.: (Joking) Yeah! We know ... You had sex with her !! GB.: ( Laughing) You know, It was business . Very much a business. She is very expensive for me. ( Seriously) She gave me a song, that was it . I�ve met her before I did this record and it was; 'Hello everybody', this kind of thing ... JP.: Big breasts, don�t you think ? GB.: Massive. JP.: Does she have bad breath? GB.: ( Laughing) No! JP.: ( A fan) The same question again, what do you think about Brazil ? (Jovem Pam comments "What a bad question!") GB.: ( laughing) Do you know ... when you go to counties, people ask you what do you think, I can�t say 'I hate it' , never, I never say it! All I have seen since I got here is the hotel and this radio station ...(Laughing even more) ... and it's been really great !!!!! JP.: We are going to take you to go to the Pizza Pet .( Meaning : They are joking by saying that they will take Gary to a bordello) GB.: Pizza! I love pizza! Pizza is great !!!!! Beauty ... Although this is not the complete end to the interview, unfortunately Rovana's taped ended before the end of the interview but she recalls that "Gary invited the Radio Station presenters to go to his Show Case where he told: 'Come to see me and I�ll buy you all Agua Mineral (Mineral Water). He was invited to play " So help me Girl " on the piano." End of Interview. BBC RADIO ONE Ugly Phil Interview, 3rd July 1997 Transcribed by Lu Burtnik R1: When you did kind of launch yourself as a solo artist, you were the one that everyone was expecting to really be successful, um I mean that must have been an enormous amount of pressure. So much more than anyone else you know it's like with Mark its been you know, "Oh wow Clementine's a really really good record" it's been a surprise, whereas with you it's like "Oh, he's gonna be fantastic". G.B.: Erm�I don't really feel pressured I just do the best I possibly can and then you know the rest� R1: You're just too laid back. G.B.: Well I possibly am�but, erm�You know I love to do music and it doesn't really concern me how successful records are really, I'm just trying to make the best record I can for the fans really. R1: But it wouldn't do if everyone turned around and said they didn't like your record and nobody played it, you know if Radio 1 didn't play it, then you'd be like, "Eww!" G.B.: I know but that isn't necessarily how good or bad I am really it's more, you know what England's like nowadays. Styles change so quick, music's in and out so fast, you know just because it doesn't work in England it could work elsewhere or whatever, anyway let's not get to serious about this. R1: So you don't loose sleep over it. G.B.: No I don't. R1: Well I was so impressed that you turned up in today 'cos I've met you twice before in the past and you had the same brown leather jacket on when we met and I thought today this would be fantastic, he's gonna turn up in a brown leather jacket on. G.B.: Did I? R1: You did actually! G.B.: She's spotting me isn't she! R1: And today you've got the maroon jumper on, this is the summer wardrobe is it? G.B.: And you've got that blond wig on again. R1: It's my roots, so they need touching up definitely! G.B.: Oh right. R1: We've got this questionnaire that we like to throw at people� G.B.: Oh good grief! R1: And I'd just like to ask you first of all, what's the first gig you ever went to, were you into? G.B.: Adam and The Ants. R1: Oh was it? You and Justine�from Elsatica? G.B.: Why did she go there first? R1: Yeah she was big into them! G.B.: Probably stood next to me. I had the big white stripe across me head�it was fantastic. R1: Did you? You can wear it again soon on your next tour. G.B.: Oh yeah. That'd be good. R1: And what about if you weren't Gary Barlow 'the pop singer' what would you be, you'd be Gary Barlow the�? G.B.: I'd be um, oh good grief, I'd be probably playing a piano in a bar somewhere. R1: Would you? G.B.: That's true actually, if er, er, I hadn't become a pop star, hang on I get my own words I'm mixed up here now. If I hadn't become a pop star I'd probably be I'd be playing a piano in a bar somewhere! R1: And would you be happy doing that? G.B.: Erm, possibly 'cos I enjoy doing music, you know I don't think I enjoy it anymore that back then. (laugh) gently nudged in. R1: Right ok, scared person gets nudged into microphone, "Speak properly". If you could duet with anyone in the world then who'd that be? Who would you really love to sing with? G.B.: On a whole? R1: Yeah. G.B.: Toni Braxton. R1: Really? G.B.: Yes! R1: Have you met and er� G.B.: I haven't no, but she's on my label in America so maybe there could be a possibility there! R1: Strings and stuff like that. G.B.: Yeah. R1: Ok, so what's like probably your favourite place on Earth, where do you most like to go to get your head 'together'. G.B.: Home! Home in Cheshire. R1: Yeah? G.B.: I love it! R1: You were saying that you've been touring America for what, oh no you've been out sorry, in America. G.B.: Yes. R1: Working for six months. G.B.: Yes, oh it's lovely to get home it's like um, I think it's what we all work for is that, for me that happiness really does begin at home. I love to be round my family and have the dogs and stuff like that and it's just like my little oasis in the middle of nowhere. Love all that! R1: What do you do then in the evening when you're not going out are kinda in front of the T.V., are you working? G.B.: I like the T.V. this last year I've got back into Eastenders a bit of Coro. Oh yeah, beautiful! R1: Have you? Oh dear! G.B.: Love a bit of that! Um love to go to the Cinema. Have you seen Shine? R1: I haven't seen Shine! G.B.: Oh now shines, now see I think that's the best film I've seen for years. R1: Really? G.B.: Oh yeah! R1: Have you seen Romeo and Juliet? G.B.: Haven't, no. Is it good? R1: Yeah see that's good. Top tips on Radio 1. End of Interview. I'M THE BOSS Top of the Pops Magazine, July 1997 Transcribed by Rebecca & Jayne Simons. Gary Barlow's not only back in the charts, he's back in the headlines. Everything's changing (doh!) around him - again! TOTP: Two months ago you were singing the praises of your manager, Simon Fuller and now you've parted company. What happened? G.B.: I still sing his praises. He's a great guy and a great manager, but he's too busy managing the Spice Girls. They were only on their second single when I joined him - and I've been watching in horror as they've become a huge success! TOTP: So who's your manager now? G.B.: I'm managing myself. It feels like the right move at the moment and to be honest everything's in place. The album's out, we know what the singles will be and I'm working on the tour. There's just the day-to-day business to take care of. TOTP: Do you feel confident in your abilities? G.B.: I've been at this for seven years - if I don't know how it works by now I never will. I worked like a partner with Nigel Martin-Smith [Take That's manager] for years, planning things. Some worked and some didn't, but now it's time for me to use my initiative. It might be naive of me, but I've gotta try. TOTP: Are you hard to work for? G.B.: I'm hard to work for because I like to be involved in every single last move. People think I'm doing their jobs for them, but I know what my fans want cos I read their letters and meet them on the road every day. No one knows better than me! TOTP: You like everything to be planned ahead, don't you? G.B.: I have to - I keep a space in my schedule because I want to have kids at some point! But yeah, even at this stage I've written about seven tracks for the next album. Actually, my plan is to co-write the next album with all the best songwriters in the world, just bring them together. I want to do a quality 12-single-on-one-album project. TOTP: Is it true you're suing Jason Orange's brother, Simon, for mismanagement of your earnings? G.B.: Oh, you know what, I'm not allowed to talk about that cos it's a bit legal. I promise I'll tell you about it when I can. But...I'm still good mates with Jason. TOTP: Were you shocked by the pictures of Robbie before he went into rehab? G.B.: No, 50 people told me he was in a mess. It's sad. On one hand he's a real victim of success, as everything he's worked for all these years is going down the drain, all cos of fame. The other side of me thinks there are millions of talented people out there dying for a break who would handle it much better. In a way he doesn't deserve a chance. But he'll be the first ex-Take Thatter to tour the UK. Yep. It seems weird he's going on tour before his album is out - I think the best time to tour is when you've released all your singles from an album so you have a repertoire to play. Robbie's tour seems a bit... well, I'm sure he'll pull it together. Me, I'm not ready to go on tour yet. When I do it'll be fabulous. I'm going around the world for six to eight months. My dogs won't recognise me when I come home! TOTP: You went to Elton's birthday do with Howard and Jason. Why wasn't Mark with you? G.B.: Ah, he wouldn't have been allowed to go to something like that. His manager, Alex, wouldn't let him! TOTP: You wore a Robin outfit from Batman & Robin. Why? G.B.: What outfit? Not me! You've got me mixed up. (Sigh) Oh alright, I did - but Howard talked me into it. I told him, 'I am glad I'm not in that flamin' band any more cos these are the kind of ideas I've had to go along with to amuse you!' Still, Dawn looked good in her Catwoman outfit, especially from the back! TOTP: Are you planning a duet with Ronan Keating? G.B.: I do know Ronan. I was going to Dublin one Friday night when I had a call saying he wanted to meet me for a drink. I'd never met any of Boyzone properly before, so I went and had a great night, but I don't know about working together - we'll have to see. TOTP: Erm, see what exactly? G.B.: Well, I've always sung with other men up to now and I'd actually like to sing with a female artist next. But who knows, within another six months I might feel differently. (Grins mischievously) As I said, well just have to see... End of Interview. SMASH HITS Smash Hits Magazine, February 1998 Transcribed by Alya El Deeb TOTP: So Gary tell us what happened when you met Robbie at the Concert Of Hope? G.B.: We just looked at each other and hugged. TOTP: Was that the first time for ages you had spoken face to face? G.B.: Yeah the first time in two years. TOTP: Have you put all the arguments behind you now? How does that feel? G.B.: I hope we have, we never really had an argument. But when you've known somebody for such a long time it's easy to forget. TOTP: Have you been in touch since? G.B.: Not yet. But exchanged numbers. TOTP: Were the other Take Thatters there? G.B.: Only Howard - he was there because we were having a meeting together. TOTP: Did you have a nice Christmas? G.B.: A great family Christmas, now here comes the diet- oh no! TOTP: So what do you have planned for 1998? G.B.: Tour,tour,tour and a new album. TOTP: Is it true that your tour sold out in like three minutes? G.B.: No, it was 4! Thanks fans. (Ed. note: Actually tickets for Gary's tour sold out in two hours and that was just to fan club members! More dates are being added.) TOTP: What will the tour be like and will you be doing any fancy dancing? G.B.: It's going to be very musical, lots of Open Road songs lots of Take That songs, lots of singing and maybe some dancing. TOTP: How are things going with Dawn? Are you still madly in love? G.B.: Mind your own flippin' business! TOTP: Is it hard being apart so much because of your job? G.B.: Mind your own flippin' business! TOTP: Bought any good bargains recently? G.B.: Mind your own flipp....oh sorry yes I bought a new coat in New York. nice and warm it is too. It was in the shop window so naturally that required a discount! TOTP: Always the careful shopper! So what's the funniest thing that's happened to you recently? G.B.: I won an award for rear of the year can you believe it? They said my bum don't look too bad either ! End Of Interview ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IN SHAPE, IN LOVE AND BACK FOR GOOD Cosmopolitan Magazine (UK), August 1997 Transcribed by Sabine Hermann Interview by Adrian Deevoy Ex Take That's talented front man tells why the end of Britain's biggest boy band spelled the beginning of the rest of his life. When Gary Barlow breezes into the cool, riverside restaurant, the waiter stirs from his post-lunch reverie and begins shuffling menus frantically and juggling cutlery. Noting his keenness to serve solids, Barlow lets him down gently. "We won't be eating, actually," he apologises, "but I'd love a shandy, thanks, mate." The waiter scuttles away, leaving the singer to reflect upon his lightweight choice of beverage. "Yeah, steady, eh?" he beams, revealing expensively maintained teeth. "You don't want me getting too wild." This is a typically self-effacing joke. Gary Barlow, you see, doesn't get too wild, too often. He likes to keep control of himself, his life. But most of all, this cautiously chirpy 26 year old likes to keep control of his career. Always has. "Always," he concurs, brightly. "I always knew exactly what I wanted to be. 0f course, knowing what you want and getting there are two different things and that's where determination, dedication and luck come in. There's probably thousands of people sitting in their bedrooms who write better songs than me, but are undiscovered. I've been given a chance. I'm a lucky bastard. And I've got to work now and make hay while the sun shines. Everyone's listening at the moment, but there will come a time when they're not." Gary Barlow was, by bis own admission, "the plump one in Take That". He was also, least we forget, the musical one, the astute one and, ultimately the wealthy one. While mini Mark, roguish Robbie, hunky Howard and jumpable Jason stole the show in micro-underpants and a gossamer veneer of baby oil, Gary kept his trousers on, his dignity intact and knocked out quality pop songs. "People have a lot of different opinions about Take That's success," he muses, shandy-handed. "But I think it always came down to the records. We peaked when we had good records out like Pray or Back for Good. It was always the record and the rest followed. "That said, I always got recognition for what I did. And I got a bigger cut than anyone else, so I think I was being rewarded enough." Can we safely assume he's the richest ex-member of Take That? "By a long way," he says, nodding earnestly. "I'll tell you, it's such a lucrative game, song-writing. Compared to being an artist - well, there's just no comparison. Relatively speaking, there's no real money in record sales. I don't do this for the money, but I'm buggered if anyone else is going to get the money that's due to me. I keep a very close eye on things." He's estimated to have built up a �6 million fortune, �300,000 of which he has apparently spent renovating bis 50-acre estate in Cheshire. Talk about a plush bachelor pad. So, does money and fame make you more attractive? "I think it makes you more fascinating to other people," he ponders. "lt's a false thing, but you have an aura around you as far as other people are concerned, because they've only ever seen you on TV. I remember the first time I saw George Michael, I couldn't stop looking at him. Stars like that have charisma all around them - they're buzzing with it, everything they do. I watched George Michael picking up his glass and, honestly, it was fascinating." An awe-struck silence descends before Barlow finally says, "George Michael is a bloody good-looking guy, isn't he?" You're glad he brought the name up first. It's difficult to discuss Gary Barlow without the Greek god making a cameo. In truth, it's almost impossible to listen to Barlow's album, Open Road, without feeling the spectre of George Michael at your shoulder. Naturally, Barlow is anxious about comparisons. He believes the two song writers share a deep-seated sincerity, although one senses the younger man may be the more overtly ambitious. "I want people to do more than just smile when they hear this album," he declares, shortly after we meet. "Everything hinges on this album. I want to prove myself with it. I'm desperate to be a worldwide star now. We were never that as a band. There's 12 miles to run and we ran about two." Throughout Take That's five-year chart sovereignty, it was universally accepted that Gary Barlow was the one nobody fancied. The screams were not for him. In the big knicker-dampening stakes, he was barely Mr Moist. I recount an incident at a Take That concert, where the two l3-year-old girls beside me erected a banner that read, 'Mark, come on my tits.' "God, they were cheeky; weren't they?" Barlow says with a smirk. "Thirteen's old, actually I saw nine year olds holding up worse than that." But the fact remains, few such salty propositions were directed at Gary. Does he resent that? "I'm not here to be fancied," he says flatly "I'm here for the music and nothing else. If people are telling you you're gorgeous and sexy, they're not talking about the music. I've never been one for pushing my way into the spotlight at the front of the stage. Never. But. . ." - a look of anguish flashes across his features- "I'll tell you, a lot of things stay with me from those days. The cruel things. I was always the one people took the piss out of. All the bloody time. You know the sleeve of Take That's Everything Changes album? This girl at the record company was making such a fuss, as it had cost them five grand to air-brush out a roll of fat from my stomach, and I just knew the whole place was tittering behind their hands when I walked through the offices. lt was embarrassing and humiliating. People were always telling me I had to lose weight because they had just done a photo session and I'd come out with a double chin. lt was cruel. lt really hurt at the time. But now, who gives a fuck?" WeIl, clearly Gary Barlow does. To the extent that, when his solo career began to take off, he pledged to forgo his beloved scoff and take regular exercise - something he loathes - in order to get into shape. Is he, you ask, a naturally fat person? "Definitely" he agrees. "I still am a huge eater. I really have to hold off. I used to drink Southern Comfort pretty well exclusively, which is like drinking pure sugar; and I could eat six bars of chocolate a day easy. I used to take two sugars in my coffee, and I'd drink 16, 17 cups of coffee a day if I was in the studio. So, I've cut a lot of that out. And I've cut out fat. All those little things make a difference. It's hard because I love food and going to restaurants was my hobby. I do press-ups and sit-ups once a day, too, and that seems to help," he adds. "I dread it - Christ, I hate it. It's great once you've done them, because you've got them out of the way for the day, but I'm just not athletic. I can't stand sport. I can't think of anything more depressing." But it's worked. Gary has lost at least 2 stone (Ed. 28 lbs) since his porkiest Take That prime. Today, in jumper and jeans, he falls into the chunky-but-trim category. At one point, he lifts his top in order to polish his sunglasses and exposes a portion of enviably well-toned and tanned midriff. By anyone's standards, Gary Barlow is a good-looking lad. His hair - a disaster zone when he was in Take That - has been revised, the moon face of yore has tapered strategically, and that squinty left eye isn't half so obvious in the flesh. How would he rate bis new-found attractiveness on a scale of one to Johnny Depp? "Probably a five," he says, in all seriousness. "What's really helped is that I've had decent photographers taking my picture. But pretty weIl anyone could have stood next to the guys in Take That and looked like a dog. They were great looking guys. And so fit. Bastards." Speculating upon the sexuality of Take That's members was always a fun dinner party diversion. They'd worked the gay clubs; none of them had girlfriends; they were partial to baring their behinds; they were friends of Elton John. Did it ever bother Gary that people thought he was homosexual? "Not at all," he shrugs with a genuine lack of concern. "lt all adds to the mystery doesn't it? I suppose if you're theatrical, you're going to be called gay. I mean, a lot of the stuff the band wore was really camp. Devil suits and all that. I used to dread them bringing in the clothes for the tours. I'd be like, 'You can forget about it - I am not wearing that!'" Has he ever fancied men? "I suppose I have really," he says after a thoughtful pause. "I used to idolise George Michael when I was growing up. I wanted to be everything he was. So, in my early years, yeah, I did fancy men. Or a man." The George Michael crush is long behind him now. There have been semi-serious girlfriends - kept secret during the "Thatter" years - although he claims never to have had his heart broken. ("I'd make a bloody awful album if someone did.") But now there is Dawn Andrews - a former backing dancer for Take That - Barlow's paramour of two years' standing, the woman with whom he is in love. "When you've been successful and made money and you're a bit of a catch," he pontificates a trifle immodestly, "you're very wary about love. But when you find it, you want to hold on to it as best you can. It's a dangerous one, but it makes you feel amazing. I met Dawn six rnonths before the band split up and you could see it all over my face. I was so happy. She's older than girls I've been out with before and she's much more understanding. You have to get some realism into your life. That's what I get from Dawn, and I want to keep it as far from the Patsy and Liam scenario as possibIe. I'm quite happy with the quiet life. But I want to go the whole way with my career;" he suddenly confesses. "And I know that's going to put pressure on the relationship." Would he sacrifice his relationship for his career? "It wouldn't be a case of sacrificing the relationship for the career," he says slowly, treading on eggshells. "It would be a case of working things out between us. This is the road I have to go down for my work and I suppose there will come a point when you find out if the relationship is forever or not. Next installment, next year!" He laughs loudly, but it rings hollow. In an attempt to defuse this uneasy moment, Barlow regards his half-empty glass. "Ignore me," he says. "It's just the shandy talking." It's always the quiet ones... Ambitious? Very ... Gary's next goal is to "break America". To this end, he terminated his contract with manager Nigel Martin.Smith. "It was the worst thing I've ever had to do," says Gary. "But you have to be ruthless. It was all done through my lawyers though - I coudn't do it in person." Shrewd? Rather ... Gary admits to stocking up on miniatures from his first-class flights to avoid forking out for expensive drinks in his hotel mini-bar at the other end. And he's now done away with his live-in housekeeper and two fast cars - luxuries fron the height of Take That's success. He explains, "You can drive only one car at a time, so why have two?" A good son? Definitely ... His parents who bought him his first keyboard at 11 - and his elder brother Ian live on his Cheshire estate in their own properties. "Nobody leaves our place without some eggs from Dad's farm," says Gary. "I love having my family so close. It's likeThe Beverly Hillbillies, us having moved into this place where none of us really belongs." Aah! End of Interview. NEWSDAY Newsday Newspaper, November 1997 Transcribed by Kelly Howe Arista New York have forwarded us this article which appeared in the 9th November 1997 Newsday newspaper. The article was written by Karissa S. Wang. FEMALE FANS all around the world are thanking their stars that British pop singer Gary Barlow chose music over his other career choice - becoming an astronomer and working at NASA. "I love space," Barlow said during a recent interview in New York. "I'm fascinated with anything geographical - the Earth, tornadoes, anything natural. I love it." Barlow isn't a household name here in the States yet, but just hearing the first few bars of "Back For Good," most listeners would recognize his voice and Britain's 1995 hit, which was ubiquitous on U.S. airwaves and arrived on the charts here last year. Barlow, who is 26, was the lead singer and songwriter for the British teen sensation Take That. Their live shows and appearances were laden with teenage libido, screaming girls and general Beatles-esque hysteria; even NBC News did a piece on them. Three months after the group broke up in January, 1996, Barlow was in the studio recording his solo debut album, "Open Road." When it was released in Europe and Asia in the spring, it shot to No. 1. The album is scheduled to be released in this country in early January. Barlow has the backing of one of the most influential men in music - Clive Davis, president of Arista Records. Davis enlisted mega-star producers David Foster (Whitney Houston, Celine Dion), Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey) and songwriter Diane Warren (who wrote Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart") to work on Barlow's debut album. "Gary Barlow is first and foremost a star," Davis said. "When he sings, he soulfully feels his music, and his charisma rivets the listener's atention. He has already won the UK's Songwriter of the Year award twice. The combination of his strong composer strength, his expressive, pure and honest voice, and his magnetic good looks make him the most formidable young pop star in the world today." Eight of the 12 tracks on his solo record were written by Barlow - including a new version of "Back For Good" - and three of those tracks have been reworked to appeal to American listeners. One song, "Love Won't Wait," was written by Madonna and Shep Pettibone, and Barlow's cover of the country song "So Help Me Girl" by Joe Diffie, released in September as his first single, has already reached No. 5 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Barlow, who's group headlined at Princess Diana's Concert of Hope in 1994, is also organizing a memorial Concert of Hope on Dec. 7 at Wembley Arena, with proceeds going to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Among those appearing are the group 911, the Backstreet Boys and European pop star Peter Andre. "She invited us to Kensington the night before the concert, and she was very humorous," Barlow said of the late princess. "I just found her - like when I met David Bowie, I just couldn't stop looking at him - and she was the same. She used to support 150 charities, and all those charities have lost their leader." Barlow, who's often compared to George Michael and Elton John, remembers at the age of 6 singing "Love Me Do" into his shampoo bottle during his childhood in Cheshire, England, 200 miles north of London. His dad would make him sing proper English: "She loves you, yes, yes, yes..." "When I start to play, the music controls me," says Barlow, whose solo album hits the States in January. WHEN HE'S NOT on the road, Barlow is home in Cheshire and works in a studio built in back of his house. Defying the image of a pop star, Barlow's life is pretty mundane. He wakes up at 6.30a.m. "I enjoy a long breakfast and watch the news, because I like to keep up with things. I walk the dogs and then go into the studio," Barlow said. He plays piano for several hours before writing lyrics and admits his fingers lead the way to new melodies. "When I start to play, the music controls me. "I'm one of those people that loves to get depressed in music and [the feeling of] needing is brilliant," Barlow said. "I'm a great observer. I love drawing from other people's experiences. Every day life brings new experiences." Some of the experiences come in the form of books. He recommends a "brilliant" book called "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman, about a student at Berkeley who undergoes a spiritual transformation. Barlow is genuinely grateful for where his life is now. Very much into family, he bought his parents and his brother Ian, 30, houses on his property. Despite his boyish charm, Barlow appears grounded, It doesn't matter, he says, that many of his peers - fellow Gen-Xers - are in trendy musical genres such as alternative and techno music; he's proud to be in middle-of-the-road pop music. Tom Poleman, program director for WHTZ / 100.3FM (Z-100), thinks Barlow has a very good shot at making it in America. "For the last five years the trend was toward alternative music," he said. "It was all angst-ridden, like Nirvana, and that takes too much work to listen to. "Now the climate has completely changed, and the public is embracing pop music again, and he has a much better shot of getting play in the U.S. than ever before," Poleman said. "It's back to the simplistic styles, more upbeat and fun attitude, and it's great for stations like Z-100. That's the best thing he's got going for him." "I kind of think that my music is very traditional," Barlow says. "They've got verses and choruses. If I woke up one morning and thought, 'I'm going to be very cool and do a techno album,' I don't really like it. I want to be honest, and that's what I'm doing." End of Interview. NEW YORK CITY SLICKERS TV Hits, December 1997 Transcribed by Jennifer Grant ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TV-HITS joins GARY BARLOW in New York for some USA promotion, some chat shows shenanigans and some very serious shopping... "If it feels like butter - buy it!" Don't worry, Gary Barlow hasn't turned into a crazed grocery groper, he's simply explaining his rules for purchasing posh outfits! We're in the men's section of Prada (v. swish designer shop) in Madison Avenue, and the snooty attendants are glancing warily at these three strange English people who are fondling their expensive garments... After meeting Gary for dinner the night before, he was on the phone at 10.30 this morning with a very keen and cheery, "I'm bored - let's go out for a walk!" So the newly arrived TV HITS crew head off for a guided tour of the city courtesy of the expert Mr. G. Barlow - which is why we're being glared at by various posh shop assistants! It has to be said, Gary Barlow is probably the biggest demon shopper ever... "By the time you're in your mid 20's you know exactly what you want - you don't copy your mates anymore, you've got your own taste. I buy a lot of antiques and furniture and books and CDs for the house. Actually, I've just bought the whole American Top 30 album chart, even though I don't know who half of them are. I like to keep up with what's happening in music and I'll sit and listen to them all when I get home. I guess I spend a lot on clothes as well, but I think it's part of the job - it's important to look presentable, and I do usually look smart - except for today, that is!" Unfortunately Gary's suitcase was lost by an airline yesterday, so for a few days the poor lamb's stuck in his tracksuit! Gary's obviosly into his labels, so his favourite designers are...? "I can only really wear Versace and Prada as they design for short men. The others design for 6' 4" models, which isn't much use for me, is it?" As we're strolling up Fifth Avenue, we stumble across a book fair and Gary's in heaven. He's book mad! "When I'm travelling on my own I love settling down with a good book. I can't listen to music on planes as it doesn't relax me at all, it's too much like work. But reading - now that's beaudiful*!" Gary purchases a very large book on skyscrapers. "That'll look good on the coffee table, that will!" Luckily for him, the author's actually there and insists on signing it. "Who shall I make it out to?" she asks politely. If only she knew...! NEW YORK, NEW YORK! Gaz decides to take us to his fave resturant for lunch. It's closed, but fortunately he knows another fab one (where we end up sitting next to v. famous actor Harvey Keitel!) over the road. He certainly knows his way around town. "I've been here at least 15 times now, and I love it. It's a really exciting, friendly town - it's the best place in the world for just wandering around. I've spent two New Year's Eves here... being in Times Square as the clock counts down to the New Year - beaudiful*! Surely he misses being with Take That guys sometimes - doesn't he get sad and lonely on his own? "Not at all - I love travelling, and I really enjoy my own company. When I was with the others I could never be myself, everyone had their roles and you didn't step out of them. If I said something funny it'd be, 'Hey Gaz, that's Robbie's job!' I've always had a lot to say and now I'm able to say it I feel released, and you know me - I love to talk!" SHOP ASSISTANTS WITH ATTITUDE! Another reason Gary likes New York so much is that he can wander around pretty much hassle free at the moment, as he's only just released his first single, So Help Me Girl, here. This was certainly obvious when we popped into Versace just before closing time - as Gary was showing us some pictures of Take That in Versace's Book Of Rock And Roll, a shop assistant informed us in a very snooty voice that they were closing, and we would have to come back and look at the pictures tomorrow. And even though he's one of the most famous pop stars in the world, Gary (who also happened to be a friend of the late Gianni Versace), just closed the book and walked away. Not a hint of a 'don't you know who I am?!' or anything. Nice one, Gaz. When you meet Gary it really strikes you that, despite the whole Take That thing and everything else that's happened since, he's still just a normal lad from Cheshire. His strong lazy accent ("I get doors opened for me with this accent out here - they all think I sound like John Lennon!"), his brilliant dry sense of humour (complete with a number of handy hints for everyday living!), and the soothing air about him (which even keeps his normally very excitable press officer calm!) all add up to make a very, very nice bloke indeed!! BAR TALK Gary and I settle ourselves down in the hotel bar for a chat - and one of the main things on his mind at the moment is the Princess Diana Trust concert on December 7. "I just think it's so important. She was our princess and there won't ever be another event like this." Which is why he's been the main force behind it, and the reason Peter Andre, Boyzone, Eternal and 911 have agreed to appear. And why Gary wanted Take That to reform for one last time... Most people thought Robbie would be the hesitant one, but it's actually Mark who ended up with all the reservations. "I really thought Robbie never wanted to be in a room with me ever again, but when I phoned him about it he was like, 'Gaz it's a brilliant idea, let's just do it!' He was so nice I wanted to hug him there and then, but I was on the phone so I couldn't! I thought, how brilliant - so I was really disappointed when Mark said no." NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! As we're chatting I mention that many of the bands I speak to list him as a role model, which he finds really flattering. "I've met quite a lot of them now, and they really do think like that, don't they? It's really sweet! One of the first I met was Boyzone's Ronan - and he's actually become a friend of mine. He's so genuine and honest, he's a real star - he's one of the few people who's got an aura about them, something a bit special. After the concert we might try and do a duet together, probably a cover of an old song - that'd be really cool!" Gary still loves his pop and is impressed by a lot of the new bands around. "I think Backstreet Boys are really good - their album is brilliant, and they're great singers, too. Eternal have had a fantastic career and the fact they're peaking right now is brilliant. I really like Peter Andre's new stuff as well. THE RUPAUL SHOW! The last day we spend with Gary he's appearing on the Rupaul Show. Coming face to face with one of America's most outrageous talk show hosts might be a bit scary for some - but Gaz? "Nah - last time I saw Rupaul was at an Elton John party and Jason and I had to carry her to her car at the end of the night after too many glasses of fizzy pop!" We're picked up by limo from the resturant we stop off for lunch before the show - the whole trip's been limos all the way, schweetie! But then again, in New York they're two a penny! As usual there's loads of hanging around so we all sit chatting in Gary's trailer until it's his turn. As we talk about the fast approaching journey home, it becomes clear that globe-trotting Gary is a bit of a homebody. He's bought his dream house in Chesire and is lovingly decorating it exactly how he wants, and now he can't wait to get home to see his dogs! "I haven't been home for over six weeks and I'm missing my dogs like crazy. I've got two Alsations at the moment, but I'm just about to get six golden retriever puppies, too!" Well at least he's got a big enough garden to cope with them! Gary does down a storm on the show with the audience whooping and yelling out his name while he's on - with a bit of extra help from us! And amazingly, Mr. Barlow's dry sense of humour turns out to be a huge hit with the Yanks! As soon as the show's over Gary's got a mad dash to catch his plane back to Manchester, but in two weeks he'll be back here again. "I've got a good feeling about this place. I'm ecstatic with how things have gone in England - when you think I was only a fifth of Take That and a small part of the popularity... At the moment I've sold half the number of albums Take That did in England and internationally I've sold more than we ever did. But we never really made it big in America, so that's what I want now..." And judging by the buzz that's sorrounding him in the States already, that certainly looks like what he's going to get!" It's a very beaudiful* thing indeed... * beaudiful: Gazza's v. favourite word! Say (as lazily as possible), "bee-you-dee-full..." End of Interview. A UK TEEN IDOL DROPS A FEW POUNDS AND HIS MATES Entertainment Weekly, 24th October 1997 Transcribed by Jennifer Grant Jennifer has been kind enough to allow us to borrow this article from the GBSY. Written by Jonathan Bernstein, it appeared in the 24th October 1997 issue of Entertainment Weekly. TAKE THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW The ALL-SINGING, all-dancing British boy band Take That may have had only one U.S. hit (1995's Back For Good), but their domestic status was so exalted that following the annoucement of the band's split last year, suicide hotlines were quickly set up across the country (seriously!). "People were a little upset," understates ex-member Gary Barlow. Though he penned most of Take That's original material and sang lead on all of their British hits, Barlow's scream appeal was comparitively limited. The sole musician in a band of dancers and models specifically recruited for their chiseled good looks, Barlow was known, even to devoted fans, as "the chubby one." But such slights are a thing of the past. Suddenly svelte - "Everyone went, 'Wow, Gary looks different!'" - the 26 year old Brit is embarking on a solo career under the aegis of no less an industry figure than Arista president Clive Davis. The tycoon, who had firsthand knowledge of what can happen when a pop act successfully transforms a country tune, thanks to Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, persuaded Barlow to make his first U.S. single a cover of an old Joe Diffie hit, So Help Me Girl. The subsequent Open Road album is specifically geared to mainstream American tastes, boasting contributions from hitmakers like David Foster and Diane Warren. After five years cranking out assembly-line pop hits in Britain, Barlow is thrilled with the results. "I'd always dreamed of bringing Take That to America and working with these people," he enthuses. "I'm in another world here. This is the real music business."An upcoming single, Love Won't Wait, was a gift from another writer-performer. "Clive called up and said, 'I've got this young lady in my office, Madonna, and she's given me this song, but she only wants a guy to record it.' She knew Take That. [After] he played me the song down the phone,I thought, 'I'll have that.'" End of Interview. CLIVE ANDERSON Clive Anderson Show, 2nd October 1997 Transcribed by Juliette Duval ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A note from Juliette: A few points I'd like to make before you read the following interview, it is very difficult to type the way people sound sometimes. For anyone that has never seen Clive Anderson interview someone, his technique is to be very dry and sarcastic. Although when typed it may sound as though he is being nasty, he is in no way being nasty, just extremely funny and both Clive and Gary laughed through the whole interview and got on very well together. The audience loved it and found it extremely funny. They both worked well together and everyone had a great time. As Gary told his stories he also had actions to go with them which added to the humor, but unfortunately you can not see that. Please enjoy it and remember that it was good fun and Gary was on top form. C.A.: My next guest is one of the biggest stars in the current pop scene, but older viewers will remember him as a member of the original boy band combo Take That. Please welcome singer, song writer Gary Barlow. Gary enters, the crowd clap and cheer. Gary looks gorgeous in a tight short sleeved black t-shirt, brown trousers, brown boot type shoes, black socks and a big beautiful smile that is on doubt his trademark. As Gary approaches Clive they both put out their hands to greet each other. C.A.: Hello Gary, good to see you. G.B.: Good to see you. C.A.: Thanks for coming along. Excellent. Gary..........now........well....... G.B.: Very nice to see you Mr. Anderson. (the crowd laugh and clap at this) C.A.: And it's very nice to see you Mr. Barlow. G.B.: I....I get ner....d'you know I watched your show, the last series... C.A.: Yes... G.B.: ...and I said d'you know what, I'll never go on that show. C.A.: (laughs) G.B.: ....that guy just frightens me to death, he's too quick.........and here we are ! C.A.: No I'm very......No, no this is fantastic, to get you call me Mr. Anderson and to call you Mr. Barlow..........So how long have you been in Coronation Street? (crowd laughs) G.B.: (smiles and laughs)......a long time. C.A.: Yeah a long time..........you have come here sort of hot foot from making a video, it's very kind of you to shoot along here. G.B.: Oh that's all right. C.A.: Errrmmm.....Now.....tell me who you are.(Everyone laughs including Gary).....Now I know you were in Take That. G.B.: That's right. C.A.: That must have been an extraordinary period of your life because to suddenly be the number one group and all the fans screaming and the adulation. Had you aimed to do that or did that come out of the blue? G.B.: Cost us a fortune all that did.(crowd laughs).....yeah....noooo they're very expensive fans when they have to scream, very expensive indeed. But we did, we were just 5 guys with ambitions and we got together and made a group, and nobody ever knew where that was gonna go. Everyone always said, oooh Take That, they won't last for another year. C.A.: But in fact you lasted for......errrmm....about 4 years didn't you ? (crowd laugh) G.B.: (smiles).....Yes.....(looks at audience).....he had to think about that then. C.A.: So were you a manufactured group, were you sort of put together, you know there was the pretty one, the dancey one and then Gary.....(laughter from Gary and the crowd) G.B.: (points at Clive)........ah !! This is why I didn't wanna come on this show! (crowd laughs) C.A.: Nooo.....you were the real talent weren't you? You write the songs, you sing the songs, you play the piano. G.B.: You know it was a good group for me to be in because everyone did leave me to the music and that's obviously the area I enjoy the most. But we had a great time you know. I think to start in the industry and become famous and like you say be the number one group, to have to do that on your own, I could not imagine how unbearable it would be. But to have five guys to share it all with, you can imagine five 20 year old guys traveling round the world, you know we had some good times. C.A.: I'm sure you did.(crowd laughs...Gary has a cheeky smile).....we'll come on to that.....right...if you were singing the songs, playing the piano, you know writing the songs, writing the material. What are the others doing? They're just like the pans people, they were just er.... G.B.: D'you know what, Take That was not just about the music, you know it was about characters and live shows and all sorts of things. C.A.: Do you think, do you see it err.....looking back on it now as a huge marketing exercise? G.B.: D'you know what, I think.....as far as a picture goes on the front of a record fair enough, if you're good looking guys you can sell a number of records and then with good marketing you can sell a number more records, but we sold about 12 million albums over our time and I think that it has to be something more than that........ C.A.: Solid !! G.B.: Yeah....you get into that. C.A.: So if we look at people like the Spice Girls who are kinda like a female version of Take That, errm.....you think that's raw talent there......(outbreak of laughter from Gary and audience)........not....not.......What ???.(aimed at crowd).....not just strategic management and marketing and err...... G.B.: I think we'll see........ (he says with a grin...crowd laugh) C.A.: Yes. G.B.: Obviously they're......(smiles).....I'm trying to be as diplomatic as possible here...erm...how am I gonna put this.....erm mother.......ermmm...(everyone laughs) C.A.: Hey how about Take That and the Spice Girls together, we could be breeding pop groups for generations to come. G.B.: The old spices and the young spices, yes well there ya go, good idea Clive (sticks his thumb up to Clive... everyone laughs) C.A.: Well there'd be a good fun time in it for you I would have thought.....(laughter from them all) G.B.: Lots of little spice maybe...afterwards. C.A.: Yes erm...well...What happened when you split up though, when Take That went that way and the other, were you worried that might be the end of your career? G.B.: I think we all were, well you know obviously when you come from a band like Take That, it was very much the thing of the moment, and when you're a band of that kind the clocks are kinda ticking as soon as you have your first hit, and that's why we kinda wanted to finish right at the top and not wait to be sliding down the charts and it was natural for me to just think, right....onwards and upwards, let's do something solo and that's been nice also. C.A.: Well were you worried about whether you were going to be like a George Michael or an Andrew Ridgeley (laughter from everyone)......Well lots of rock groups split up and even someone like Mick Jagger doesn't seem to do particularly well on his own, but the Rolling Stones just goes on forever. G.B.: I think that when you do something new obviously you're a bit apprehensive no matter what job your in. C.A.: Yes...you've had number one singles and stuff and an album on your own, what are you making at the moment seeing as we dragged you away from making a video, what is that for? G.B.: That's for the new single Open Road it's out in November, we're enjoying making a video in London for a change, I've just been in America for 11 weeks and it's nice to be back. First thing I did was sausage, chips and gravy at the chippy, it was just great......(crowd laughs) C.A.: Err....but errr......(thinking) G.B.: You're running out of things to say now........(applause and laughter from crowd) C.A.: No, no, no not really err.......I....... I've got at least two more then we'll go our supposed careers.......(laughter)...... when you split up, was it an amicable splitting up or did it come to blows, you know....'take that'....(laughter)...and all that sort of thing. G.B.: No it was very amicable and err....we had 5 years to look back on and we did have some brilliant moments and we're still friends of course now. C.A.: Are you??.......(laughter) G.B.: Erm yeah! (laughs) C.A.: So are you all having solo careers? I mean Robbie Williams is still here in the news stories from time to time. G.B.: Yep, we're all doing something solo. I think that was the special thing about the group, you know everybody had a character and I'm sure everybody can name every member of Take That, there's not many bands you can do that with. So they're all going their separate ways now so that's brilliant. C.A.: Yes err.....don't test me on it by the way.......(Gary and crowd laugh) G.B.: I was gonna ask you to sing one of our songs but you probably wouldn't know. C.A.: I err.......I erm......I hmmm.......no, I wouldn't. G.B.: No no........(laughs) C.A.: How Deep Is Your Love, was that one of yours? Or was that just one of my questions, I can't remember....(crowd laugh and applaud)..... So do you think in years to come there'll be these sort of 'when are Take That gonna get back together again' or is that all finished? G.B.: I don't know, it would have to be a special moment I think for the group to get back together, a very special moment. C.A.: ...and as a group you had a very clean cut image. G.B.: We did. C.A.: Was that an imposed one, a pretend one, or were you really up to no good behind the scenes? G.B.: I mean.....I always think that, god that image that people thought we had, you know we really weren't that well behaved, we were like any young guys, we like a drink, we like a bit of a club afterwards, all that sort off stuff, it's just that we seemed to keep it private. I've had many a vomiting session, you know, that's what you do when your young.(everyone laughs)....and when you're old.......(applause from crowd) C.A.: Good point yes, well I wasn't expecting you to bring that up...(laughter from crowd at the cheap pun)....what do you mean ? Like in a club you'd be vomiting away......(laughter) G.B.: Well I'll tell you what I've got a funny story if you wanna hear it? C.A.: .....I'm sitting here praying. G.B.: I'm just trying to fill the interview up with something more, you know? C.A.: Oh yes please yes...... G.B.: If you don't tell anyone I'll tell you a very funny story actually about a vomiting session. C.A.: Ok. G.B.: It's actually got more substance..........oh I won't go into that.... C.A.: Just tell it don't actually do it.........(laughter) G.B.: Ok err...I don't know if you remember but we did a song with Lulu once. C.A.: I do yes. G.B.: Called Relight My Fire and we spent a lot of time with Lu and we got on really well. It was her birthday and she said to me, come down and stay at the house, so although I knew her I was a little bit nervous, staying at Lulu's house you know, as you are. So anyway I arrived with me little bag and I have me own towels and stuff, I didn't wanna impose too much.......(laughter again from everyone) C.A.: No. G.B.: So err.... C.A.: How many towels did you have ?..........(laughter) G.B.: I had two, two towels........(smiling) C.A.: I feel these are gonna be important these towels later on in the story.......(laughter) G.B.: You're right there. C.A.: I don't know what it is but......... G.B.: So anyway she showed me round the house. D'you know on the first floor there's a nice lounge, and on the second floor there's her bedroom and her bathroom, then on the third floor there's a bathroom in the middle and there's my bedroom at the front and her housekeeper sleeps at the back, now this is very important to the story. C.A.: I'm worried about this housekeeper now.........(laughter) G.B.: So anyway we go out for dinner and I only like Southern Comfort to drink, so I'll have two or three. So anyhow we go on from a meal to a club and its 2 o'clock in the morning and she said 'listen I'm going home, here's the house keys let yourself in'. So I said 'Oh beautiful'. So anyway 14 Southern Comforts later....... it's half past 5 in the morning, I'm in a cab saying 'slllooooowww down the trees are bending in' (cabbie replies...Gary puts on a cockney accent) 'I'm only going 15 miles an hour mate'. So I get back, eventually find the key to the door, and I've taken that many breaths of fresh air I'm starting to feel sick in Lulu's house.... C.A.: Nooo Lulu? G.B.: I know it isn't right so.......(laughing) C.A.: This is gonna ruin her catalogue work if you ain't careful..........(laughter) G.B.: Anyway I just see the bottom of the stairs and I think I've gotta go, so I have me hands over me mouth, I run up the stairs and it's starting to come out......(laughter)......I'm outside Lulu's bedroom right, it's coming down me arm, I make it up to the bathroom on the top floor and I get in the bathroom and it goes everywhere but the toilet, it's everywhere! So I think ok and I'm dizzy and I think right I just need to get in the room.....bag....towel....clean it up. C.A.: Yeah... G.B.: So I go into the bedroom and I'm digging through me bag, it's pitch black, I'm throwing things out. All of a sudden the light goes on and I'm in the housekeepers room.....and I just said....'IIIII aaammmmmm soooooo soooorrryy'.....and I made it through back into my bedroom, I thought oh what am I gonna do. Anyway I went back to go in the toilet and the light was on and the door was shut and I just thought I hope she's not one one of these women that shuts her eyes and goes into the toilet and sits down. C.A.: Was that Lulu in there by any chance? G.B.: No, no, no, no. C.A.: D'you know what she may wanna �Shout�. G.B.: D'you know what, I left early in the morning and I actually had to confess a couple of months later to Lulu and d'you know the housekeeper had never told her what had happened, I thought that was beautiful........ (Crowd: aaaaahhhhhhh) C.A.: What, she just pretended it was her or ....? G.B.: No I think she just cleaned it up and got on with her life. C.A.: She resigned the next day.........(crowd laugh) G.B.: She was very sweet for doing that.....did you wanna hear all that? C.A.: Not especially but it does establish you as the wild man of rock. G.B.: Well that was the achieve.... C.A.: Anybody can trash a hotel room but to go and ruin Lulu's house with Southern Comfort. G.B.: I was devastated........I was reeeeaaaaly really (holds head with hands)....I didn't.....you know....anyway C.A.: Yes. G.B.: Anyway there ya go. C.A.: From my generation when the Beatles came on the scene, they'd already been on tour together, they're been to Hamburg, they'd been round the sort of Cavern and stuff, they'd done a lot already. What had you done before you became famous, you'd done a sort of show at a scout hut? Take That assembly a couple of times? Cause you were very young. G.B.: I used to play the northern social clubs, in fact there's a lot of interest about them at the moment cause I know there's a show on Channel 4 that talks all about this club circuit, it's amazing, it really is amazing up there. You don't realize how bad the acts are. I mean I was one of them. That's a good example, but god I used to see some real crap, honestly, just to be subtle about it. C.A.: So who err....this was you on your own was it? G.B.: Yes, I was on my own yeah and you kinda get in a circle. Y'know you see the same acts over and over and you kinda know what they're gonna do. D'you want me to tell you another story ?.........(smiles) C.A.: Yeah yeah why not.... G.B.: While we're here and we've got time...(crowd laugh) C.A.: Yeah yeah exactly....I thought you'd be exhausted after making a video but you.... G.B.: No no no I'm full of life because I'm very excited to do the show..........(laughter from crowd)....... but anyway there was this two I used to follow round everywhere and they've even got really naff names some of these acts and they we're called Mario and Marcella ok, and they're kind of a 45 year old Italian couple who have kinda....they earn a bit of money when he's not being a mechanic and she's not being a barmaid. They earn a bit of money at the weekend and I used to travel everywhere with them, and their show once.....she used to come on stage in a glittery dress and she used to go....(holds his arms out to the side and does an impersonation of a female opera singer) 'Mario, mario, mario where are you?'......and from the back of the club he used to walk in and go (holds his arms out to the side and does an impersonation of a male opera singer, the voice is a bit deeper)...'I'm over heeeerrrreeee'.....like this and this goes on back and forth like this and everyone loves it cause they think, we're listening to opera here this is fantastic. So anyway I've seen this act a million times, so I'm sat in the club and she comes on and goes (holds his arms out to the side again and does an impersonation of a female opera singer)...'Mario, mario, mario, mario, mario where are you ?'.......and this voice comes from the back.....(holds his arms out to the side again and does an impersonation of a male opera singer)...'I'm over heee'...(Gary puts his hand over his mouth and then the sounds of Mario are muffled)....and these two bouncers grab him thinking he's a drunk and they've got him on the floor and he's going...(Gary puts his hand over his mouth again)....'hmph muph hmphrmotp' ( muffled sounds)....so she cant see any of this, so she's going...(holds his arms out to the side and does an impersonation of a angry female opera singer....clenches his teeth)....'Mario, mario, mario, mario where flaming are you?'.......and you can hear him being dragged......(hand over mouth again)........'hmpohm hmpump' (muffled sounds)......and he's getting limped out and she goes..'MARIO, MARIO ' (does an impression of a very angry female opera singer, he has his voiced raised).........that was one of the very amazing things.....I think you probably had to be there............(everyone applauds and laughs) C.A.: No no it's a good story........(applause)......So that could have been a big opening for you, you could have teamed up with her.......Ok Gary well this is all fascinating stuff but perhaps those younger members of.....(looks at the audience).....yes err... that lady there. Lady in audience:Can I ask, what's happened to your image? You never looked like that in Take That you looked like a young Tom Cruise with highlights. Has someone told you to like.....(flexes her arms) C.A.: To like what.....what's this mean.....(copies her action) Lady: Well he looks like......you look like a model now, you look like an Armani model now what's happened? C.A.: (sarcastically)....Yeah get back to your old look......(laughter) G.B.: Yeah that's right......(laughing) C.A.: So what did you look like before then? Lady: He looked like sort of err...Kagagoogoo with short hair........(crowd applaud and laugh) G.B.: (sits with mouth agape.....speechless....laughs) Lady: What I'm trying to say is you look good now. G.B.: Ahhh thank you, that's a nice thing to say. C.A.: It was a compliment eventually. G.B.: That's right. C.A.: You're looking better than you ever did, maybe it's because you haven't got those 4 other blokes going 'urgh uhh urgh' (waves his arms around in a monkey fashion......looks at the audience)....He's sitting next to me instead of 4 hunks that's what it is. G.B.: D'you know I'm actually very insecure about the way I look and when I was in the group, seeing everybody else it used to really put me off, so I used to turn to food...(laughs nervously) and now you see I'm just looking after meself, so in order to be a solo artist and be confident I need to feel good the way I look about myself, so I'm not feeling to bad at the moment, so that's why. C.A.: Ok another......gentleman here. Man in audience: When you was in Take That Gary....errrr.....all right now you're solo, your on your own, did.....are you having as much fun on tour on your own now as when you was with Take That. C.A.: Can you have as much fun on your own as when your with somebody else?....(crowd applaud) G.B.: (points at Clive and laughs)........It's not better or worse, it's different but I still have a lot of fun, I have a good team who work with me and y'know it's....I love to travel and I'm going to places I've never been to before right now, so I do have a lot of fun but I have to say it was great fun being with the guys, it was quality fun, and in that way I don't have as many laughs as I used to have.....but I've had a good laugh tonight. C.A.: Ok.....(looks at audience)....happy with that? .......(points at another man who happens to be a complete snob) Man #2 in audience: I've got a sort of related question about image cause they say that brown was last year's black, and I swallowed the stuff about grey being this year's black...(he's wearing grey)....and I wondered if Gary agrees. G.B.: I'm always a year behind me mate........(laughter) C.A.: But you've got a black shirt on and brown trousers so......(points at Gary's attire) G.B.: Yep....combine the years that's what I say. C.A.: That or you were very nervous coming on....(laughter).......anyway thank you very much Gary Barlow.....(huge applause from crowd...shakes Gary's hand).....Thanks a lot. G.B.: Thank you, thank you. C.A.: Very good stuff. Thank you and I'm afraid that's all we've got time for.........GOODNIGHT! End of Interview. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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