Take That's "Love Love" Sounds Like Take That's "Kidz"

I heart Take That — so much so that I'm off to see them perform in Milan in two months (from tomorrow). So I was highly curious to hear how the full version of the band's X-Men: First Class jam "Love Love" would sound.

The single was released in the UK today, and basically it comes off as a retread of their previous Progress offering "Kidz." (No, I don't get what happened to the marketing of the album's singles post-"The Flood," either.)

That said, there's a bit more of a hook here than "Kidz" had, at least. I'd say this, with its dueling Gary Barlow/Robbie Williams vocals, is an improvement over that one.



The band is set to perform "Love Love" tonight for the UK's National Movie Awards. The single is currently #6 on iTunes in Take That's home country.

Clips Of Take That's New Year's Eve Gig In Barbados Finally Pop Up

Remember when Take That (minus Robbie Williams) performed at Simon Cowell's private New Year's Eve party in Barbados on New Year's Eve? No? Alright, we'll try this...

Remember when Take That hottie Howard Donald was walking around the beach shirtless in December? Well, video—of the shoddy, taken-on-a-cell-phone-from-way-over-there variety—of Howard's band Take That performing at said NYE gig has finally found its way online.

"Never Forget"



"Shine"



"Back For Good"



[Via @US_TakeThatFans]

Take That's Next 'Progress' Single Announced

One of the worst kept secrets in Take That Land was confirmed today on the band's official site—that "Kidz" is to be the second single off the million-selling Progress (release date: February 28). And I have to say, this is a much better choice than the rumored-to-have-been-scrapped-single "SOS." (Though, c'mon, lads—why not go for the far superior "Happy Now" already?)

Even though its been documented that it is in fact Robbie Williams singing the chorus on the largely Mark Owens-dominated "Kidz", XOLondon and I have had several discussions about how it actually sounds suspiciously like Gary Barlow's vocals.

Anyway, here's a making-of video on "Kidz," where the That talk about recording the track in Los Angeles.

...And Then Howard Donald Took His Shirt Off

All of the members of Take That (except for Robbie Williams—uh oh!) are in Barbados, where Howard Donald took off his shirt on the beach and—well, who really cares what the rest of them were up to. (Actually, the That are performing a private gig in Barbados on New Year's Eve.)

Progress closed out 2010 by becoming the best-selling LP of the year in the UK (total copies sold: 1.8 million), and the final #1 on the album chart across the pond.

And then Howard took his shirt off.

Gary Barlow Joins Coldplay On Stage

You may recall when Take That's Gary Barlow joined Coldplay on stage for a rendition of "Back For Good" almost two years ago during a War Child charity gig. Gaz was once again brought out on stage on Sunday during a not-so-secret Royal Court show in Liverpool that Colplay put on to benefit the homeless charity Crisis. And once again they did Take That's 1995 hit "Back For Good."

That's comedian Peter Kay throwing food out to the audience toward the end of the clip.

And If You Don't Like It, Fuck You: The 10 Worst Singles Of 2010

It never fails—each year brings a new bucketful of rotten singles, causing trusty Chart Rigger sidekick Moogaboo and I put on the rubber gloves and fling them into the trash bin where they belong every December. And 2010 was certainly no exception! Below are the 10 biggest culprits of noise pollution we found lurking around the airwaves over the past 12 months.

10. Christina Aguilera, "Not Myself Tonight"

Moogaboo says: "The public deflation Xtina's bloated sense of entitlement was one of the more entertaining disasters of the year. Lucky for her, the ball-gag muffled any potential screaming tantrums."
D'luv says: "I will proudly admit that this song was one of my guilty pleasures in 2010. But I can also appreciate the sheer magnitude of flopdom is represents for Xtina's career. Plus, it wasn't the ultimate guilty pleasure. So here we are."
PREVIOUS TRIUMPH: Christina soared to #6 on our Worst list in 2006 with "Ain't No Other Man."

9. Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow, "Shame"

Moogaboo says: "I realize this is supposed to be the 'full-circle' portion of the Robbie Williams redemption story, but I find him tiresome and his continued attempts at relevance more pathetic with each passing year. Next."
PREVIOUS TRIUMPH: Robbie proudly reached #4 on our Worst list in 2006 with "Rudebox."

8. B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams, "Airplanes"

D'luv says: "Maybe if this song wasn't rammed up my ass every time I turned on the radio over the past six months, it wouldn't be here on this list. Alas..."

7. Cheryl Cole, "Promise This"

D'luv says: "If Cheryl used her mouth for something other than lip-syncing crap trash like this every time she got on a stage, she'd probably be able to keep a man."

6. Nadine Coyle, "Insatiable"

D'luv says: "How cute—she thought she had a career other than the pole."

5. Estelle, "Freak"

Moogaboo says: "Someone needed to pull this doll aside and say, 'No. Just no.' Sadly, they didn't, and that's how Estelle went from Grammy winner to dumpster barnacle in one short year."
D'luv says: "Wow—this really was a colossal flop on every level. Of course, if I paid a producer tens of thousands of dollars and this was the dreck they came up with for me, there would most definitely be a homicide."

4. Mike Posner, "Cooler Than Me"

Moogaboo says: "Finally, an anthem for insecure dildos."

3. The Black Eyed Peas, "The Time (Dirty Bit)"

D'luv says: "Good ol' Black Eyed Peas—always there to remind us that shit sells."
Moogaboo says: "So true. This completely wipes out any good will they may have accrued with 'Meet Me Half Way' and reminds me that they're the same bozos who did 'My Humps'."
PREVIOUS TRIUMPH: The Peas easily sailed to #5 on our Worst list in 2009 with "Boom Boom Pow", while Fergie received accolades when we dubbed "London Bridge" the #1 worst single of 2006.

2. Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars, "Billionaire"

D'luv says: "I wanna be a billionaire, too, so I can buy a city block and drop it on Travie McCoy's head."
Moogaboo says: "Deserves a punch in the face for the porkpie hat and suspenders alone."

1. Artists For Haiti, "We Are The World 25 For Haiti"

Moogaboo: "This doomed flotilla of Z-listers (and Streisand) capsized quickly, but I like to think their semi-sincere efforts did some good. Otherwise, we endured Jamie Foxx's obnoxious Ray Charles impression again for nothing."
D'luv says: "Apparently it takes 80 or so people to fuck up a classic, stage the biggest non-event of the year, give Vince Vaughn a reason to sing and then, ultimately, flop. But, hey, man—Bieber."

ALSO SEE:
* The Worst Singles Of 2009
* The Worst Singles Of 2008
* The Worst Singles Of 2007
* The Worst Singles Of 2006

UK Chart Roundup: Take That Post Best One-Week Album Sales In 13 Years With 'Progress'

Take That and JLS make a bit of a boy band compromise this week, as the former have a massive week with Progress, their sixth studio album—and their first with Robbie Williams since 1995—and the latter take hold of the UK singles chart with "Love You More."

Progress sold roughly 520,000 copies after its release this past Monday, the most for any album in one week in the UK since Oasis' Be Here Now moved 663,000 copies in 1997. Meanwhile, Take That's lead single off the LP, "The Flood", is at #2 on the singles chart for a second week. Debuting at #1 is JLS' Children In Need charity single "Love You More", which has now become the X Factor alums' fourth chart-topper in the past year-and-a-half.

Elsewhere, it's amateur hour for the blandest boy band on the planet, Westlife, as their latest cure for insomnia "Safe" flops at #10. It's now been four years since the low-rent Irish noise makers had a #1 single, and you have to wonder at this point why they don't just hang it up and go live out their boring lives outside of public eye?

Sorry, gents—you can work with John Shanks, producer of the last two Take That albums, but you'll just never be Take That.

On a final note, it's a sad week for Shayne Ward, whose "Gotta Be Somebody" drops from #12 to #24 while third LP Obsession limps into the album chart at #15, and Manchester duo Hurts, whose latest single "Stay" crashes and burns at #50.

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "Love You More" - JLS *new* *1 week* 
2. "The Flood" - Take That
3. "Your Song" - Ellie Goulding
4. "Only Girl (In The World)" - Rihanna
5. "Firework" - Katy Perry 
6. "Like A G6" - Far East Movement feat. The Cataracs & Dev *new*
7. "The Time (The Dirty Bit)" - The Black Eyed Peas
8. "Happiness" - Alexis Jordan
9. "Shine A Light" - McFly feat. Taio Cruz
10. "Safe" - Westlife *new*

Celebrate The Beatles (Maybe) Coming To iTunes With Take That's 1994 BRITS Medley

Alright, at the time I'm writing this, it's still about an hour-and-a-half away from iTunes making their "exciting announcement" that we'll "never forget." Speculation is running rampant that it's either a subscription service for users or that the Beatles catalog will FINALLY be made available.

So in anticipation, here's Take That's medley of the Fab Four's tunes at the 1994 Brit Awards, where Gary Barlow once and for all proved that white men really can't jump—or dance.

Take That Unleash "The Flood" On 'The X Factor'

I have my tickets to see Take That in Milan next July, and am more than psyched about it. (Anyone else going?) And so I'm glad the five of them got their very first live performance together in 15 years as a five piece—with Robbie Williams back in the mix—out of the way now, eight months ahead. Because they were a little rusty. But they'll get it all together.

The guys took to The X Factor stage on tonight's results show and belted out their—sigh—#2-charting single "The Flood."

But who cares that the song is in the runner-up position, when the new album, Progress, has so much amazing material lying in wait?  Bring on follow-up single, "Happy Now"!

Take That Reveal 'Progress' Tracklist, New Photo

Here's a brand new pic of Q magazine cover gents Take That from their Progress album photo shoot—presumably one that might be appearing in the CD booklet—courtesy of Manchester Evening News. And, really, I think this photo is pretty telling of where the guys are at now.

To me this pic conveys that Robbie and Howard are happy to be banging each other for the first time in 15 years, while Gary has clearly taken the more subservient role in his relationship with Mark. Poor Jason, however, is left to watch. (He must not have gotten the package with the keys to my place yet.)

Anyway, the That revealed the tracklist for their upcoming fifth album Progress on their official site. Is #8 supposed to be a wink at Adam Lambert?

1. The Flood
2. SOS
3. Wait
4. Kidz
5. Pretty Things
6. Happy Now
7. Underground Machine
8. What Do You Want From Me?
9. Affirmation
10. Eight Letters

Take That Cover 'Q' Magazine, Talk Trash

UK man band Take That have the cover story in December's issue of Q magazine. It's the first time all five members have appeared on the cover of a publication together in 15 years, and the images were shot by none other than Bryan Adams. Yes, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" Bryan Adams. And "Heaven" Bryan Adams. And "Please Forgive Me" Bryan Adams. What the fuck am I talking about?

Oh, right—so in their article, it seems like Gary Barlow has to run through the same old song-and-dance about the low point he hit when he was dropped by his label in the late '90s while Robbie Williams' career was taking off:

"The thing I've learned from having Rob back in my life is that it wasn't being envious of him, it was more that I love being in the industry. I love days like today, doing a photo shoot, being driven here in a nice car. It's a nice life. And it's fucking temporary, unless you're incredibly lucky. He was getting all the stuff I wanted. I hated it when he had a pop at me, but it didn't keep me awake at night. I was just longing to get back into the industry. It was snatched away from me overnight."

Class. At least he wasn't missing something frivolous, like making music.

Take That's 'Progress' Album Cover Is Evolutionary

There are so many things you know I could say about Take That's Progress album cover, but instead I'll just note that at least they haven't lost their senses of humor. Or their exploitation of homo-eroticism.

On an intellectual level—cough—guess this shows the evolution of Take That (although, really, they've kind of come full circle at this point).

Progress is out November 22. Watch the video for first single "The Flood" here.

The Best Thing About Take That's "The Flood" Video Is Howard Donald's Sex Faces

Take That hop in a Sculling boat and have what looks like a majorly strenuous row in their video for new single "The Flood."

Then about halfway through, during the whole "there's progress now where there once was none" bit, to prove how strained they are there's an intense montage of the guys all showing their exertion via exaggerated faces. To me it just looks like they're having sex.

Particularly Howard Donald.

Oh, wait—that's probably what they want you to think so you'll buy their music. OK, I'm off to have a shower now. And where'd I put my wallet?

Damn you, Take That!

UK Chart Roundup: Cee Lo Green Says Take That, Robbie Williams And Gary Barlow

Midweek chart figures showed that Cee Lo Green's "F**k You" (or "Forget You" in its clean version) was outselling what was probably expected to be a #1 duet from Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow, "Shame."

And now that all is said and done, the Take That gents indeed have to settle for a #2 debut in the wake of Cee Lo's four-letter charge to the top. Oh, well—at least the pair have the That's epic, soaring single "The Flood" on the way. If that one gets harshed on the way to #1 in November, I'd be highly surprised.

Interestingly, "Shame" now makes the highest charting UK single with Gary Barlow listed as the artist since his 1997 jam "Open Road" reached #7. God, where is time going?



Like "Shame," Robbie Williams "Bodies" also hit #2 last October. Both he and Gary were featured on the Helping Haiti charity cover of R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts," which debuted at #1 earlier this year.

Also appearing on that one was Kylie Minogue, whose "Get Outta My Way" debuted at #12 last week but drops to #31 on the new chart. Boooo!

The U.K. Top 10:

1. "F**K You" - Cee Lo Green *new* *1 week*
2. "Shame" - Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow *new*
3. "Written In The Stars" - Tinie Tempah
4. "Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
5. "Miami 2 Ibiza" - Swedish House Mafia vs. Tinie Tempah *new*
6. "Let The Sun Shine" - Labrinth
7. "Radioactive" - Kings Of Leon *new*
8. "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
9. "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
10. "Heartbeat" - Enrique Iglesias feat. Nicole Scherzinger

Take That Return With "The Flood"

The first offering from Take That 3.0—i.e. the new incarnation with Robbie Williams intact after 15 years—arrived today in the form of the Stuart Price-produced single "The Flood," which premiered on BBC Radio 1's Early Morning Breakfast Show.

I half-liked the That's last album The Circus, but it really was kind of samey after Beautiful World. However, the one song that stood out from the rest on it was "The Garden," because it played off the man band's main strength—their combined vocal ability.

Thankfully Price takes that strength and not only gives it an intense workout on "The Flood," he also lends it a beat (something that hasn't graced a Take That single since "Shine" in early 2007).



Lyrically, the song is another "we've overcome the obstacles and we're stronger for it" affair, with references to cavemen, the moon, demons and dark stars no less. The only gripe: after two listens, I'm realizing it could use a little less Robbie, a little more Gary Barlow.

But I don't really care about that right now. Because this is a taste of what's to come from Take That's sixth album Progress, and now I can't wait to chow down on the main course. (So long as it's not too Williams-heavy.)

At least Robbie and Gary are ending the work week on an up note, after the news that their duet "Shame" will most likely get beat to #1 on the UK singles chart by Cee Lo Green on Sunday.

Here's the preview for the music video:

Cee Lo Green Is Giving Robbie Williams And Gary Barlow A Big "F**ck You"

Ahead of the upcoming Take That vs. JLS battle on the UK album chart, another fight has broken out for Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams. You'd have thought their duet "Shame" would be a surefire #1 single in their home country by week's end, but according to midweek figures, they're getting hammered (not in a good way!) by Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You" (or, in its clean, safe version, "Forget You").

Thus far the Gnarls Barkley frontman has sold 33,000 copies of his naughty Motown-esque tell-off jam, while Robbie and Gary are lagging behind with 24,000.

I have to admit, neither of these songs really do it for me. But if pressed, I'd say Cee Lo has the slightly more exciting offering.

Robbie Williams And Gary Barlow On 'Strictly Come Dancing': Get A Room, You Two

Alright, I have to admit—I'm way over Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow's duet "Shame" at this point. Now I'm just really looking forward to the fully intact Take That's upcoming single "The Flood" (not to mention their Stuart Price-produced album Progress, which is due out in the UK November 22).

Anyway, Robbie and Gary's "Shame" is officially out as a single this coming week ahead of the release of Williams' In and Out of Consciousness: The Greatest Hits 1990–2010.

Here they are gaying it up on Strictly Come Dancing this evening.



If you ask me, a better four minutes would be spent watching Jason Orange getting gang-banged on a coffee table by Howard Donald, Ronan Keating and the two cute ones from The Wanted.

Take That's Sixth Album Will Be 'Progress'

Progress, the title of Take That's sixth album, has now been revealed. As has the fact that while they tour for the LP, they'll all be living together in a giant house in the middle of the UK, according to Metro.

This hopefully means lots of man sex will be happening in Jason Orange's mouth. And that a special fan DVD of it will be released shortly.

Robbie Williams And Gary Barlow Perform "Shame" At Help For Heroes Charity Concert

Robbie Williams And Gary Barlow appeared on stage live together last night for the first time in 15 years to perform their duet "Shame" at the Help For Heroes concert in Twickenham, just south of London.

And Williams introduced the Take That frontman in the classiest way possible. "My wife calls him my boyfriend, I call him my captain, you call him Gary Barlow," he said as Gaz walked out on stage. Awww. Bromance.


Current UK chart topper Alexandra Burke, James Blunt and some other people I can't be bothered rounding up the video clips for performed at the charity gig before headliner Robbie Williams.



Here's a bit from the Guardian from a couple weeks back, for all those wondering just how permanent Robbie's stint in Take That is going to be:

Speaking on BBC Radio 1, Barlow said: "It's 20 years since we began and we agreed to do a one-off album – and maybe a one-off tour would be great this year. But I think once we've done [that] Rob will go back to being Rob and we'll go back to being a four. I think it will resume to how it was. We are talking about a tour right now so hopefully next summer we will tour."

Williams added: "We've got 18 months planned. Whatever happens after that we haven't decided."

TT's upcoming album, produced by Stuart Price, is due out in November and will be preceded by the single "The Flood."

Robbie Williams Is Looking Very Tan

While everyone's electric-toothbrushing themselves up the can over the MTV VMAs here in the States Sunday night, the Help For Heroes charity concert will take place in London. These are a couple pics of Robbie Williams from his rehearsals for the gig last night.

Gary Barlow is due to join the Robster for their first live performance of duet "Shame." Meanwhile, is Robbie hitting up the spray tan salon? Jesus. You can take the straight male diva out of L.A. ...

[Pic source]