Comeback kings Take That kicked off the UK leg of their Beautiful World tour in Birmingham to thousands of excited fans of all ages who screamed, sang and danced the night away.
Dressed to the nines and armed with home-made banners declaring undying love for Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange, the fans had a ‘wail’ of a time as the band make a welcome return to the NEC.
The standard of novelty dress was set by women in fur-trimmed cowgirl hats and personalised t-shirts and there was more than one brightly coloured banner politely requesting that Gary wears tighter trousers next time. Among those cheering the fab four last night was Carmela Barbetta, aged 29, of Fordhouses, Wolverhampton. She said: “I’m a big fan and I think I’m most looking forward to hearing the old songs. Never Forget is a favourite of mine.”
Pal Debbie Butters, 29, of Telford, said she had barely slept a wink the night before.
“I’ve seen them quite a few times and I’ve been looking forward to tonight for some time.”
Sisters Emma and Sarah Scrivens, aged 30 and 27, and friend Carolyn Blaney, 27, all of Tamworth, have been TT fans since day one with each having their favourite - Gary, Jason and ex-member Robbie Williams respectively. Emma said: “We looked a bit different last time around – we were younger!” The sellout show was performed in front of a mixed audience, of grandmothers, couples, groups of friends, children and families.
The arena roof was raised by the 14,000-odd fans who knew all the words and delighted in singing along with the boys from the north west who still rocked the NEC some 16 years after forming Take That.
As for the show itself. There were shooting flames, sexy dancers, new hits and old favourites but most importantly there was the fab four.
Take That just get better with age.
New album Beautiful World, released last year, became the second biggest selling album of 2006 and the biggest selling Take That album in history. Last night the boys performed a mix of the songs that made them famous and tracks off the latest release which was apt as the audience was as varied as the repertoire.
Original fans who went through their teenage years dancing to Take That and Party sang their hearts out alongside new supporters enjoying the fun the second time around.
The foursome opened the show with Reach Out before launching into a raunchy rendition of It Only Takes A Minute.
Outfits were dashing on one hand, fashionable waist coats and long, masculine coats and fun and silly and on the other – black hoodies with fluorescent flashes.
The boys clearly believe in sticking to a winning formula as the dance routines were wonderfully 90s. Jason did a lovely job of singing Wooden Boat on his own and told the audience it was his first solo effort on home soil. They ended with the chart topper Pray and it brought the house down.
By Fiona McCartney.
18 Comments
I’m going to see take that on tuesday with the girls from my office & my best friend. Both my manager & best friend sarah won ticket on Heart FM. We all love Take That we have been trying to get tickets since they went on sale!!! Winning them was a bouns
CANT WAIT xx
I am going to see them tonight for the first time (other than a radio 1 roadshow on southsea beach!)
I have been waiting since I was 11 and am sooooooooooooooooooo excited… have that same feeling as when about to go on oblivion!!!
Come on boys… we love you!
xx
i went to the show last night and it was amazing!!! they have still got the x factor and leave other new acts in the shade
TT are total rubbish, they have got so OLD looking.Give me Westlife anytime , at least they can really sing & are not totally up their own backsides…
The show was amazing!!! It was in actual fact my friends & I who were sporting the bright pink banners with ‘tighter trouser please Gary’ Everyone looked fantastic & I’m proud I was there for the UK opening night. Well done Take That x x x x
word’s can’t describe how brilliant TT’s concerts are. I was lucky enough to see them in Belfast last month, saw them on opening night and have 3 Birmingham and 1 Manchester show still to see. Their latest song title describes them perfectly “Rule The World”
TROUSER ARMY GIRLS ROCKED THE BLOCKS!!!!
Come on guys - The Trouser Army love you x x
Oh please Take That leave Westlife in the shade with their live gigs.
I had a ball Thursday night Up the tight trousers!!!
We love those boys xxxxxx
what planet are you on sara when you say TT are up their own arses you clearly have never met them to know they are 4 of the most genuine down to earth guys to have ever walked planet pop!
the banners were from gary’s trouser army and thursday was the best night of my life!,,the lads rocked the NEC!!!! xx
My friends and are are responsible for the banners and Tshirts, the tighter Gary’s trousers are, the clearer his dimensions are!!! What a stunner! The boys were fantastic and we all had the best night ever! Well done TT and love to all the trouser army xxxx
Take That are the best live act I have ever seen, they are a hundred times better than Westlife!! I saw this tour in Belfast & Barcelona and it’s amazing, their best yet.Well done lads!!
The trouser army are famous!!! wooohooo!!!
Wish I could have been there Thurs but can’t wait til Tuesday when I see them again
I saw TT in Milan -Italy- and they ruled our world…they are so loved…internationally!!! Well done to my wonderful friends with the banners! We rock!
Went Thursday was AMAZING!!!! Sang till my voice went! Was so fantastic - liked them since i was 11
They all looked rather fit too! Was Great! Was a brilliant show loved all Vegas Glitz! Liked the banners too!
Oh and Westlife are talented they sit and sing and they stand up and sing and then they sit again and everything (that was sarcasm by the way!!). Take That are so many miles ahead it’s untrue!
I was one of the people holding the banners! We’re Gary Barlow’s Trouser Army and we are campaigning for tighter trousers!!!!! The concert was amazing - I was so stunned in parts that I was standing with my mouth open in awe!
And btw Sara, if you think for one minute that Westlife (who haven’t done an original song in HOW many years?) are better than TT, you need your head examined!
I went to see Take That in Birmingham last night. The show is fantastic, just as it was last year. They are superstars and clearly enjoy being up there on stage.
Sara, Have you been to see Take That? You clearly don’t like them so why are you even looking at this and commenting????
Oh Sarah how sad and bitter you sound! Thats such a pity because you really are missing out on the glory of four FABULOUS SINGERS DANCERS AND SONG WRITERS!! Take That Rule Our World! Well done to all the Trouser Army i was so privelidge to be in your company on opening night!!Can’t wait for Monday the Trouser Army supporting the best band in the world!!! xx
All i have to say is OH MY GOD!!! Myself and 12 girls from work (Artavia Advertising) travelled all the way from North Devon on Saturday to see the Boys and it was soooooo worth it. They were absolutely fantastic, they put on a great show! This was by far one of the best concerts I have EVER seen. The boys are all gorgeous…thank god for the great seats. It was nice that they looked as though they were enjoying it as much as we were. Can’t wait for the next tour. Take That have still got it!!…we just hope they are back for good :o) WHOOP WHOOP!!!
I saw TT at Birmingham NEC &, given I saw Westlife last year, I’m well-informed to comment on BOTH bands &, although I did enjoy Westlife, the TT concert was the BEST I have EVER seen (&,in my 43 years on this planet,I’ve been to several). Apart from being excellent value for money (TT were on stage for 2 hours,WL were on 1hr 15 mins), the TT was the most professional, innovative & enjoyable spectacle I’ve ever seen. I didn’t plan,however, to comment purely to make a TT v WL comparison(I felt compelled to do so after reading previous comments),my main point is that TT is a fantastic band who deserve every bit of success they’ve achieved. They struck me as decent, down-to-earth guys, appreciative of their fans’ support, and who work extremely hard to put on a great show for people - Good On ‘Em!