Article and Photo by Emanuela Bonetti (Rome) | Photo by Denis Ulliana (Marostica)
“This Life Under The Stars” is the promotional tour that brings the band back to Take That in Italy to promote their latest album, “This Life”, released in 2023. Having been reduced to a three-piece for years now, Take That seem to be more united and in tune than ever. Indeed, like before, more than before.
Born and exploded in the 90s, in the wake of their success emerged all the boybands that have dotted the next twenty years in the British and American pop scene. Just think of Blue, 5ive, East 17, Boyzone, 'Nsync, Backstreet Boys and One Direction, just to name a few.
But we are here for Gary Barlow, Mark Owen And Howard Donaldour survivors, who over time, despite losses and setbacks, have managed to return to the spotlight in a big way.
Today we no longer witness scenes of collective delirium as was the norm in the early years of their career. Yet, the audience we find at their concerts has remained the same over the years. Take That they have not undergone a generational change and for this reason, the average age of those I meet at each of their concerts is high. Not only that: the fans come from all over the world, they are not mainly women and for this reason their concerts seem like real family parties. Those parties where you meet friends and distant cousins, you know each other naturally as a child but then you stay with them for the rest of your life.Once a Thatters, always a Thatters!', this is the motion and this is the greatest of truths.
After the short performance of Zak AbelBritish singer-songwriter with a (wonderful) soul voice, the wait is over and finally the lights go down. The first to come back on are the two Ts in the background of the stage, then comes an explosion of red lights and to the tune of 'Greatest Day' our heroes appear.
The Cavea of the Auditorium, as always, provides seating and not standing. We know well that this is absurd: already at the notes of 'Giants', second song, Mark himself speaks to the audience and invites them not to be shy: «How to join us!».
No one needs to be told twice. In an instant, a wave of fans pours under the stage, with all due respect to those who have spent €600 on tickets to have reserved seats in the front row. This, however, is another (polemical) matter, let's stay with our favorites instead.
The evening flows between anecdotes, songs and choreographies, the same ones that have made them famous over the years. If when they were young they often loved to remain bare-chested and wear studs and accessories with a vaguely sadomasochistic flavour, this is a luxury that today they can certainly indulge in Howard. Statuesque, toned, muscular – help me say how time hasn’t affected him in the slightest. Always more of a dancer than a singer, over the years he has had to help fill the gaps in the band and the result is truly excellent.
Gary he has always been the real frontman, the real singer and the real musician – in short, the one with the talent. If for years he has not stood out for his beauty, surely his skills and his talents are what has been able to keep the band afloat for over thirty years.
Mark Owenthe first real crush in the musical world of the undersigned, confirms himself as a hybrid: someone who likes to do a bit of everything. From singing to dancing, without forgetting that he can also play the guitar.
These three personalities, today, are a close-knit, relaxed, fun and functional unicum. No one stands out over the others because, in the end, they all do everything. Howard, as already mentioned, from being a choreographic accessory has conquered more and more space and confidence on stage and the three, together, are truly still a great force.
There is no shortage of smiles, laughter, gags. The three give themselves to the audience a lot: as before, more than before. They rarely leave the edge of the stage, it is a continuous touching of the fans' hands, constantly raised. Perhaps it would have been interesting to see a variation in the setlist, which instead remains identical to that of the concert of Marostica and presumably it will remain so also for the last date, the one in Bologna. But international artists are like that: they arrive with a well-oiled, confident show and this is synonymous with success.
There is no room for an encore: it's a shame that the closing is entrusted to 'Rule the World' and not to the previous, more nostalgic and historical, 'Never Forget'. Which, needless to say, was sung in unison by everyone. Waiting to do it again, like before, more than before.
Click here to see photos of Take That in concert in Rome or browse the gallery below
TAKE THAT – the Italian tour lineup
Greatest Day
Giants
Everything Changes
Shine
A Million Love Songs
I Found Heaven
Pray
How Deep Is Your Love? (Bee Gees cover)
Patience
The Flood
Get Ready for It
Windows
This Life
Relight My Fire (Dan Hartman cover)
These Days
Hold Up a Light
Back for Good
Never Forget
Rule the World
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
