Take That Prove Three IS The Magic Number At War Child Gig
Jason Orange who? Gary, Howard and Mark shine bright at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire for last night's War Child gig...
Whoever said three's a crowd clearly never met Take That. Ahead of their performance at The BRIT Awards this week, the man band took over O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (February 23) for an extra special show in aid of War Child... And MTV were there!
After a sultry set from rising star Ella Henderson (which reminded us just how much we love Ghost), it was Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen's moment to 'Shine' and take to the stage.
It's the first time we've seen them perform without Jason Orange and the first time we've witnessed the group in such an intimate setting - but one thing was sure from the outset, this was going to be no ordinary gig.
Kicking off proceedings with Greatest Day, Gazza and Co delivered hit after hit, as well as mixing up their set with tracks from their latest chart-topping album III.
Particular highlights included Shine, Patience, The Flood and of course, Relight My Fire (minus Lulu - but never fear, we filled in the gaps!) with Gary "taking it back to the nineties" for a saxophone heavy, twinkly version of A Million Love Songs, making us fall in love with the threesome all over again.
Coming to you
Cry away the sadness in your eyes
And I can find a faith in days I've wasted
Been around enough to feel alive
And when the world is broken, hard and cold
And no one ever knows the reason why
For the ones we may become
For the battles we have won
For the day we reach the sun
Gonna play it loud tonight
When you dream of a dream
And you live in the world
Every hope is a hope for the best
And won't you rest on my bones
And you're calling me now
I was here all the time
Should be out there living the life
And not just watching you, oh
Take me back
Before we all explode
Before we turn to stone
Before the light has gone
Take me back
To where it all began
To where our memories grow
Before they take us over
Tonight we're gonna live for
We're gonna live for these days
Tonight, tonight we'll remember
We'll remember these days
What a day to believe
To believe in the night
What a day to belong to a face in the crowd
And the beat of your heart
And I'm already in
And you're working it out
And you're holding us all in your hands
Oh, what you waiting for?
Take me back
Before we lose control
Before the tables turn
Before we break it all
Take me back
To where it all began
To where our memories grow
Before they take us over
Tonight we're gonna live for
We're gonna live for these days
Tonight, tonight we'll remember
We'll remember these days
Oh, I can see the future
Coming to you
Cry away the sadness in your eyes
And I can find a faith in days I've wasted
Been around enough to feel alive
And when the world is broken, hard and cold
And no one ever knows the reason why
For the ones we may become
For the battles we have won
For the day we reach the sun
Gonna play it loud tonight
Tonight (yeah!) we're gonna live for (live for)
We're gonna live for these days
Tonight, tonight (yeah!) we'll remember ('member)
We'll remember these days
Tonight, tonight (yeah!) we're gonna live for (live for)
We're gonna live for these days
Tonight, tonight (yeah!) we'll remember ('member)
We'll remember these days
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
These days
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
These days
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
These days
Bringing it back to the present day, new tunes Get Ready For It and Let In The Sun were not out of place alongside those old fan favourites, while These Days came complete with a more simplified TT dance routine compared to the Do What You Like days - but Gary still limbered up to show off his moves!
Each three members then went on to perform solo, with Barlow obviously leading the way with Let Me Go (however, we did quite enjoy Owen's Four Minute Warning - yes he went there!), with Howard even showing off his silky smooth vocals - who knew!
But let's not forget, TT are better together, with epic ballad Back For Good, Rule The World and of course, Never Forget turning the London venue into a mass sing-a-long... and obvs, we knew every word.
One things for sure, while Take That may have lost Orange, the future is still bright for the trio...
A star, so bright, you blind me,
Don't close your eyes,
Don't fade away don't fade away,
Ohhhhhhhhh!
Yeah you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me girl
We can rule the world-
Yeah you and me we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side
We can rule the world-
If walls break down, I will comfort you
If angels cry, oh I'll be there for you
You've saved my soul
Don't leave me now, don't leave me now
Oh
Yeah you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me girl
We can rule the world
Yeah you and me, we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side
We can rule the world-
Ooooooooh
All the stars are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you
All the stars are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you-
Ooooooooh
Yeah you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me girl
We can rule the world
Yeah you and me, we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side
We can rule the world
All the stars are coming out tonight (oooooooh)
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you-
All the stars are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you-
All the stars, are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you-
All the stars, are coming out tonight
They're lighting up the sky tonight
For you, for you-
Take That join an illustrious list of acts who have previously played War Child and O2’s show, including Coldplay, Muse, Ed Sheeran, Blur, The Killers, Calvin Harris and Mark Ronson.
The show raised funds for children effected by an unprecedented year of violence in war zones including Iraq, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Uganda and Central African Republic.
Celebs Turn Out For Take That's War Child Gig