Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame

Having been a teenage girl in the early 1990s it is unsurprising that Take That are a big part of my music history.  I am not ashamed of this fact, nor do I try to hide it.  I am quite a sentimental old fool when it comes to music which means that Take That occasionally pop up on the iPod shuffle in-between gothic metal or indie rock to this day.  That's okay, right?  Doozr is terribly mean and pokes fun at me constantly for my Take That fetish but I really don't care.

When they reformed in 2005 I was sucked in.  Desperate for a reunion with Robbie I bought all their new stuff, went to all of the tours, felt like I was 12 again.  The nostalgia faded after a short while, but I still keep an eye on what the lads are up to and  very occasionally I dust off my signed original copy of Take That and Party and have a little boogie.  (My mum also buys me a Take That calendar every Christmas which always takes centre stage in my kitchen).

Recently the long awaited reunion with Robbie Williams was announced.  Take That fans all over the world rejoiced.  I was less than convinced, slightly excited but trying desperately not to show it.  All I could see was a money making strategy especially as this is for a one off album and tour.  Their reunion is unlikely to be a long term situation.

On the 4th October, Robbie Williams releases his new single, Shame.  This single has been released in collaboration with Gary Barlow.  The song appears to be about them apologising to each other for the public falling out they had 15 years ago and the lack of communication since.  It isn't immediately catchy but is smothered in the distinctive Gary Barlow sound that has made Take That so successful over the years.  On listening to the track for the first time I thought 'meh' and then proceeded to listen to it on repeat 6 times in that same sitting.

The video for Shame has received the most controversy.  It is very Brokeback Mountain and I don't understand why?  Why are they eyeing each other up in a western bar?  Why are they getting undressed and running about half naked together?  Why are they pretending to be gay?  I have no idea what they were thinking when they discussed the concept for this video.  It does work somehow though and I can't help but smile when they look at each other with that knowing glance or at the end when they walk off together with their arms around each other.



To be honest, I am not sure that I care why they have decided to reform, I am not sure that I care why Gary and Robbie have decided to release a track together with a very gay video and I am definitely uninterested in how expensive it will be to see them tour next year.  All I know is that my inner 12 year old is happily singing her lungs out to Shame and desperate to get hold of the new album and tickets for the tour.  I am not sure I will be going as far as the actual 12 year old me by naming my pets after Robbie and Mark or covering my now very grown up adult bedroom with hundreds of Take That posters but still you get the idea.  I am 12 again.  I love it :D