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Take That - 'Rule The World'

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Fraser McAlpine | 09:37 UK time, Friday, 12 October 2007

Take ThatPeople say a lot of strange things when they're desperate. If the love of your life is standing by the front door, bags packed, a cold look in their eyes and a withering put-down on their lips, that's often when the inner poet is unleashed, and the very heavens are called into service as a malleable tool in your frantic attempts to stop your fragile emotional stability from smashing into tiny pieces on the floor.

And despite it being wrapped in layers of glossy production - and beefed up with steroidal orchestral touches and one of those enormous singalong choruses that is so huge, it's going to make the new Wembley Stadium seem a bit cramped and sweaty - that's exactly what this song is about.

In fact, it's kind of conceptually neat that it has been so artificially enhanced, seeing as it seeks to capture the moment when you're making your last-ditch attempt to transform the cold love-ashes back into a roaring blaze, and, to be fair, a sense of perspective and understatement are the last things on your mind.

"Yeah you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me girl, we can rule the world"

Translation

"Oh God please don't go. I'll do anything. Anything at all. I'll, I'll, clean the toilet. I WILL! I'll do the washing-up every day and I will put flowers on the table three times a week. I'll pick my own pants up and put them in the wash. I'll make you a cup of tea every morning and I will never, ever, ever pick my nose and wipe it on the carpet again..."

And, thinking about it, there's clearly a reason why the Barlow version works and my version doesn't (apart from mentioning snot, which is the biggest passion killer ever). It's that we're all suckers for the idea that our lives are in some way governed by universal forces which we cannot control or see.

So what Gary is actually singing is closer to "you can't go anyway. I've asked , and He says we're supposed to be together forever, or the future of the entire human race is at stake. Is that what you want on your conscience? Is it? Right, so put the bag down and come give me a cuddle".

And you all thought it was just harmless pop music...tsk!

Three starsDownload: Out now
CD Released:
October 22nd

(Fraser McAlpine)

Comments

  1. At 12:34 PM on 12 Oct 2007, Roxy wrote:

    I think it's rubbish.

    I saw them perform this at the NFA and it was just soo boring.

    When you dump someone the last thing you want is them clinging onto your legs telling you that together you can rule the world!! It would work for Prince Wills but not for anyone else.

  2. At 04:43 PM on 12 Oct 2007, Lisa wrote:

    I'm not quite sure why I like this but I really, really do. I guess I'm a sucker for sugary choruses.

  3. At 10:45 PM on 13 Oct 2007, jasmine wrote:

    i think it is so boring and rubbish because it has lost it's taste i think you should do a little bit more because i agree with roxy i agree with every single word she says

  4. At 11:14 AM on 14 Oct 2007, Emily wrote:

    OMG!! this song is so magical, it makes me so happy!

  5. At 11:59 AM on 14 Oct 2007, wrote:

    It'll probably get high in the charts

  6. At 05:17 PM on 14 Oct 2007, Emily wrote:

    It probably will be high up in the charts, because of all the Take That fans, but it is a VERY boring song...i watched gary barlow at the stardust premiere on t4, and he said he wasnt sure if the song was gna be pushed away by the director/producer person or not. I don't know what he was thinking (the producer i mean) !

  7. At 09:19 AM on 15 Oct 2007, wrote:

    Hmm, I'm not against Take That in principle, but the first few times I heard this, I forgot who and what it was almost immediately.

    It's Stardust provenance probably won't help it (it plays over the closing credits when everyone is trying to escape over discarded bottles, syringes and babies - ahm fae Leith), but I'm sure they'll get Top 5 just because.

    Best ever 'my woman is leaving' song? The Isley Brothers version of 'Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me For A Little While)' - or a quickie afore ye go, as I link to think of it.

    Listen to the coda when Ernie starts to beg and plead - awesome!

    I know you're leavin' me behind
    I'm seein' you darlin' for the very last time
    Show a little tenderness before you go
    Please let me feel your embrace once more

    Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while
    We all must feel heartache sometimes
    Right now, right now I'm feelin' mine

    I've tried my best to be strong, but I'm not able
    I'm like a helpless child left in a cradle
    Before you leave me behind let me feel happy one more time

    I'm losin' you and my happiness
    My life is so dark I must confess
    I'll never, never see your smiling face no more
    I'll never, never hear your knock upon my door
    Before you leave me leave me behind
    Let me feel happy one more time

  8. At 09:20 PM on 19 Oct 2007, Jade wrote:

    I luv this song at first I didnt buh all in all I like the words am tbh am not a big fan I think its rather catchy even tho it dusnt luk to be doing so well lol =]

  9. At 11:56 AM on 20 Oct 2007, George McCormick wrote:

    I thought Eurovision was over for this year, what a load of sick.

  10. At 09:43 PM on 24 Oct 2007, Kevin wrote:

    I didn't really like their last songs, but I absolutely LOVE this one! I hope it will do really well, which I'm sure it will. The Eurovision comment made me laugh. I'm a huge Eurovision fan and now I know why I like this one lol.

  11. At 11:25 AM on 25 Oct 2007, siobhan wrote:

    I love this song - I am a fan of Take that but to be honest when i first heard it i never knew it was them just thought thats a really great song - I think its more the tune than anything else i like. It sounds all mysterious i think hehehehhehehe craz commentbut i know what i mean...... anyway dnt think its exactly eurovision or is really that bad!

  12. At 08:55 PM on 28 Oct 2007, Amy wrote:

    I dont really know how peopl can call it rubbish and boring because its jut got to number 2 in the charts!

    i think its a fanctastic song and al the people who think its rubbish and borin should sit down and write and release a song themselves and see where that gets to in the charts!

  13. At 10:53 AM on 16 Dec 2007, Matt Long wrote:

    well its more than obvious that pretty much everyone who puts the song down by sharing their own interpretation of the lyrics, are very sad n lonely people. this song is by far the most beautiful song i have ever heard, the indeed magical background music melts the heart and the lyrics make you want to call up the one closest to you and let them know how much you love them and mean to them. not you downers obviously, especially the top downer here, yeah i'm talkin about you Fraser. you're a sad little man aren't you? don't bother replying to that question, we both know the answer. people, learn to forgive and appreciate who you have in your life, otherwise you'll end up cold n alone.

    [I have never been so offended in all my life! Little? LITTLE? I'm 6ft 2, PAL! - Fraser]

  14. At 05:14 PM on 19 Dec 2007, Matt L. wrote:

    Yea, and you might as well be 3'2" for all the good it does you. you're 6'2" and all u do is run ur mouth about something you know absolutely nothing about. Like the chick above says, why don't YOU record a song and see how it fares on the charts. its not just about the song itself but what it triggers when you listen to it, it can indeed "transform the cold love-ashes back into a roaring blaze" (speaking from personal experience). thats something very special and u dont piss all over it. if everyone followed yours and mr Roxy's advice, the human race would had gone to hell eons ago. so until you actually go through something like that, you should just shoo shoo and let someone with a heart do the talkin.

    ["Like the chick above says"? Nice. - Fraser]

  15. At 07:49 PM on 25 Dec 2007, Matt Long wrote:

    wow you really told me there!!! jeez dude if that's the best you can do, you really need more oxygen. case closed.

    [It's not the best I can do, it's the best you're getting. Bye! - Fraser]

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