Apparently Mark Owen is planning to relaunch his solo career. I love him in Take That but I don't think going solo is a good idea especially after his previous failed attempts
I heard a rumour about Mark Owen
I think that Mark's solo career - particularly his second and third albums - are woefully underrated. I wish him all the best!
I agree that his albums are underrated i like the songs Close to the Edge,Four Minute Warning,Child and Alone Without You. Does anyone know what's happening with TT then are they releasing an album this year? Or is this year for Mark and Gary solo offerings.
From what I've read they appear to be on hiatus cause garys doing xfactor and expecting a baby and they also mentioned that Robbie was going to do a solo album and tour which I fear means he's staying with Take That
At first like most people was unsure about RW coming back into TT as he was great when he was in the band however when he was out of it he became a bigger personality and down a completly different path to the others.
Saying that i thought he fitted in naturally and it actually felt like the proper TT so now bizarely to me it would seem odd the 4 of them again, but would still work as they proved. Funny how things like that change think i just like everyone else got used to the 4 man version.
I think Mark should use this oppourtunity to completely put out the record he wants to, he has had 3 top 10 singles which isn't bad as Gary himself as a solo artist has had 4 top 10. He clearly has a want to make music so hopefully he'll achieve what he wants just don't compare to TT because that would be an eternal losing battle.
Saying that i thought he fitted in naturally and it actually felt like the proper TT so now bizarely to me it would seem odd the 4 of them again, but would still work as they proved. Funny how things like that change think i just like everyone else got used to the 4 man version.
I think Mark should use this oppourtunity to completely put out the record he wants to, he has had 3 top 10 singles which isn't bad as Gary himself as a solo artist has had 4 top 10. He clearly has a want to make music so hopefully he'll achieve what he wants just don't compare to TT because that would be an eternal losing battle.
I got a lot of Marks solo stuff just because I was a Take That fan but I thought he was trying too hard to appeal to a different audience. As for Robbie he ruined the Take That gigs for me I felt it kinda turned into the Robbie show
If he can manage anything near as good as Child or Makin' Out, this might not be the worst news I've heard all day.
Originally Posted by Theshane:
“If he can manage anything near as good as Child or Makin' Out, this might not be the worst news I've heard all day.”
“If he can manage anything near as good as Child or Makin' Out, this might not be the worst news I've heard all day.”
No, but when most of the news is about George Osbourne's budget and the serial killer in Toulouse I think only Geri Halliwell relaunching her solo career could compete for worst news of the day...
Originally Posted by janet83:
“I got a lot of Marks solo stuff just because I was a Take That fan but I thought he was trying too hard to appeal to a different audience. As for Robbie he ruined the Take That gigs for me I felt it kinda turned into the Robbie show”
“I got a lot of Marks solo stuff just because I was a Take That fan but I thought he was trying too hard to appeal to a different audience. As for Robbie he ruined the Take That gigs for me I felt it kinda turned into the Robbie show”
What kind of perspective is that?So you think he should make the kind of music just to please former TT's fans gusto (by that I mean to record a sweet insipid pop mostly targeted for teenage girls) ?
Is it so hard to understand that Mark's taste in music have changed very much through the years. After TT's split he listened a lot of rock and alternative stuff - he wanted (and probably still want) to record the kind of music that is close to his heart, he is honest in his doings. He knew that former TT fans would complain about changing musical direction, and he kind of knew that he will never be cool enough to be positively perceived by music snobs and alternative/rock music fans. But it didn't stop him nevertheless, that is called integrity you know! I think this is actually a very positive feature. I hope his next solo effort will be in "How The Mighty Fall" vein.
I think that the musical compromise in TT nowadays doesn't fulfil him artistically. Probably he wants to do something more honest and personal again.
Good luck Mark.
Originally Posted by Mojo Pin:
“ What kind of perspective is that?
So you think he should make the kind of music just to please former TT's fans gusto (by that I mean to record a sweet insipid pop mostly targeted for teenage girls) ?
Is it so hard to understand that Mark's taste in music have changed very much through the years. After TT's split he listened a lot of rock and alternative stuff - he wanted (and probably still want) to record the kind of music that is close to his heart, he is honest in his doings. He knew that former TT fans would complain about changing musical direction, and he kind of knew that he will never be cool enough to be positively perceived by music snobs and alternative/rock music fans. But it didn't stop him nevertheless, that is called integrity you know! I think this is actually a very positive feature. I hope his next solo effort will be in "How The Mighty Fall" vein.
I think that the musical compromise in TT nowadays doesn't fulfil him artistically. Probably he wants to do something more honest and personal again.
Good luck Mark.”
“
What kind of perspective is that?So you think he should make the kind of music just to please former TT's fans gusto (by that I mean to record a sweet insipid pop mostly targeted for teenage girls) ?
Is it so hard to understand that Mark's taste in music have changed very much through the years. After TT's split he listened a lot of rock and alternative stuff - he wanted (and probably still want) to record the kind of music that is close to his heart, he is honest in his doings. He knew that former TT fans would complain about changing musical direction, and he kind of knew that he will never be cool enough to be positively perceived by music snobs and alternative/rock music fans. But it didn't stop him nevertheless, that is called integrity you know! I think this is actually a very positive feature. I hope his next solo effort will be in "How The Mighty Fall" vein.
I think that the musical compromise in TT nowadays doesn't fulfil him artistically. Probably he wants to do something more honest and personal again.
Good luck Mark.”
Well said. It would've been so easy for Mark to go down the cheesy pop route when TT first split up but I'm glad he didn't. I didn't "get" it back in 1996 (I was a daft teenager who couldn't understand why my cute Marky had gone all grungy
) and it's only within the last five years that I've really begun to appreciate Mark's music. I admire Mark for sticking to his guns and making the kind of music he wants to make.I love TT, been to many of their gigs since the comeback but would love to hear new Mark solo stuff and perhaps for him to do a few small gigs by himself.
EDIT: With regards to your last comment, I actually think that Mark has had quite a musical influence on TT mark two. TT's music is different to back in the 90's (obviously!) and I think that it is down to Mark.
Originally Posted by My Sweet Life:
“EDIT: With regards to your last comment, I actually think that Mark has had quite a musical influence on TT mark two. TT's music is different to back in the 90's (obviously!) and I think that it is down to Mark.”
“EDIT: With regards to your last comment, I actually think that Mark has had quite a musical influence on TT mark two. TT's music is different to back in the 90's (obviously!) and I think that it is down to Mark.”
Yeah I know that. Anyone who is conversant with his solo stuff would noticed his influence in TT mark two music.
It only shows that a lot of people are very "two-faced" - they prise TT new material (obviously thinking it's all Barlow ideas) but at the same time they are totally displeased with Mark's music.
Having said that new TT's stuff is a compromise between Gary and Mark's styles (especially those two. I know that Howard and Jason and some other people are always involved too). Also TT albums production is more polished with lots of strings, while Mark's albums have more raw , edgy sound with every instrument well exposed ( I mean guitar parts, drums, even bass lines are more distinctive. Also you have a brass section, piano, harp and other instruments). Maybe he misses this kind of production too?
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to appeal to a different audience and take a change in direction but Mark was trying to release indie pop at a time when 2 of the biggest bands around in that genre were Blur and Oasis there was no way he was gonna get taken seriously I imagine it would be a different story if he did that now he'd get more respect. I always got the impression he wanted to build a successful solo career which is why I was surprised at his change in direction. If he was just releasing the music as a hobby then I'd understand. When he came back with 4 minute warning I thought that was a great pop song that really suited him and more along the lines of where he should of been heading
Well we're not Mark Owen 
, we can only guess what was his goal. My assumption is that yes of course he wanted a successful solo career but not at all costs. Probably above all he is a serious music fan with a varied and a broad taste, a honest artist (my opinion in a pop music world this is quite rare)- his musical integrity meant more to him than deceptive fickle nature of "pop stardom".
In that aspect he has more in common with musicians than popstars- and again I appreciate it a lot.
I also think his primary goal every time he released an album wasn't to appeal to audience but to release a material he was happy with.
And about him getting more respect this time around... I don't think so. TT as a band -yes, Gary as a songwriter - yes- but Mark unfortunately no... go read "The Sun" article about him going solo again- very sarcastic article!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...wen-again.html
, we can only guess what was his goal. My assumption is that yes of course he wanted a successful solo career but not at all costs. Probably above all he is a serious music fan with a varied and a broad taste, a honest artist (my opinion in a pop music world this is quite rare)- his musical integrity meant more to him than deceptive fickle nature of "pop stardom".In that aspect he has more in common with musicians than popstars- and again I appreciate it a lot.
I also think his primary goal every time he released an album wasn't to appeal to audience but to release a material he was happy with.
And about him getting more respect this time around... I don't think so. TT as a band -yes, Gary as a songwriter - yes- but Mark unfortunately no... go read "The Sun" article about him going solo again- very sarcastic article!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...wen-again.html
Originally Posted by Mojo Pin:
“Yeah I know that. Anyone who is conversant with his solo stuff would noticed his influence in TT mark two music.
It only shows that a lot of people are very "two-faced" - they prise TT new material (obviously thinking it's all Barlow ideas) but at the same time they are totally displeased with Mark's music.
Having said that new TT's stuff is a compromise between Gary and Mark's styles (especially those two. I know that Howard and Jason and some other people are always involved too). Also TT albums production is more polished with lots of strings, while Mark's albums have more raw , edgy sound with every instrument well exposed ( I mean guitar parts, drums, even bass lines are more distinctive. Also you have a brass section, piano, harp and other instruments). Maybe he misses this kind of production too?”
“Yeah I know that. Anyone who is conversant with his solo stuff would noticed his influence in TT mark two music.
It only shows that a lot of people are very "two-faced" - they prise TT new material (obviously thinking it's all Barlow ideas) but at the same time they are totally displeased with Mark's music.
Having said that new TT's stuff is a compromise between Gary and Mark's styles (especially those two. I know that Howard and Jason and some other people are always involved too). Also TT albums production is more polished with lots of strings, while Mark's albums have more raw , edgy sound with every instrument well exposed ( I mean guitar parts, drums, even bass lines are more distinctive. Also you have a brass section, piano, harp and other instruments). Maybe he misses this kind of production too?”
I agree. Though we don't know the reasons behind Mark choosing to do new solo material (assuming this story is true, the only source I've seen so far is The Sun). If it is true, I'm happy.
Originally Posted by janet83:
“I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to appeal to a different audience and take a change in direction but Mark was trying to release indie pop at a time when 2 of the biggest bands around in that genre were Blur and Oasis there was no way he was gonna get taken seriously I imagine it would be a different story if he did that now he'd get more respect. I always got the impression he wanted to build a successful solo career which is why I was surprised at his change in direction. If he was just releasing the music as a hobby then I'd understand. When he came back with 4 minute warning I thought that was a great pop song that really suited him and more along the lines of where he should of been heading”
“I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to appeal to a different audience and take a change in direction but Mark was trying to release indie pop at a time when 2 of the biggest bands around in that genre were Blur and Oasis there was no way he was gonna get taken seriously I imagine it would be a different story if he did that now he'd get more respect. I always got the impression he wanted to build a successful solo career which is why I was surprised at his change in direction. If he was just releasing the music as a hobby then I'd understand. When he came back with 4 minute warning I thought that was a great pop song that really suited him and more along the lines of where he should of been heading”
I think even Mark himself would agree that there is no way he could compete with Blur or Oasis in the indie music stakes. I think he took a chance, he wanted to be true to himself, not conform to what people expected him to do. OK, it was not a commercial success, but I admire his artistic integrity, his passion and his perseverance in creating music that he feels reflects him. He does not have to justify his creative decisions to anybody.
This was pretty good - http://youtu.be/CdNCxOkiVaQ
