Greatest Day (Take That song) explained

Greatest Day
Cover:Greatest Day cover.png
Type:single
Artist:Take That
Album:The Circus
Released:24 November 2008
Recorded:2008
Genre:Pop rock
Length:4:01
Label:Polydor
Producer:John Shanks
Prev Title:Rule the World
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:Up All Night
Next Year:2009

"Greatest Day" is a song by English pop group Take That. It was released through Polydor Records on 24 November 2008 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, The Circus (2008). The song was written by the band and produced by John Shanks.

The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's eleventh UK number-one single. It has since been certified Platinum in the United Kingdom selling over 600,000 copies.[1]

Background

"Greatest Day" was written by Take That and produced by John Shanks. The song was written and recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill and was mixed in Los Angeles at the Jim Henson Studios, Gary Barlow revealed on an episode of The Xtra Factor in 2011 that it took them 3–4 hours to write this song.[2] The song moves in 104 BPM and has a key signature of D flat major.

Critical reception

Digital Spy stated the song was a "grower, sneaking up on you after about seven listens and battering you into submission with its hearty chorus and angelic harmonies". They concluded, however, that the song didn't match up to previous efforts, 'Patience', 'Shine' or 'Rule The World'.[3] [4] The BBC also made reference to previous releases they felt were stronger, noting the chorus failed to deliver.[5]

Birmingham Live gave the song a positive review, regarding it an album standout, and noting similarities in the structure and style to Coldplay.[6] The Sunday Mercury said: "Hit single Greatest Day is as pop-perfect now as Patience was back in 2006."[7]

Music video

The video for "Greatest Day" was filmed on location on top of the 28-story California Bank & Trust building at 550 South Hope Street in Downtown Los Angeles.[8] It was directed by Meiert Avis, who previously shot videos for U2, Damien Rice, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.[2] and produced by Jeremy Alter. The band shot the video while visiting producer John Shanks in the city who was mixing the album. It shows the band performing the song as they look on the sun setting in LA before they are beamed up into a light as the song finishes.[9] The video premiered on AOL on 22 October 2008.[10]

Chart performance

"Greatest Day" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart upon its release, and became the band's 11th number-one single.[11] [12] [13] It stayed at the top spot for one week before being succeeded by Leona Lewis.[14] In Ireland, the single peaked at number two. The single also charted in the top 40 in Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark and Hungary.

Promotion

Take That performed the song at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 on 6 November 2008, the first pan-European live performance by the band,[15] preceding the single's release on 24 November 2008. The song was then premiered to a UK audience on The X Factor where they had a Take That themed song week, which the band opened on Saturday night.[16]

The band also performed the song live at Children in Need 2008 on the BBC on 14 November 2008, before donating £250,000 to the charity.[17] Take That performed "Greatest Day" at the 2009 Brit Awards. They performed the song live whilst upon a UFO stage prop but as the prop descended into the audience they were claimed to have lip synced. It was revealed after in Take That/Take Two that the technical people said they could not sing live as they were on the UFO stage prop. This was because of where they were positioned, which was right in front of the speakers, and if they had then the mics would have fed back.

Personnel

Track listings

UK CD single[18]
  1. "Greatest Day" (radio mix) – 4:01
  2. "Sleepwalking" – 3:43
German CD single[19]
  1. "Greatest Day" (radio mix) – 4:01
  2. "Sleepwalking" – 3:43
  3. "Here" – 3:41
  4. "Greatest Day" (video) – 4:01

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[20] 43
Czech Republic (IFPI)[21] 76
Denmark (Tracklisten)28
Europe (European Hot 100)[22] 8
Germany (Media Control Charts)[23] 27
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[24] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[25] 2
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)30
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)41
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)1

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)Position
UK Singles Chart[26] 49
Chart (2009)Position
UK Singles Chart[27] 100

2023 version

"Greatest Day (Robin Schulz Rework)" is a reinterpritation of the original 2008 song by English pop group Take That featuring the band, Robin Schulz, and Calum Scott. It was released on 5 May 2023 as promotion for their upcoming jukebox musical film, Greatest Days

The song was first premiered live two days after release at the Coronation Concert in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla held at Windsor Castle.

In popular culture

In March 2014, a re-recorded version of the song—featuring vocals from Barlow and other pop singers such as Eliza Doolittle, Katy B and Spice Girls members Melanie C and Emma Bunton, and former footballers such as Gary Lineker and Michael Owen – was announced as the official song for the England football team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.[29] A music video of the song was shown during Sport Relief and uploaded onto YouTube, but it was never released as a single.[30]

The song was chosen via an online poll as the first song to be played on the rebranded Hits Radio (formerly Key 103).[31]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Take That's Top 40 biggest songs revealed. Myers. Justin. 24 March 2017. Official Charts Company. 27 March 2017.
  2. Web site: Take That: Greatest Day . Inthenews.co.uk . 11 November 2008.
  3. https://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/a137358/take-that-the-circus/ Take That: 'The Circus' 26 March 2022
  4. https://www.digitalspy.com/music/single-reviews/a135041/take-that-greatest-day-135041/ Take That: 'Greatest Day' 26 March 2022
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2008/11/take_that_the_greatest_day.shtml BBC – Chart Blog: Take That – 'Greatest Day'. 26 March 2022
  6. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/take-that-the-circus---new-236433 Birmingham Live. Take That: The Circus 26 March 2022.
  7. News: Take That: The Circus – new album review! . 27 November 2008 . Paul . Cole . . Birmingham Post & Mail . Birmingham, England . 1755-5728 . 500175868 . 30 May 2011.
  8. Web site: 550 South Hope Street, Los Angeles | 116525 . 5 May 2017. Emporis.com.
  9. News: Take That are back for good — Times Online . Entertainment.timesonline.co.uk . Jeremy Clarkson . 1 November 2008. 11 November 2008 . London.
  10. Web site: Dean Piper's World » Take That's Greatest Day video to premiere on AOL! . Deanpiper.com . 11 November 2008.
  11. Web site: Take That Have Greatest Day With Number One Single. Contactmusic.com. 30 November 2008.
  12. Web site: Take That's Greatest Day | Take That | News . www.mtv.co.uk . 2 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20090502225911/http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/music/464680-take-that-greatest-day-number-one-charts . 2 May 2009 . dead.
  13. Web site: Take That have Greatest Day with number one single. Inthenews.co.uk. 21 March 2022.
  14. Web site: Leona knocks Take That off No.1. Digital Spy. 7 December 2008.
  15. Web site: Take That to perform at 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards . Accliverpool.com . 11 November 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090129194216/http://www.accliverpool.com/news/ema_22_10.asp . 29 January 2009 .
  16. Web site: Take That to perform at MTV awards in Liverpool — Wrexham Chronicle . Wrexhamchronicle.co.uk . 11 November 2008.
  17. News: 'Greatest' Children in Need show . BBC News . 15 November 2008 . 4 May 2010.
  18. Web site: Take That Greatest Day UK CD single (CD5 / 5") (453949). eil.com.
  19. Web site: Take That Greatest Day German CD single (CD5 / 5") (458126). eil.com.
  20. Web site: Take That – Greatest Day. Steffen. Hung. Hitparade.ch. 21 March 2022.
  21. Web site: ČNS IFPI. Ifpicr.cz.
  22. Web site: Take That. Billboard. 21 March 2022.
  23. Web site: Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de. Musicline.de.
  24. Web site: Kereső – lista és dátum szerint – Archívum – Hivatalos magyar slágerlisták. Mahasz.hu.
  25. Web site: The Irish Charts – All there is to know . irishcharts.ie . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement . 2 June 2009 . 25 September 2011 .
  26. Web site: End of Year Charts 2008. Ukchartsplus.co.uk. 21 March 2022.
  27. Web site: End of Year Charts 2009 . Ukchartsplus.co.uk . 19 July 2010.
  28. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 29 September 2023.
  29. Web site: Stars record England 2014 World Cup song . BBC News . 6 March 2014 . 6 March 2014.
  30. News: FA drops Gary Barlow's official England 2014 World Cup song from starting line-up. The Independent. 30 May 2014.
  31. News: Take That make triumphant Manchester Arena return as Liam Payne, Rita Ora and Clean Bandit make perfect pop party at Hits Radio Live. Manchester Evening News. 15 July 2018.