“Never Forget” by Take That

Take That is a British boy band that has experienced a massive amount of success, especially when they first came out in the early-1990s and upon disbanding a few years later and then reuniting in the mid-aughts. 

For example, their third studio album (and last before going on hiatus), “Nobody Else” (1995), which is a product of BMG and RCA, topped the UK Albums Chart in addition to going double-platinum across the pond. And it was “Never Forget”, which itself was released on 24 July 1995, that served as the project’s fourth (and final, in every country except for Japan) single.

This song was a massive hit in its own right, in that for instance it charted in over 20 nations, including topping the UK Singles Chart and also proving to be a number one hit in Spain, Scotland, Lithuania and Ireland. 

Additionally, it took home an Ivor Novello “Most Performed Song” Award in 1996.

Furthermore, according to Take That’s website, in 2005 this song was placed fourth on the list of the “Top 50 Boyband Records” ever, as ranked by NME. Also that same year, Take That dropped a compilation album titled “Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection”. And later on, apparently in 2022, Britons – or more specifically BBC Radio 2’s audience – voted this the group’s top track.

That said, the reason we’re compelled to write about it now, in May of 2023, is because earlier this month Take That, with its three members now all in their 50s, rocked the house with a rendition of “Never Forget” on one of the biggest stages in history actually, that being the coronation of King Charles III.

The Team behind “Never Forget”

Throughout most of its existence, Take That has consisted of the following members:

• Gary Barlow
• Howard Donald
• Mark Owen
• Jason Orange

The former three have remained down for the cause throughout, even to this day, with Orange leaving the group in 2014. But to note, this act was originally a quintet, also consisting of Robbie Williams, who went on to have a notable solo career afterwards. 

In fact he left Take That in July of 1995 which, as noted above, is the same month “Never Forget” was released. So he actually participated on this recording and bounced while the single was being promoted, which would explain why he’s present, alongside his former bandmates, on its cover art.

It was Gary Barlow who wrote “Never Forget”, as he did all of the songs, in full or in part, featured on “Nobody Else”. It was produced by Jim Steinman in conjunction with Brothers in Rhythm, the latter of which consisted of Steven Anderson and Dave Seaman at the time. 

And to note, the chief vocalist behind this song is Howard Donald, being primarily backed by Robbie Williams, and its video director is David Amphlett.

The Lyrics of “Never Forget”

The intro and especially first verse of this song aren’t the easiest to understand. At the time it was written, Gary Barlow would have most likely been in his early-to-mid 20s. Yet initially, the vocalist sorta comes off as if he is senior, having “been on this path of life for so long” and now ruminating back his origins. 

Indeed certain lyrics, such as the singer noting in the first verse that he feels like he’s “walked a thousand miles” and later on, in the bridge, musing that he and the addressee have “come so far” give the impression that they words are perhaps being relayed by an older man. But again, Barlow and the boys were more or less lads when this track was dropped.

So what we’re dealing with here more specifically is a song in which Take That offers a mature, grounded view of their own come-up.  By this point the group had been in existence for five years and, as noted earlier, experienced a bunch of success. 

So even though they may not have had decades upon decades of experience on this Earth, Howard and the rest of the gang did know how it feels to have gone from one stage in life to something completely different.

And unlike the heavy poeticness of the first verse, the chorus does plainly state that the thesis sentiment of this piece revolves around “never forget(ting) where you’ve come from”. 

That is followed by another piece of advice, which is “never pretend that it’s all real”. And it’s obvious what Take That Is referring to is their own success and furthermore the fickleness, if you will, of being a music star, i.e. understanding that “someday soon… someone else” would be coming to claim their place at the top. 

“Never forget where you’ve come here from
Never pretend that it’s all real
Someday soon this will all be someone else’s dream
This will be someone else’s dream”

Or as put forth in the bridge, even though they have made it far in their young lives, Robbie and the crew also knew that they ‘weren’t invincible’. So obviously, “Never Forget” served the purpose of keeping the boys grounded, which is why Barlow went on to say, in his own words, that its meaning went on to become ‘sort of ingrained into what they believe in and how they view what they do’.

So conclusively, whereas the vocalist may initially come off as someone who has vast decades of experience, by the time all is said and done it is firmly established that he is speaking to the young lives of himself and his compatriots. 

Or let’s say that by this point Gary Barlow was already wise beyond his years. And that was not only the result of actually making it big in the music industry but also by studying the fates of others who did so and being honest with himself enough to acknowledge that, generally speaking, no musician remains A list forever.

All of that being noted, whereas this song is obviously a classic in the UK, given the tune’s message(s) it can be deemed an interesting choice to have sung at King Charles’s coronation. 

Or perhaps it can be said that in his case, the parts where the vocalist comes off as if he is old and experienced really are applicable. 

And it’s also interesting to note, despite obviously still being a pertinent act, that while performing at the coronation, Take That represented alright but, quite visibly to fans, have transcended beyond their glory days. But apparently, judging by the lyrics of this piece, the crew was already mentally prepared for such a reality beforehand.