Gary Barlow Admits To Stealing Lyrics During Early Take That Years
Tuesday, 08 February 2011
Written by James Conlon
Take That’s Gary Barlow has admitted to borrowing lyric ideas from friends and other artists during the band’s early years.
In a recent interview with The Sun the singer confessed to his own lyrical incompetence, saying that he chose to use emotions from other songs or a friend’s stories rather than writing from personal experience.
He said: "Throughout the Nineties I didn't have any views. I always felt lyrics were a weak point for me and I was often a copier of lyrics. I would use other people's emotions. I'd listen to conversations and talk to friends and always stole my lyrics from people around me. I very seldom looked inside myself to write. That's something I've acquired this time round."
However, the singer went on to discuss how his method had changed for the writing of the band’s 2010 smash hit ‘Progress’. Talking about his current writing method, he said: "One of my best tricks is that every now and again I go and see my mum for a few days. I leave a keyboard there and I set it up in front of the window, overlooking the fields. Suddenly I'm in a whole different situation. It's a new environment."
In recent years Barlow has also become more interested with the production side of the songs, choosing to back away from writing responsibilities and lending a hand on the studio desk instead. Talking about his new passion for production, he confessed: "I'm sat there thinking, 'OK, I'm a writer, Mark's a writer, Robbie's a writer. Now, listen, on a three-minute single how much of each individual can you get on? So I had a plan, I thought 'I'm going to become like one of these hip-hop producers and I'm going to make the backing tracks'."
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
