Why 90s star is always in Australia

A major hit maker from the 1990s revealed his new connection to Australia during a concert in Sydney on Thursday.

The frontman of Take That — one of the iconic boybands of the 1990s — revealed his daughter has been living in Australia for three years, and that she has been loving every moment mainly due to the friendliness of its citizens.

Speaking between songs at a packed-out concert at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Thursday, Garly Barlow revealed his 22-year-old daughter Emily had moved away from her home in the UK three years ago, and joked that she had “decided to move as far away from us as possible”.

He then went on to reveal the destination she had fled to was Sydney and that she’s been having a blast.

“She absolutely loves it here,” he told the crowd. “She loves the people here and you’ve all made her feel so welcome.”

Gary Barlow and his daughter Emily. Picture: Instagram

Take That performing in Sydney.

Before performing, the star managed to spend two days with his middle child who studies at a university in Sydney.

Barlow, who is private about his personal life, couldn’t contain his excitement at seeing his daughter and shared a snap of the pair beaming with joy as they stood by a stunning beach.

Non-stop bangers

Barlow’s family update was but a brief interlude in an absolute bangerfest of a show at Sydney Olympic Park — which must have been on one the busiest places on the planet on Thursday.

It was a British invasion in western Sydney. Coldplay were belting out hits at the Accor Stadium next door while the lads from Manchester rattled through over 30 years of material in the arena.

The show opened with a surprisingly brilliant performance from fellow 90s Brit star Sophie Ellis-Bextor — who’s best known for her anthemic hit Murder on the Dancefloor.

Her set took on some huge covers like Lady (Hear Me Tonight) which descended into a funky jam and a hypnotising rendition of Like a Prayer which filled the arena with distorted guitar riffing and 80s rock vibes.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor opened the show. Picture: Supplied

Her band was a force to be reckoned with, while Ellis-Bextor’s voice was on-point and her dancing arguably even better.

Next it was time for the cheeky lads from northern England and they did not disappoint.

There’s a stereotype about boybands that they’re just manufactured to appease a mass market and they have no talent, Take That obviously didn’t get the memo. These boys can really perform.

Barlow was reminiscent of Elton John as he showed of his chops on the piano and sang an incredible tune he wrote when he was just 14 — A Million Love Songs — which began a musical trip through the band’s career.

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of Take That. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The trio, Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, narrated the journey and had some fun with audience along the way — like when Owen read out signs in the crowd in his sarcastic and inimitable way.

The three-part harmonies, the musicianship and, of course, the synchronised dance moves were something to behold. It was clear the trio, now in their fifties, still had the energy and charisma to put on a hell of a show.

Barlow and the boys rounded out the set with three of their best, Back for Good, Never Forget and the uplifting singalong of Rule the World.

Make no mistake, this was an all-killer set from one of the most iconic bands of the 90s.

Take That have two more dates to perform on their Australian tour. For more details, visit Frontier Touring.

Originally published as Why 90s star is always in Australia