Why Take That’s coronation concert performance needed Robbie Williams

Buckingham Palace should have booked Robbie Williams for the King’s coronation concert. This is where it went wrong, argues Kathy McCabe.

Former English boy band now vocal trio Take That are venerated in the UK as a national music treasure.

They sold an impressive 14 million albums and 11.4 million singles in the UK, mostly during their heyday before Robbie Williams left to reinvent himself as the bad boy of pop.

But their first live performance since 2019 to close the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle proved four years can be a lifetime in pop match fitness.

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of Take That perform inside Windsor Castle. Picture: AFP

Take That thrilled their unwavering loyal fans with their three song set, which took the 90 minute show into overtime with the BBC abruptly cutting off the broadcast as they finished Never Forget.

Take That perform with Callum Scott during the Coronation Concert. Picture: Getty

Concert organisers should have done Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald a favour and halted the performance after the first song Greatest Day. Or pressed the auto-tune button.

Barlow, the group’s primary songwriter and leader, carried the lead vocals on that song and appears to be the only member who can still sing in tune.

Take That perform inside Windsor Castle. Picture: AFP

Owen took over for the second song Shine and sounded like the kind of car crash audition singer Australian Idol likes to air to show not everyone gets through the first round.

Donald, who was a dancer and given backing vocal duties when they started, was even worse.

There is something truly sad about any group, who some may have thought were great back in the day, not being wise enough to know when to call time.

Or politely declining an invitation to reunite for a big gig.

As the millions of Australians who last year witnessed one of the greatest AFL grand final performances of all time may have suggested, the Palace should have booked Robbie Williams.

Originally published as Why Take That’s coronation concert performance needed Robbie Williams