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Greatest Day (Take That song)

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"Greatest Day"
Single by Take That
from the album The Circus
Released24 November 2008
Recorded2008
GenrePop rock
Length4:01
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)John Shanks
Take That singles chronology
"Rule the World"
(2007) 		"Greatest Day"
(2008) 		"Up All Night"
(2009)
Music video
"Greatest Day" on YouTube

"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

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"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

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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

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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

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"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.[15] The single also charted in the top 40 in Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark and Hungary.

Promotion

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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,[16] 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.[17]

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.[18] 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

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Track listings

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UK CD single[19]
  1. "Greatest Day" (radio mix) – 4:01
  2. "Sleepwalking" – 3:43
German CD single[20]
  1. "Greatest Day" (radio mix) – 4:01
  2. "Sleepwalking" – 3:43
  3. "Here" – 3:41
  4. "Greatest Day" (video) – 4:01

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

2023 version

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"Greatest Day (Robin Schulz Rework)" is a reinterpretation 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.

This version also featured in the 2024 Palme d'Or winning film Anora.

Charts

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Chart (2023) Peak
position
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[30] 7
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[31] 7
[edit]

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.[32] A music video of the song was shown during Sport Relief and uploaded onto YouTube, but it was never released as a single.[33]

The song was chosen via an online poll as the first song to be played on the rebranded Hits Radio (formerly Key 103).[34]

References

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  1. ^ Myers, Justin (24 March 2017). "Take That's Top 40 biggest songs revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Take That: Greatest Day". Inthenews.co.uk. Retrieved 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. ^ Cole, Paul (27 November 2008). "Take That: The Circus – new album review!". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham, England: Birmingham Post & Mail. ISSN 1755-5728. OCLC 500175868. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  8. ^ "550 South Hope Street, Los Angeles | 116525". Emporis.com. Retrieved 5 May 2017.[dead link]
  9. ^ Jeremy Clarkson (1 November 2008). "Take That are back for good — Times Online". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  10. ^ "Dean Piper's World » Take That's Greatest Day video to premiere on AOL!". Deanpiper.com. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  11. ^ "Take That Have Greatest Day With Number One Single". Contactmusic.com. 30 November 2008.
  12. ^ "Take That's Greatest Day | Take That | News". www.mtv.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Take That have Greatest Day with number one single". Inthenews.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Leona knocks Take That off No.1". Digital Spy. 7 December 2008.
  15. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Take That to perform at 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards". Accliverpool.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  17. ^ "Take That to perform at MTV awards in Liverpool — Wrexham Chronicle". Wrexhamchronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  18. ^ "'Greatest' Children in Need show". BBC News. 15 November 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  19. ^ "Take That Greatest Day UK CD single (CD5 / 5") (453949)". eil.com.
  20. ^ "Take That Greatest Day German CD single (CD5 / 5") (458126)". eil.com.
  21. ^ a b c d Hung, Steffen. "Take That – Greatest Day". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  22. ^ "ČNS IFPI". Ifpicr.cz.
  23. ^ "Take That". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de". Musicline.de.
  25. ^ "Kereső – lista és dátum szerint – Archívum – Hivatalos magyar slágerlisták". Mahasz.hu.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  27. ^ "End of Year Charts 2008" (PDF). Ukchartsplus.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  28. ^ "End of Year Charts 2009" (PDF). Ukchartsplus.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  29. ^ "British single certifications – Take That – Greatest Day". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Stars record England 2014 World Cup song". BBC News. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  33. ^ "FA drops Gary Barlow's official England 2014 World Cup song from starting line-up". The Independent. 30 May 2014.
  34. ^ "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.
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