This is one Take That performance that is simply unforgettable. The English pop icons performed their ‘95 number one hit “Never Forget” at King Charles III’s Coronation Concert, and the production was nothing short of epic. The performance kicked off with a stately brass section from the British Army band and the heavenly tones of an 11-piece boys’ choir. Then it was time for Take That to work their magic on the uplifting ‘90s anthem.
Howard Donald was the man of the hour, singing his signature hooks on his biggest hit as lead vocalist with Take That. It’s remarkable how Donald’s honeyed tone still sounds basically unchanged at 55 years old, nearly 30 years after he dropped the original song. Gary Barlow and Mark Owen sounded equally on point, filling out a killer vocal trio. The Music Man has to say that hearing the crowd singing along was a total vibe, and just goes to show what a British pop institution Take That is!
The BBC uploaded Take That’s rendition of “Never Forget” to YouTube the day after the Coronation Concert, where it drew 4.1 million views. Fans responded warmly to the performance and added comments such as “This makes me proud to be British and I’m not even British” and “I knew they’d be a crowd pleaser. Take That really are musical royalty. Totally smashed it.”
“Never Forget” dropped back in ‘95, and it was certainly a big year for the Take That boys. One of The Music Man’s favourite Take That performances is their cut of “Back for Good” from the 1995 BRITs. Barlow sounds simply gorgeous here on lead on the song, as he should as he wrote the smash hit himself. It’s also lovely to see the original five-piece lineup together, complete with Robbie Williams. The then-troubled Williams would exit the group not long after the performance and forge a successful solo career.
Take That performed three songs at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, namely “Greatest Day,” “Shine,” and “Never Forget.” “Greatest Day” was notable for showcasing Robin Schulz’s rework of the song and featuring the German DJ as well as Callum Scott as part of the performance. “Never Forget” was the most popular performance from the BBC’s subsequent upload of the set. Take That dropped “Never Forget” as a single on July 24, 1995, after Jim Steinman remixed the album version. Gary Barlow wrote the song, and the recording featured Howard Donald on lead vocals. The single became Take That’s seventh chart-topper in the UK and retained the top spot for three weeks.