Monday, June 22nd, 2026, 6:59 am
If You Only “Shine” for One Night
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hen I was about 7 Take That was created right here in Manchester, just like Oasis, Simply Red, and many other excellent groups/bands/singers. Take That was modeled after the first so-called “boy band” (in the US) and rose to fame in the 90s. Then something went wrong (people pursuing solo careers, with only “Robbie” becoming the “Beyonce” or “Michael Jackson” or “Justin Timberlake” of the group). In the past 3 nights Take That performed the same old show (“the circus”) that goes back 1.5 decades and last night I could very well hear their performance of “Shine”, followed by fireworks, flares, and colourful smoke. They will be back here for another night on July 1 (Wednesday) and then return to their hiatus (early retirement at age 55).
The limelight (or “fame” more broadly) brings ups and downs because there are highs and lows (sharp contrast apart). One day you’re practising dance routines (choreography) for several months in a row, probably in some basement or small studio, days later you’re “a star” (not for long); it’s not like they spontaneously show up on stage in front of large stadiums and the promotions (marketing) of their concert cost a small fortune, set aside salaries for extras, cost of equipment, security and so on. So the “glory” associated with entertainment – including football – is typically short-lived and temporary. Many of these people end up gaining a lot of weight, doing illegal drugs, even dying young like Ricky Hatton. They brought his dead body to that same stadium only months ago.
As Hatton found out, “fame” is not the thing to strive for; what matters is consistent delivery of something valuable (his rival/friend Manny found out the same thing, then explored inroads or a dabble in national politics to no avail).
When bands perform in their (much) older days hits they had in the 80s and 90s it means they are trying to relive the past instead of offering something new. Very few bands or artists can accomplish this; the inertia is dependent on a cult-like followers’ “base”.
