Take That send us all to Wonderland THE SETLIST...
MANCHESTER’S FAVOURITE MAN BAND SAVE FOR THE BEST FOR LAST WITH SENSATIONAL SHOW AT THE ETIHAD
TAKE That took to the stage on the final night of their Wonderland tour with a renewed energy and vigour, looking and sounding the best they have ever done in their 27-year career.
This final night of the tour at The Etihad Stadium, combining the band’s three remaining Manchester Arena shows postponed following the terrorist attack last month, was absolutely huge for them.
From the start they look determined to put on the best show possible.
The M.E.N. was there to see the first night of the tour in Birmingham last month.
The final night in Manchester was arguably bigger, better, brighter and more exciting than anything Take That have ever delivered.
I want to know their secret to rolling back the years.
How can it be that they look younger with every tour?
Perhaps it was the sunshine. Perhaps it was stadium setting at the Etihad which brought out the very best in our Gary, Howard and Mark.
Whatever worked.
After a trip to the Circus, before introducing us to a giant robot on the Progress tour, the Wonderland tour picked up the fun with a mysterious flying carpet.
Stomping 80s rock-pop show opener Wonderland started proceedings.
Then hands-aloft anthem Greatest Day delighted the crowds.
Openshaw lad Howard then beat-boxed on the grimy Underground Machine.
Complete with snazzy new blond hairdo, a tanned, supertrim and youthful-looking Mr Barlow was on top form as he hit some astonishing high notes on disco classic Relight My Fire.
The lads then delved deep into the unexpected album track archives, with tunes including a rhythmic and souped-up Beautiful World from 2006, and Satisfied from their 1992 debut.
There was a poignant moment when stadium cameras beamed an image of a banner ‘Hope For Manchester’ to the big screen – as the boys sang new ballad, Hope.
Manchester adores our city’s home-grown man band.
Some 60,000 men, women, boys and girls sung every single word of How Deep Is Your Love and Back it was, blimey, it WONDERLAND GREATEST DAY GET READY FOR IT GIANTS KIDZ UNDERGROUND MACHINE RELIGHT MY FIRE SUPERSTAR HOPE BEAUTIFUL WORLD WAIT SATISFIED LOVELIFE HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE? NEW DAY SHINE BACK FOR GOOD PATIENCE PRAY IT’S ALL FOR YOU THE FLOOD CRY THESE DAYS NEVER FORGET RULE THE WORLD For Good. A lucky fan caught a Manchester United top worn by Howard as he threw it into the crowd, leaving the hunky Never Forget singer topless on the circular stage.
He just couldn’t resist getting his toned chest out could he?
“This is the last night of the tour,” says Gary.
“We have to say after all these years we still can’t believe you guys are coming to see us.”
But when they roll back the years to thrill us with one of the best pop songs ever written – their first number one Pray – who at all can blame us?
We screamed, we danced, we admired Howard’s funky red boots.
If this is Wonderland, with dreamy songs and floating swans, we don’t ever want to leave. Roll on next year’s Las Vegas residency.