When We Were Young (Take That song)
Encyclopedia
"When We Were Young" is the second and final single by British
pop group Take That
from the band's first EP
, Progressed. It acted as the theme song in the feature film adaptation of The Three Musketeers
, which premiered in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2011. The song features Robbie Williams
and Gary Barlow
on lead vocals. The single was released to radio on 11 July 2011 and was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download
on 22 August 2011.
, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson
. Gary Barlow stated that the song was written after Take That watched a private screening of the film. Barlow stated "The film is visually so rich and beautiful that our main challenge was to then match it musically. We've returned to guitars, real pianos and a conventional song structure to achieve this. We also thought that the Musketeers reminded us of ourselves."
's Progressed, Gavin Martin of The Daily Mirror concluded that "the trad Barlow
ballad setting of 'When We Were Young' ... extends the original album's balancing act between dignified nostalgia and commercially crafted experimentation." Music News Daily gave the song a positive review stating that it "is a song best listened to when in a reflective mood. Williams takes lead vocals duty once more, with Barlow again on 2nd lead. It’s a beautifully crafted song, which is bound to evoke bitter-sweet memories for listeners and it deserves to be a huge hit."
Heat
praised the song by stating that "When We Were Young kicks the album off in a mid-tempo way, with a very catchy intro. It comes with a big chorus and is a bubbling mix of TT old and new."
to an uniformed cold blue tint. It features Take That performing the song inside an empty Wembley Stadium
after one of their Progress Live
concerts, with each member in a different location of the ground. Robbie Williams opens the video on the b stage, surrounded by ticker tape, trying to grab it as the wind blows through the stadium. Gary Barlow is shown to be sitting in the seats looking down upon the stage as he performs the chorus, whilst Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald all look around the stadium contemplating the night before. At the end of the video, they all join together and perform in front of the stage prop of their tour and as the final chorus is sung they join hands and bow to their audience.
The video itself was praised by critics for its approach and its sentimental value.
the week it was released, as an album track download
from Progressed without promotion or a physical release.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pop group Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
from the band's first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Progressed. It acted as the theme song in the feature film adaptation of The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers (2011 film)
The Three Musketeers is a 2011 3D action-adventure film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson which is a reinterpretation of the novel of the same title by Alexandre Dumas, the film was released in Germany, Austria, France & Switzerland on September 1, 2011, and in the U.S...
, which premiered in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2011. The song features Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
and Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and record producer. He is frontman and lead vocalist of pop group Take That and is currently the head judge on the eighth series of The X Factor. Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters...
on lead vocals. The single was released to radio on 11 July 2011 and was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on 22 August 2011.
Background
On 7 July 2011, it was announced on Take That's official website that "When We Were Young" would be the next single from Progressed, and that it would also serve as the theme song for the new film adaptation of The Three MusketeersThe Three Musketeers (2011 film)
The Three Musketeers is a 2011 3D action-adventure film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson which is a reinterpretation of the novel of the same title by Alexandre Dumas, the film was released in Germany, Austria, France & Switzerland on September 1, 2011, and in the U.S...
, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson
Paul W. S. Anderson
Paul William Scott Anderson , also known as Paul W. S. Anderson or Paul Anderson, is an English film director who regularly works in science fiction movies and video game adaptations.-Life and career:...
. Gary Barlow stated that the song was written after Take That watched a private screening of the film. Barlow stated "The film is visually so rich and beautiful that our main challenge was to then match it musically. We've returned to guitars, real pianos and a conventional song structure to achieve this. We also thought that the Musketeers reminded us of ourselves."
Critical reception
In his review of Take ThatTake That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
's Progressed, Gavin Martin of The Daily Mirror concluded that "the trad Barlow
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and record producer. He is frontman and lead vocalist of pop group Take That and is currently the head judge on the eighth series of The X Factor. Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters...
ballad setting of 'When We Were Young' ... extends the original album's balancing act between dignified nostalgia and commercially crafted experimentation." Music News Daily gave the song a positive review stating that it "is a song best listened to when in a reflective mood. Williams takes lead vocals duty once more, with Barlow again on 2nd lead. It’s a beautifully crafted song, which is bound to evoke bitter-sweet memories for listeners and it deserves to be a huge hit."
Heat
Heat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
praised the song by stating that "When We Were Young kicks the album off in a mid-tempo way, with a very catchy intro. It comes with a big chorus and is a bubbling mix of TT old and new."
Music video
The official music video was released on 14 July 2011. The video was shot in color and color-correctedColor correction
Color correction by using color gels, or filters, is a process used in stage lighting, photography, television, cinematography and other disciplines, the intention of which is to alter the overall color of the light; typically the light color is measured on a scale known as color temperature, as...
to an uniformed cold blue tint. It features Take That performing the song inside an empty Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
after one of their Progress Live
Progress Live
Progress Live was the eighth concert tour by British male vocal group Take That. The tour, sponsored by Samsung, supported their sixth studio album, Progress as they visited the biggest cities in the UK and Europe. It was the first tour wherein all five original members will perform since 1995...
concerts, with each member in a different location of the ground. Robbie Williams opens the video on the b stage, surrounded by ticker tape, trying to grab it as the wind blows through the stadium. Gary Barlow is shown to be sitting in the seats looking down upon the stage as he performs the chorus, whilst Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald all look around the stadium contemplating the night before. At the end of the video, they all join together and perform in front of the stage prop of their tour and as the final chorus is sung they join hands and bow to their audience.
The video itself was praised by critics for its approach and its sentimental value.
Chart performance
The song debuted at number eighty-eight on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
the week it was released, as an album track download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
from Progressed without promotion or a physical release.
Track listing
- Digital Download
- "When We Were Young" (Album Version) - 4:34
- UK Promo Single
- "When We Were Young" (Single Version) - 4:06
- "When We Were Young" (Single Instrumental) - 4:05
- UK iTunes Package
- "When We Were Young" - 4:34
- "When We Were Young" (Music Video) - 4:51
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Latvia (EHR European Hit Radio European Hit Radio is one of the very first commercial radio stations in Baltic States. This radio focuses on reflecting the current situation in European music charts... ) |
18 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 88 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 21 August 2011 | Digital Download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
Polydor Records Polydor Records Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone... |
| Worldwide | 23 August 2011 |