You're absolutely right about Mark's lyrics revealing a self-sacrificing side to his personality. And then some. "Blissfully tortured" indeed.
I definitely see much more intensity between Mark and Robbie than between Rob and Gary, while Rob and Gary have a more playful, more stable feel. Doing an OT3, if you could get the balance right, would give you the intensity and the stability. But get the balance wrong and it all goes horribly wrong. :-/
On the other hand he’s brilliant at speaking to the audience and getting in ‘character’ for the big performances etc
Absolutely! In the concert DVDs, he seems the one most intent on making a close connection with the audience, and having a care for everyone.
Mark does speak very little about how he feels about things in interviews. He did reveal a bit of his inner thought on LBDS, but for example on For the record, compared to the rest, he says very little about anything. His only comment when the documentary talks about Robbie leaving is that he didn’t think about it that much and that only knew he had two weeks time to learn how to rap
I know! I've spent the last two months mainlining TT history, so when I finally got hold of For the Record I expected big revelations from Mark about how Rob leaving the band affected him. And then there was...virtually nothing. Which first I found frustrating, but on further reflection becomes very interesting. Especially given that quote from Gary. (I'd seen that quote about Rob breaking Mark's heart before I saw For the Record.)
I love that bit in LBDS when Gary’s saying how Mark drives them insane with his perfectionism! That’s a classic Barlowen moment.
Ah, it was in LBDS. And it is a brilliant moment. As is the moment when they clash over lyrics. You can see how much they both care about getting things right, how Mark takes things to heart, and how Gary works to smooth things over once he realizes how Mark is taking it all. It's like their working relationship in a neat little package.
In search of acceptation I think he loves when the other boys show him some affection, a little cuddle here and there always earns a massive smile from him ;)
Again, this gets an emphatic Yes! from me. He's obviously a very physically demonstrative guy, and that's in a band that extraordinarily touchy. But he does just light up when one of the other boys--especially Rob--gives him a cuddle. The Knebworth concert footage of him and Robbie shows that in spades.
Also, I love that he has his own style and isn’t afraid to dress/act a bit girly at times. Totally adorable!
Again, yes, yes yes! It's interesting that in spite of the fact that he seems perhaps the most insecure of the lot of them, he also seems the most secure at exhibiting his own style and ignoring what might be socially expected of him. That is, perhaps, what most endears him to me.
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I definitely see much more intensity between Mark and Robbie than between Rob and Gary, while Rob and Gary have a more playful, more stable feel. Doing an OT3, if you could get the balance right, would give you the intensity and the stability. But get the balance wrong and it all goes horribly wrong. :-/
On the other hand he’s brilliant at speaking to the audience and getting in ‘character’ for the big performances etc
Absolutely! In the concert DVDs, he seems the one most intent on making a close connection with the audience, and having a care for everyone.
Mark does speak very little about how he feels about things in interviews. He did reveal a bit of his inner thought on LBDS, but for example on For the record, compared to the rest, he says very little about anything. His only comment when the documentary talks about Robbie leaving is that he didn’t think about it that much and that only knew he had two weeks time to learn how to rap
I know! I've spent the last two months mainlining TT history, so when I finally got hold of For the Record I expected big revelations from Mark about how Rob leaving the band affected him. And then there was...virtually nothing. Which first I found frustrating, but on further reflection becomes very interesting. Especially given that quote from Gary. (I'd seen that quote about Rob breaking Mark's heart before I saw For the Record.)
I love that bit in LBDS when Gary’s saying how Mark drives them insane with his perfectionism! That’s a classic Barlowen moment.
Ah, it was in LBDS. And it is a brilliant moment. As is the moment when they clash over lyrics. You can see how much they both care about getting things right, how Mark takes things to heart, and how Gary works to smooth things over once he realizes how Mark is taking it all. It's like their working relationship in a neat little package.
In search of acceptation I think he loves when the other boys show him some affection, a little cuddle here and there always earns a massive smile from him ;)
Again, this gets an emphatic Yes! from me. He's obviously a very physically demonstrative guy, and that's in a band that extraordinarily touchy. But he does just light up when one of the other boys--especially Rob--gives him a cuddle. The Knebworth concert footage of him and Robbie shows that in spades.
Also, I love that he has his own style and isn’t afraid to dress/act a bit girly at times. Totally adorable!
Again, yes, yes yes! It's interesting that in spite of the fact that he seems perhaps the most insecure of the lot of them, he also seems the most secure at exhibiting his own style and ignoring what might be socially expected of him. That is, perhaps, what most endears him to me.