przed: (tt howard/jay awwww)
[personal profile] przed
Last week, I ended up devouring Gary Barlow's autobiography in record time. (Yes, I've gone completely overboard on the Take That thing. Let's just accept that and move on.) Gary's story is a fascinating one - [livejournal.com profile] halotolerant has pointed out it's a perfect classical narrative, going from success and hubris to nemesis to redemption,- but what's even better for my money is the glimpses it offers of the emotional life of the band.

The moment in the book I keep coming back to, over and over, is one that takes place after their reunion press conference, and focuses on Howard and Jason, who seem to have become my fave Take That RPS pairing:

We came off stage, did a few one-to-one interviews and then went backstage to our room. Suddenly the security guys began clearing everyone out of our room – Howard was on his knees, crying, he was overwhelmed by it all. Jay sat hugging him, looking white as a ghost, and Mark, who had seemed the least fazed by the press, looked as worried as I felt.

Wow. I mean… just wow.

Three sentences, but there's so much there. Howard losing it, and Jay protecting him. Mark and Gary worrying over them. And the security guys, who've mostly been with them all from the start, since they were kids, instinctively acting to protect them all. Can I hear a big Awwwww.

Pretty much all of my slash pairings up until now have been stoic secret agent types. If I read, let alone wrote, a story with one of 'em weeping in his partner's arms, I'd consider it way over the top. But with these guys, it's actually happened. And it's incredibly sweet.

I don't think I'm going to lose my taste for the stoic ones, but I have to say, having guys be this out in the open about their emotions, and about looking after each other, is actually kind of refreshing.

In celebration of my discovery of Howard/Jason, here are a few pics of their awesomeness, roughly in order of increasing slashiness.

During the Beautiful World tour, clearly having a ball and enjoying being close to each other.


They just look like they're having too much fun here. And they're wonderfully scruffy, which is always a good thing, IMO. *g*


Jason hugging Howard backstage during the Beautiful World tour. This is during the period where Howard couldn't perform because he'd broken a rib on stage and given himself a pneumothorax, so he spends each concert making notes for the other blokes, and being all proud of Jason doing a solo song. (Real life h/c! How can I resist!)


I can't entirely explain why, but I just love this pic. I think it's the ease they clearly have around each other.


I'm trying to explain this without the slash. Trying, and failing I might add. Oh, boys. *g*


This is the pic I took my icon from, because it's just adorable. And as a bonus, it puts me in mind of Halo's utterly awesome story, The Insomnia Decades, where Jay falling asleep on Howard's shoulder is a key plot point.


Date: 2011-05-11 09:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
The Insomnia Decades has completely become my go to fic for when I need a happy boost. And when I saw that pic, well, it just about took me head off. Together, fic and pic put me in a very happy place indeed.

You're right that they are utterly without boundaries around each other. And completely relaxed. Which is completely unlike Mark & Robbie, where there's always this unspoken tension and need and insecurity, which makes them an interesting pairing, but not at all comfortable. Howard & Jason are comfortable and mature and lovely. Definitely an old married couple.

I totally have to go back and watch the Ross kissing bit again. Of course Jason would clear it with Howard. *g*

Love, Love was everything I was hoping for, and nothing I was fearing. (I reckoned it would be a slower Gary-type ballad, and I'm pleased I was wrong. Not that there's anything wrong with Gary's ballads, but they'll never be my fave TT numbers.) The outfits were awesome, and I love their Kidz-like fierceness. I somehow missed Howard's eyeliner. Shall have to go watch again. Oh, the agony. *g* (Thank god for the Hell Yeah Take That Tumblr. Well, all the TT Tumblr feeds, really. I've got a bucketload of them bookmarked these days.)

The contrast between writing guys who struggle to admit they'd care if the other one died and guys who go for snuggles and snogging if the other's having a slightly crap day is sometimes very amusing! *g*

Ya know, I'm now having trouble not letting the emotional lives of the TT boys bleed into Bodie & Doyle. I'm working on my BB story, in a desultory way, and keep having to pull back from having Doyle weep in Bodie's arms when I hit the h/c sections. (I need to write "Doyle is not Mark Owen" all over my writing area, I think.)

Date: 2011-05-11 11:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] halotolerant.livejournal.com
The Insomnia Decades has completely become my go to fic for when I need a happy boost
This makes me so pleased, I mean obviously it's lovely to have one's fic enjoyed and remembered but honestly, honestly there's nothing I like to hear more about my fic than that something I've written makes people feel happy *g* So thank you - that made me very happy too!

I think part of the reason I do like Howard/Jason is that - whilst they are comfortable and emotive and so on - they are more in the 'classic' model of blokes which I'm more used to writing/shipping. I mean, not hugely but quite a lot in comparison to Mark or the insane Twilight/Wuthering Heights/Romeo and Juliet intensity that is Mark/Robbie. But then that's the beauty of TT fandom, there's all that variety! *g*

I was somewhat hoping for a Gary ballad simply because 'Rule the World' did so well for them in the charts and I'd love this single to be a number one for them, but then I really can't listen to Rule the World (it's fab and utterly transcendant live but honestly not my kind of background music at all) whereas I'm already singing 'Love Love' all over the house (and my poor longsuffering flatmates are now unable to stop humming the hook either!). I'm not sure Howard's in eyeliner but here and at the Kidz performance it looked like it to me - that would be a lovely touch I think, not least because he's the most traditionally butch one.

Ooh, time for you to rec to me! What other tumblr feeds should I follow? (I'm only watching hellyeahtakethat at present)

I've done some Pros BB story (and I know the plot. ish...) and put it on the back burner to work on my LoM BB story which has an earlier deadline. And occasionally my TT stories, of which there are many and none are finished... and then I thought it would be a fantastic plan to spend 20 hours of my life getting addicted to 'The Killing' and starting to think partially in Danish and get annoyed that I can't think of a mystery for either of my case fics that's half as good as that!

Date: 2011-05-12 01:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
All your fic makes me happy, when it comes right down to it. In fact, I had to sit for forty-five minutes in a coffee shop parking lot today (I had Ros home with a minor virus, she wouldn't take a nap, but fell asleep in the car) and pleasantly spent the time reading Still Waters and Five Scenes from a Starship on my iPod. (Moms should never travel without fanfic on their iPods, in case of emergency naps.)

You're right that Howard and Jason are closer to the classic bloke mode than the rest of the TT bunch. Though classic blokes who are also prone to weeping in each other's arms, obviously. *g* Probably for that reason they were the easiest ones for me to write in the WW I story. As for Mark/Robbie, I don't know what's more amusing: them as Bella/Edward or Heathcliff/Cathy. *g*

Ya know, I've been trying to track down a copy of Rule the World. iTunes only has someone else's cover of it, and the CD copies are going for a bazillion dollars on Amazon. Time to hit ebay methinks. (I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to do that to get Mark's last solo album, which is also going for a bazillion dollars on Amazon. Someone on eBay has it for a mere half a bazillion.)

But as for them having another number one, yes! They totally deserve it! And why the heck didn't Kidz chart higher than it did? That song is amazing. It's what turned me on to them, after all.

Time for me to payback all your lovely recs. Here are the Tumblr feeds I go to regularly.
  • http://fuckyeahmarkowen.tumblr.com/ Updated multiple times daily and probably my favourite
  • http://fuckyeahjasonorange.tumblr.com/ Updated pretty often, and the source of a lot of these lovely H/J pics
  • http://fuckyeah-takethat.tumblr.com/ Lots of lovely stuff
  • http://fuckyeah90stakethat.tumblr.com/ Older photos, from the sublime to the ridiculous
  • http://hellyeahrobbiewilliams.tumblr.com/ Highly variable quality, but some good stuff crops up here
  • http://fuckyeahtakethat.tumblr.com/ Hasn't been updated since December, but there's some good stuff here
  • http://fyeahhowarddonald.tumblr.com/ Just found this one, and it's the best of the Howard bunch. The other Howard ones haven't been updated for months! Tragic!
  • http://fuckyeahhowarddonald.tumblr.com Some adorable stuff here, but it's been dead since October

    I really need to get going on the Pros BB. I've got pages and pages of where the plot needs to go next, but no solid outline and I've written no new words for ages. But what am I doing? Writing a sequel to the TT WW I story. (Jason's getting whumped this time, though mostly off screen.) ::headdesk:: I'm sure my co-mods are noting my TT posts and despairing.

    I need not tell you how excited I'll be when you post new TT stories, right? (I just noticed today in your notes to Five Scenes from a Starship you said you wanted to write more in that universe. And can I just say, that would be AWESOME.)

  • Date: 2011-05-13 12:01 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] halotolerant.livejournal.com
    *bounces for links* Thank you! That's just *counts* octupleted my daily supply of awesome TT pics, which is obviously a Very Excellent Thing \o/

    Bizarre that you can't get normal Rule the World on iTunes - dunno if it's on the Stardust OST and maybe more easily or cheaply available that way? And yeah, the Mark solo stuff is mostly prohibitively expensive now :(

    The thing about the fact that Kidz didn't chart well in the UK is that everyone had either already bought the album or, going by the charts, bought the album rather than the single, which is obviously more money for them in the long run but doesn't look so good in statistics. Since Love Love isn't on the album it stands a better chance of making it higher up, hopefully.

    I love the idea that my fic has Made Parenting Easier *g* And I'm thrilled to hear you're working on a WW1 story sequel - I loved the universe you made there! And I'm imagining that if Jason gets whumped someone will comfort him, which I am already eager for *g* For myself I've been bitten by yet another, different AU bug and we'll see what comes of that *looks at WIP file* *sighs*

    Have a YT vid that I found: http://youtu.be/QxNzRw6j_-w
    It reminds me how much I want to write Gary/Robbie Marriage of Convenience fic (which is a favourite trope of mine) because - continuing the theme of the variety of romance flavours possible within TT - they are the only two one can really get into the 'first they hated each other, then they realised the anger was in fact crazyhot passion' thing *g* Oh, and a fic where they are two guys who hated each other in school/uni who - for some no doubt highly likely reason - are forced to go on a roadtrip and wind up in love, shagging and married in Vegas, not necessarily in that order *g*

    The bunnies are eating my brain!

    Date: 2011-05-13 02:03 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    Octupling your daily supply of TT goodness is definitely a Very Excellent Thing. *g* So glad I could assist, especially after all the lovely things you've pointed me to.

    iTunes Canada frequently fails when it comes to TT stuff. The Stardust OST doesn't have Rule the World on it (WTF?) The frustrating thing is I checked, and most of the stuff I'd love is on iTunes UK. (Much as he pretty much hates TT, the Sweetie has suggested a scheme for getting a few of the tracks I'd like from the UK store. Stay tuned for a PM.)

    I figured Kidz not charting would have a lot to do with everyone already having the album. (I shan't mention those horrid people who seem to like dissing Mark's voice. grrrrrrr.) Here's hoping Love Love does chart higher. Much higher.

    Your fic did indeed Make Parenting Easier. And yes, the new WW I fic will entail some comforting of Jason. Not to mention Jason comforting a certain other person who shall remain nameless, but might just be the resident TT big scruffy butch bloke. There may even be a big puppy pile of comfort, if I can bash my muse into submission. (And new AUs are awesome. You just need to finish some of those stories, yeah? ::she said selfishly::)

    That vid may have just made a Gary/Robbie fan of me. When it wasn't making me protective on Mark's behalf, that is. (Barlow! Get your mitts off Markie's man!) But whereas Mark/Robbie is just this potential slow motion train wreck waiting to happen, Gary/Robbie, in that vid at least, has the weirdly easy quality. Which is bizarre, given the animosity that's existed between them in the past. But I think I could actually go for a Gary/Robbie pairing in a world which also involved a Mark/Jason/Howard OT3. (I do love that middle bit of your apocafic where super!competent!Howard and Jason look after poor bereft Mark.) And I love the hate him/love him potential of the pairing.

    Don't let the bunnies eat your brain! You need it for writing! *g*


    Date: 2011-05-13 08:57 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] halotolerant.livejournal.com
    The vibe I get off that video (which is one I've felt about Gary/Robbie before) is very much based on the clever song choice - that Gary is 'the last high', that being involved with Gary is actually sufficient stimulation for Robbie to free him from all the drugs and alcohol, that for Gary he will change. When Gary and Robbie went around singing 'Shame' there was this way Robbie would stare at Gary, like he felt safe as long as he was watching him, that I just adored, similar body language to what one sees at Children in Need (my theory is that, generally, when Robbie's feeling confident he flirts with Mark, when he needs reassurance he flirts with Gary... *g*). Whereas, as you say, there's no sense that Mark is a person to give Robbie that stability and reassurance - that's why in a sense I like Gary/Mark/Robbie, with Gary as the missing ingredient, although the dynamic is strangely hard to actually capture (perhaps because it's so unequal? - what I usually end up with is one of the three on the outside looking in)

    If I'm feeling in a mood for something a bit angsty, I like the conception that Mark and Robbie had a thing, Robbie left, Mark got together with Gary, less exciting but stable, pleasant and then Robbie comes back to get his Markie and ends up falling for Gary and taking him away from Mark - there's quite a classic noir in there somewhere... I'd never write something that sad though.

    Mark/Howard/Jason with h/c elements is just awfully pleasing, isn't it? *g* One of the reasons I loved writing that fic so very much!

    Oh goodness, if anything's eaten my brain today it's the extra THREE hours I spent at work today after hometime dictating discharge letters (we dictate onto a dictaphone and get them typed up - I would be so much faster just typing directly but that's the system, designed for very non-computer-literate consultants) - easing my tired mind with TT pics now! *g*

    Date: 2011-05-14 12:32 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    I can see Gary/Mark/Robbie being a very difficult dynamic to maintain. Gary's rock solid, but the other two are flighty enough that creating a happy ever after with that OT3 would be very very difficult. I think you might be right on the money about Robbie's flirting with Mark and Gary.

    You're angsty story arc would be sort of perfect, but would completely break my heart, not to mention Mark's. Mark is the one I would least like to see hurt, even if he's the one who's probably most likely to end up that way. (Poor Mark. There's something about that man that trips every maternal, protective instinct I've got. Very interesting...)

    Mark/Howard/Jason, on the other hand, is very pleasing indeed. Howard & Jason are rock solid, and provide a nice support for Mark. I can see why you loved writing that fic, quite apart from the fact that it's brilliant. (I've finally formatted it for my iPod. Hooray for having apocafic whenever I want!)

    Your work sounds brutal. And totally inefficient. Surely as more doctors become more proficient with computers they'll overhaul the system. Or perhaps not. You never know with bureaucracies, do you? Have fun with the TT pics!

    Date: 2011-05-14 03:57 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] anniina85.livejournal.com
    "You're angsty story arc would be sort of perfect, but would completely break my heart, not to mention Mark's. Mark is the one I would least like to see hurt, even if he's the one who's probably most likely to end up that way. " I just happened to come accross this pic spam and found this conversation you have going on very interesting ;) I hope you don't mind me making a little comment here...
    The idea of Robbie first leaving Mark behind, then Mark finding a safe place with Gary, only to have him taken away from him by Robbie (who's possibly the love of his life), that's just beyond tragic, and way cruel on poor Mark. And I agree that it would most probably be Mark who ends up hurting in the end. If he would realise that there really is something going on between Gary and Rob, being the sweet, nice and caring person that he is, I have a feeling he would back down for the sake of them, no matter how much it would break his heart. He does have that need to please everyone and see everybody be happy. But the question is, could Gary and Robbie ever do something like that to Mark? So, maybe a threesome would be the best solution ;)

    "(Poor Mark. There's something about that man that trips every maternal, protective instinct I've got. Very interesting..." I'm with you on this, there is just something about him. He just feels so genuine, always smiling and even on camera he always laughs from the heart, I love that about him :D Maybe it's partly cause we know the music business and the celebrity world can be quite hard and cold and cruel at times. And obviously Mark's not the most confident of people and the events last spring made it clear that he's not been unaffected by it. And everybody is always saying how nice and kind and sweet person he is. And underneath all those brave smiles he seems to be very sensitive as well. Very "unique", definitely not someone you would call a 'traditional' blokey bloke ;)
    That said, I also fancy the pants off him and think he's wayyyy hot and sexy!

    Date: 2011-05-15 12:27 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    More people to discuss TT with is awesome, so welcome!

    If he would realise that there really is something going on between Gary and Rob, being the sweet, nice and caring person that he is, I have a feeling he would back down for the sake of them, no matter how much it would break his heart.

    You're absolutely right about that. Mark does seem to have a bit of a self-sacrificing streak, and I could definitely see him doing what he could to see his friends happy, even if it meant his own unhappiness. Again, I'll say, Poor Mark.

    But the question is, could Gary and Robbie ever do something like that to Mark? So, maybe a threesome would be the best solution ;)

    I don't think Gary would consciously hurt Mark. And Robbie would only do it accidentally, because he's impulsive and doesn't always think things through. So yes, a threesome would probably be the best solution all 'round. But it would be darn tricky to manage with those three.

    I'm with you on this, there is just something about him. He just feels so genuine, always smiling and even on camera he always laughs from the heart, I love that about him :D

    Well put! His authenticity, and his enthusiasm, are definitely large parts of why I find him so compelling. But also his vulnerability in the face of what is no doubt a brutal business. I'm a recent convert to TT, so I wasn't around when events unfolded last spring, but it's pretty extraordinary to read about them now, and see the footage in Look Back Don't Stare. I also find it interesting that he's clearly the most emotionally open when they're performing (his adoration of both Robbie and Gary is pretty clear when they're performing) but he's also frequently the one who reveals the least in interviews. Halo has also pointed out that the other members of the band will spill their guts about their own problems, and their issues with other band members, but they never say too much about Mark, except what a lovely man he is. I have a feeling they're all a bit protective of him.

    In spite of that vulnerability, though, it's also interesting that he's clearly a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the look of their shows and the way things are staged. There's an interview I've seen somewhere (can't remember if it's LBDS or somewhere else) where Gary points out how much Mark drives them mad when he's being a perfectionist over the look of the show. But he says it with great affection.

    That said, I also fancy the pants off him and think he's wayyyy hot and sexy!

    Yes! Definitely! While Howard is usually more like my usual taste in blokes, there is something utterly compelling about Mark. That smile! That hair! That crazy dress sense!



    Date: 2011-05-15 12:13 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] anniina85.livejournal.com
    "You're absolutely right about that. Mark does seem to have a bit of a self-sacrificing streak" Yes, it really seems so. Appart from his appearance and behaviour, that's quite evident on his solo lyrics as well. I think the solo lyrics are a brilliant window to his soul and to the person he really is behind the smiling and at times bubbly and silly exterior.

    "I don't think Gary would consciously hurt Mark. And Robbie would only do it accidentally, because he's impulsive and doesn't always think things through. So yes, a threesome would probably be the best solution all 'round. But it would be darn tricky to manage with those three." Ah, Robbie really should sometimes think twice before he opens his mouth or does something ;) but of course he doesn't mean any harm, he just can't help himself. The dynamics in that threesome could be a bit tricky indeed. I guess for me, to have Gary and Robbie work in a romantic sense I need to have Mark in the mix. I see that Robbie and Gary adore and respect eachother, and Robbie obviously looks up at Gary in almost a big brotherly way, but I can't feel the erotic side to them. Sure Robbie does flirt with Gary, but it seems he does it more cause it's fun to play like that. Whereas with Mark it feels more intimate and more intense. (Could also be the different ways Gary/Mark react to the flirtations. Gary usually laughs about it, like he did at the movie awards performance this week, and Mark seems to really savour each moment of affection.

    "I also find it interesting that he's clearly the most emotionally open when they're performing (his adoration of both Robbie and Gary is pretty clear when they're performing) but he's also frequently the one who reveals the least in interviews. " Mark seems to really lose himself into the music when they perform. On the other hand he’s brilliant at speaking to the audience and getting in ‘character’ for the big performances etc, and on the other hand, especially on tv performances, it’s seems like he often gets completely into his own little world and just feels the music (and does all those weird little dance moves LOL). 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 (for a tour that was coming). Which obviously was not how it went according to Gary’s fairly recent quote, saying how a girl has never broken Mark’s heart, but Robbie did the day he left the band. That Mark was inconsolable. That is an interesting observation that the others very seldom do talk about Mark, hadn’t noticed it before but it does seem to be like that! That must be protectiveness from their part.

    I love that bit in LBDS when Gary’s saying how Mark drives them insane with his perfectionism! That’s a classic Barlowen moment. And the way Mark’s face lightens up the second Gary says he loves him :) Mark seems to be a very creative and visual person and seems to have quite strong visions on how things should look. From the documentary I got the feeling Gary and Mark can at times clash a bit creatively, cause they do have quite different kind of styles. And Gary being a very authoritative and outspoken person can sometimes say things quite straight. But he must know Mark well enough to know that he can take things the wrong way and is ready to explain what he really meant ;)

    I think if you look a bit under the surface the vulnerability that Mark has is quite evident. I find that very appealing. 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 ;) Also, I love that he has his own style and isn’t afraid to dress/act a bit girly at times. Totally adorable! *g*



    Date: 2011-05-16 02:54 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    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.



    Edited Date: 2011-05-16 02:55 pm (UTC)

    Date: 2011-05-17 06:57 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] anniina85.livejournal.com
    That "Blisfully tortured" feel is all over his lyrics, so it can't be a coincidence, it must really mean something. Like he's bit of a masochist, in an emotional sense... Like the story behind "What you want from me". Emma goes away for a few days and the first thing he thinks about is whether she would come back and not wanna be with him anymore. As he said himself, the fear was coming from his insecurity.

    I like how you described Robbie/Mark and Robbie Gary. Intensity vs playfulness and stability, sounds very true! With Barlowen I also get that sense of certain stability, maybe that's what both Robbie and Mark seek from Gary, someone to rely on. A solid shoulder, in Mark's words ;) It's obvious Gary is looking after Mark a bit. I also love how Gary often has this amused smile on his face when Mark says or does something silly or random. He's not laughing with him, he's laughing at him, but in a loving and caring way LOL! Apart from the certain protectiveness, it seems that's Gary has really enjoyed having Mark as a writing partner during the OT4 times, meaning that he doesn't have to do all the writing alone anymore and can bounce on ideas with someone. (Howard and Jay's contribution has of course been extremely important as well)

    Btw, have you seen that interview the boys did on radio 1 last october/november time? Imo it's the best interview they've done during the Progress era. It's all five of them + it's soooooo funny :D
    Part one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOu-m20ts4Y

    "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." You're right. It actually says quite a lot that says basically nothing about how he felt back then. Obviously he was not ready to do so, at least not for a camera...

    "He's obviously a very physically demonstrative guy, and that's in a band that extraordinarily touchy." Again, very true! Have you noticed that Mark has a tendency to kind of hold on to one of the boys' arms, usually it's Gary or Robbie, when they're standing or standing up and starting to walk after an interview ec? It's quite adorable! And when they were doing the Echo awards in Germany it seemed that most of time on the red carpet Mark was either holding on to Gary's arm or hiding behind him, haha ;) And the way his face lightens up when one of them touches is beautiful to see :)

    The contrast between the insecurity and maintaning his unique style is very interesting. Could you imagine any of the other boys wearing a sparkly jumpsuit on stage in front of 80 000 people?!? And apparently that suit was all Gary's fault ;)

    Date: 2011-05-18 02:23 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    Gary seems to look after them all. Among all the lovely bits in LBDS was Gary talking about their working method for writing. How he puts together a ton of backing tracks for them to play with so they can all bounce the different ideas around, and so he can change the track when Robbie gets bored.

    He's not laughing with him, he's laughing at him, but in a loving and caring way LOL!

    I think it's that he honestly enjoys Mark's take on things.

    I have seen that Radio 1 interview, but watched it again anyway. It is lovely, apart from Howard being hidden from the camera most of the time. They all get equal time, and they're all clearly having a blast.

    You're right. It actually says quite a lot that says basically nothing about how he felt back then.

    Number one on my wish list now is for Mark to do a memoir like Gary did. That would be very interesting.

    Have you noticed that Mark has a tendency to kind of hold on to one of the boys' arms, usually it's Gary or Robbie, when they're standing or standing up and starting to walk after an interview ec?

    No! I hadn't noticed that. Shall have to do more research. Oh, the pain of having to watch more of their interviews. *g* I do love how his face lights up when one of the other lads gives him a bit of affection.

    I thought the jumpsuit was a blast, especially considering the rest of them were in tasteful black with a little bit of sparkle. I had the jumpsuit down as pure Mark. It's funny it was Gary's fault.


    Date: 2011-05-18 05:41 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] anniina85.livejournal.com
    Oh, I bet Gary desperatelly wanted OT5 to work, and that's why he made sure to have enough tracks ready so Robbie wouldn't get bored ;) Also, it's nice how he kept pushing Howard forward with his ideas, cause he knows Howard is a bit quiet and needs that little pushing. And the fact that Robbie felt the need to impress the other boys with lyrics, just shows how much he must respect the others these days.

    "I think it's that he honestly enjoys Mark's take on things." That must be it. Mark can be wonderfully silly and random *g* I think it's quite funny and adorable how he often starts answering a reporter's question and ends up bubbling ages without really answering the question, LOL!

    I would love to read Mark's memoirs! But I'm afraid he's too private a person to ever publish something like that.

    One example of the 'arm holding' is the Brits acceptance speach. Mark keeps holding on to Robbie's arm when they're on stage/leaving it ;)

    I think it was the London i-tunes vid from the Circus tour, where Mark's having a little costume fitting of the sparkly suit, and there he tels the camera that the suit was Gary's fault...with a massive smile on his face! I think Gary really enjoyed seeing him in that suit, on one of the passes they were showing Mark backstage getting ready to be lifted up stage for Hold up a light, and Gary was there too, saying how Mark had his *catsuit* on ;) Infact, all the boys seemd to enjoy the suit cause there definitely was quite a few bum slappings/gropings going on (judging from pics/youtube vids I've seen) when Mark wore that suit... ;)

    Date: 2011-05-19 02:50 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    I'm sure Gary did his best to make sure everything worked. I do like the way he pushes Howard forward. I also found it interesting the way he mediated when Robbie and Jason had a tiff over lyrics, pushing Jason to come up with something better if he doesn't like what Rob has.

    I'm afraid you're right about Mark ever writing his memoirs. If he's that close-mouthed during interviews, he'd never write it all down. But a girl can dream. *g*

    I shall have to go check out the Brits acceptance speech again. Oh, the hardship. *g*

    I've only just got hold of the Circus iTunes vids, so I hadn't seen those bits now. But I just watched it, and yep, Gary is to blame. I have to say that I found the London section got me a bit teary, with them all a bit sad to have the tour over. (It's also made me very sad I won't be seeing the Progress tour live. Ah, well, next time 'round I shall deviously suggest a family vacation in England at the appropriate time.)

    Date: 2011-05-19 05:56 pm (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] anniina85.livejournal.com
    There is a little preview video of the coming tour ( I think it was sponsored by samsung), so it looks like there will be backstage vids this time as well :) I really really hope so! I love the Circus i-tunes passes so much. It's nice seeing the boys backstage, relaxed and being themselves and interacting with each other.

    Date: 2011-05-20 03:16 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    I found the preview this afternoon! It looks awesome, and had me once again toying with finding a way to get over for a show.

    I do hope there's a lot of backstage footage. With all the concert disks, I almost like the backstage stuff better than the show. They are so lovely together.

    Date: 2011-05-13 02:09 am (UTC)
    From: [identity profile] przed.livejournal.com
    One more Tumblr I just ran across:
    http://markowendaily.tumblr.com/

    Enjoy!

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