Do What U Like

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"Do What U Like"

Single by Take That
A-side(s)	"Do What U Like"
Released	1991
Format	CD Single
Recorded	1990
Genre	Pop/Dance
Length	3:10
Writer(s)	Gary Barlow Rob Hedges
Chart positions
#82 (United Kingdom)
Take That singles chronology
-	"Do What U Like" (1991)	"Promises" (1991)

Do What U Like was the first single released by the English teen pop boyband Take That.

[edit] History

In 1991, several months after they had formed, Take That's manager Nigel Martin-Smith decided to release their first single, "Do What U Like". By this stage, the band had already built up a sizeable following in both gay clubs and amongst teenage girls, although they were nowhere near the levels of fame that they would later reach in the mid-1990's.

The record itself, co-written by Rob Hedges (with Barlow) is a standard-dance-pop number, roughly 3.5 minutes long with the main vocal contributions from singer Gary Barlow. Although its main features - a steady 4/4 beat and a piano break - ensured that it gained heavy club rotation, it was not a pop hit. Indeed, it was the first of several of Take That's early flops, reaching no higher than 82 on the UK top 100. Elsewhere in Europe it was an equally dismal story, flopping in most territories. Initially it was only released on Nigel Martin-Smith's Dance UK label, as no other record company had high hopes for the group.

The song was included on Take That's first album Take That And Party and later on their 1996 Greatest Hits album, but has since been effectively discarded by the band (it's their only single to date NOT to be included on 2005's Ultimate Collection CD). Another reason for its lack of success was its low-budget video, featuring the half-naked band members cavorting in jelly and touching each other. Not surprisingly, it regularly features on "bad music video" programmes. Indeed, a VH1 survey placed the video at number 2 in its all-time worst video list (Cliff Richard's Wired For Sound was number 1).

[edit] Video

The promo video featured the band getting naked and smearing jelly over themselves. At this point, the band were touring endlessly. Their revealing leather outfits gained them a huge following in the gay clubs of the UK, where a large number of their performances took place.