Promises (Take That song)

"Promises"
Single by Take That
from the album Take That & Party
B-side"Do What U Like"
Released11 November 1991 (1991-11-11)[1]
Genre
Length3:34
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Pete Hammond
Take That singles chronology
"Do What U Like"
(1991) 		"Promises"
(1991) 		"Once You've Tasted Love"
(1992)
Music video
"Promises" on YouTube

"Promises" is a dance-pop song by English boy band Take That. Written by Gary Barlow and Graham Stack, it was released on 11 November 1991 as the second single from the band's debut album, Take That & Party (1992). It was their first released single after signing to RCA Records. The song was a modest success and provided the group with their Top 40 breakthrough, charting at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week described the track as a "well-performed, hook-laden pop song executed with more panache and credibility than most teen favourites can conjure up. This is definitely one to watch."[3] Simon Williams from NME said, "The synth-mungous likes of 'Once You've Tasted Love' and 'Promises' are amiably crass hi-NRG rompalongs, sort of Kajagoogoo gone Italian House."[4]

Music video

The music video for the song uses intercut clips of the band performing and rehearsing as well as showing the hysteria of Take That's fans. It also shows a half-naked band member, unknown at the time, jumping out of a swimming pool. Robbie Williams said that person was him during an interview for the 2006 documentary Take That: For the Record. In August 2018 on an Instagram post,[5] Howard Donald revealed that it was he in that shot.

Track listings

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[6] 20
UK Singles (OCC) 38
UK Dance (Music Week)[7] 60

References

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 9 November 1991. p. 21.
  2. ^ "UK Chart Archive". everyHit.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2007
  3. ^ Jones, Alan (16 November 1991). "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  4. ^ Williams, Simon. "TAKE THAT – Greatest Hits". NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Howard Donald on Instagram: "This shot from the video promises was filmed in the regency hotel on queens gate in london. As I can see I loved to shave my chest!…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  6. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles, 24 November 1991
  7. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 23 November 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 28 September 2020.