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Pray (Take That song)

October 15, 2023

"Pray" is a song by English boy band Take That. Written by band member Gary Barlow, the ballad was released on 5 July 1993 by RCA and BMG as the second single from the band's second studio album, Everything Changes (1993). It is the first of twelve singles by the band to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart, staying at number one for four weeks, and starting a streak of four consecutive number-one singles.[2] The song has received a Gold sales status certification and sold over 438,000 copies in the UK, won British Single of the Year and British Video of the Year at the 1994 Brit Awards, and was the finale of Take That's Beautiful World Tour 2007. The music video for "Pray" was directed by Gregg Masuak and filmed in Mexico.

"Pray"
Single by Take That
from the album Everything Changes
Released5 July 1993 (1993-07-05)[1]
Length3:44
Label
Songwriter(s)Gary Barlow
Producer(s)
  • Steve Jervier
  • Paul Jervier
  • Jonathan Wales
Take That singles chronology
"Why Can't I Wake Up with You"
(1993) 		"Pray"
(1993) 		"Relight My Fire"
(1993)
Music video
"Pray" on YouTube
"Pray – Odyssey version"
Single by Take That
from the album Odyssey
Released21 September 2018
Recorded1993, 2018
Length3:40
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Gary Barlow
Producer(s)
Take That singles chronology
"New Day"
(2017) 		"Pray – Odyssey version"
(2018) 		"Out of Our Heads"
(2018)
Music video
"Pray – Odyssey version" on YouTube

A newly arranged and recorded version was released on 21 September 2018 as the first single of their greatest hits album Odyssey. The album was released on 23 November 2018 followed by a Greatest Hits tour marking the band's 30th anniversary in 2019.

Critical reception Edit

AllMusic editor Peter Fawthrop described "Pray" as a "quality ballad" in his review of Everything Changes.[3] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger complimented Barlow's songwriting on the song. He said that "at this point he was still the group's secret weapon – canny and professional enough to bring the hooks but with a streak of desperate earnestness. So the classic Take That song – "Pray" isn't their best, but it very much sets a template – wanders like a lost puppy on the verses then pulls itself together for a monster chorus."[4] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian viewed it as "rather fine".[5] Chris Roberts from Melody Maker felt the song "boasted a fantastic chorus".[6] A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "The five messiahs have found a juvenile congregation in the UK willing to lend its ear. Now they're praying for continental attention for their matchless bubble gum soul."[7]

Alan Jones from Music Week gave "Pray" three out of five. He found that it is a "fairly intricate mid-tempo workout [that] has pleasant harmonies and a glossy sheen, although the song itself is more slight than some of the group's previous efforts – none of which really matters, as it's bound for the Top Five."[8] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue wrote that Barlow's "soft soulful vocals make light work of this whilst the rest of the group put in some great vocal harmonies. The song is light and summery, thanks to the 90s rent-a-beat".[9] Smash Hits gave "Pray" four out of five, praising the chorus as "a fab gospel tune with the group sharing vocals and doing those beautiful harmonies that they seem to be getting so good at these days." The magazine also declared it as "a pretty mature song" and "a definite number 1."[10] A reviewer from Staffordshire Sentinel complimented it as a "soulful ballad".[11]

Music video Edit

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Gregg Masuak and shot in Acapulco, Mexico. The clip features the band members in the exotic location singing and dancing. The band members are paired with a goddess of the four elements, taking on a different form with each – Air (Mark Owen), Fire (Jason Orange), Earth (Robbie Williams) and Water (Howard Donald) – with the exception of Gary Barlow who is represented in a neutral black and white context. In Barlow's autobiography, he stated that after the disappointment of where "I Found Heaven" was filmed, the band were a lot happier about the location for this video. Reflecting on the video in 2005 for Take That: For the Record, Donald remarked: "We was doing all the sexual thing and stuff. ... Even then it felt a little bit uncomfortable. But girls like it. Girls like this kind of thing."[12]

Track listings Edit

Original version Edit

2018 version Edit

  • International digital single[19]
  1. "Pray – Odyssey version" (new arrangement and vocals) – 3:40

Personnel Edit

Charts Edit

Certifications Edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Gold 438,000[45]

References Edit

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 3 July 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 555–6. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Fawthrop, Peter. "Take That – Everything Changes". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  4. ^ Ewing, Tom (24 April 2012). "Take That – "Pray"". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  5. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (22 October 1993). "Rock/pop: Take that back". The Guardian.
  6. ^ Roberts, Chris (18 December 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 27. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  7. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 17 July 1993. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  8. ^ Jones, Alan (10 July 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Review: "Everything Changes" by Take That (CD, 1993)". Pop Rescue. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  10. ^ "The New Take That Single!". Smash Hits. 23 June 1993. p. 49. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  11. ^ Staffordshire Sentinel. 29 July 1993. p.25.
  12. ^ Notman-Watt, David (Director) (17 November 2005). Take That: For the Record (Television production). London: FremantleMedia. 15:47 minutes in.
  13. ^ Pray (UK CD1 & European CD single liner notes). Take That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321154502.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Pray (UK CD2 liner notes). Take That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321154512.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Pray (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Take That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321154507.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Pray (UK cassette single sleeve). Take That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321154504.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Pray (Australian limited maxi-CD single liner notes). Take That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74332116125.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Pray (Australian Tour Edition limited CD single liner notes). Take That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321211122.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Pray Odyssey version on iTunes
  20. ^ "Take That – Pray". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Take That – Pray" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Take That – Pray" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2913." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2934." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  25. ^ Danish Singles Chart. 6 August 1993.
  26. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. 14 August 1993. p. 40. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  27. ^ source: Pennanen, Timo: Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava, 2006. ISBN 9789511210535. page: 280
  28. ^ "Take That – Pray" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12. – 18. apríl)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 12 August 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Pray". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  31. ^ 31 August 1993
  32. ^ . M-1.fm. 24 October 1993. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  33. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  34. ^ "Take That – Pray" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  35. ^ "Take That – Pray". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  36. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 35. 28 August 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  37. ^ "Take That – Pray". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  38. ^ "Take That – Pray". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  39. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  40. ^ Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  41. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  42. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  43. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  44. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  45. ^ Myers, Justin (24 March 2017). "Take That's Official Top 40 biggest songs revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Take That – Pray". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 August 2019.

October 15, 2023
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Pray is a song by English boy band Take That Written by band member Gary Barlow the ballad was released on 5 July 1993 by RCA and BMG as the second single from the band s second studio album Everything Changes 1993 It is the first of twelve singles by the band to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart staying at number one for four weeks and starting a streak of four consecutive number one singles 2 The song has received a Gold sales status certification and sold over 438 000 copies in the UK won British Single of the Year and British Video of the Year at the 1994 Brit Awards and was the finale of Take That s Beautiful World Tour 2007 The music video for Pray was directed by Gregg Masuak and filmed in Mexico Pray Single by Take Thatfrom the album Everything ChangesReleased5 July 1993 1993 07 05 1 Length3 44LabelRCABMGSongwriter s Gary BarlowProducer s Steve JervierPaul JervierJonathan WalesTake That singles chronology Why Can t I Wake Up with You 1993 Pray 1993 Relight My Fire 1993 Music video Pray on YouTube Pray Odyssey version Single by Take Thatfrom the album OdysseyReleased21 September 2018Recorded1993 2018Length3 40LabelPolydorSongwriter s Gary BarlowProducer s Stuart PriceSteve JervierPaul JervierJonathan WalesTake That singles chronology New Day 2017 Pray Odyssey version 2018 Out of Our Heads 2018 Music video Pray Odyssey version on YouTubeA newly arranged and recorded version was released on 21 September 2018 as the first single of their greatest hits album Odyssey The album was released on 23 November 2018 followed by a Greatest Hits tour marking the band s 30th anniversary in 2019 Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Music video 3 Track listings 3 1 Original version 3 2 2018 version 4 Personnel 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Certifications 7 ReferencesCritical reception EditAllMusic editor Peter Fawthrop described Pray as a quality ballad in his review of Everything Changes 3 Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger complimented Barlow s songwriting on the song He said that at this point he was still the group s secret weapon canny and professional enough to bring the hooks but with a streak of desperate earnestness So the classic Take That song Pray isn t their best but it very much sets a template wanders like a lost puppy on the verses then pulls itself together for a monster chorus 4 Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian viewed it as rather fine 5 Chris Roberts from Melody Maker felt the song boasted a fantastic chorus 6 A reviewer from Music amp Media commented The five messiahs have found a juvenile congregation in the UK willing to lend its ear Now they re praying for continental attention for their matchless bubble gum soul 7 Alan Jones from Music Week gave Pray three out of five He found that it is a fairly intricate mid tempo workout that has pleasant harmonies and a glossy sheen although the song itself is more slight than some of the group s previous efforts none of which really matters as it s bound for the Top Five 8 In an retrospective review Pop Rescue wrote that Barlow s soft soulful vocals make light work of this whilst the rest of the group put in some great vocal harmonies The song is light and summery thanks to the 90s rent a beat 9 Smash Hits gave Pray four out of five praising the chorus as a fab gospel tune with the group sharing vocals and doing those beautiful harmonies that they seem to be getting so good at these days The magazine also declared it as a pretty mature song and a definite number 1 10 A reviewer from Staffordshire Sentinel complimented it as a soulful ballad 11 Music video EditThe accompanying music video for the song was directed by Gregg Masuak and shot in Acapulco Mexico The clip features the band members in the exotic location singing and dancing The band members are paired with a goddess of the four elements taking on a different form with each Air Mark Owen Fire Jason Orange Earth Robbie Williams and Water Howard Donald with the exception of Gary Barlow who is represented in a neutral black and white context In Barlow s autobiography he stated that after the disappointment of where I Found Heaven was filmed the band were a lot happier about the location for this video Reflecting on the video in 2005 for Take That For the Record Donald remarked We was doing all the sexual thing and stuff Even then it felt a little bit uncomfortable But girls like it Girls like this kind of thing 12 Track listings EditOriginal version Edit UK CD1 and European CD single 74321154502 13 Pray radio edit Pray a cappella Pray alternative club mix UK CD single 2 74321154512 14 Pray club swing mix It Only Takes a Minute Tommy Musto Underground dub Once You ve Tasted Love Harding amp Curnow remix It Only Takes a Minute Tommy Musto Underground vocal UK 7 inch and cassette single 74321154507 74321154504 15 16 Pray radio edit Pray a cappella Australian limited edition maxi single 74332116125 17 Pray radio edit 3 43 Pray a cappella 4 26 Pray alternative club mix 5 21 Pray club swing mix It Only Takes a Minute Tommy Musto Underground dub Once You ve Tasted Love Harding amp Curnow remix It Only Takes a Minute Tommy Musto Underground vocal Australian Tour Edition CD single 74321211122 18 Pray radio edit Relight My Fire live Could It Be Magic live It Only Takes a Minute live 2018 version Edit International digital single 19 Pray Odyssey version new arrangement and vocals 3 40Personnel EditGary Barlow lead vocals Howard Donald backing vocals Jason Orange backing vocals Mark Owen backing vocals Robbie Williams backing vocalsCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1993 1996 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 20 10Austria O3 Austria Top 40 21 24Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 22 20Canada Top Singles RPM 23 55Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 24 24Denmark IFPI 25 14Europe Eurochart Hot 100 26 7Finland Suomen virallinen lista 27 20Germany Official German Charts 28 21Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 29 36Ireland IRMA 30 2Israel IBA 31 2Lithuania M 1 32 8Netherlands Dutch Top 40 33 36Netherlands Single Top 100 34 38Norway VG lista 35 8Portugal AFP 36 4Sweden Sverigetopplistan 37 17Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 38 25UK Singles OCC 39 1Zimbabwe ZIMA 40 11 Year end charts Edit Chart 1993 PositionEurope Eurochart Hot 100 41 70Germany Official German Charts 42 99UK Singles OCC 43 18Chart 1994 PositionAustralia ARIA 44 83Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 46 Gold 438 000 45 References Edit New Releases Singles PDF Music Week 3 July 1993 p 19 Retrieved 19 June 2021 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited pp 555 6 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Fawthrop Peter Take That Everything Changes AllMusic Retrieved 18 February 2020 Ewing Tom 24 April 2012 Take That Pray Freaky Trigger Retrieved 6 March 2020 Sullivan Caroline 22 October 1993 Rock pop Take that back The Guardian Roberts Chris 18 December 1993 Singles Melody Maker p 27 Retrieved 17 July 2023 New Releases Singles PDF Music amp Media 17 July 1993 Retrieved 21 November 2019 Jones Alan 10 July 1993 Market Preview Mainstream Singles PDF Music Week p 8 Retrieved 30 March 2021 Review Everything Changes by Take That CD 1993 Pop Rescue 19 August 2015 Retrieved 3 April 2020 The New Take That Single Smash Hits 23 June 1993 p 49 Retrieved 9 December 2022 Staffordshire Sentinel 29 July 1993 p 25 Notman Watt David Director 17 November 2005 Take That For the Record Television production London FremantleMedia 15 47 minutes in Pray UK CD1 amp European CD single liner notes Take That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321154502 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Pray UK CD2 liner notes Take That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321154512 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Pray UK 7 inch single sleeve Take That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321154507 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Pray UK cassette single sleeve Take That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321154504 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Pray Australian limited maxi CD single liner notes Take That RCA Records BMG 1993 74332116125 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Pray Australian Tour Edition limited CD single liner notes Take That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321211122 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Pray Odyssey version on iTunes Take That Pray ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved 13 August 2019 Take That Pray in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved 13 August 2019 Take That Pray in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved 13 August 2019 Top RPM Singles Issue 2913 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 13 August 2019 Top RPM Adult Contemporary Issue 2934 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 13 August 2019 Danish Singles Chart 6 August 1993 Hits of the World Eurochart Hot 100 Billboard 14 August 1993 p 40 Retrieved 21 July 2012 source Pennanen Timo Sisaltaa hitin levyt ja esittajat Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 Helsinki Kustannusosakeyhtio Otava 2006 ISBN 9789511210535 page 280 Take That Pray in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 13 August 2019 Islenski Listinn Topp 40 12 18 april Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic 12 August 1993 p 20 Retrieved 28 December 2020 The Irish Charts Search Results Pray Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 13 August 2019 31 August 1993 M 1 TOP 40 M 1 fm 24 October 1993 Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 12 August 2021 Nederlandse Top 40 week 36 1993 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 13 August 2019 Take That Pray in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved 13 August 2019 Take That Pray VG lista Retrieved 13 August 2019 Top 10 Sales in Europe PDF Music amp Media Vol 10 no 35 28 August 1993 p 24 Retrieved 20 March 2018 Take That Pray Singles Top 100 Retrieved 13 August 2019 Take That Pray Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved 13 August 2019 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 13 August 2019 Zimbabwe Kimberley C Zimbabwe singles chart book Harare C Kimberley 2000 1993 Year End Sales Charts Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 10 no 51 52 18 December 1993 p 15 Retrieved 27 November 2019 Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 1993 in German GfK Entertainment Retrieved 9 November 2016 Top 100 Singles 1993 Music Week 15 January 1994 p 24 Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 Mt Martha VIC Australia Moonlight Publishing Myers Justin 24 March 2017 Take That s Official Top 40 biggest songs revealed Official Charts Company Retrieved 24 March 2017 British single certifications Take That Pray British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 13 August 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pray Take That song amp oldid 1176086297, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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