# Shine (Take That song)

"Shine" is the second single taken from English pop group Take That's comeback album, Beautiful World (2006). It became Take That's sixth consecutive number one single and their tenth number-one overall, making them one of only seven acts in the history of the UK charts to have more than nine number one hits.

## Background and release

The song is written in the key signature of E flat major; however, on some live versions it is performed in D major. It later emerged that Robbie Williams was the subject of the track, written and released prior to his decision to return to the band.
The version of "Shine" performed during the band's Beautiful World Tour in 2007 featured an intro that was taken from the finale to the song "Mr. Blue Sky" by the British pop rock group Electric Light Orchestra—this was also done on the group's subsequent The Circus Tour in 2009, and on the Progress Live Tour in 2011.
"Shine" was released on 26 February 2007 and features lead vocals by Mark Owen. A 'live' version was recorded at a session with BBC Radio 2, and appears on the CD singles of "I'd Wait for Life" and "Reach Out". The song went on to win the British single of the year award at the 2008 BRIT Awards making it Take That's seventh Brit Award.

## Critical reception

Sharon Mawer from AllMusic described the song as "a masterpiece of 21st century pop". The BBC noted the song as "a brilliant Beatlesesque, funky pop song". Digital Spy rated the song 5/5 commenting on the musical development of the band, labelling the tune "exciting" and a "really great, fun track".

## Commercial performance

The single entered the UK Singles Chart at number 83, and made its official debut to the charts at number 30 the following week, three weeks before its physical release. It reached number one on 4 March 2007, staying two weeks at the top. The single peaked at number two on the download chart. During its first week at the top of the UK Singles Chart, the single rose from number 20 to 2 on the Irish Singles Chart.
The single has been certified double Platinum in the UK for sales over 1,200,000, and was the second most played/used song of the 2000s in the UK, as reported by UK music licensing body PPL.

## Music video

The video for "Shine" was directed by Justin Dickel with a concept of recreating a Busby Berkeley style musical number. It premiered on Channel 4 on Thursday 25 January 2007 at 11:05 p.m. While Gary Barlow sits at the piano, the other three members perform the song for the most part on a noble staircase. In the background, a dozen women who are dressed in gold dance.

## Samplings

The song is sampled in Lily Allen's 2009 song "Who'd Have Known", which in turn is sampled in T-Pain's 2011 single "5 O'Clock".

## Personnel

* Mark Owen – lead vocals
* Gary Barlow – backing vocals
* Howard Donald – backing vocals
* Jason Orange – backing vocals

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 7,500$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000$^‡$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## In popular culture

The song was featured in several commercials for the Morrisons supermarkets in the UK, fronted by actress Denise van Outen, comedian Nick Hancock, television presenter Gabby Logan, gardener Diarmuid Gavin, singer Lulu, football pundit Alan Hansen and television presenter Richard Hammond. According to a PRS-published list of songs used in TV and radio advertisements, it was the 7th most played song for the year 2012.