Forever Love (Gary Barlow song)
"Forever Love" is the debut solo single released by British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, taken from his debut solo album, "Open Road" (1997). It debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 14 July 1996, becoming Barlow's first of three number-one singles away from Take That. Worldwide, "Forever Love" topped the charts in Lithuania, Spain, and Taiwan while reaching the top five in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland. The song was used as the official theme for the film "The Leading Man" (1996). Critical reception. British magazine "Music Week" rated  the song four out of five, writing, "Barlow's undisputed writing skills are evident on this wistful ballad which builds to a dramatic climax. A surefire number one." Editor Alan Jones added, "An introspective ballad, it starts slowly and becomes increasingly urgent and compelling. Aside from Barlow's voice, which is in fine fettle, the song is dominated by piano and is a romantic tour-de-force of the kind his fans must have been hoping for. One of the year's biggest hits." Chart performance. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number one where it stayed for  one week, before being dethroned by the Spice Girls' debut hit "Wannabe", thus making Barlow the first member of Take That to top the charts with a solo record. It remained in the top 75 for a total of 16 weeks, being certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry. Music video. The official music video of "Forever Love" is shot in black and white and begins with Gary Barlow waking up alone and looking out of a window which critics believe symbolises the start of a new chapter in Barlow's career. He is then shown to partake in a  number of day-to-day activities and finally ends up in a downtown cafe where he witnesses all types of love that exist between people before returning to his studio. Track listing. All tracks were written by Gary Barlow. Standard Credits and personnel. Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes and the "Open Road" album booklet. Studio Personnel