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Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Writer of huge Spice Girls song admits most difficult part of working with band
EXCLUSIVE: An award-winning songwriter who has worked with the likes of Gary Barlow, Boyzone, Celine Dion and Aretha Franklin has admitted 'nothing compares' to the Spice Girls Spice Girls fever was at its peak in the nineties, and there was one person right in the middle of it all. Step forward songwriter Elliot Kennedy. The writer who is best pals with Gary Barlow and has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Celine Dion, was on hand when the iconic girl group took the world by storm. The co-writer of their hit tune Say You'll Be There from their debut album, Spice, has admitted there was one thing he sometimes struggled with with the group - containing them. However, he admitted this wasn't a bad thing and simply showed the true personality of a band destined for success. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Elliot said "nothing compares" to the Spice Girls, made up of Melanie B, Victoria Beckham, Melanie C, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell. "They literally crashed at my house," Elliot said. "This was before they had a manager and they were transitioning from the guy that put them together, who was obviously a visionary in his own right, and then we helped connect him to Simon Fuller. "But they were amazing and fantastic girls. Their energy was off the scale and the most difficult thing was containing the energy because they were a million miles an hour. "They had so many ideas that, for a songwriter, was just fantastic. I have nothing but amazing memories from working with them. As I say, they crashed at my house and we just became like family and it's lovely that they went out and changed the world. Being a part of that wave was remarkable and life changing and life affirming in all kinds of ways. "They were just fantastic people and still are and I have a great deal of respect for them all. They worked really bloody hard and deserved everything they got. It was charming and funny and crazy and it was brilliant to be a part of it." Elliot also opened up on his tight connection with Gary Barlow, with the pair currently working on theatrical shows. He said: "We speak every day and we work together all the time. He's my closest friend and collaborator and we're still doing it, you know? We're still cracking on and having a laugh and we're best of friends first and foremost." Elliot admitted the duo have a very similar way of thinking. But he also confessed that there's more to Gary than meets the eye, saying he's simply "just a big, regular guy". "He's a great dad and a solid husband. And he's a really great friend outside of music and everything else," he gushed. Elliot also revealed that Robbie Williams was also supposed to sing the Relight My Fire vocals but claimed the producer got the key wrong, leading to Gary singing it. And he says it was this that then led to him co-writing Everything Changes for the boys, to be sang by Robbie, which went to number one on the writer's 25th birthday, fulfiling his own dream. After reminiscing, Elliot also praised exciting rising band Apollo Junction after they approached him for their latest tune titled Entangled. The Yorkshire-based band who have also had a hit with Beautiful South singer Briana Corrigan wrote the song with the award-winning hitmaker and Elliot praised them for what he called was a "clever move". "Apollo Junction is a perfect example of how random my life goes," he admitted. "I'm working on records with The Overtones, or Alfie Boe, or whatever and writing musicals and then completely out of the left field, Jamie from the band contacts me. "I knew who they were because they're only from down the road but seldom do I do this. But for whatever reason, I thought I should give this a go." He explained the instant connection he go after meeting them and said: "What I thought was really quite clever was when they said to me that the last time they came off the Isle of Wight stage they realised they needed their songs to be better. 'We need a signature' they said. "And I just said, you know what, a lot of bands don't work that out." He revealed how he is proud of being a songwriter who can help others get that unique sound, explaining his eclectic range of stars he has worked with, which also includes Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin and Boyzone. "But for a band who write their own material and suddenly realise they need the skills of someone who does this for a living, it was really a clever move, a really adept move, I thought." Apollo Junction's latest album is set to be released on August 22, with Elliot also releasing a number of other exciting tunes as well as his stage play.
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
I saw Gary Barlow perform in Glasgow's Armadillo
Singer Gary Barlow stripped it back to basics from the big production shows his fans are used to for an intimate set in Glasgow's Armadillo tonight - and the results were simply wonderful. The razzmatazz of the Take That shows was nowhere to be seen as he opted for a set featuring incredible musicians showing off their talent. Opening up with his 1997 solo track Open Road, the 54-year-old quickly switched things back to familiar territory with the Take That smash Greatest Day as confetti fell into the crowd. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Smiling from ear to ear, Barlow beamed: 'Good evening Glasgow 'It's always loud in Scotland.' And the screams echoed around the arena as he rearranged Take That classics Sure and Everything Changes. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) The Piano star Brad Keller then joined Barlow on stage for a performance of A Million Love Songs with saxophonist Mike Stevens in tow, and it sounded just gorgeous. The Flood - the song which launched Robbie Williams' brief return to Take That in 2010 - was a moment to remember, with the crowd singing in unison with their arms in the air. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) What's great about Barlow's solo gigs is that he gets to show his true self on stage. You can see glimpses of what he learned in his early career performing in the working men's clubs from the humour he honed from the comedians to encouragement of audience participation, it makes you feel part of the show - and it's something that can be easily lost the bigger the crowd, yet Barlow has mastered it. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Patience put Barlow's voice in the spotlight, and he sounded incredible. We know he can write songs, his talent is exceptional, but when he sings them on his own, you feel the meaning even more. This was the case during a piano performance of Forever Love, it was just beautiful. READ NEXT: I saw Take That at the Glasgow Hydro - my verdict READ NEXT: Review of Gary Barlow with Leona Lewis at the Glasgow Hydro READ NEXT: Review: Take That musical The Band at the King's Theatre (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Shine delighted the crowd, let's face it that song just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, it's a complete mood lifter while Relight my Fire got the party started. The pop masterpiece Back for Good then delivered reminding fans of the beauty of Barlow's writing, it's pure genius and a song that's stood the test of time. (Image: Gary Barlow performs at Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Finishing things off, Barlow flattered: 'The fact you've chosen to spend your evening with us means the world,' before performing Rule the World and Never Forget.
