Not looking bad is he? I like to consider myself an Early Gary Barlow Adopter. Back in the early 90s when all the girls were screaming about Robbie and Howard and the others, I was quietly appreciating Gary Barlow.In the early years of Take That, Gary Barlow was the slightly tubby one and there were rumours he'd had to be airbrushed in occasional pictures to make him look slimmer. How mean.
But I always preferred Gary because he was the most creative one. The others wrote a few songs but he wrote most of the stuff. And played the piano. And maybe many people thought he was a bit dull and a bit 'nice' compared to Robbie's bad boy antics. Not me.
And see how my loyalty has paid off! Gary Barlow not only looks way better at 40 than he did at 20 but we are also seeing a more interesting Gary Barlow on X Factor. He does grumpy! I do love a grumpy person. It shows personality. Turns out Gary Barlow isn't dull after all. In fact he's great, but then I always knew that.
I've always thought people have an 'optimum age' where they're at their best. Some people look great at 25 and go downhill after that. But I like a person who starts off mediocre and comes into their own at around the age of, well, 40. They've matured well like a good cheese, fine wine or a spreading oak tree.
And if you're still not convinced, this is Gary Barlow in a Christmas song competition in 1986 when he was a sapling. Bless him. Definitely got better with age.
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