Do What U Like

Background

The song was written by Gary Barlow and Ray Hedges, and it was produced by Hedges with additional production by Graham Stack. "Do What U Like" was released on 15 July 1991 as the lead single from Take That's debut album Take That & Party (1992). The single was released on then-manager Nigel Martin-Smith's record label Dance U.K. and was a commercial failure, peaking at number 82 on the UK Singles Chart. "Do What U Like" is also the only single not to be included on the band's second greatest hits compilation, Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection (2005).

In concert

During the band's early television appearances and outdoor shows, the song was a recurring number to play. They performed it during the "Everything Changes" tour with Mini-Take That, a preteen group that sang the material of the band.

For the "Nobody Else", and the subsequent "Ultimate Tour 2006" and "Beautiful World Tour 2007", the song was never played, because the band members felt that the high energy dance choreography was not possible for them to do. However, during Take That Present: The Circus Live, it was included in a medley of their earliest singles from Take That and Party with Jason and Howard performing the complicated moves and classic routines for "Promises", "It Only Takes a Minute" and "Take That and Party".

Music video

The low-budget music video for "Do What U Like", co-directed by former BBC Radio 1 DJ and The Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Rosemary "Ro" Barratt (née Newton) and MTV Europe director Angie Smith, was shot at Vector Television studios in Heaton Mersey on 21 June 1991. Featuring the band getting naked, bare buttocks and smearing jelly over themselves, the video was banned from daytime television, and at the time was only shown on Pete Waterman's late night show The Hitman and Her.

Reaction to the video (and, to an extent, the song) among the bandmates has been somewhat negative. In the documentary Take That: For the Record, Barlow admits that neither the song nor video were brilliant, but they were important in helping the band getting noticed. The video was also omitted from the 2005 video compilation Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection.

Personnel

Track listings

1. "Do What U Like" (Club Mix) – 6:14
2. "Do What U Like" (Radio Mix) – 3:06
3. "Waiting Around" – 2:56

1. "Do What U Like" (Radio Mix) – 3:06
2. "Waiting Around" – 2:56

1. "Do What U Like" (Radio Mix) – 3:06
2. "Waiting Around" – 2:56

1. "Do What U Like" (Club Mix) – 6:14
2. "Do What U Like" (Radio Mix) – 3:06
3. "Waiting Around" – 2:56

Official versions