Last year, the UK pop world was stunned when Boyzone member Stephen Gately died while on vacation in Majorca. The singer left behind one of the most successful boy bands Ireland ever produced, and it is still up to debate whether the group can or want to carry on without him.
The remaining members, headed by Ronan Keating, gave a little leeway to an answer with the release of their new single "Gave It All Away". The song was written by Mika and is reportedly the last ever Boyzone song with Gately's vocals. To make the situation a bit more tragic, he sings the first lyrics: "I will learn to live before I die".
As if the awkward factor wasn't high, the video will surely make people squirm a bit. The black and white video has the boys writing letters to Stephen, shedding tears, and gathering together to remember their fallen brother, intercut with clips of Stephen's impressive history with the boy band. The song itself is quite light and breezy (it is Mika we're talking about), which fails to effectively connect with the tone the video is trying to present. Than there is that ugly cynicism the video drudges up as we see the boys cry and laugh in different cuts: is is a tribute, or is a thickly veiled attempt at exploitation?
I feel like an ass for even suggesting that their grief is worth questioning, but the video is bound to make some uncomfortable when everything is considered. I feel like a ballad would be more appropriate for a Gately tribute, but that's just me.
The single will be released on March 1st in the UK and Ireland, a week before their new album, titled Brother.
Check the new video out below:
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