4 March 2010
Boyzone’s 2010 return to the Irish number one spot came in sad circumstances. Stephen Gately had died in October 2009, so ‘Gave It All Away’—written by Mika—was the remaining group members’ tribute to him. As the track had been recorded in 2008 it still features his lead vocals, so to hear him sing its opening line of “I will learn to live before I die” is certainly jarring at first.
Yes, ‘Gave It All Away’ is elegiac, but never maudlin or emotionally manipulative. Part of that is due to Mika’s more muscular piano-driven brand of pop songwriting. Also, the mid-song switch to a slight reggae groove may seem odd, but it fits the idea of four people trying to remember the good times with their missing bandmate. And the video (below) captures the sincerity of the project. This is Boyzone’s best single and an admirable tribute to their friend.
