An all-star cast of guests has been revealed for the upcoming fourth season of Take 5.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ can exclusively reveal that the ABC Original show will see host Zan Rowe interviewing Lorde, Paul Kelly, Kevin Bacon, Jarvis Cocker, Mel C, and Aaron Chen as they share five songs that influenced their journeys to stardom.
The season is set to air on Tuesday, September 9th, at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Rowe said the upcoming episodes celebrate “the singular power of music as memory, with some of the biggest names in entertainment.”
“Sitting across from legends who have been with us on screen and speakers our whole lives, and unpacking the music that sets their hearts aflame is a great privilege and huge joy,” she added.
“One of the best things about Take 5 is where it takes us, and more often than not my guests are as surprised as we are. That is the power of song – it cracks open a deep part of us whenever we hit play.”
The season premiere features Sporty Spice Mel C opening up about her journey from a council flat to global fame with the Spice Girls.
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She revealed that they were told by record executives that “girl groups don’t sell records” while vying for success at a time dominated by the likes of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.
“That was like a red rag to a bull,” she said. “We just knew we had a point to prove, and we’re so grateful for that because it gave us a fire in our bellies. We set out to prove everybody wrong and we did.
“There’s been lots of emotions and lots of therapy as well. You do need a bit of help processing it and what it meant and who you are.”
During an interview Lorde in the season’s fourth episode, the Kiwi pop superstar opened up about dealing with international fame at the age of 16 after releasing hit single “Royals”.
“I don’t totally understand that level of belief in myself, but I think you need that… that’s the thing about being a teenager,” she said. “You just sort of do have this unchecked confidence.”
She went on to talk about Charlie XCX’s single directed at her – “Girl, so Confusing” – featuring the lyrics: “I don’t know if you like me. Sometimes I think you might hate me. Sometimes I think I might hate you.”
“It felt like an act of love,” said Lorde, adding she saw it as an invitation to respond with her own verse on the song.
“Part of my faith in pop music and why I continue to make it is because I think it is an endlessly expandable container,” she added.
“You can put any emotional scenario into a pop song and it’s going to get all of us on the dance floor. That just gives me so much faith in the medium. It’s just the coolest thing ever.”
