You love them for their
healthy sun-kissed clean-cut appeal (and so do we)! But are these yummy-as-apple-pie
American boys as wholesome as they seem? Stella Thng dares Take 5 to stay
true to their image and come clean about past girlfriends, kissing habits and sexy bedroom
attire! Only totally honest answers accepted!
Two weeks before teen temptations Take 5 were due in town, phones at the LIME office were ringing non-stop. "When are Take 5 coming to town?" choked one over-emotional fan. "What flight are the arriving on?" begged another. "Tell us the band's schedule," whined hordes of persistent boyband followers.
Well! What is it about this fresh-faced American pop package that has whipped the pubescent crowd to such a frenzy? Okay, for starters, Take 5 do have (hubba-hubba!) good looks on their side. When band elder Ryan Goodell (18) flashes a shy smile and drawls in that sexy, deep voice, we know it turns knees to jelly! When the strapping, dreamily handsome Tilky Jones (17) fixes you with his bedroom eyes, it makes even the strongest feel faint! When Steve Sculthorpe (15) turns on the crinkly-eyed charm and gives you that special wink, even the coldest heart melts! Then there are the two 14-year olds: TJ Christofore, blessed with heart-stoppingly piercing greenish-grey eyes, and Ryan's cherubic bro Clay - a young fella so cute, it'll take all your willpower not to smother him with cuddles!
Yummy visual appeal apart, the band has also impressed fans with their lusty vocals (they'll break into song if you ask them). Their debut self-titled album went gold in Malaysia, shifting some 20,000 units within a month of release. Their debut single 'I Give' made the top 10 charts in Thailand and Indonesia and is fast climbing up the Perfect Ten's Top 20 here! Are they inching into top-level boyband territory? We think so!
"When we decided to form a singing group, we rented a house, worked at our singing and dancing for four months and recorded a demo," says Tilky. "And within three weeks, Trans Continental Records picked us up! We feel incredibly lucky 'cos there're lots of groups out there which have been formed for three years and haven't gotten any breaks," he adds gratefully.
Since the release of their album, Take 5 have been zipping around Europe (Sweden, Germany, London...) and Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong...) on promotional tours and living out of their suitcases for the past three months. Naturally, it's made the poor pups weary and homesick - sometimes. Says Ryan, who missed his high school graduation while touring with the band in Spain: "It was the first time I got really homesick. If I wasn't in Take 5, I'd be off at college and making lots of friends. Except I wouldn't have the chance to do what I love." Tilky: "Of course we miss home but we always have to guys across the hallway to talk to. We treat one another as five brothers, really."
And, like on big, happy family, the boys celebrated a few birthdays on the road. Recalls Steve: "We threw Clay a birthday party on our first tour. Our tour bus was decorated and when he walked in, we blew our horns and cheered!" But it isn't all fun and games: away from the showbiz razzle dazzle and fainting fans, back in the quiet of their hotel rooms, Take 5 have to (eeuych!) hit the books!
Stevie and Tilky study on their own while Ryan is aiming for a degree in accountancy (he's a whiz at maths!) through a correspondence course. Clay and TJ have a tutor who travels with them and makes sure they put in three hours of study time a day. Bummer!
School or no school, though, being a scream-inducing Take 5 member traversing the globe winning over fans is fun! Except...um...maybe they could do with less of those unavoidable Backstreet Boys comparisons. Sure, they may been discovered by the same people who put BSB on the musical map, but Take 5 aren't gonna stay in the shadows of Nick Carter & Co forever! When the band appeared on talkshow Tonight With Gurmit they were asked if they considered themselves a serious threat to BSB. Piped Tilky cheekily but firmly: "Yesss!"
"We're always compared to BSB and 'N Sync 'cos we're from the same record company. What sets us apart is our clean, healthy image. We don't believe in dyeing our hair purple and green just to sell our albums. We don't have a single earring, body piercing or tattoo!" chorus the lads.
Yadda, yadda, yadda! So
you lot are dead proud of your clean-cut, goody-two-shoes image aren't you? (We're not too
sure about that, you cheeky devils!) In that case, you boys wouldn't mind (squirm)
coming clean about the number of girls you've left behind, confessing your worst habits
and revealing what makes you go completely ballistic, would ya? Sit tight, folks! This is
gonna get really interesting...
RYAN
LIME: RYAN,
YOU'RE THE ONE MUTTERING ALL THOSE SEXY, MUMBLY BITS IN 'GIRL OF MY DREAMS'. WHAT SWEET
NOTHINGS WOULD YOU WHISPER IN YOUR SWEETHEART'S EAR?
RYAN: I'm not really a sappy junk kinda guy. Hmm, I'll probably
tell her how much she means to me. To be honest, I'm pretty out of practice - I haven't
had a girlfriend for a year!
WHERE DO YOU
LIKE TO BE KISSED MOST?
On the side of my neck. It
gets me all tingly. Mmm!
WHAT'S
THE MADDEST THING YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR LIFE?
I've done tons of
stupid things but I'm not exactly the wild type. Like, when I was 14, I'd practice driving
around the driveway in my dad's car. With his permission, of course!
DO YOU BULLY
YOUR YOUNGER BRO CLAY?
Nope, we get along really
well - usually. Of course, we have our stupid fights. When we're on the road, we share a
room unless my mom comes along, then I bunk with one of the other boys.
WHO'S SEXIER:
MADONNA, MARIAH CAREY OR MEL C?
Mariah Carey. Actually,
they're all sexy in their own way, but Mariah Carey, whoa! She's really sexy!
COMPLETE THIS:
IF I COULD CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF IT'LL BE...
(Shamefaced) ...my
attitude. I have trouble accepting criticism sometimes. Like, if I mess up during vocal or
dance lessons, I can get very defensive. I gotta change that.
WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES YOU: BOSSY, AMBITIOUS OR SEXY?
I'd say ambitious. I'm
always striving to do better, whether in school, dancing or singing.
WHAT'S THE
MOST EXTRAVAGANT PRESSIE YOU'VE GIVEN A GIRL?
Last year, when I was still
with my girlfriend, I have her a locket on Valentine's day. It had a photo of me in it!
DESCRIBE YOUR
WORST DATE.
Someone who doesn't talk.
Not that I've actually dated someone like that yet! Most of my dates are down-to-earth
girls who're really cool. But I expect it'll happen at some time.
HAVE YOU EVER
SNOGGED A MATE'S GAL?
No. My friends and I are
really close and I treat them more like brothers. I'll never, ever do it.
WOULD
YOU LIE TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE?
Only for minor stuff
like, I'd be late for my curfew and I'd lie that the car broke down.
WHAT DO YOU
WEAR TO BED?
Just boxers. Nope, no
shirt!
TILKY
LIME:
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU KISSED A GIRL PASSIONATELY?
TILKY: About four weeks ago. Who was she? Erm, I can't give out that
information! (Sneaky giggle)
WHICH
BITS DO YOU SCRUB FIRST WHEN YOU JUMP INTO THE SHOWER?
(Demonstrates) First I wash my hair. Then, I rub in
some hair conditioner. Then I start with my left arm, then my body, then my right arm,
then body again, then lower down...I wash from top down!
WHAT ARE
YOU MOST SCARED OF?
I'm terrified of spiders! When I was 11, I was
bitten by a spider. It was brown and the size of a nickel but it made a hole in my leg!
DO YOU
SUFFER FROM ANY OF THESE: DODGY SMELLING FEET, SWEATY UNDERARMS, DODGY HAIRCUT?
I don't smell and I don't have sweaty underarms.
(Ruffles his hair anxiously) What do you think? I don't know why but I always seem to get
really bad haircuts!
WHAT'S
THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD?
Being on stage and performing in front of thousands
of people.
WHAT'S
YOUR MOST UNDERRATED FEATURE?
Hmm...probably my hands. They're pretty soft and
smooth!
MOST
ANNOYING FEATURE?
I don't think I have one. (TJ, butting in:
"Sure you do, your eyebrows annoy me! They're too long and you're always wriggling
and doing stuff with them!")
WHAT'S
THE LONGEST YOU'VE WORN A PAIR OF UNDIES WITHOUT WASHING IT?
One day. I always wash my undies.
HAVE YOU
EVER SNOGGED A FAN?
Nope. Not on the lips anyway. I've kissed many fans
on the cheek!
WHEN WAS
THE LAST TIME YOU GOT INTO A SCUFFLE?
Hmm...last year. It was with my brother, who's 24!
HAVE YOU
EVER MADE A GIRL CRY?
Yeah! This happened last year. She loved me but I
didn't love her!
WHAT ARE
YOU ADDICTED TO?
Music. I love listening and making good music!
STEVIE
LIME:
HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A GIRL YOU LOVED HER?
STEVIE: Yeah, a couple of times. The last time I said it was last year to a
girl named Jenny. But I haven't seriously said 'I love you' to anyone yet, ya know what I
mean?
ADMIT IT,
DON'T YOU JUST WANNA SOCK THAT PRAT LEONARDO DICAPRIO?
(Shocked) Leonardo DiCaprio has to be the
best-liked guy in the world right now! I don't wanna hit him!
WHAT'S
THE MOST POP STAR THING YOU'VE DONE SO FAR?
Travelling the world!
NAME ONE
WEAKNESS YOU HAVEN'T ADMITTED TILL NOW!
Ergh! I hate flying. And now, we're on a plane
practically every week!
ARE YOU
AN AARON CARTER FAN?
Yeah. I wasn't a fan before I met him but he's a
great kid!
HOW DO
YOU FEEL WHEN A FAN TELLS YOU SHE LOVES YOU?
I don't know. I usually say thank you, then 'I love
you', too!
WHICH IS
MORE FRIGHTENING: HORDES OF SOBBING GIRLS OR GODZILLA?
Godzilla is much scarier! Sobbing girls
are...interesting. In Germany, there was a bunch of girls crying in our hotel lobby. When
I asked them why, they said it was because we were leaving the next day!
WHO'S
YOUR FAVE MEMBER OF TAKE 5?
I get along best with Ryan.
And Clay. And...actually, I don't think I have a fave!
ARE YOU A
LAZY LOUT WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING YOUR ROOM?
Yes. I clean it, but I don't really want to. And
because I'm always not home, my mom helps me clean it up sometimes!
HAVE ANY
ONE OF YOUR GIRLFRIENDS COMPLAINED ABOUT YOUR SNOGGING SKILLS?
(Proudly) Nope. I guess it's because I'm a good
kisser!
WHAT'S
THE MOST HIDEOUS OUTFIT YOU'VE WORN IN PUBLIC?
Well, I once walked out in these really short
boxers and it caught on the doorknob and it ripped! Nobody saw it happen, thank God!
WHICH
BEST DESCRIBES YOU: LIFE OF THE PARTY OR SHY 'N' RETIRING?
Life of the party. If I can, I'd party 'till 4am
every night!
TJ
LIME:
WHEN YOU FART, DO YOU POLITELY SAY, "EXCUSE ME" OR PRETEND IT WASN'T YOU?
TJ: We
have this rule in the band. If you pass gas, you have to name three things immediately or
the rest will hit you! So it'll be like, "Er, lights! Mirror! Erm..." and bash!
But usually, if we're in public, we will go to a quiet corner to do it discreetly.
YOU'RE A
FAB SINGER. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU LOST YOUR VOICE TOMORROW?
It's happened before! Well, not exactly, but my
voice suddenly deepened. I couldn't reach the high notes. I worked with a very good vocal
coach who also worked with BSB, Aaron Carter and 'N Sync and he taught me how to reach the
high notes with my new deeper voice.
WHAT TIME
DID YOU GO TO BED LAST NIGHT?
Yesterday was a late night, I went to bed at about
3am 'cos we had a meeting with our manager. We don't have a curfew, we basically sleep
whenever we feel like!
WHAT
WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE PERFORMING LIVE AND YOUR PANTS DROPPED OFF?
I'd carry on dancing'!
WHICH
FEMALE POP STAR DO YOU FANCY MOST?
Mariah Carey. She's very beautiful and she has a
gorgeous voice. And I'd tell her that if I ever meet her!
WHAT'S
THE WORST THING A FAN HAS SAID TO YOU?
A girl once came up to me and said, "You have
a very fake smile." I'm not a very smiley person usually. I mean, if you pull me up
against a wall for a photo shoot and there's nothing funny to smile about, I wouldn't look
very natural, would I?
HAVE YOU
EVER CHEATED AT SCHOOL?
I'm sure I have, but I don't remember. Everyone
does it!
DO YOU
THINK YOU'RE COOL?
Yeah, I mean, I try to be as cool as I can be!
WOULD
YOU LEAVE TAKE 5 IF YOU WERE OFFERED A MILLION BUCKS?
That's a tough one, but
nope. If I stick around with Take 5, we can make more than a million bucks!
COMPLETE
THIS: I'M A REAL PUSHOVER WHEN IT COMES TO...
...my friends. It upsets me when my close female
friends are hurt by jerks. Not that I'm in love with them or anything, I'm just very
protective towards my friends.
YOU'VE
SUNG FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON BEFORE. NOW THAT HE'S IN BIT OF A DODGY SITUATION, WOULD YOU
SING FOR HIM AGAIN IF HE ASKED YOU TO?
Actually, I was invited to sing solo for the
President last Christmas but I turned it down. I'd rather sing as part of Take 5 and not
as a solo act. (Ponders) But I don't know if it'll be good for our image to sing for the
President now. I'm not sure how that would affect what people think of us.
HAVE YOU
LIED DURING THIS INTERVIEW?
No. I like this interview!
CLAY
LIME:
YOU'RE SUCH A SWEET-TEMPERED GUY. WHAT MAKES YOU GO OUT-OF-CONTROL BALLISTIC?
CLAY: When
people tell me what to do all the time! Like this morning, Ryan and I were both dead tired
and he told me to go take a shower first so he could sleep in a little more. I said,
"La, la, la, I'm not gonna do it!" But he forced me! So because I was mad at
him, I stayed in the bathroom for 15 minutes and Ryan hardly had time to take his shower!
Haha!
WHAT
TURNS YOU OFF ABOUT GIRLS?
I don't like girls who are not nice. They should be
understanding about my work. Actually, there's nothing I really hate about girls. I like
girls!
WHAT'S
THE MEANEST THING YOU'VE DONE TO YOUR BIG BRO RYAN?
Ryan was building a half ramp to practice skate boarding and I asked him
to make me one. He refused and I totally lost it! I chased him around the house and wanted
to beat him up!
WHAT DID
YOU DREAM OF LAST NIGHT?
I dreamt I bought two really cool rings. When I put
them on, they covered my fingers right up to the tip!
HAVE YOU
EVER STOLEN ANYTHING?
(Sheepishly) Yes. When I was really young, I once
pinched a pack of Skittles from the supermarket!
COMPLETE
THIS: THE OTHERS FIND ME ANNOYING 'COS I'M...
...always fidgeting about! I'm constantly playing
with my chains and bracelets.
YOU HAVE
A TUTOR WHO TRAVELS WITH YOU. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO WEASEL YOUR WAY OUT OF LESSONS?
Yup, sometimes I'd try to sneak out of the room.
But Aaron (Take 5's beefcake bodyguard) always catches me and drags me back in! My least favorite subject is history. I'm not too
good at memorizing dates.
WHAT WAS
YOUR FIRST KISS LIKE?
I was 13 and I was scared! I didn't know what was
supposed to happen to us after that kiss. I went home, panicked for a while then decided
to go to sleep. Oh, we broke up after a while.
WHAT'S
YOUR MOST DISGUSTING HABIT?
Probably my fidgeting. People get so annoyed and
they're always telling me to stop it but I can't!
WHAT'S
THE WORST PRANK YOU'VE PULLED?
I'm not really a prankster but one Halloween, I put
on a mask and turned on a chainsaw and ran after the kids in my neighborhood. They freaked out!
IF YOU
DECIDE TO GET A TATTOO, WHAT KINDA DESIGN WOULD YOU GO FOR?
Probably a Harley Davidson logo. I love Harleys and
I wanna ride on someday!
ASIA BAGUS!
They've seen practically
all of Asia! But what do Take 5 remember most about each Asian city? They tell us!
BANGKOK
RYAN: We had an autograph session at Tower Records and we were mobbed by
thousands of screaming fans! We had 11 security guards but even they couldn't hold the
fans back!
TILKY: We filmed out 'Baby I Can't Let Go'
video there! And I bought loads of stuff in Bangkok!
STEVIE: Bangkok is lovely, I love the spicy food!
TJ: We stayed in a really nice hotel
and the night markets were great! I bought tons of fake Tommy Hilfiger stuff!
CLAY: Everybody except me, my tutor Julie and our manager
fell sick. The had the 'flu I think!
MALAYSIA
RYAN: When we were there, they were preparing for the
Commonwealth Games and the city was all dressed up! Beautiful!
TILKY: The fans are awesome! So many of the turned up at the
airport to say goodbye, we were really touched!
STEVIE: Our album went gold in Malaysia, we were thrilled!
TJ: The food is fabulous. We went to
Spoons restaurant and tried teriyaki beef!
CLAY: There were huge posters of LIME everywhere. And
we're on the cover! I was like, "Is that the magazine? Wow!" I wanted to get my
hands on a million copies! But actually, I only own about two. My mom is saving it for our
scrapbook!
Hong Kong
Ryan: We had a nice Chinese dinner! I tried sweet and
sour chicken and spring rolls!
Tilky: The electronics stuff is really cheap, the guys
all bought Mini Disc players! I bought erm, a kimono for my grandma.
Stevie: It's a really interesting place.
Everything is so high-tech and the streets are always so crowded!
TJ: I met up with my father's colleague in Hong Kong
and bought me a laptop computer! I can play tons of games on it which is really cool!
Clay: We had 13 taxis following our van. That's the
record so far!
Manila
Ryan: It was a bit rainy. I felt right at home because
Filipinos drives on the right side of the road, just like we do in America!
Tilky: We did lots of mall shows and we went to
a Japanese restaurant. Erm, that's not exactly Filipino, is it ?
Stevie: We were recognized a lot and we were
mobbed practically everywhere!
TJ: The malls are massive! We didn't shop much, though.
It was pretty hot in Manila. Actually, it's hot in every part in Asia!
Clay: We were doing this mall show and the fans started
chasing us! We started running and Stevie and Ryan slipped on a wet patch!
Singapore
Ryan: Our fans Melissa and Tracey gave Tilky and I a
pair of matching rings. Look, we were wearing them right now!
Tilky: We went to the Night Safari and Sentosa!
At Fantasy Island, I fell of the raft when we were in the Black Hole and Clay's tutor
Julie hurt her shoulder!
Stevie: Awesome. Singapore is very clean and we
received great service wherever we went!
TJ: Singapore reminds me of most of America. It's very
modern and clean and the people are really nice!
Clay: Singapore is where we had our first mag cover in
the world! We also had a lot of fun at Sentosa, which we also visited the last time we
were here!
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