Post by shayne on Apr 15, 2007 21:46:24 GMT 8
Westlife: Against All Odds – 13 April 2007
By rights, Westlife should have disappeared off the radar long ago - yet they're still hitting No 1 in the charts. Just what has kept them together? asks Maureen Coleman
Friday, April 13, 2007
When the boy-band bubble burst at the start of the Noughties, music critics predicted the end was nigh for Westlife.
Changes in chart trends helped bring about the demise of groups like Five, Blue, 911, Boyzone and A1 and, in their place, guitar-based bands began to dominate.
But those clean-cut lads from Ireland managed to cling on to their crown as princes of pop, even when original member Bryan McFadden decided to pursue a solo career in 2004.
According to the press at the time, Bryan's shock departure heralded the end of the record-breaking band.
Yet again, industry insiders said the writing was on the wall for the group, which has had 14 UK No 1 singles since 1999.
But almost as if to wave two fingers at their critics, the boys bounced back and in a defiant gesture, kicked off their fourth arena tour - but this time as a four-piece.
The following year they released the album Face to Face and a new single You Raise Me Up. On November 6 2005, both album and single went to No 1 - the first time ever that the band had held both positions in the same week.
A long break followed, prompting more speculation that a split was on the cards. But the boys came back, feeling more refreshed than ever and released yet another No 1 single, The Rose.
As it stands, Westlife have outlasted just about every other boy-band around, claiming they will not call it a day until they've reached their aim of 20 UK No 1 singles - for those of you who are counting, that's another six to go.
In the Belfast Telegraph's last interview with the band, Nicky Byrne insisted: "We'll be around for as long as our fans want us."
Just how much longer they can keep the dream alive is impossible to call.
Every pop group has its shelf life, and let's face it, 'boy-band' is a bit of a misleading label now, as all four members are in their mid-twenties.
The recent reunion of Take That must have been an encouraging sign, though. Granted, the manly Mancunians may have knocked Westlife off their thrones, but at least the Irish lads can take comfort from the fact that there's still a market for cute boys performing dance routines.
But there's quite a few differences between Take That and Westlife. The latter are cute, the former are sexy.
Take That have gone all grown up on us and still appeal to women of a certain age. While their Odyssey gig later this year will no doubt be heaving with lusty women in their 30s, Westlife's will be packed with young girls in their teens.
Musically too, they're poles apart. Take That have always preferred a funkier, raunchier sound while Westlife are the kings of ballads.
Somehow, it's now deemed cool to be a Take That fan. They were the original, undisputed boy-band to beat all boy-bands - until Robbie quit and the cracks began to show.
Unlike Westlife however, Take That failed to survive the departure of the bad boy of the band and decided to split up, breaking millions of hearts around the world.
Westlife, on the other hand, refused to let Bryan's breakaway break them.
What the future holds for Westlife is anybody's guess, but if I were a betting woman, I'd say there's one more album left to do.
Mind you, I said that three years ago - and there's still that small matter of six more No 1 singles to score.
Westlife play the Odyssey Arena tonight, April 13, tomorrow night, April 14, Sunday and Monday. Tickets are still available for the last show on Monday, 16, available from Ticketmaster on 0870 2434455 or from the Odyssey box office on 9073 9074.
Where did it all go right?
1998 - Westlife form in July 1998, made up of Sligo boys Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan and Dubliners Nicky Bryne and Bryan McFadden.
1998 - Big break comes when they open for the Backstreet Boys in Dublin and later that year, they win Best New Tour Act at the Smash Hit Poll Winners Party.
1999 - In March, their first single Swear It Again is released and goes to No 1 in the UK and Irish charts.
1999 - In August, the band's second single If I Let You Go goes to No 1 , quickly followed by Flying Without Wings in October.
2000 - Double A-side single I Have A Dream/Seasons in the Sun is the first No 1 of the new Millennium.
2000 - Album Coast to Coast is the 4th biggest selling album of the year in the UK. Also that year, Westlife score a unexpected record of seven debut singles going to No 1. In December 2000 the run is broken by kiddies' favourite Bob The Builder.
2001 - First world tour and the release of third album, World Of Our Own.
2002 - The band release the Greatest Hits album, Unbreakable amid rumours of a split.
2003 - Turnaround, the band's fourth consecutive album in as many years, is released and like its predecessors, goes straight to No 1.
2003 - Westlife win Record of the Year for the third time in five years.
2004 - In March, the group announces the shock departure of Bryan McFadden. Westlife reply with a fourth arena tour and the release of swing album, Allow Us To Be Frank.
2005 - Westlife releases seventh album Face To Face. Both the album and single You Raise Me Up go to No 1 in the charts.
2005 - Mark Feehily reveals he is gay.
2006 - In November Westlife release the Love Album and the song, The Rose, taken from the album goes to No 1.
2007 - Westlife kick off the Love Tour in Perth, culminating in the Irish shows in Belfast and Dublin.
Credit/Source: Belfast Telegraph / Thanx Joanne for finding
By rights, Westlife should have disappeared off the radar long ago - yet they're still hitting No 1 in the charts. Just what has kept them together? asks Maureen Coleman
Friday, April 13, 2007
When the boy-band bubble burst at the start of the Noughties, music critics predicted the end was nigh for Westlife.
Changes in chart trends helped bring about the demise of groups like Five, Blue, 911, Boyzone and A1 and, in their place, guitar-based bands began to dominate.
But those clean-cut lads from Ireland managed to cling on to their crown as princes of pop, even when original member Bryan McFadden decided to pursue a solo career in 2004.
According to the press at the time, Bryan's shock departure heralded the end of the record-breaking band.
Yet again, industry insiders said the writing was on the wall for the group, which has had 14 UK No 1 singles since 1999.
But almost as if to wave two fingers at their critics, the boys bounced back and in a defiant gesture, kicked off their fourth arena tour - but this time as a four-piece.
The following year they released the album Face to Face and a new single You Raise Me Up. On November 6 2005, both album and single went to No 1 - the first time ever that the band had held both positions in the same week.
A long break followed, prompting more speculation that a split was on the cards. But the boys came back, feeling more refreshed than ever and released yet another No 1 single, The Rose.
As it stands, Westlife have outlasted just about every other boy-band around, claiming they will not call it a day until they've reached their aim of 20 UK No 1 singles - for those of you who are counting, that's another six to go.
In the Belfast Telegraph's last interview with the band, Nicky Byrne insisted: "We'll be around for as long as our fans want us."
Just how much longer they can keep the dream alive is impossible to call.
Every pop group has its shelf life, and let's face it, 'boy-band' is a bit of a misleading label now, as all four members are in their mid-twenties.
The recent reunion of Take That must have been an encouraging sign, though. Granted, the manly Mancunians may have knocked Westlife off their thrones, but at least the Irish lads can take comfort from the fact that there's still a market for cute boys performing dance routines.
But there's quite a few differences between Take That and Westlife. The latter are cute, the former are sexy.
Take That have gone all grown up on us and still appeal to women of a certain age. While their Odyssey gig later this year will no doubt be heaving with lusty women in their 30s, Westlife's will be packed with young girls in their teens.
Musically too, they're poles apart. Take That have always preferred a funkier, raunchier sound while Westlife are the kings of ballads.
Somehow, it's now deemed cool to be a Take That fan. They were the original, undisputed boy-band to beat all boy-bands - until Robbie quit and the cracks began to show.
Unlike Westlife however, Take That failed to survive the departure of the bad boy of the band and decided to split up, breaking millions of hearts around the world.
Westlife, on the other hand, refused to let Bryan's breakaway break them.
What the future holds for Westlife is anybody's guess, but if I were a betting woman, I'd say there's one more album left to do.
Mind you, I said that three years ago - and there's still that small matter of six more No 1 singles to score.
Westlife play the Odyssey Arena tonight, April 13, tomorrow night, April 14, Sunday and Monday. Tickets are still available for the last show on Monday, 16, available from Ticketmaster on 0870 2434455 or from the Odyssey box office on 9073 9074.
Where did it all go right?
1998 - Westlife form in July 1998, made up of Sligo boys Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan and Dubliners Nicky Bryne and Bryan McFadden.
1998 - Big break comes when they open for the Backstreet Boys in Dublin and later that year, they win Best New Tour Act at the Smash Hit Poll Winners Party.
1999 - In March, their first single Swear It Again is released and goes to No 1 in the UK and Irish charts.
1999 - In August, the band's second single If I Let You Go goes to No 1 , quickly followed by Flying Without Wings in October.
2000 - Double A-side single I Have A Dream/Seasons in the Sun is the first No 1 of the new Millennium.
2000 - Album Coast to Coast is the 4th biggest selling album of the year in the UK. Also that year, Westlife score a unexpected record of seven debut singles going to No 1. In December 2000 the run is broken by kiddies' favourite Bob The Builder.
2001 - First world tour and the release of third album, World Of Our Own.
2002 - The band release the Greatest Hits album, Unbreakable amid rumours of a split.
2003 - Turnaround, the band's fourth consecutive album in as many years, is released and like its predecessors, goes straight to No 1.
2003 - Westlife win Record of the Year for the third time in five years.
2004 - In March, the group announces the shock departure of Bryan McFadden. Westlife reply with a fourth arena tour and the release of swing album, Allow Us To Be Frank.
2005 - Westlife releases seventh album Face To Face. Both the album and single You Raise Me Up go to No 1 in the charts.
2005 - Mark Feehily reveals he is gay.
2006 - In November Westlife release the Love Album and the song, The Rose, taken from the album goes to No 1.
2007 - Westlife kick off the Love Tour in Perth, culminating in the Irish shows in Belfast and Dublin.
Credit/Source: Belfast Telegraph / Thanx Joanne for finding