i know these are all mixed up but i havent got the time to chop em up properly....
the following are selected westlife articles from
www.contactmusic.com for the month of october
SPICE GIRLS BACK DOWN FROM WESTLIFE CHART BATTLE
Reformed pop stars the SPICE GIRLS have delayed the release of their greatest hits album by one week - to avoid a chart battle with Irish boyband WESTLIFE. Spice Girls Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholme, Melanie Brown, Victoria Beckham and Geri Halliwell were set to drop their compilation of hits in the U.K. on 5 November (07), but backed down after learning they would be going head-to-head with the Flying Without Wings hitmakers. This is not the first time Westlife have challenged the Spice Girls in the British charts - the two bands released new albums on the same day in November 2000, when Coast to Coast thrashed sales of the girl group's last album, Forever, by 163,000 copies in the first week. The Spice Girls will now release their greatest hits compilation on 12 November (07).
04/10/2007 07:22
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WESTLIFE ACCUSE SPICE GIRLS OF 'RUNNING SCARED' FROM CHART BATTLE
WESTLIFE have accused the SPICE GIRLS of moving the release date of their comeback album, because they were scared of being beaten in a chart battle with the Irish boyband. Westlife claim both groups' albums were scheduled for release on 5 November (07) - but the returning girl group shirked a chart battle. Singer Kian Egan is particularly disappointed, because he holds a grudge against Sporty Spice. He says, "We would take great pleasure in beating the Spice Girls - especially Mel C because every time she opens her mouth something mean comes out." "Our album (Back Home) is good, we've worked hard on it and it would have been good to go head-to-head with their one. "As far as we were concerned we were going up against them an we were up for it. But then they suddenly changed their minds. They're running scared." The Spice Girls, however, insist their fourth album was never intended to be released on 5 November.
11/10/2007 16:52
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WESTLIFE: 'WE'RE NOT OVER THE HILL'
WESTLIFE star MARK FEEHILY has hit back at accusations the band are too old to sell records - insisting their new album is their best yet. The Irish singer is glad the pop band have gone back to their pop roots rather than trying to sound like a more grown-up version of themselves. He says, "We're going back to what we used to do. Everyone thinks we are all grown up now and old and none of us are. "I'm only 27 so I'm not really that old. I think people have just got this perception that we are all older than we actually are."
11/10/2007 19:25
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SPORTY SPICE SLAMS WESTLIFE OVER 'CHART BATTLE'
LATEST: SPICE GIRL MELANIE CHISHOLM has slammed pop stars WESTLIFE for claiming the reformed girlband pulled out of a chart battle with the Irish boyband. Singer Kian Egan insisted on Thursday (11Oct07) both groups' albums were scheduled for release on 5 November (07) - but the Spice Girls moved their release date to avoid a head-to-head clash. He claimed the band was "running scared" and they would "take great pleasure in beating the Spice Girls", singling out Chisholm for criticism. But Chisholm is adamant the Spice Girls don't need a chart battle to prove they are better than Westlife. She says, "I personally don't like Westlife. We've just sold out 17 nights at the 02 centre...we've got nothing to prove!" The Spice Girls insist their fourth album was never intended to be released on 5 November.
12/10/2007 12:17
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WESTLIFE: 'BRITNEY WON'T STOP US TOPPING THE CHARTS'
Irish boy band WESTLIFE insist BRITNEY SPEARS won't stop their new album from reaching number one in the U.K. charts - because fans are no longer interested in her music. The group is to release their new LP Back Home on 29 October (07) - the week after Spears' comeback album Blackout on 22 October (07). But the Flying Without Wings hitmakers aren't worried about the competition. Singer Nicky Byrne says, "I would be surprised if Britney keeps us off number one, I don't think the interest in Britney's music is as big as it used to be. "It's more about her personal life. I'm sure it's a good album but I think she's lost her core fan base."
15/10/2007 19:22
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WESTLIFE: 'WE'RE AS EXCITING AS WATCHING PAINT DRY'
Irish boyband WESTLIFE hate their image as boring pop stars - even though they admit they're as "exciting as watching paint dry". The five-piece insist they understand why they are criticised by the music industry, but believe only fans get to see the real Westlife when they perform on stage. Nicky Byrne says, "From the outside in - actually from the inside out as well - I can see why people think some of the things they do about Westlife. "The black suits and everything, it's as exciting as watching paint dry, but when you get into Westlife, when you know us personally, when you come to see our live shows it's the complete opposite."
23/10/2007 16:18
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WESTLIFE PRAISE TAKE THAT'S 'POP REVIVAL'
Irish boy band WESTLIFE have praised TAKE THAT for rejuvenating the pop music scene after their 2006 comeback. The British five-piece split in 1996, after the departure of singer Robbie WIlliams the previous year (05), but remaining members Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange reformed last year to critical acclaim. And Westlife's Nicky Byrne insists the group's return has successfully revived the pop genre. He says, "There's nothing like a bit of nostalgia and a reunion, Take That were in a win-win situation, they had no idea how big or small it was going to be but hats off to those boys, they have come back and they have brought back something that has been missing for years." But bandmate Mark Feehily believes the current trend for reforming bands is becoming tired: "The whole comeback thing has become a bit of a trend... When Take That did it it was a new thing and now it's just cliché to come back."
23/10/2007 19:23
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WESTLIFE ALMOST SPLIT
Irish boy band WESTLIFE were considering quitting the music industry after their last album - because they were tired of releasing cover songs. The four-piece feared upsetting fans with another album of covers and pleaded with music mogul Simon Cowell to give them original material. Singer Nicky Byrne says, "After the big band theme album Allow Us To Be Frank was our least successful, we thought we were making our last album on Face To Face. If you'd asked me then, I'd have said we were on our arse. "We told Simon we needed something to get us hungry again this time. He said he'd search high and low for original songs. The label wanted us to do Westlife: At The Movies - a great f**king marketing idea but we felt we were drifting. Pop has been starved, everything is so the same." Forthcoming album Face To Face features mostly brand new tracks.
25/10/2007 12:16
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WESTLIFE WANT ROBBIE TO JOIN
Irish boyband WESTLIFE have invited ROBBIE WILLIAMS to join their comeback tour. Westlife have been without a fifth member since Brian MCFadden quit in 2004, and Williams has been band-less since he walked away from their rivals Take That in 1995. And Mandy hitmaker Nicky Byrne is convinced their are a perfect match. He tells British radio station Heart, "Take That should take Brian back and we'll have Robbie." Kian Egan adds, "If I was a member of Take That I wouldn't want Robbie back. I think they're doing very well without him and Robbie's doing well on his own. I think people are going to see Take That and not Robbie Williams."
25/10/2007 19:20
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Notice how nico seems to really like Take That?