Westlife
Encyclopedia
Westlife are an Irish
boy band
established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne
, Kian Egan
, Mark Feehily
, Shane Filan
, and Brian McFadden
(left the band in 2004). The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles
peak at number one. Westlife have sold over 44 million records worldwide which includes studio albums, singles, video release, and compilation albums. Despite the group's worldwide success, they only have one hit single in the United States, "Swear It Again
", which peaked in 2000 on the Billboard Hot 100
at number 20. The band were originally signed by Simon Cowell
and are managed by Louis Walsh
. The group have accumulated 14 number-one singles in the United Kingdom, the third-highest in UK history, tying with Cliff Richard
. The group had also broken a few records, including "Music artist with most consecutive number 1's in the UK", which consists of their first seven singles and only behind The Beatles
and Elvis Presley
. The Official Charts Company credited Westlife as the second biggest-selling artist and biggest-selling band of the decade. It is also noted that Westlife are the most successful boy band
to orginate from Ireland. With sales in excess of 44 million, 14 UK number ones and 25 top ten singles. They also certified that Westlife have sold 20.2 million records and videos in the UK across their 14-year career - 6.8 million singles, 11.9 million albums and 1.5 million videos.
On 1 June 2008, Westlife marked their tenth anniversary with a concert in Croke Park
, Dublin which had more than 83,000 fans attending the special occasion. Music Week
revealed on their website that Westlife are the official third top touring act within the years 2005–2008, while they were seventh top touring act of 2008. Also in 2008, they were declared Ireland's ninth-richest celebrities under 30 years old and thirteenth in general with 36 million euros as a group. In 2009, they dropped as sixteenth richest Irish with estimated 8 million euros each. They were named as the fourth most hard-working music artist in UK by PRS in 2010. In August 2011, it was reported in the Irish Examiner
that the profits of the band's firm grew five-fold in 2010. On 19 October 2011, Westlife announced they were to split after their Greatest Hits album due for release at the end of 2011 and a farewell tour in Spring 2012.
men Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron and Michael Garrett, were part of a six-member pop vocal group called Six as One and was later changed to IOYOU in the year 1997. Managed by choreographer Mary McDonagh along with two other informal managers, they released a single titled "Together Girl Forever". Walsh, the manager of the 1990s boy-band Boyzone
, was contacted by Filan's mother and came to know about the group. However, the group did not meet Cowell's approval for a record deal with BMG
, and thus changes were needed. Cowell told Walsh, "You are going to have to fire at least three of them. They have great voices, but they are the ugliest band I have ever seen in my life." Three members of the band were told they would not be part of the new group, and auditions were held in Dublin where Byrne and McFadden were recruited. The new group, formed on 3 July 1998, was re-named Westside but as the name was already taken by another band, it was later changed to Westlife. In Westlife – Our Story, Byrne revealed he was keen to change the name to West High but the others wanted Westlife. Brian also changed the spelling of his name to Bryan to make it easier to sign autographs. Boyzone singer Ronan Keating
was brought in to co-manage the group with Walsh. The band then released an EP titled Swear It Again
.
' concerts in Dublin. Later Act' award at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party
. In March 1999, the group released their first single, "Swear It Again
" which immediately topped the charts in Ireland and in UK for two weeks. Their second single, "If I Let You Go
", released in August 1999 along with the highly acclaimed "Flying Without Wings
" produced by Steve Mac
and written by Wayne Hector
(their first 'Record of the Year'), released in October the same year, also followed suit. "Flying Without Wings" was also included on the soundtrack of the Warner Brothers film, Pokémon: The Movie 2000
. The first album, simply titled Westlife
, was released in November 1999 and peaked at No. 2 in the UK. Ironically, the album was the biggest chart dropper on the top 40 in the music history of UK when, in it's 58th week on the charts it leapt from #79 to#3 before falling to #37 the following week. In December 1999, the double a side fourth single was released,"I Have A Dream"/"Seasons In The Sun", knocked Cliff Richard's "The Millennium Prayer
" off the top spot and earning them the 1999 UK Christmas number-one single. The fifth and last single from the album, "Fool Again
", also peaked at #1. Then, the group went on a short UK, US and Asian tour in support of their debut album before releasing a second album.
Coast to Coast was released a year after and was another No. 1 UK album beating the Spice Girls
' Forever
album. It became the country's 4th biggest selling album of 2000 and is Westlife's biggest selling album to date. The album is still considered by many to be Westlife's best album and was preceded by a duet with Mariah Carey
on the Phil Collins
' classic "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" and the original song, "My Love
" (the song that bagged their second 'Record of the Year' award). Both singles reached No. 1 on the UK charts. With this, Westlife broke an unexpected record of having their first seven singles debut at the top of the UK charts, tying with The Beatles
. However, in December 2000, they failed to secure their eighth chart-topper in a row with their UK and Ireland only single "What Makes A Man
" when kid's favourite, Bob The Builder
's "Can We Fix It", was crowned as the Christmas number-one single of that year. Outside the UK/Ireland territories, they have released "I Lay My Love on You
" and "When You're Looking Like That
" and gained chart success. In 2001, they launched their first world tour, "Where Dreams Come True Tour
", unofficially nicknamed "The No Stools Tour" due to the group's reputation of performing while perched on stools.
Westlife released World Of Our Own
, their third album, in November 2001. "Uptown Girl", "Queen of My Heart
" and "World of Our Own
" were released as singles, as of which all peaked at No. 1 in the UK. "Bop Bop Baby
" was also released as a single but it peaked at No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart
. In 2002, Westlife went on their second world tour, the World Of Our Own Tour
(In The Round).
", in 2002. Amidst rumours of a split, Westlife released their first greatest hits album in November that same year entitled, Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1
zoomed all the way to No. 1 in the UK. The release was followed by the double a side single, "Tonight/Miss You Nights
", which debuted at No. 3 in the UK. At this era, Because Films Inspire... made a TV Documentary titled as "Wild Westlife" directed by Iain MacDonald and starred by the group itself. It reveals how was their musical life on a daily basis and when on tour. In 2003, Westlife went on to their third world tour, The Greatest Hits Tour
, shrugging off rumours of a split.
In September 2003, Westlife released "Hey Whatever
", which peaked at No. 4 on the UK Charts. Their fourth studio album, Turnaround
, was then released in November, earning the group another UK No. 1 album. "Mandy", a cover of the Barry Manilow
hit, was released in November 2003. Their version won them their third Record of the Year award in under five years. Their version of Mandy is also considered as the highest single leaper to the top (from No. 200 to #1) in the UK music history. "Obvious
" was released as the final single from the album, charting at #3.
On 9 March 2004, just three weeks prior to embarking on their fourth world tour, Brian McFadden
left the group to spend more time with his family and work on solo projects. On that day, a press conference was held where all the group's members were present and gave emotional individual speeches. Brian's final public performance as part of Westlife was at Newcastle Upon Tyne
's Powerhouse nightclub on 27 February 2004. He subsequently began a solo career, deciding to revert the spelling of his first name back to its original 'Brian', he released his first solo single, "Real To Me
" which entered the UK chart at No. 1 and soon after, he released his first solo album, "Irish Son
" under Sony Music. He went on to release more singles with moderate success.
". A live version from the said tour of "Flying Without Wings
" was released as an official UK download, earning them the title of the very first UK Downloads #1. In September 2004, they were about to perform on the world-renowned World Music Awards
as they were recognized as the Best Irish Act of that year but the little did know that it wasn't broadcast worldwide unfortunately. They then put out a Rat Pack
-inspired album, ...Allow Us to Be Frank
, peaking at #3. No singles were released in the UK from this album. "Ain't That a Kick in the Head", accompanied with a music video, was released as a physical single in other European countries. "Smile" and "Fly Me to the Moon
", with music videos as well, were released as digital downloads only. Prior to the album release, Westlife scouted for "the perfect fan" to help promote their album from their one-season special show "She's the One", presented by Kate Thornton
. After X Factor
-style auditions, they found Joanne Hindley, who recorded "The Way You Look Tonight
" with the group. To mark this special collaboration, a special programme was televised, showing auditions and live performances. Performers included Joanne, Westlife members' fathers and glamour model Katie Price, Il Divo
and Kevin Spacey
. Westlife continued to tour Europe as part of their "The Number Ones Tour
", before taking a four-month break from work.
On 4 May 2005, Westlife lost their battle for European trademark from the German trademark "West".
In October 2005, Westlife returned with their comeback single, "You Raise Me Up
", which was taken from their Face to Face
album. On 5 November 2005, both the album and the single were at No. 1 in the UK at the same time at the second week of the single. It was the first time that Westlife have held both top album and single position in the same week. "You Raise Me Up" was awarded as their fourth Record of the Year in UK for 2005. In December that year, the group released "When You Tell Me That You Love Me", a duet with Diana Ross
, as the second single and it debuted at its peak position of #2. Westlife then released a third single, "Amazing
", which debuted at No. 4 and marked as the group's lowest-selling single yet. After that, Westlife embarked on the "Face to Face Tour
", travelling extensively to the UK, Ireland, Australia and Asia. This tour marked the first time that Westlife travelled to mainland China for a concert. In late 2006, Westlife signed a brand new five-album deal with Sony BMG
. Their eighth album, The Love Album
, was a "love" concept album which consisted of popular love song covers. The album outsold other compilation album
s by Oasis
, The Beatles, and U2 in its first week of release and went straight to #1. The first single from The Love Album was a cover version of Bette Midler
's classic, "The Rose", which became their 14th UK No. 1 single. This made Westlife the third act (along with Cliff Richard) in the UK to have the most No. 1 singles, tailing behind Elvis Presley (21) and The Beatles (17). Westlife then kicked off their eighth world tour, "The Love Tour", in Perth
, Australia. The group then went on to other Australian cities before moving on to South Africa, the UK and Ireland.
On 5 November 2007, Westlife released their ninth album, Back Home
, which contained nine new original songs along with three cover songs. The album debuted at No. 1 on the UK Music Charts and it was also 2007's fifth biggest selling album in the UK. The first single released from the album was a cover of Michael Bublé
's "Home", which peaked at No. 3 in the UK. "I'm Already There
", not released as a single, managed to chart in the UK based on downloads alone following a performance on an The X Factor
episode. On 15 December 2007, they had a two-hour show called The Westlife Show where they performed 10 of their songs, some voted by the fans through online and some from Back Home. It was hosted by Holly Willoughby
. This time, Westlife together with Tesco
brought out "The Definitive Westlife Quiz" that asked about the whole history about the group. It was participated by thousands of fans worldwide. Months later, "Us Against the World
" was announced and released as their second single in UK and Ireland. Before the release of the second single, they embarked on the Back Home Tour
on 2008 February 25. This tour marked the first time that the group have travelled and performed to New Zealand, performing four sold-out shows in Auckland
, Wellington
, New Plymouth
and Christchurch
. Meanwhile, "Something Right" was released as the second single and "Us Against the World" became the third single in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. Both songs performed well on several music charts.
To mark their tenth year in music, Westlife staged a special 10 Years of Westlife sold-out concert at the world's thirty-third and Europe's fourth biggest stadium, Croke Park
, on 1 June 2008. With a capacity of 82 300, it was the group's biggest show to date. Shayne Ward
filled in as a support act for the concert, which Kian described to be of a "pop extravaganza". Shane confirmed that a corresponding live concert DVD will be released. The group announced that they will be on hiatus for a year after their Back Home Tour and that there would not be an album release in 2008 as they would be spending more time on the production of their tenth album. As promised, the group's official website confirmed on 27 September 2008 the release of a DVD on 24 November 2008 entitled 10 Years of Westlife – Live at Croke Park Stadium
which went straight to No. 1 on UK, Ireland, South African, Hong Kong and New Zealand Music DVD charts.
As the group ended another successful tour, Louis Walsh announced in the show Xpose
that 1 July 2008 is the official start of the longest hiatus of the group so far. He said that it will be a one-year break, from that day up to 1 July 2009. On 13 December 2008, while on a break, Westlife made an unexpected appearance on X Factor
Final Performance Night where they performed "Flying Without Wings" with JLS. After the presentation, Shane and Nicky were interviewed on Xtra Factor with Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately
of Boyzone. As JLS performed also "I'm Already There", Westlife's version of the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 63 while a new entry on Ireland Singles Chart at No. 47 due to extensive downloads only. On the last week of January 2009, a DVD entitled The Karaoke Collection
was released. It contains some of their music video hits. In 27 February 2009 issue of Herald Ireland, Louis revealed that Simon already picked three new songs which he reckons to be instant hits. Nicky spread the word last 8 March 2009 that Westlife will come back to music charts when they start recording in June 2009 when he received his VIP Style Awards
as the Most Stylish Man on X-pose, TV3. On 18 March 2009, they won the Best Irish Pop Act on 2009 Meteor Awards for the ninth consecutive time.
Their tenth album, Where We Are
, was released on 30 November 2009 in the UK and peaked at No. 2 on both Irish and UK Albums Chart. The new single "What About Now", was released a few weeks earlier on 23 October 2009, with digital downloads being available the day before. The said single peaked at# 2 on both Irish and UK Singles Chart. Daughtry's original version of the song gained exposure on the audition rounds of The X Factor prior to Westlife's release. They were also part of the Haiti charity single in early 2010, "Everybody Hurts
", an R.E.M.
cover which was organised by Cowell. The tour in support of this album is called "The Where We Are Tour". The video album for this said tour will be released in DVD and Blu-ray format in 29 November 2010.
The eleventh album was recorded and processed with songwriter/producer John Shanks
in London and Los Angeles. It was entirely produced by Shanks. On 19 September 2010, the single "Safe
" was heard first on X Factor
as a snippet; the group later performed the song on the show on 14 November 2010. The single was released on 14 November 2010. It debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 21 November 2010 at No. 10, giving the group their 25th Top 10 single in the United Kingdom. It is also their lowest charting lead single to date in the country. The new album named Gravity
was released on a 22 November 2010. It went to No. 1 on Ireland and No. 3 on UK. On March 2011, they started their eleventh major concert tour, Gravity Tour
. On this tour marked the first time that the group travelled to Oman
, Namibia, Guangzhou
and Vietnam
for concerts.
. Simon became famous himself and his interests went that way rather than on Westlife. We almost felt a little bit unloved with Simon Cowell, if I was to be honest. We had it (full time support) with Simon but he got so busy and would do it at the very last minute and we needed someone who was on it all the time." After going back to RCA Records
full-time for a one year album contract, they announced their Greatest Hits
album to be released on 21 November 2011. The first and lead single "Lighthouse
" will be released on 14 November 2011.
On 17 October 2011, Irish Daily Mail
reported that the former bandmate McFadden will reunite with them for a show, An Evening with Westlife, in support of the greatest hits album. Paddy Power
added their bets if McFadden will rejoin the group permanently and with the next world tour after the report was out. Egan later denied it and said: "All the rumours about Brian re-joining Westlife are untrue. We have been a 4 piece for too long now. We love Brian but it's not going to be. That includes any TV performances." With a new compilation album coming out, it is highly speculated Westlife will be doing a new greatest hits tour. According to The Mirror, a source close to the band revealed plans for them to play either the Aviva Stadium
or another Croke Park
gig in mid-2012. They are scheduled to headline ChildLine Concert
in Dublin in 12 November 2011 and to have another exclusive gig on O2 Blueroom in also in Dublin on 24 November 2011. in September 2011, Stereoboard.com announced the concert tour for 2012 will start on May that year. But the official site of the band stated: "Despite untrustworthy websites announcing Westlife dates for a 2012 tour, there is no definite tour plan. As soon as there is, the group will make an official announcement. Until then, please disregard any websites claiming they have tickets on sale this Friday." A UK Tour was first officially announced on October 18 with dates confirmed for May 2012 and it was titled as The Greatest Hits Tour
or The Farewell Tour. The said tour was have sold-out in minutes. Stereoboard.com added: "After a massive rush, tickets for Westlife's May 2012 tour were snapped-up almost immediately as fans flocked to the Internet to try and get their hands on tickets for the final performances of the legendary Irish boy band." As part of it, ITV
commissioned a unique one-off music spectacular will mark Westlife’s final TV appearance as the pop giants take to the stage to sing some of their greatest hits, it will be entitled "Westlife: For the Last Time". Another show entitled "The Westlife Show: Live" to be broadcast from Studio One
of London Studios on the same channel on 1 November 2011. Then they will have a live guesting on The Late Late Show
later.
On 19 October 2011, Westlife officially announced they were splitting after a Greatest Hits album and a farewell tour. They described the split as an "amicable" one and they want a "well-earned break". Later reports from Daily Record
however said there was an "irreparable rift" in the band, but was later denied by a source close to the band saying: "There's no bad blood in the band, they're still great pals. But all good things come to an end and they are all keen to do their own thing." Later, the band also denied it and called the split as a "united decision". A more comprehensive story behind the split was discussed by Daily Mail
and Daily Star
. A second statement was issued through their official site, saying the fans were continuing to be the best support system. Raidió Teilifís Éireann
made a collage of "Westlife - through the years" to mark the special occasion. Keith Duffy said he was surprised to hear of the split. Mayor of Sligo Rosaleen O'Grady, who gave the lads the Freedom of Sligo, was reported to be in shock. While The Irish Times
defended the band saying:
wide, Ireland (Dublin), Indonesia
(Bandung
, Jakarta
), Philippines
, Singapore
, Sweden
, New Zealand, and UK (Birmingham
, Glasgow
, London
, Manchester
) categories. A live stream Q&A was announced for 28 October 2011 as a thank you to their fans, but was moved to 3 November due to schedule conflicts.
In 15 June 2011, they cleared up the another hiatus report and Egan insists he and his bandmates have no plans to put the group on hold and they're working on new material and any quotes about us taking a break are simply not true." In August 2011, Byrne says that after their second greatest hits they might not come back with a new 2012 studio album because it might feel too soon. He added: "We are out of contract at the moment which is a great position to be in because if this album does well we're looking to the future, like a footballer you are free to talk to anybody.", "I would say we'd probably look at what's on the table and then maybe discuss with a few other people, labels and see what's there and move forward." In October 2011, a source told The Mirror, “The boys are pretty knackered, They’ve been constantly working for the past decade and just want time to enjoy what they’ve made for themselves before coming back with a brand-new album. They’re not splitting up – it’s a break. The plan is to come back with full force after that.”
"), and Feehily also plays piano. During their gigs and concert tours, they are accompanied by a band, acoustic and rock, and do not usually play instruments onstage.
to a pop sound, with an emphasis on ballad
s. Most of the group's hits have been composed by experienced songwriters, most notably Steve Mac and Wayne Hector. For the band's list of own songs composed, see Songs written.
and big band
in 2004 with Allow Us to Be Frank album and pop-rock in 2009 with their album Where We Are. As they also mature, they verge into adult contemporary being most evident on their cover album, The Love Album. Matured pop songs are also found on their LPs, Face to Face and Back Home, and Gravity. Filan answered when he was asked about the radical change in their music: "We’ve definitely changed – our music has evolved, but not drastically. Westlife is never going to drastically change, but I think we can get more exciting, different and more fun for the fans."
Every Westlife album have always been a mixture of genres. R&B genre is evident as a sound of the band since the start where their voices were harmonising and blending with each other. We can hear it on their songs "When I'm With You", "How to Break a Heart", and "Sound of a Broken Heart". Acoustic
genre also took place as they have its versions with their songs "My Love", "Flying Without Wings", and "If I Let You Go". Club or electronic
sounds were also heard from their remixes on each singles released. Dance music
is also a genre of Westlife as heard on their songs "When You're Looking Like That", "Bad Girls", "World of Our Own", "Beautiful Tonight", "No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight", and "Uptown Girl". Live music
has came to their way as they have officially released recorded live sounds such as "You Raise Me Up" (Live at Croke Park) and "To Be With You
". They did country music
too like their recording of "Daytime Friends, Nighttime Lovers". As a pop band they are also inspired to cover songs that were different and put into their own genre which is pop (With the likes of "Home" from jazz music, "I'm Already There" from country music).
During their starting days, the band's musical content was mostly about love and inspirational songs but as they grew older, they have given the chance to have the songs that were from an individual's everyday experience in life. As for their image, they publicly begun as boyband with wholesome and clean-cut image. Now, they call themselves a manband with a more broad and manly looking image as they grow older.
, Boyzone
, Blue, A1
, and Take That
and to other pop bands like Busted
, McFly
, Simple Plan
, F4
, S Club 7
, Steps
and Spice Girls
.
The group's influences are Michael Jackson
, Backstreet Boys
, and Boyzone
while pop is their main music influence. They are adored by many people even celebrities like Chris Martin
of Coldplay
, Alexandra Burke
and Nadine Coyle
of Girls Aloud. The band have "tribute bands" performing their songs like Envy, Westlives, That's Life, and Westlike. On the other hand, Westlife also paid tribute to their co-boybands as one of the tour setlist in 2007. Later pop bands such as One Direction
, The Wanted
, and JLS
expressed such adoration for the group over their respective music careers.
. The song was No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 year end chart of 2000. A US edition of their debut album, Westlife was also released. In 2002, an attempt was made to promote and release a US version of World Of Our Own but was scaled back as the band decided to concentrate promotions in other foreign markets where they had a larger fan base. This was a surprising decision as the band did not maximise the potential and opportunity available when the two most prominent boy bands in the US, the Backstreet Boys
and *NSYNC, went on hiatus that year.
The Westlife hit song "Flying Without Wings" peaked at No.2 in the USA when American Idol
Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard
recorded and released it as his debut single. The band was disappointed when they heard of the news as they were planning on bringing that song to the American audiences in the near future. In 2003, Westlife went to Nashville to film a TV documentary. While they were there, they gave a live performance of the song "Daytime Friends
", originally by country music legend Kenny Rogers
.
, Simon Cowell
and others comprise the group's management and production team now and then.
The group has recorded studio and live performances with some of the most renowned music acts: Mariah Carey
("Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"), Lulu
("Back at One
"), Joanne Hindley ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Diana Ross ("When You Tell Me That You Love Me"), Donna Summer
("No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)
"), and Delta Goodrem
("All Out of Love
"). They have also collaboorated on "If I Had Words
" with The Vards, "I Have A Dream" with Indonesian child-star Sherina
, and "My Love" with Amr Diab
. These songs were also recorded and included on the various albums. In 2002, Westlife re-recorded their hit song "Flying Without Wings" with Cristian Castro
and with Korean singer BoA
as two separate duets.
Westlife has performed live duets with some of the biggest names in the music industry including: Sinéad O'Connor
("Silent Night
"), Donny Osmond
("Crazy Horses"), Mariah Carey
("Never Too Far/Hero Medley
"), Secret Garden
("You Raise Me Up"), Lionel Richie
("Easy"), Ronan Keating
("The Dance"
), Dolores O'Riordan
of The Cranberries
("Little Drummer Boy
"), Roy Orbison ("Pretty Woman
"), Delta Goodrem ("All Out Of Love
"), Raymond Quinn ("That's Life
"), Leehom Wang ("You Raise Me Up"), Mary Black
("Walking in the Air"), Kevin Spacey
("Fly Me to the Moon
"), Do ("Heaven"), JLS
("Flying Without Wings
"), Boyzone
("No Matter What
"), Various artists "All-Stars" ("That's What Friends Are For
"; "Merry Christmas Everybody"; "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
") and even their fathers ("That's Life
").
In an interview with December 2010 isuue of OK Magazine, when the band was asked who they would like to duet with if they could pick anyone, they chose Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera
. They find interest in collaborating also with Tinie Tempah
, Boyzone, Take That, Kelly Clarkson
, Carrie Underwood
. Before they were reported to have recording as a duet with Britney Spears
, Jessica Simpson
, Michael Jackson
, Lionel Ritchie, Julio Iglesias
, and Bryan Adams
. Some artists expressed the love to work the band like Chipmunk
and boxer Mike Tyson
. While artist like Hot Chip
wants to cover their songs. Some well-known music artists also recorded the group's songs in reality like Ronan Keating
, Will Young
, Shayne Ward
, Ruben Studdard
. (See Songs covered by other artists)
Aside from Steve Mac
and Wayne Hector
, the group has had opportunities to work on their original songs with many well-known songwriters/producers including Savan Kotecha
, Rami Yacoub
, Per Magnusson
, Pete Waterman
, David Kreuger, Max Martin
, Anders Johansson
, Josef Larossi, Jorgen Elofsson
, Andreas Carlsson
, Arnthor Birgisson, Kristian Lundin, Jake Schulze, Diane Warren
, and most recently, Ryan Tedder
, Chris Braide
, Sam Watters
, Louis Biancaniello
, Steve Anderson, Steve Robson
, Ruth-Anne Cunningham and John Shanks. For the full list, see External songwriters.
Long-time collaborator Wayne Hector once defined the essence of Westlife songwriting:
For their remixed songs, Rokstone, Orphanz, Ashanti Boyz, Wideboys
, Soul Seekerz
, and Jim Steinman
have already worked for the group on some of their single releases. Some of the music video directors who have worked with Westlife are: Cameron Casey, Wayne Isham
, Nigel Dick
, Stuart Gosling, Phil Griffin, Antti Jokinen, David Mould, Alex Hemming, Philip Andelman, Sean De Sparengo, Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini.
Shayne Ward
, No Way Out, K-otic, Natural, Six
, Totally Spies, D-Side
and Lauren Waterworth, Bellefire
, The Conway Sisters
, V
, Twen2y4se7en, Zoo, Kwest, Pop, Sub Bass 5, Traphic, Mark Dakriet, 4th Ba5e, Reel, Peter Andre
, Girls Aloud
, Eton Road
, Gareth Gates
, Roxanne, Alsou, The MacDonald Brothers
, Billiam
, Cushh, The Unconventionals, Dyyce, Lady Nada, Code 5, Annabel Fay, Hope, The Fuel, Wow, Glenn Cal, Parade
, Jedward
, JLS
, and Wonderland
were some who supported them on different tours. Wonderland are a girlband co-managed by Westlife member Kian
and Louis Walsh.
The band performed to famous people such as Pope John Paul II
, U.S. President Barack Obama
, the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah with family and Queen Elizabeth II.
on 2002 and Volkswagen
on 2011.
To the list of their books, they have official and unofficial books released. The lone book written by the members of Westlife was released on 16 June 2008 by HarperCollins UK Publishing entitled 'Westlife - Our Story
', as part of their 10th year celebration. The book was said to be written by each group member for three months. It contains the life they have for the past ten years in the business. It features also some of the private pictures from the lads. On 28 May 2009, they re-released the autobiography, adding their Croke Park experience and first time in a paperback edition. At that time also, the band released a 3-piece perfume set entitled "X". It leaked on December 2008 and was formally released on November 2009. In September 2010, they released their second fragrance entitled "With Love".
for a UNICEF fund raising. They are involved also on the Helping For Haiti charity single that was released 8 February 2010 on UK. Aside from that, the group released their cover version of "Uptown Girl" as a Comic Relief
single, which was one of their biggest selling singles to date.
On 4 November 2005, they performed together with Christina Aguilera and Diana Ross at Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg
, South Africa for The “Unite of the Stars” Gala Banquet charity concert that supports four charities: the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
, Unite Against Hunger, St. Mary’s Hospital and the Topsy Foundation. They also performed live for charity on Sports Relief, Macmillan Cancer Support
, Croí, Western Alzheimer’s, O’Dwyer Cheshire Home, Mayo Cancer Support Group, Marie Keating Foundation, Outward Bound Trust, ChildLine
, Children in Need
, Sheffield's Children Hospital. They've participated also in Royal British Legion and Galway
's Irish Water Safety Campaign by doing an advertisement. They had also helped for auctions on Meningitis Research Foundation, Carlton Celebrity Auction (for Centrepoint (for the homeless), the N.S.P.C.C., and The Samaritans), Zutto charity painting, Pushing The Envelope (for National Literacy Trust
) and Irish Blood Transfusion Service
(IBTS). They've visited also Great Osmond Street Hospital for charity.
They've been involved also with the following organisations: Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), Cancer Research UK
, Byrne for Heart Attack and asthma awareness campaigns, Daily Star’s Reclaim Our Streets crusade, Filan for Irish Red Cross
(by Sligo Rover's Showgrounds
football match), Byrne for Oxfam
's East Africa Famine appeal (by Celtic v Manchester United football match), Filan and Byrne for Soccer Aid
, JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am, One World Beat, Egan for Strandhill Indonesian Relief Fund (SIRF, in aid of the South Asian tsunami victims), World Food Programme
(WFP), Muscle Help Foundation, Feehily for Aware, Byrne for Children’s Hospice South West (by Truro
charity football match), Global Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and Real Man campaign. They are also included as ambassadors of The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
(ISPCC). As part of IPSCC, Feehily signed up for their anti-bullying campaign, "Join the Fight for Children's Rights".
, Westlife songlist
, Westlife videography
, Westlife filmography
, Westlife records
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne
Nicky Byrne
Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne, Jr is a singer-songwriter, radio presenter and former footballer. From 1998 until 2012 he was the oldest member of Irish pop band, Westlife....
, Kian Egan
Kian Egan
Kian John Francis Kelly Egan was a member of the Irish boyband, Westlife and coach on The Voice of Ireland.-Music career:*Main article: Westlife...
, Mark Feehily
Mark Feehily
Markus Michael Patrick Feehily is one of the lead singers of the Irish boyband Westlife.-Early life:Feehily was born in Sligo, Ireland, to Marie Verdon and Oliver Feehily. He has two younger brothers, Barry and Colin .-Career:Feehily rose to fame as one of the two lead singers of the boyband...
, Shane Filan
Shane Filan
Shane Steven Filan was one of the lead singers in the Irish pop band Westlife. Filan is one of the five original Westlife members, along with other current members Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne and former member Brian McFadden....
, and Brian McFadden
Brian McFadden
Brian Nicholas McFadden , is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of the Irish boyband Westlife...
(left the band in 2004). The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
peak at number one. Westlife have sold over 44 million records worldwide which includes studio albums, singles, video release, and compilation albums. Despite the group's worldwide success, they only have one hit single in the United States, "Swear It Again
Swear It Again
"Swear It Again" is a song by the Irish pop band Westlife, released as the band's first single. It peaked at #1 in the UK for two weeks. It moved to 182,000 units in the first two weeks of its release and spent 13 weeks on the charts. This made it the first of fourteen UK number 1 hit singles...
", which peaked in 2000 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at number 20. The band were originally signed by Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
and are managed by Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
. The group have accumulated 14 number-one singles in the United Kingdom, the third-highest in UK history, tying with Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
. The group had also broken a few records, including "Music artist with most consecutive number 1's in the UK", which consists of their first seven singles and only behind The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. The Official Charts Company credited Westlife as the second biggest-selling artist and biggest-selling band of the decade. It is also noted that Westlife are the most successful boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
to orginate from Ireland. With sales in excess of 44 million, 14 UK number ones and 25 top ten singles. They also certified that Westlife have sold 20.2 million records and videos in the UK across their 14-year career - 6.8 million singles, 11.9 million albums and 1.5 million videos.
On 1 June 2008, Westlife marked their tenth anniversary with a concert in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
, Dublin which had more than 83,000 fans attending the special occasion. Music Week
Music Week
Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
revealed on their website that Westlife are the official third top touring act within the years 2005–2008, while they were seventh top touring act of 2008. Also in 2008, they were declared Ireland's ninth-richest celebrities under 30 years old and thirteenth in general with 36 million euros as a group. In 2009, they dropped as sixteenth richest Irish with estimated 8 million euros each. They were named as the fourth most hard-working music artist in UK by PRS in 2010. In August 2011, it was reported in the Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner
The Irish Examiner, formerly The Cork Examiner and then The Examiner, is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country...
that the profits of the band's firm grew five-fold in 2010. On 19 October 2011, Westlife announced they were to split after their Greatest Hits album due for release at the end of 2011 and a farewell tour in Spring 2012.
Origins
Prior to becoming successful, Egan, Feehily and Filan along with fellow SligoSligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
men Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron and Michael Garrett, were part of a six-member pop vocal group called Six as One and was later changed to IOYOU in the year 1997. Managed by choreographer Mary McDonagh along with two other informal managers, they released a single titled "Together Girl Forever". Walsh, the manager of the 1990s boy-band Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
, was contacted by Filan's mother and came to know about the group. However, the group did not meet Cowell's approval for a record deal with BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, and thus changes were needed. Cowell told Walsh, "You are going to have to fire at least three of them. They have great voices, but they are the ugliest band I have ever seen in my life." Three members of the band were told they would not be part of the new group, and auditions were held in Dublin where Byrne and McFadden were recruited. The new group, formed on 3 July 1998, was re-named Westside but as the name was already taken by another band, it was later changed to Westlife. In Westlife – Our Story, Byrne revealed he was keen to change the name to West High but the others wanted Westlife. Brian also changed the spelling of his name to Bryan to make it easier to sign autographs. Boyzone singer Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
was brought in to co-manage the group with Walsh. The band then released an EP titled Swear It Again
Swear It Again
"Swear It Again" is a song by the Irish pop band Westlife, released as the band's first single. It peaked at #1 in the UK for two weeks. It moved to 182,000 units in the first two weeks of its release and spent 13 weeks on the charts. This made it the first of fourteen UK number 1 hit singles...
.
Dreams Come True: World Of Our Own: 1999–2002
Westlife's first big break came in 1998 when they opened for the Boyzone and Backstreet BoysBackstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
' concerts in Dublin. Later Act' award at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party
Smash Hits Poll Winners Party
The Smash Hits Poll Winners Party was an awards ceremony which ran from 1988 to 2005. Each award winner was voted by readers of the Smash Hits magazine. It ended with the closure of the magazine in February 2006....
. In March 1999, the group released their first single, "Swear It Again
Swear It Again
"Swear It Again" is a song by the Irish pop band Westlife, released as the band's first single. It peaked at #1 in the UK for two weeks. It moved to 182,000 units in the first two weeks of its release and spent 13 weeks on the charts. This made it the first of fourteen UK number 1 hit singles...
" which immediately topped the charts in Ireland and in UK for two weeks. Their second single, "If I Let You Go
If I Let You Go
"If I Let You Go" is a song by Westlife, released in the United Kingdom on 9 August 1999, as the band's second single. It became the second of the band's fourteen UK number 1 hit singles, spending eleven weeks on charts...
", released in August 1999 along with the highly acclaimed "Flying Without Wings
Flying Without Wings
"Flying Without Wings" is a song released by Irish boyband Westlife from their self-titled debut album.-Background:The song became an instant hit in the United Kingdom and many parts of the world. The song became the group's third UK number 1 single, spending 13 weeks on charts. It is also one of...
" produced by Steve Mac
Steve Mac
Steve Mac , is a songwriter, record producer and owner of Rokstone Studios in London.He has produced more than 22 number one singles in the UK and had several multi-million selling albums worldwide...
and written by Wayne Hector
Wayne Hector
Wayne Hector is an English songwriter.Wayne Hector has had over 30 number ones around the globe under his belt and numerous movie soundtrack credits, Wayne Hector is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters....
(their first 'Record of the Year'), released in October the same year, also followed suit. "Flying Without Wings" was also included on the soundtrack of the Warner Brothers film, Pokémon: The Movie 2000
Pokémon: The Movie 2000
Pokémon: The Movie 2000, originally released in Japan as , is a 1999 Japanese animated film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama as the second Pokémon feature-length film, complementing the Orange Islands saga of the series and featuring several new Pokémon, including Lugia and Slowking...
. The first album, simply titled Westlife
Westlife (album)
Westlife is the Irish boyband Westlife's debut studio album. It was released on 1 November 1999 in the UK, and contains five singles - "Swear It Again", "If I Let You Go", "Flying Without Wings", the double A-side "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" and "Fool Again", all of which peaked at #1...
, was released in November 1999 and peaked at No. 2 in the UK. Ironically, the album was the biggest chart dropper on the top 40 in the music history of UK when, in it's 58th week on the charts it leapt from #79 to#3 before falling to #37 the following week. In December 1999, the double a side fourth single was released,"I Have A Dream"/"Seasons In The Sun", knocked Cliff Richard's "The Millennium Prayer
The Millennium Prayer
"The Millennium Prayer" is a 1999 charity single by Cliff Richard. The song features Richard singing the words of the Lord's Prayer to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne". It was not written to be entered into the charts, instead being written to form part of the Share Jesus International production,...
" off the top spot and earning them the 1999 UK Christmas number-one single. The fifth and last single from the album, "Fool Again
Fool Again
"Fool Again" was the last single to be released from Westlife's self-titled debut album. It became the band's fifth consecutive UK number one single and spent 12 weeks on charts. It sold over 215 000 copies in UK so far...
", also peaked at #1. Then, the group went on a short UK, US and Asian tour in support of their debut album before releasing a second album.
Coast to Coast was released a year after and was another No. 1 UK album beating the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
' Forever
Forever (Spice Girls album)
Forever is the third and final studio album by the English pop girl group the Spice Girls, released in 2000. It is their only album without Geri Halliwell, who later reunited with the group for their Greatest Hits release in 2007...
album. It became the country's 4th biggest selling album of 2000 and is Westlife's biggest selling album to date. The album is still considered by many to be Westlife's best album and was preceded by a duet with Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
on the Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
' classic "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" and the original song, "My Love
My Love (Westlife song)
"My Love" is the second single from Westlife's second studio album, Coast to Coast. The single became the band's seventh UK number #1. The song was the 35th best-selling single of 2000 in the UK...
" (the song that bagged their second 'Record of the Year' award). Both singles reached No. 1 on the UK charts. With this, Westlife broke an unexpected record of having their first seven singles debut at the top of the UK charts, tying with The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. However, in December 2000, they failed to secure their eighth chart-topper in a row with their UK and Ireland only single "What Makes A Man
What Makes a Man
"What Makes a Man" is the third single to be released from Westlife's second studio album, Coast to Coast. It was their first single not to peak at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, being beaten to the Christmas Number One by "Can We Fix It?", the popular theme to cartoon series, Bob the Builder...
" when kid's favourite, Bob The Builder
Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder is a British children's animated television show created by Keith Chapman. In the original series Bob appears as a building contractor specialising in masonry in a stop motion animated programme with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of...
's "Can We Fix It", was crowned as the Christmas number-one single of that year. Outside the UK/Ireland territories, they have released "I Lay My Love on You
I Lay My Love on You
"I Lay My Love on You" is the fourth single to be released from Westlife's second studio album, "Coast To Coast". It was released in many parts of the world, including Australia, Asia and most notably Europe - however, it was not released in the UK and Ireland, although it was considered a highly...
" and "When You're Looking Like That
When You're Looking Like That
"When You're Looking Like That" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife from their second studio album, Coast to Coast. It was released as the sixth and final single from the album in in Australia, Asia, Latin America, and most notably Europe...
" and gained chart success. In 2001, they launched their first world tour, "Where Dreams Come True Tour
Where The Dreams Come True Tour
A live concert DVD of the tour was released later that same year.The DVD contained several bonus materials such as an "Access All Areas" documentary, a "World Of Our Own" featurette, a link to an exclusive website and a music video of When You're Looking Like That in Dolby Digital 2.0 & 5.1...
", unofficially nicknamed "The No Stools Tour" due to the group's reputation of performing while perched on stools.
Westlife released World Of Our Own
World of Our Own
World of Our Own is the third studio album by the Irish boyband Westlife, released on 12 November 2001. It reached number one in the United Kingdom and includes the singles "Queen of My Heart" , "World of Our Own" , "Bop Bop Baby", and the final single from the group's last album,...
, their third album, in November 2001. "Uptown Girl", "Queen of My Heart
Queen of My Heart
"Queen of My Heart" is the debut single released from Westlife's third studio album, World of Our Own. It became the band's ninth UK number #1 single, staying at the top of the charts for three weeks. The song was written by John McLaughlin, Wayne Hector and Steve Robson, Steve Mac...
" and "World of Our Own
World of Our Own (song)
"World of Our Own" is a song by Irish boyband Westlife recorded for their third studio album of the same name. The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their 10th number-one single. This addition made them a part of a small group of artists in British chart history to achieve...
" were released as singles, as of which all peaked at No. 1 in the UK. "Bop Bop Baby
Bop Bop Baby
"Bop Bop Baby" is the third single to be released from Westlife's third studio album, 'World Of Our Own'. The single peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart. However, during an interview, the band claimed this was due to the obscure choice of single, as they would have much preferred to release 'Why...
" was also released as a single but it peaked at No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. In 2002, Westlife went on their second world tour, the World Of Our Own Tour
World Of Our Own Tour
The World of Our Own Tour saw Westlife touring the UK and Europe in 2002. The tour centered around a space theme with giant globes for the band's entrance. Each band member earned £2 million, £14,000 each for their shows, £800,000 each from merchandising as well as an extra £300,000 each for...
(In The Round).
Unbreakable: Departure of Bryan: 2002–04
The group released their eleventh UK No. 1 single, "UnbreakableUnbreakable (Westlife song)
"Unbreakable" is the first single released from Westlife's Greatest Hits album. It was released in November 2002. It set a record for becoming the greatest 'leaper' in UK Chart History - entering at #196, and 'leaping' to #1 the following week. It became the band's 11th UK Number One...
", in 2002. Amidst rumours of a split, Westlife released their first greatest hits album in November that same year entitled, Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1 is the fourth album and first greatest hits album by Irish boyband Westlife. The album was released on 11 November 2002. It peaked at #1 in the UK and at #66 in Australia and sold close to 1.4 million copies in the UK alone. It is also the band's longest...
zoomed all the way to No. 1 in the UK. The release was followed by the double a side single, "Tonight/Miss You Nights
Tonight/Miss You Nights
"Tonight"/"Miss You Nights" is the second and last single released from Westlife's greatest hits album, 'Unbreakable'. It was released as a double A-Side in the UK, but in some other countries, both songs were released separately....
", which debuted at No. 3 in the UK. At this era, Because Films Inspire... made a TV Documentary titled as "Wild Westlife" directed by Iain MacDonald and starred by the group itself. It reveals how was their musical life on a daily basis and when on tour. In 2003, Westlife went on to their third world tour, The Greatest Hits Tour
The Greatest Hits Tour
The Unbreakable Tour is a concert tour of the Irish pop band Westlife which covered the UK and Europe in 2003. There were 62 tour dates, including a few outside concerts including their coming home concerts in their home towns of Dublin and Sligo...
, shrugging off rumours of a split.
In September 2003, Westlife released "Hey Whatever
Hey Whatever
"Hey Whatever" is the debut single from Westlife's fourth studio album, 'Turnaround'. It was released on 15 September 2003 and peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart. The song itself is a re-written version of "Rainbow Zephyr", a popular song by Irish Rock Band Relish...
", which peaked at No. 4 on the UK Charts. Their fourth studio album, Turnaround
Turnaround (Westlife album)
Turnaround is the fourth studio album by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 24 November 2003. The first single released was the upbeat track, "Hey Whatever". The song is essentially a cover of Irish rock band Relish's Rainbow Zephyr, but with a slightly changed set of lyrics and a...
, was then released in November, earning the group another UK No. 1 album. "Mandy", a cover of the Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
hit, was released in November 2003. Their version won them their third Record of the Year award in under five years. Their version of Mandy is also considered as the highest single leaper to the top (from No. 200 to #1) in the UK music history. "Obvious
Obvious (Westlife song)
"Obvious" is the third and final single released from Westlife's fourth studio album, Turnaround. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, but marked the departure of Brian McFadden from the band...
" was released as the final single from the album, charting at #3.
On 9 March 2004, just three weeks prior to embarking on their fourth world tour, Brian McFadden
Brian McFadden
Brian Nicholas McFadden , is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of the Irish boyband Westlife...
left the group to spend more time with his family and work on solo projects. On that day, a press conference was held where all the group's members were present and gave emotional individual speeches. Brian's final public performance as part of Westlife was at Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
's Powerhouse nightclub on 27 February 2004. He subsequently began a solo career, deciding to revert the spelling of his first name back to its original 'Brian', he released his first solo single, "Real To Me
Real to Me (Brian McFadden song)
"Real to Me" is a pop song written by Guy Chambers and Brian McFadden, and produced by Chambers and Richard Flack, for McFadden's first solo album, Irish Son. It was released as the album's first single in September 2004. The song became McFadden's first number-one single hitting the top spot in...
" which entered the UK chart at No. 1 and soon after, he released his first solo album, "Irish Son
Irish Son
Irish Son is the debut solo album by Brian McFadden and was released on November 29, 2004. He worked on the album with Paul Barry, Guy Chambers and producer Mark Taylor.-Track listing:- External links :* - The Irish Son album fanlisting...
" under Sony Music. He went on to release more singles with moderate success.
Quintet to quartet: Back Home: 2004–08
Less than a month after McFadden's departure, the group kicked off their "Turnaround TourTurnaround Tour
Turnaround Tour covered the UK and Europe in 2004, the tour was also supposed to appear in China, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Singapore however it was cancelled...
". A live version from the said tour of "Flying Without Wings
Flying Without Wings
"Flying Without Wings" is a song released by Irish boyband Westlife from their self-titled debut album.-Background:The song became an instant hit in the United Kingdom and many parts of the world. The song became the group's third UK number 1 single, spending 13 weeks on charts. It is also one of...
" was released as an official UK download, earning them the title of the very first UK Downloads #1. In September 2004, they were about to perform on the world-renowned World Music Awards
World Music Awards
The World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 that annually honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show...
as they were recognized as the Best Irish Act of that year but the little did know that it wasn't broadcast worldwide unfortunately. They then put out a Rat Pack
Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
-inspired album, ...Allow Us to Be Frank
Allow Us to Be Frank
-Singles:"Smile" was released as the album's first single on 4 November 2004. The physical single features the video, and B-sides "White Christmas" and "When I Fall In Love". "Fly Me To The Moon" was released as the album's second single on 20 December 2004...
, peaking at #3. No singles were released in the UK from this album. "Ain't That a Kick in the Head", accompanied with a music video, was released as a physical single in other European countries. "Smile" and "Fly Me to the Moon
Fly Me to the Moon
"Fly Me to the Moon" is a popular standard song written by Bart Howard in 1954. It was originally titled "In Other Words", and was introduced by Felicia Sanders in cabarets...
", with music videos as well, were released as digital downloads only. Prior to the album release, Westlife scouted for "the perfect fan" to help promote their album from their one-season special show "She's the One", presented by Kate Thornton
Kate Thornton
Kate Thornton is an English journalist and television presenter. Early in her career, she was notable for her articles at the Daily Mirror and for her role as editor of Smash Hits magazine...
. After X Factor
The X Factor (TV series)
The X Factor is a television talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from...
-style auditions, they found Joanne Hindley, who recorded "The Way You Look Tonight
The Way You Look Tonight
"The Way You Look Tonight" is a song featured in the film Swing Time, originally performed by Fred Astaire. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. The song was sung to Ginger Rogers as Penelope "Penny" Carroll by Astaire's character of John "Lucky" Garnett while Penny was busy...
" with the group. To mark this special collaboration, a special programme was televised, showing auditions and live performances. Performers included Joanne, Westlife members' fathers and glamour model Katie Price, Il Divo
Il Divo
Il Divo is a multinational operatic pop vocal group created by music manager, executive, and reality TV star Simon Cowell. Formed in the United Kingdom, they are also signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music...
and Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
. Westlife continued to tour Europe as part of their "The Number Ones Tour
The Number Ones Tour
The No. 1's Tour by the Irish pop group Westlife was originally called The Red Carpet Tour, but the name was later changed as confusion over the type of show became apparent...
", before taking a four-month break from work.
On 4 May 2005, Westlife lost their battle for European trademark from the German trademark "West".
In October 2005, Westlife returned with their comeback single, "You Raise Me Up
You Raise Me Up
"You Raise Me Up" was the debut single from Westlife's fifth studio album, Face To Face.This version is considered by many to be the most popular , of all the various versions of the same song. The single peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's 13th Number One. It was the first...
", which was taken from their Face to Face
Face to Face (Westlife album)
Face to Face was the sixth studio album by Irish boyband Westlife and it was released in the UK on 31 October 2005. The album contains many pop songs along with some dance oriented tracks. The album was also released in DualDisc on UK with the videos of the making of "You Raise Me Up", the Face to...
album. On 5 November 2005, both the album and the single were at No. 1 in the UK at the same time at the second week of the single. It was the first time that Westlife have held both top album and single position in the same week. "You Raise Me Up" was awarded as their fourth Record of the Year in UK for 2005. In December that year, the group released "When You Tell Me That You Love Me", a duet with Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, as the second single and it debuted at its peak position of #2. Westlife then released a third single, "Amazing
Amazing (Westlife song)
"Amazing" is the third and final single from Westlife's fifth studio album, Face to Face. The song peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart, however, it is the band's lowest selling single to date, and it fell out of the charts entirely within a week....
", which debuted at No. 4 and marked as the group's lowest-selling single yet. After that, Westlife embarked on the "Face to Face Tour
Face To Face Tour
This is the 5th world tour of the Irish pop band Westlife.This tour set a goal that they will play for a more smaller venues and audience to justify the title "Face To Face" The filmed video album for this tour came from their performance at the Wembley Arena. This also had a second leg of the tour...
", travelling extensively to the UK, Ireland, Australia and Asia. This tour marked the first time that Westlife travelled to mainland China for a concert. In late 2006, Westlife signed a brand new five-album deal with Sony BMG
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a recorded music company, which was a 50–50 joint venture between the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG...
. Their eighth album, The Love Album
The Love Album (Westlife album)
The Love Album is the seventh studio album and second cover album by boy band Westlife from the Republic of Ireland and it was released on 20 November 2006. The songs on the album centers around the theme of "love". During their Face To Face Tour, the band performed "The Dance". The song was said...
, was a "love" concept album which consisted of popular love song covers. The album outsold other compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s by Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, The Beatles, and U2 in its first week of release and went straight to #1. The first single from The Love Album was a cover version of Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
's classic, "The Rose", which became their 14th UK No. 1 single. This made Westlife the third act (along with Cliff Richard) in the UK to have the most No. 1 singles, tailing behind Elvis Presley (21) and The Beatles (17). Westlife then kicked off their eighth world tour, "The Love Tour", in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia. The group then went on to other Australian cities before moving on to South Africa, the UK and Ireland.
On 5 November 2007, Westlife released their ninth album, Back Home
Back Home (Westlife album)
Back Home is the eighth studio album and ninth album overall by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 5 November 2007. The album debuted at #1 on the Official UK Album Charts, selling 132,000 copies in its first week of release and remained in the top three spots for eight consecutive weeks...
, which contained nine new original songs along with three cover songs. The album debuted at No. 1 on the UK Music Charts and it was also 2007's fifth biggest selling album in the UK. The first single released from the album was a cover of Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
's "Home", which peaked at No. 3 in the UK. "I'm Already There
I'm Already There
I'm Already There is the fourth album released by American country music band Lonestar. Released in 2001 on BNA Records , the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies....
", not released as a single, managed to chart in the UK based on downloads alone following a performance on an The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
episode. On 15 December 2007, they had a two-hour show called The Westlife Show where they performed 10 of their songs, some voted by the fans through online and some from Back Home. It was hosted by Holly Willoughby
Holly Willoughby
Holly Marie Willoughby is an English television presenter and model, known for her work in presenting children's TV and entertainment shows. In her early career she modelled underwear and went on to present CD:UK...
. This time, Westlife together with Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
brought out "The Definitive Westlife Quiz" that asked about the whole history about the group. It was participated by thousands of fans worldwide. Months later, "Us Against the World
Us Against the World (Westlife song)
"Us Against The World" is the second single from Westlife's ninth studio album, Back Home. The single was released in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The single was officially confirmed by band member Nicky Byrne during an X Factor interview, which later appeared on the band's official...
" was announced and released as their second single in UK and Ireland. Before the release of the second single, they embarked on the Back Home Tour
Back Home Tour
The Back Home Tour is a world tour by Irish boyband, Westlife in support of their 9th studio album, Back Home. The band will be touring the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand....
on 2008 February 25. This tour marked the first time that the group have travelled and performed to New Zealand, performing four sold-out shows in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. Meanwhile, "Something Right" was released as the second single and "Us Against the World" became the third single in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. Both songs performed well on several music charts.
10 years: Last two studio albums: 2008–11
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
, on 1 June 2008. With a capacity of 82 300, it was the group's biggest show to date. Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
filled in as a support act for the concert, which Kian described to be of a "pop extravaganza". Shane confirmed that a corresponding live concert DVD will be released. The group announced that they will be on hiatus for a year after their Back Home Tour and that there would not be an album release in 2008 as they would be spending more time on the production of their tenth album. As promised, the group's official website confirmed on 27 September 2008 the release of a DVD on 24 November 2008 entitled 10 Years of Westlife – Live at Croke Park Stadium
Back Home Tour
The Back Home Tour is a world tour by Irish boyband, Westlife in support of their 9th studio album, Back Home. The band will be touring the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand....
which went straight to No. 1 on UK, Ireland, South African, Hong Kong and New Zealand Music DVD charts.
As the group ended another successful tour, Louis Walsh announced in the show Xpose
Xposé
Xposé is an Irish entertainment/celebrity gossip programme, broadcast weekday evenings at 6pm on TV3, with a repeat the following day at 12:50pm on TV3 and again at 6.30pm on 3e .-History and format:...
that 1 July 2008 is the official start of the longest hiatus of the group so far. He said that it will be a one-year break, from that day up to 1 July 2009. On 13 December 2008, while on a break, Westlife made an unexpected appearance on X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
Final Performance Night where they performed "Flying Without Wings" with JLS. After the presentation, Shane and Nicky were interviewed on Xtra Factor with Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately
Stephen Gately
Stephen Patrick David Gately was an Irish pop singer–songwriter, actor, dancer, musician and author, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone. All of Boyzone's studio albums hit number one in the United Kingdom, their third being their most successful...
of Boyzone. As JLS performed also "I'm Already There", Westlife's version of the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 63 while a new entry on Ireland Singles Chart at No. 47 due to extensive downloads only. On the last week of January 2009, a DVD entitled The Karaoke Collection
The Karaoke Collection
The Karaoke Collection is the DVD only released on Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan in January 2009. It contains 22 of their music video hits...
was released. It contains some of their music video hits. In 27 February 2009 issue of Herald Ireland, Louis revealed that Simon already picked three new songs which he reckons to be instant hits. Nicky spread the word last 8 March 2009 that Westlife will come back to music charts when they start recording in June 2009 when he received his VIP Style Awards
VIP Style Awards
The VIP Style Awards is an annual awards ceremony which takes place in the Republic of Ireland...
as the Most Stylish Man on X-pose, TV3. On 18 March 2009, they won the Best Irish Pop Act on 2009 Meteor Awards for the ninth consecutive time.
Their tenth album, Where We Are
Where We Are
Where We Are is the ninth studio album and tenth album overall by the Irish boyband Westlife. It was released on 27 November 2009 in Ireland and 30 November 2009 in the UK through Syco Music...
, was released on 30 November 2009 in the UK and peaked at No. 2 on both Irish and UK Albums Chart. The new single "What About Now", was released a few weeks earlier on 23 October 2009, with digital downloads being available the day before. The said single peaked at# 2 on both Irish and UK Singles Chart. Daughtry's original version of the song gained exposure on the audition rounds of The X Factor prior to Westlife's release. They were also part of the Haiti charity single in early 2010, "Everybody Hurts
Everybody Hurts
"Everybody Hurts" is a song by R.E.M., originally released on the band's 1992 album Automatic for the People and was also released as a single in 1993. It peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 on the French Singles Chart.-History:Much of the song was written by...
", an R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
cover which was organised by Cowell. The tour in support of this album is called "The Where We Are Tour". The video album for this said tour will be released in DVD and Blu-ray format in 29 November 2010.
The eleventh album was recorded and processed with songwriter/producer John Shanks
John Shanks
John Matthew Shanks is a modern rock writer and Grammy Award–winning producer.Born in New York City, Shanks moved to Los Angeles when he was 17....
in London and Los Angeles. It was entirely produced by Shanks. On 19 September 2010, the single "Safe
Safe (Westlife song)
"Safe" is a song by Irish pop group Westlife from their eleventh studio album, Gravity. The pop rock ballad was released as the album's lead single on 14 November 2010 in the United Kingdom. It was written by John Shanks and James Grundler, and the single version was produced by Shanks, Richard...
" was heard first on X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
as a snippet; the group later performed the song on the show on 14 November 2010. The single was released on 14 November 2010. It debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 21 November 2010 at No. 10, giving the group their 25th Top 10 single in the United Kingdom. It is also their lowest charting lead single to date in the country. The new album named Gravity
Gravity (Westlife album)
Gravity is the tenth and final studio album by the Irish pop band Westlife. It was released on 22 November 2010 in the United Kingdom. John Shanks produced each song, barring the bonus track on the Japanese edition. The album was preceded by the lead single, "Safe", which was released at 14...
was released on a 22 November 2010. It went to No. 1 on Ireland and No. 3 on UK. On March 2011, they started their eleventh major concert tour, Gravity Tour
Gravity Tour
The Gravity Tour is the eleventh concert tour by Irish boy band, Westlife. The tour will support their eleventh studio album, Gravity. The tour visits Europe, Asia and Africa. -Background:...
. On this tour marked the first time that the group travelled to Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, Namibia, Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
for concerts.
Greatest Hits and split: 2011–12
On 14 March 2011, Westlife confirmed that they had left Cowell after 13 years and his record label Syco Music after nine years. The group cited Syco's decision not to release a second single from Gravity as the reason. Byrne impacted another reason of being unloved, "We signed to Simon back in 1998 and he was brilliant, but then came the development of The X Factor and American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. Simon became famous himself and his interests went that way rather than on Westlife. We almost felt a little bit unloved with Simon Cowell, if I was to be honest. We had it (full time support) with Simon but he got so busy and would do it at the very last minute and we needed someone who was on it all the time." After going back to RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
full-time for a one year album contract, they announced their Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Westlife album)
Greatest Hits is the second greatest hits album and final release by Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on November 18, 2011 by RCA Records and Sony Music. Greatest Hits is the group's second greatest hits album following Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1...
album to be released on 21 November 2011. The first and lead single "Lighthouse
Lighthouse (song)
"Lighthouse" is a song by Irish boyband Westlife. It is the lead single from their second compilation album, Greatest Hits. The song is their final physical single after their announcement to disband. The song was written by Gary Barlow and John Shanks, and was released on November 11, 2011. A...
" will be released on 14 November 2011.
On 17 October 2011, Irish Daily Mail
Irish Daily Mail
The Irish Daily Mail is a newspaper published in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by Associated Newspapers. The paper was launched in February 2006 with a launch strategy that included giving away free copies on the first day of circulation and low pricing subsequently....
reported that the former bandmate McFadden will reunite with them for a show, An Evening with Westlife, in support of the greatest hits album. Paddy Power
Paddy Power
Paddy Power is Ireland’s largest bookmaker. Offline it conducts business through a chain of licensed betting offices and by operating Ireland's largest telephone betting service. Online it offers sports betting, online poker, online bingo, online casino games and spread betting...
added their bets if McFadden will rejoin the group permanently and with the next world tour after the report was out. Egan later denied it and said: "All the rumours about Brian re-joining Westlife are untrue. We have been a 4 piece for too long now. We love Brian but it's not going to be. That includes any TV performances." With a new compilation album coming out, it is highly speculated Westlife will be doing a new greatest hits tour. According to The Mirror, a source close to the band revealed plans for them to play either the Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium
The Aviva Stadium is a sports stadium located in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity for 50,000 spectators. The stadium is built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road venue, which was demolished in 2007, and replaces that stadium as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the...
or another Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
gig in mid-2012. They are scheduled to headline ChildLine Concert
ChildLine Concert
The ChildLine Concert is an annual pop music charity event which has taken place in Ireland since 1997. As the name suggests the money raised by the concert is donated to the young person's charity, ChildLine and many of the attendants are also children...
in Dublin in 12 November 2011 and to have another exclusive gig on O2 Blueroom in also in Dublin on 24 November 2011. in September 2011, Stereoboard.com announced the concert tour for 2012 will start on May that year. But the official site of the band stated: "Despite untrustworthy websites announcing Westlife dates for a 2012 tour, there is no definite tour plan. As soon as there is, the group will make an official announcement. Until then, please disregard any websites claiming they have tickets on sale this Friday." A UK Tour was first officially announced on October 18 with dates confirmed for May 2012 and it was titled as The Greatest Hits Tour
The Greatest Hits Tour
The Unbreakable Tour is a concert tour of the Irish pop band Westlife which covered the UK and Europe in 2003. There were 62 tour dates, including a few outside concerts including their coming home concerts in their home towns of Dublin and Sligo...
or The Farewell Tour. The said tour was have sold-out in minutes. Stereoboard.com added: "After a massive rush, tickets for Westlife's May 2012 tour were snapped-up almost immediately as fans flocked to the Internet to try and get their hands on tickets for the final performances of the legendary Irish boy band." As part of it, ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
commissioned a unique one-off music spectacular will mark Westlife’s final TV appearance as the pop giants take to the stage to sing some of their greatest hits, it will be entitled "Westlife: For the Last Time". Another show entitled "The Westlife Show: Live" to be broadcast from Studio One
Studio One
Studio One is one of Jamaica's most renowned record labels and recording studios, having been described as "the Motown of Jamaica." One online review of "Respect to Studio One" released by Heartbeat adds "Stax-Volt" to the American R&B comparison and describes Studio One's founder Clement...
of London Studios on the same channel on 1 November 2011. Then they will have a live guesting on The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
later.
On 19 October 2011, Westlife officially announced they were splitting after a Greatest Hits album and a farewell tour. They described the split as an "amicable" one and they want a "well-earned break". Later reports from Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
however said there was an "irreparable rift" in the band, but was later denied by a source close to the band saying: "There's no bad blood in the band, they're still great pals. But all good things come to an end and they are all keen to do their own thing." Later, the band also denied it and called the split as a "united decision". A more comprehensive story behind the split was discussed by Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
and Daily Star
Daily Star
The Daily Star is a popular daily tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom. It first published on 2 November 1978, and was the first new national paper to be launched since the Daily Worker in 1930...
. A second statement was issued through their official site, saying the fans were continuing to be the best support system. Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
made a collage of "Westlife - through the years" to mark the special occasion. Keith Duffy said he was surprised to hear of the split. Mayor of Sligo Rosaleen O'Grady, who gave the lads the Freedom of Sligo, was reported to be in shock. While The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
defended the band saying:
Westlife remain one of Ireland’s best-selling musical acts. They set a new chart record for having their first seven singles go to number one and had massive merchandising sales, but to most music critics they had no musical merit whatsoever, specialising as they did in syrupy cover versions targeted at a pre- and young teen market. [...] The boyband genre is one of the most difficult and demanding areas in the music industry, with many casualties who have been unable to keep up with the workload, the clean-cut image and the derision from serious music fans. Within the parameters of the genre, Westlife achieved excellence. Having a 14-year career in boyband circles would be the equivalent of a rock band having a 35-year career.Fans have already taken to social networks to comment on the decision to break-up; some fans describe themselves as feeling "devastated", "the day the music died." Some media predicted a possible reunion in the future. However, Westlife scuppered that speculation by vowing they would never reunite. People can leave their messages on Twitter by using #WestlifeForever and #Westlife. It trended on World
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
wide, Ireland (Dublin), Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
(Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
, Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
), Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, New Zealand, and UK (Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
) categories. A live stream Q&A was announced for 28 October 2011 as a thank you to their fans, but was moved to 3 November due to schedule conflicts.
Longevity
The band have been in the music industry for thirteen years since they signed up. With huge popularity on-hand, numerous reports had spread out that the band have broken up or taking a hiatus especially when they released a greatest hits compilation album in 2002, McFadden left the band in 2004, and in a year-off recording in 2008 where Egan has insisted that they are not splitting up for good, telling The Sun: "The minute people hear we're taking a break, they are going to say we are splitting up for good - which is not true. "Myself and Jodi (Albert) are going to go and do some travelling and I'm sure the other guys have plans as well. It will be the first time in years that there hasn't been a Westlife album vying for the Christmas number one, which will be a bit weird, but I think we have earned the time off. We love Westlife and people still want to hear us, so we are not going anywhere. Why would we give that up?".In 15 June 2011, they cleared up the another hiatus report and Egan insists he and his bandmates have no plans to put the group on hold and they're working on new material and any quotes about us taking a break are simply not true." In August 2011, Byrne says that after their second greatest hits they might not come back with a new 2012 studio album because it might feel too soon. He added: "We are out of contract at the moment which is a great position to be in because if this album does well we're looking to the future, like a footballer you are free to talk to anybody.", "I would say we'd probably look at what's on the table and then maybe discuss with a few other people, labels and see what's there and move forward." In October 2011, a source told The Mirror, “The boys are pretty knackered, They’ve been constantly working for the past decade and just want time to enjoy what they’ve made for themselves before coming back with a brand-new album. They’re not splitting up – it’s a break. The plan is to come back with full force after that.”
Artistry
Vocal ability
The boyband concept is designed to have different parts and roles. Filan, Feehily and McFadden (pre-departure) all took part on the main vocals while Byrne and Egan usually perform the backing vocals and very occasional solos in songs up to the recent date. These are the classifications on vocal abilities: Filan has 'the popular tune' (mid-range to high voice) and thus sings the tenor-like melody most often, whereas Feehily has 'the soulful voice' and can go from quite low baritone notes through to a very high tenor voice. He sometimes sings falsetto. Byrne has 'the husky voice' and can sing high harmonies effortlessly, while Egan has 'the rocky voice' and usually does low harmonies.Instruments
Westlife's main key instruments are their vocals. However some of them can play musical instruments, most notably Egan who plays piano, drums and guitar (he can be seen playing piano in the videoclip for "AngelAngel (Sarah McLachlan song)
"Angel" is a song by Sarah McLachlan that originally appeared on her 1997 album Surfacing. As McLachlan explained on VH1 Storytellers, the song is about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996."Angel" was McLachlan's second top 5 hits...
"), and Feehily also plays piano. During their gigs and concert tours, they are accompanied by a band, acoustic and rock, and do not usually play instruments onstage.
Songwriting
Over years of their career, Westlife's music has evolved from teen popTeen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards teenagers. Teen pop copies genres and styles such as pop, dance, R&B, hip hop, country and rock....
to a pop sound, with an emphasis on ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s. Most of the group's hits have been composed by experienced songwriters, most notably Steve Mac and Wayne Hector. For the band's list of own songs composed, see Songs written.
Music and image
The band identify themselves as a pop band recording pop songs which comprises ballads and love songs. Westlife has been known for their teen pop songs during their early days with slow, mid, and uptempo songs. Albums known for teen pop sound are Westlife, Coast to Coast, World of Our Own and Turnaround. As the years progressed they tried different genres like jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
in 2004 with Allow Us to Be Frank album and pop-rock in 2009 with their album Where We Are. As they also mature, they verge into adult contemporary being most evident on their cover album, The Love Album. Matured pop songs are also found on their LPs, Face to Face and Back Home, and Gravity. Filan answered when he was asked about the radical change in their music: "We’ve definitely changed – our music has evolved, but not drastically. Westlife is never going to drastically change, but I think we can get more exciting, different and more fun for the fans."
Every Westlife album have always been a mixture of genres. R&B genre is evident as a sound of the band since the start where their voices were harmonising and blending with each other. We can hear it on their songs "When I'm With You", "How to Break a Heart", and "Sound of a Broken Heart". Acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
genre also took place as they have its versions with their songs "My Love", "Flying Without Wings", and "If I Let You Go". Club or electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
sounds were also heard from their remixes on each singles released. Dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
is also a genre of Westlife as heard on their songs "When You're Looking Like That", "Bad Girls", "World of Our Own", "Beautiful Tonight", "No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight", and "Uptown Girl". Live music
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
has came to their way as they have officially released recorded live sounds such as "You Raise Me Up" (Live at Croke Park) and "To Be With You
To Be with You
"To Be with You" is a song by the American hard rock band Mr. Big. It appears on the album Lean into It. The song charted in 20 plus countries, many of them at number one, such as on the United States Billboard Hot 100...
". They did country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
too like their recording of "Daytime Friends, Nighttime Lovers". As a pop band they are also inspired to cover songs that were different and put into their own genre which is pop (With the likes of "Home" from jazz music, "I'm Already There" from country music).
During their starting days, the band's musical content was mostly about love and inspirational songs but as they grew older, they have given the chance to have the songs that were from an individual's everyday experience in life. As for their image, they publicly begun as boyband with wholesome and clean-cut image. Now, they call themselves a manband with a more broad and manly looking image as they grow older.
Popularity and influence
When the band signed a formal contract in 1998, their managers had already intended for them to be massively popular and so approached top producers and songwriters. Their début album and single luckily coincided with the apogee of boyband popularity. Their success has been most apparent in their homeland and the UK. Also popular in Europe, they have singularly failed to crack America. They have been compared sometimes favourably and sometimes less so to their contemporaries Backstreet BoysBackstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
, Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
, Blue, A1
A1 (band)
A1 are a British-Norwegian boyband. They were originally made up of Mark Read, Ben Adams, Christian Ingebrigtsen and Paul Marazzi. Their first single, "Be the First to Believe", entered the UK singles chart at #6 in early 1999. They had a huge amount of success worldwide and charts with two number...
, and Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
and to other pop bands like Busted
Busted
Busted were an English pop band consisting of members James Bourne and Matt Willis and previously Charlie Simpson who left the band in 2005. Busted split up in January 2005 after Simpson decided to leave to join his own band Fightstar. During their run, they released two studio albums, a...
, McFly
McFly
McFly are an English pop rock band who first found fame in 2004. The band consists of Tom Fletcher , Danny Jones , Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd . They were signed to the Island Records label from their 2004 launch until December 2007, before creating their own label, Super Records...
, Simple Plan
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian pop punk band from Montréal, Québec. The band has had no line up changes since its inception in 1999. Members are Pierre Bouvier , Jeff Stinco , Sébastien Lefebvre , David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau...
, F4
F4
F4, F.IV, F04, F 4, F.4 or F-4 may refer to:-Aircraft:* Caproni Vizzola F.4, an Italian prototype fighter of 1941* Hunter F 4, a Hawker Hunter variant...
, S Club 7
S Club 7
S Club, formerly known as S Club 7, were a pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, consisting of members Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, de facto lead singer Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearritt and Rachel Stevens. The group rose to fame by starring in their...
, Steps
Steps
Steps are a British pop group created by manager Tim Byrne and writers Steve Crosby and Barry Upton, consisting of members Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, and Ian "H" Watkins. Formed on 6 May 1997, Steps recorded a total of three studio albums, two compilation...
and Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
.
The group's influences are Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
, and Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
while pop is their main music influence. They are adored by many people even celebrities like Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
of Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
and Nadine Coyle
Nadine Coyle
Nadine Coyle is an Irish singer, songwriter, actress, and model who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the band Six before becoming a member of successful girl-group Girls Aloud. The group amassed a joint fortune of £25 million by May 2009...
of Girls Aloud. The band have "tribute bands" performing their songs like Envy, Westlives, That's Life, and Westlike. On the other hand, Westlife also paid tribute to their co-boybands as one of the tour setlist in 2007. Later pop bands such as One Direction
One Direction
One Direction are a British-Irish boy band, consisting of members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. They finished third on the seventh series of The X Factor. Following The X Factor, the group signed a record contract with Syco Music.One Direction's debut single...
, The Wanted
The Wanted
The Wanted are a British-Irish boy band based in London, England. The band consists of Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. Their debut single, "All Time Low", was released in July 2010 and reached number one in the United Kingdom for one week...
, and JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
expressed such adoration for the group over their respective music careers.
US Market
Despite their success in some parts of the world, Westlife have been unable to break into the US market. Their debut single and music video "Swear It Again", released in the US in 2000, was a hit on mainstream radio and the band even made an appearance on MTV's Total Request LiveTotal Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
. The song was No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 year end chart of 2000. A US edition of their debut album, Westlife was also released. In 2002, an attempt was made to promote and release a US version of World Of Our Own but was scaled back as the band decided to concentrate promotions in other foreign markets where they had a larger fan base. This was a surprising decision as the band did not maximise the potential and opportunity available when the two most prominent boy bands in the US, the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
and *NSYNC, went on hiatus that year.
The Westlife hit song "Flying Without Wings" peaked at No.2 in the USA when American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard
Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard , best known as Ruben Studdard, is an American R&B, pop, and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol...
recorded and released it as his debut single. The band was disappointed when they heard of the news as they were planning on bringing that song to the American audiences in the near future. In 2003, Westlife went to Nashville to film a TV documentary. While they were there, they gave a live performance of the song "Daytime Friends
Daytime Friends
Daytime Friends is the title of Kenny Rogers' third solo album for United Artists Records, released worldwide in 1977. It was his second major success following the break-up of The First Edition in 1976 Daytime Friends is the title of Kenny Rogers' third solo album for United Artists Records,...
", originally by country music legend Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
.
Collaborations
Westlife is signed to the management of major record label Sony Music under Syco Music (2002–2011) and RCA Records (2011–present). Louis WalshLouis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
, Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
and others comprise the group's management and production team now and then.
The group has recorded studio and live performances with some of the most renowned music acts: Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
("Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"), Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
("Back at One
Back at One
Back at One is an album by Brian McKnight released September 21, 1999, by Motown. Certified triple platinum in the US, the album is his best-selling album with McKnight at the height of his career.- Track listing :...
"), Joanne Hindley ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Diana Ross ("When You Tell Me That You Love Me"), Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
("No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)
No More Tears (Enough is Enough)
"No More Tears " is a duet from 1979 by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand. While Summer was famous for her disco material and Streisand for her more easy listening and soundtrack work , this song fused both sounds with a slow beginning which then develops into a disco song...
"), and Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem
Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...
("All Out of Love
All Out of Love
"All Out of Love" is a pop–ballad by Air Supply, released in 1980. It reached number 2 in the US and number 11 in the UK. The song is considered to be one of the greatest love songs, placing 92nd in VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Love Songs....
"). They have also collaboorated on "If I Had Words
If I Had Words
"If I Had Words" was a 1977 UK hit song performed by Scott Fitzgerald as a duet with Yvonne Keeley. It reached number 3 in the UK charts and number 24 in the Australian charts in 1978. It sold more than one million copies...
" with The Vards, "I Have A Dream" with Indonesian child-star Sherina
Sherina Munaf
Sherina Munaf is an Indonesian actress, singer, and song writer. At 9 years old, she successfully launched her debut album, Andai Aku Besar Nanti. In 2000, she played a key role in Petualangan Sherina , directed by Riri Riza...
, and "My Love" with Amr Diab
Amr Diab
Amr Abdol-Basset Abdol-Azeez Diab is an Egyptian singer and composer of geel music; the contemporary face of Egyptian el-geel pop music, according to World Music. Diab is the best-selling Arab recording artist of all time, according to Let's Go Egypt...
. These songs were also recorded and included on the various albums. In 2002, Westlife re-recorded their hit song "Flying Without Wings" with Cristian Castro
Cristian Castro
Cristian Castro is a Grammy Award-nominated Mexican pop singer. He is referred to as "Christian Castro" or "Cristian."- Biography :...
and with Korean singer BoA
BoA
Boa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
as two separate duets.
Westlife has performed live duets with some of the biggest names in the music industry including: Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
("Silent Night
Silent Night
"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
"), Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
("Crazy Horses"), Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
("Never Too Far/Hero Medley
Never Too Far/Hero Medley
"Never Too Far/Hero Medley" is a medley recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, first released as a charity single on December 11, 2001, as well as serving as the lead single for Carey's second compilation album, Greatest Hits...
"), Secret Garden
Secret Garden (duo)
Secret Garden is an award-winning Irish-Norwegian duo playing New Instrumental Music, also sometimes erroneously known as Neo-classical music.Secret Garden features the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and the Norwegian composer/pianist Rolf Løvland...
("You Raise Me Up"), Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
("Easy"), Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
("The Dance"
The Dance (Garth Brooks song)
"The Dance" is a song recorded by country singer Garth Brooks. The song, written by Brooks' friend, Tony Arata, was a key track on his self-titled debut album Garth Brooks and a #1 chart hit...
), Dolores O'Riordan
Dolores O'Riordan
Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. She led The Cranberries to worldwide success and fame for 13 years before the band took a hiatus in 2003. Her first solo album Are You Listening? was released in May 2007...
of The Cranberries
The Cranberries
The Cranberries are an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, later changed by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan. The band currently consists of O'Riordan, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler...
("Little Drummer Boy
Little Drummer Boy
"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry...
"), Roy Orbison ("Pretty Woman
Pretty Woman
Pretty Woman is a 1990 romantic comedy film set in Los Angeles, California. Written by J.F. Lawton and directed by Garry Marshall, this motion picture features Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and also Hector Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy, and Jason Alexander in supporting roles. Roberts played the only...
"), Delta Goodrem ("All Out Of Love
All Out of Love
"All Out of Love" is a pop–ballad by Air Supply, released in 1980. It reached number 2 in the US and number 11 in the UK. The song is considered to be one of the greatest love songs, placing 92nd in VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Love Songs....
"), Raymond Quinn ("That's Life
That's Life (song)
"That's Life" is a popular song written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon for Frank Sinatra, and released on his 1966 album of the same name. Both the album and the song proved major successes for Sinatra...
"), Leehom Wang ("You Raise Me Up"), Mary Black
Mary Black
Mary Black is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland, and in many other parts of the world....
("Walking in the Air"), Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
("Fly Me to the Moon
Fly Me to the Moon
"Fly Me to the Moon" is a popular standard song written by Bart Howard in 1954. It was originally titled "In Other Words", and was introduced by Felicia Sanders in cabarets...
"), Do ("Heaven"), JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
("Flying Without Wings
Flying Without Wings
"Flying Without Wings" is a song released by Irish boyband Westlife from their self-titled debut album.-Background:The song became an instant hit in the United Kingdom and many parts of the world. The song became the group's third UK number 1 single, spending 13 weeks on charts. It is also one of...
"), Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
("No Matter What
No Matter What (Boyzone song)
"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman and popularized by the group Boyzone. The song reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and was the only Boyzone hit to become popular in the U.S. Jewels & Stone did a remix for the...
"), Various artists "All-Stars" ("That's What Friends Are For
That's What Friends Are For
"That's What Friends Are For" is a 1982 song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager and introduced by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of the film Night Shift.-Dionne Warwick cover:...
"; "Merry Christmas Everybody"; "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" is a popular Christmas song, first released in 1973 by the English glam rock band Wizzard.It reached number four in the UK singles chart. The song was famously beaten to Christmas number one by Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" which remained there for nine...
") and even their fathers ("That's Life
That's Life (song)
"That's Life" is a popular song written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon for Frank Sinatra, and released on his 1966 album of the same name. Both the album and the song proved major successes for Sinatra...
").
In an interview with December 2010 isuue of OK Magazine, when the band was asked who they would like to duet with if they could pick anyone, they chose Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
. They find interest in collaborating also with Tinie Tempah
Tinie Tempah
Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...
, Boyzone, Take That, Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
. Before they were reported to have recording as a duet with Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Lionel Ritchie, Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
, and Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
. Some artists expressed the love to work the band like Chipmunk
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are small striped squirrels native to North America and Asia. They are usually classed either as a single genus with three subgenera, or as three genera.-Etymology and taxonomy:...
and boxer Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
. While artist like Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
wants to cover their songs. Some well-known music artists also recorded the group's songs in reality like Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
, Will Young
Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
, Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
, Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard
Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard , best known as Ruben Studdard, is an American R&B, pop, and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol...
. (See Songs covered by other artists)
Aside from Steve Mac
Steve Mac
Steve Mac , is a songwriter, record producer and owner of Rokstone Studios in London.He has produced more than 22 number one singles in the UK and had several multi-million selling albums worldwide...
and Wayne Hector
Wayne Hector
Wayne Hector is an English songwriter.Wayne Hector has had over 30 number ones around the globe under his belt and numerous movie soundtrack credits, Wayne Hector is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters....
, the group has had opportunities to work on their original songs with many well-known songwriters/producers including Savan Kotecha
Savan Kotecha
Savan Kotecha is an American songwriter and vocal producer from Austin, Texas of Indian descent. Kotecha has sold over 60 million records with artists such as Usher, Enrique Iglesias, Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, One Direction and Celine Dion...
, Rami Yacoub
Rami Yacoub
Rami Yacoub is a Swedish music producer and songwriter of Palestinian descent, and former member of the successful songwriting/production houses Cheiron Studios and Maratone...
, Per Magnusson
Per Magnusson
Per Magnusson is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. His musical career took off in 1994 as one of the original team members of the now-legendary Cheiron Productions, meeting great international success working with Boyzone, Britney Spears, Westlife and the Backstreet Boys.Shortly after...
, Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
, David Kreuger, Max Martin
Max Martin
Martin Karl Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. Raised in Stenhamra, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, he broke through as a producer and songwriter in the mid to late 1990s after crafting a string of hits for pop artists like the Backstreet Boys,...
, Anders Johansson
Anders Johansson
Anders Johansson is a Swedish musician. He is the son of Jan Johansson, famous jazz pianist and brother of keyboardist Jens Johansson.-Biography:...
, Josef Larossi, Jorgen Elofsson
Jörgen Elofsson
Jörgen Kjell Elofsson is a Swedish songwriter who has written or co-written hits for stars such as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Guy Sebastian, Ana Johnsson, Marie Serneholt, Shayne Ward and Super Junior. He has also written hit singles for groups such as Il Divo and Westlife...
, Andreas Carlsson
Andreas Carlsson
Andreas Carlsson is a Swedish music producer, composer, and pop songwriter.-Biography:Carlsson was part of the Cheiron Studios team until the studio was closed down in 2001....
, Arnthor Birgisson, Kristian Lundin, Jake Schulze, Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
, and most recently, Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
, Chris Braide
Chris Braide
Christopher Braide is an English singer, songwriter, record producer published by Sony/ATV worldwide based in Los Angeles.Producer, Songwriter and Ivor Novello ASCAP and Billboard award winner Christopher Braide has achieved considerable success as a songwriter in the UK and the US. His songs have...
, Sam Watters
Sam Watters
Sam Watters is a Grammy nominated American songwriter, record producer, singer, and record executive. Watters was a member of the multi-platinum selling 1990’s R&B group Color Me Badd and co-authored many of their hits including “I Wanna Sex You Up”, “I Adore Mi Amor”, and “All 4 Love”...
, Louis Biancaniello
Louis Biancaniello
Louis John Biancaniello is a songwriter, record producer, and musician.-Background:Louis' skills were developed while working alongside producer Narada Michael Walden with whom he produced hits for Shanice "I Love Your Smile", Whitney Houston "I'm Every Woman" from the Grammy winning album The...
, Steve Anderson, Steve Robson
Steve Robson
Steve Robson is an English songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist.-Career:He was nominated for a Grammy Award for the song, "What Hurts the Most" co-written with Jeffrey Steele and recorded by Rascal Flatts as well as winning a Brit award and Ivor Novello award for the song "Shine"...
, Ruth-Anne Cunningham and John Shanks. For the full list, see External songwriters.
Long-time collaborator Wayne Hector once defined the essence of Westlife songwriting:
For their remixed songs, Rokstone, Orphanz, Ashanti Boyz, Wideboys
Wideboys
The Wideboys are UK house, Bassline and UK garage Record producers and remixers.The Wideboys are managed by Matt Waterhouse from MWR/Hyperactive. In 2008, they signed to Sony ATV Music Publishing. Prior to this, The Wideboys had been signed in various deals with the likes of Warner, Univeral and...
, Soul Seekerz
Soul Seekerz
Soul Seekerz are a dance music group and remix/production outfit based in the UK, consisting of DJs and producers Julian Napolitano, Simon Langford and Andrew Galea.-Members:...
, and Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
have already worked for the group on some of their single releases. Some of the music video directors who have worked with Westlife are: Cameron Casey, Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham is an American music video director who has directed music videos of many popular artists; such as Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Roxette, Mötley Crüe, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Whitesnake, David Cook, Simple Plan, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys,...
, Nigel Dick
Nigel Dick
Nigel Dick is an English music video and film director, writer and musician based in Los Angeles, California. He directed the Band Aid video "Do They Know It's Christmas?", as well as over 300 other music videos.Nigel Dick should not be confused with the Australian Dr...
, Stuart Gosling, Phil Griffin, Antti Jokinen, David Mould, Alex Hemming, Philip Andelman, Sean De Sparengo, Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini.
Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
, No Way Out, K-otic, Natural, Six
Six (band)
Six were an Irish pop group who formed on the television programme Irish Popstars in 2002. The programme aired on RTÉ One on Sunday nights in the autumn and winter of 2001-02...
, Totally Spies, D-Side
D-side
D-Side was an Irish boyband established in 2001, by twins Rory and Eoghan MacSweeney and they were signed to Edel Records. Edel brought in Kim Glover to manage the band after her success with New Kids on the Block, Ant & Dec, , B*Witched and Let Loose. Glover secured their entry into Japan getting...
and Lauren Waterworth, Bellefire
Bellefire
Bellefire was an Irish girl group, best known for their 2002 cover of the U2 song "All I Want Is You". They originally consisted of Kelly Kilfeather , Tara Lee , Cathy Newell and Ciara Newell and a fifth-member named Paula O'Neill. They mostly performed pop and adult contemporary music...
, The Conway Sisters
The Conway Sisters
The Conway Sisters were a semi-professional singing group from County Sligo, Ireland who achieved a measure of fame through their appearance in the final stages of the second UK series of television talent show The X Factor in 2005.-Beginnings:...
, V
V (band)
V were a UK five-piece boyband made up of Antony Thomas Brant, Aaron Buckingham, Mark Harle, Kevin McDaid and Leon Pisani.-Career:Band member Antony Brant came up with the band name "V" because V is the Roman numeral for five and there were five members in the band...
, Twen2y4se7en, Zoo, Kwest, Pop, Sub Bass 5, Traphic, Mark Dakriet, 4th Ba5e, Reel, Peter Andre
Peter André
Peter James Andrea , better known by the stage name as Peter Andre, is an English-born Australian musician, singer-songwriter, television personality and businessman. As a recording artist, he has achieving four top 10 UK albums and ten top 10 singles.-Early life:Andre was born at Northwick Park...
, Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
, Eton Road
Eton Road
Eton Road was a group from Liverpool that took part in 2006 in the third series of the British The X Factor. The band, stylized as Eton Rd during the show's captions was originally made up of Anthony Hannah, Danny Morris, David Heath and James Edwards...
, Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
, Roxanne, Alsou, The MacDonald Brothers
The MacDonald Brothers
The MacDonald Brothers are a Scottish pop rock duo from Ayrshire in Scotland, consisting of brothers Brian and Craig MacDonald. They first rose to prominence in the third UK series of television talent show The X Factor in 2006, and have since gone on to release four albums.The brothers are...
, Billiam
Billiam
Billiam were a four-piece British boy band. They supported Westlife in 2007 and Girls Aloud on their Tangled Up Tour in 2008. Their debut single, "Beautiful Ones", reached number 32 in September 2007 and "My Generation" entered the UK charts on 22 June 2008 at number 23...
, Cushh, The Unconventionals, Dyyce, Lady Nada, Code 5, Annabel Fay, Hope, The Fuel, Wow, Glenn Cal, Parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
, Jedward
Jedward
John Paul Henry Daniel Richard Grimes and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes are an Irish hip pop duo. They are identical twins and perform under the name Jedward...
, JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
, and Wonderland
Wonderland (band)
Wonderland were an Irish/British girlband, formed by Louis Walsh and Westlife band-member Kian Egan. The band were put together after auditions were held for five females in July 2008. Its five members were Jodi Albert, Sharon Condon, Corrina Durran, Leigh Learmont and Kasey Smith...
were some who supported them on different tours. Wonderland are a girlband co-managed by Westlife member Kian
Kian Egan
Kian John Francis Kelly Egan was a member of the Irish boyband, Westlife and coach on The Voice of Ireland.-Music career:*Main article: Westlife...
and Louis Walsh.
The band performed to famous people such as Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah with family and Queen Elizabeth II.
Products and endorsements
Some of the products that Westlife officially released are books, calendars (from 2001–present), tour merchandise such as T-shirts, and fragrances. They have their own webpage for their official merchandises since 2008, available for men and women. They also received sponsorship for their concert tours from AdidasAdidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
on 2002 and Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
on 2011.
To the list of their books, they have official and unofficial books released. The lone book written by the members of Westlife was released on 16 June 2008 by HarperCollins UK Publishing entitled 'Westlife - Our Story
Westlife - Our Story
Westlife - Our Story is the autobiographical book by the Irish boyband Westlife, released by HarperCollins on 16 June 2008. The book tells the story of their lives for the past ten years, from how it started in Sligo to today's multi-platinum record charters, along with private pictures of the...
', as part of their 10th year celebration. The book was said to be written by each group member for three months. It contains the life they have for the past ten years in the business. It features also some of the private pictures from the lads. On 28 May 2009, they re-released the autobiography, adding their Croke Park experience and first time in a paperback edition. At that time also, the band released a 3-piece perfume set entitled "X". It leaked on December 2008 and was formally released on November 2009. In September 2010, they released their second fragrance entitled "With Love".
Philanthropy
While each member of the group has had their own individual humanitarian advocacies and activities, Westlife has been supporting various projects for a charity cause from the start. One of which was when the group re-recorded "I Have A Dream" with Indonesian star SherinaSherina Munaf
Sherina Munaf is an Indonesian actress, singer, and song writer. At 9 years old, she successfully launched her debut album, Andai Aku Besar Nanti. In 2000, she played a key role in Petualangan Sherina , directed by Riri Riza...
for a UNICEF fund raising. They are involved also on the Helping For Haiti charity single that was released 8 February 2010 on UK. Aside from that, the group released their cover version of "Uptown Girl" as a Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
single, which was one of their biggest selling singles to date.
On 4 November 2005, they performed together with Christina Aguilera and Diana Ross at Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa for The “Unite of the Stars” Gala Banquet charity concert that supports four charities: the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
Nelson Mandela Children's Fund
The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund is a charitable organization founded by Nelson Mandela, based in South Africa. Its mission is to help individuals from birth to age 22, particularly orphans of the AIDS crisis.-History:...
, Unite Against Hunger, St. Mary’s Hospital and the Topsy Foundation. They also performed live for charity on Sports Relief, Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer....
, Croí, Western Alzheimer’s, O’Dwyer Cheshire Home, Mayo Cancer Support Group, Marie Keating Foundation, Outward Bound Trust, ChildLine
ChildLine
ChildLine is a free 24 hour counselling service for children and young people up to 18 in the UK provided by the NSPCC. ChildLine deals with any issue which causes distress or concern, common issues dealt with include child abuse, bullying, parental separation or divorce, pregnancy and substance...
, Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
, Sheffield's Children Hospital. They've participated also in Royal British Legion and Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
's Irish Water Safety Campaign by doing an advertisement. They had also helped for auctions on Meningitis Research Foundation, Carlton Celebrity Auction (for Centrepoint (for the homeless), the N.S.P.C.C., and The Samaritans), Zutto charity painting, Pushing The Envelope (for National Literacy Trust
National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity based in London, England, that promotes literacy.It was founded by Sir Simon Hornby, former chairman of the major national retail chain, WHSmith PLC...
) and Irish Blood Transfusion Service
Irish Blood Transfusion Service
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service , or Seirbhís Fuilaistriúcháin na hÉireann in Irish, was established in the Republic of Ireland as the Blood Transfusion Service Board by the Blood Transfusion Service Board Order, 1965, it took its current name in April 2000 by Statutory Instrument issued by...
(IBTS). They've visited also Great Osmond Street Hospital for charity.
They've been involved also with the following organisations: Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
, Byrne for Heart Attack and asthma awareness campaigns, Daily Star’s Reclaim Our Streets crusade, Filan for Irish Red Cross
Irish Red Cross
The Irish Red Cross Society , commonly referred to as the Irish Red Cross , is the National Red Cross Society in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by Nurse Elizabeth O'Herrin either on 1 July or 1 August 1939 on the approach of the Second World War...
(by Sligo Rover's Showgrounds
Showgrounds
The Showgrounds is stadium in Sligo, which has been home of Sligo Rovers F.C. since the club was formed in 1928.- Biography :...
football match), Byrne for Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
's East Africa Famine appeal (by Celtic v Manchester United football match), Filan and Byrne for Soccer Aid
Soccer Aid
-Event schedule:*22 May 2006 – Start of the television coverage, presented by Ant and Dec. Rest of the World defeats England in a penalty shoot-out*23 May 2006 – Practice match: England 1–0 England Legends...
, JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am, One World Beat, Egan for Strandhill Indonesian Relief Fund (SIRF, in aid of the South Asian tsunami victims), World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
(WFP), Muscle Help Foundation, Feehily for Aware, Byrne for Children’s Hospice South West (by Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
charity football match), Global Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and Real Man campaign. They are also included as ambassadors of The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is an Irish charity that advocates for children's rights and provides services for children in need...
(ISPCC). As part of IPSCC, Feehily signed up for their anti-bullying campaign, "Join the Fight for Children's Rights".
Discography
Main Article: Westlife discographyWestlife discography
The discography of the Irish pop quartet Westlife contains ten studio albums, one compilation album, two box sets, twenty-nine singles.Official Charts Company certified sales show that Westlife have sold 20.2 million records and videos in the United Kingdom alone across their 14-year career - 6.8...
, Westlife songlist
Westlife songlist
Westlife songlist covers the band's original, remake, remixed, leaked, and unreleased songs. This also includes the list of their B-sides, songwriters, songs Covered by various Artists, album and soundtrack appearances.-Uncategorized:...
, Westlife videography
Westlife videography
-Concert tours:-Music video compilations:-Documentaries:-Music Videos:-Karaoke Videos:-Cameo appearance:*Vengaboys - "Forever as One" -TV appearances:Source: TV.com-Notes:...
, Westlife filmography
- WestlifeWestlife (album)Westlife is the Irish boyband Westlife's debut studio album. It was released on 1 November 1999 in the UK, and contains five singles - "Swear It Again", "If I Let You Go", "Flying Without Wings", the double A-side "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" and "Fool Again", all of which peaked at #1...
(1999) - Coast to Coast (2000)
- World of Our OwnWorld of Our OwnWorld of Our Own is the third studio album by the Irish boyband Westlife, released on 12 November 2001. It reached number one in the United Kingdom and includes the singles "Queen of My Heart" , "World of Our Own" , "Bop Bop Baby", and the final single from the group's last album,...
(2001) - Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1 is the fourth album and first greatest hits album by Irish boyband Westlife. The album was released on 11 November 2002. It peaked at #1 in the UK and at #66 in Australia and sold close to 1.4 million copies in the UK alone. It is also the band's longest...
(2002) - TurnaroundTurnaround (Westlife album)Turnaround is the fourth studio album by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 24 November 2003. The first single released was the upbeat track, "Hey Whatever". The song is essentially a cover of Irish rock band Relish's Rainbow Zephyr, but with a slightly changed set of lyrics and a...
(2003) - Allow Us to Be FrankAllow Us to Be Frank-Singles:"Smile" was released as the album's first single on 4 November 2004. The physical single features the video, and B-sides "White Christmas" and "When I Fall In Love". "Fly Me To The Moon" was released as the album's second single on 20 December 2004...
(2004) - Face to FaceFace to Face (Westlife album)Face to Face was the sixth studio album by Irish boyband Westlife and it was released in the UK on 31 October 2005. The album contains many pop songs along with some dance oriented tracks. The album was also released in DualDisc on UK with the videos of the making of "You Raise Me Up", the Face to...
(2005) - The Love AlbumThe Love Album (Westlife album)The Love Album is the seventh studio album and second cover album by boy band Westlife from the Republic of Ireland and it was released on 20 November 2006. The songs on the album centers around the theme of "love". During their Face To Face Tour, the band performed "The Dance". The song was said...
(2006) - Back HomeBack Home (Westlife album)Back Home is the eighth studio album and ninth album overall by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 5 November 2007. The album debuted at #1 on the Official UK Album Charts, selling 132,000 copies in its first week of release and remained in the top three spots for eight consecutive weeks...
(2007) - Where We AreWhere We AreWhere We Are is the ninth studio album and tenth album overall by the Irish boyband Westlife. It was released on 27 November 2009 in Ireland and 30 November 2009 in the UK through Syco Music...
(2009) - GravityGravity (Westlife album)Gravity is the tenth and final studio album by the Irish pop band Westlife. It was released on 22 November 2010 in the United Kingdom. John Shanks produced each song, barring the bonus track on the Japanese edition. The album was preceded by the lead single, "Safe", which was released at 14...
(2010) - Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Westlife album)Greatest Hits is the second greatest hits album and final release by Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on November 18, 2011 by RCA Records and Sony Music. Greatest Hits is the group's second greatest hits album following Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1...
(2011)
Awards, nominations, records and achievements
Main article: Westlife awardsWestlife awards
-Won Awards:-Nominated Awards:-Worldwide:*Fifth biggest selling pop band of all time with 44 million records sold *Sixth biggest selling boyband of all time...
, Westlife records
See also
- Boy bandBoy bandA boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
- List of artists who reached number one in Ireland
- List of songs that reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- Top selling singles and albums in Ireland