westlife forever

15-11-2015 om 10:33 geschreven door westlife

0 1 2 3 4 5 - Gemiddelde waardering: 1/5 - (1 Stemmen)

Westlife's Feehily wants critics to lay off

Westlife land at two with 'What About Now', narrowly missing out on a 15th UK chart-topper

1. (1) Cheryl Cole: 'Fight For This Love'

2. (-) Westlife: 'What About Now'

3. (-) Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne: 'Down'

4. (2) Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida: 'Bad Boys'

5. (9) Michael Bublé: 'Haven't Met You Yet'

6. (11) Black Eyed Peas: 'Meet Me Halfway'

7. (3) Chipmunk: 'Oopsy Daisy'

8. (5) Whitney Houston: 'Million Dollar Bill'

9. (4) Robbie Williams: 'Bodies'

10. (7) Black Eyed Peas: 'I Gotta Feeling'

Mark Feehily says he’s fed up of people criticising Westlife for doing cover songs.

The 29-year-old vocalist said he was annoyed his group – who have had 14 number one hits and sold more than 43 million records sold worldwide - were “misunderstood”.

The ‘Flying Without Wings’ vocalist said: “Our record company, they don’t want to take risks, so they are happier to do more covers.

“To anyone who criticises what we do, we actually do a lot of original pop songs and a lot of our best songs, a lot of our number one singles, are actually original pop songs. “

Although he added: “We definitely did go too far, we did too many covers. That’s something we allowed to happen and shouldn’t have.”

Despite this, Westlife’s new single ‘What About Now’ is actually a cover of a track by Daughtry, an American rock band.

Defending their choice, Feehily said: “It’s a cover in the way that it’s been recorded by another artist but it’s not a cover in the way ‘Mandy’ was, in that it’s been a massive hit already.”

2009

Westlife Nicky's father dies, aged 60
Wednesday, November 4 2009,

Westlife have cancelled their current promotional tour after singer Nicky Byrne's father died at the age of 60.

The band had been in London to support their comeback single 'What About Now' but Byrne has now returned to Ireland to support his family following Nicky Snr's death from a suspected heart attack, the Daily Mail reports.

An official statement read: "The family would like to confirm the sad news of the very sudden loss of a husband, dad and grandad today.

"A wonderful man who will be sadly missed by everyone whose life he touched. The Byrne family would like to ask that you respect their privacy at this time."

A spokesman for the group added: "The boys in the band's main priority is looking after Nicky at this tragic time."

Bandmate Kian Egan, who lost his own father to cancer in July, told the Irish Independent: "It's been such a shock. Everyone feels so sad. It was just so sudden and unexpected."

The group's founder Louis Walsh said: "Westlife are all devastated. They can't believe a second father is dead."

New album for Westlife

Pop's most enduring group, Westlife, have finally emerged from the studio after a year-long break to present their brand new album, 'Where We Are'.

Spending much of 2009 hidden away in studios across Europe and the US, Westlife have been quietly creating their most exciting album to date. 'Where We Are' features work from pop's finest craftsmen, including grammy nominated Ryan Tedder (Leona Lewis, Beyonce) Steve Robson (James Morrison, Take That) Steve Booker (Duffy) Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters (Whitney Houston, Anastacia.) and Shaznay Lewis, who co-writes a track with band member Mark Feehily.

These stellar production teams have helped the boys create a new and contemporary sound, whilst retaining those classic Westlife soaring melodies and rousing lyrics. Featuring the already massive hit single 'What About Now' it's a collection bound to excite fans and pop enthusiasts alike.

Perhaps best showcasing this new sound is 'Shadows', co-written by Backstreet Boy A. J. Mclean. A classic Westlife choral anthem, peppered with a futuristic military drum roll fashioned by urban-pop maestro Ryan Tedder. The song sets the benchmark for the sound which brings Westlife bang up-to-date on the eve of the new decade.

Elsewhere 'The Difference' visits rockier terrain, while 'Another World' allows Mark Feehily's exquisite vocal to escalate to gospel territory, a moment sure to thrill live. 'I'll See You Again' laments the passing of a loved one, set to a haunting landscape of piano, synths and acoustic guitar, a moment surely relatable.

Shane Filan of the band says "We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record, working with new producers and writing songs for the album ourselves. After eleven years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."

Westlife's new material is the first since 2007's 'Back Home', which became the band's seventh number one album, spending two months in the Top Ten and selling over 1 million copies in the UK alone.

No pop band can compare to Westlife's extraordinary success. During their 11 years at the top of pop's hierarchy, the band has sold over 40 million records globally. In the UK alone they have scored nine multi-platinum albums and a record breaking 14 No.1 hits (behind only Elvis and The Beatles). They have also picked up innumerable awards and appeared on hundreds of magazine covers around the world. They are the only recording artists to win the prestigious 'Record Of The Year' an incredible four times (other top awards include two BRITS and an MTV Europe Award). Westlife are also the biggest selling Arena act ever, holding the record for the most concerts held at Wembley Arena, an incredible 23.

Where We Are

Shane says: "We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record, working with new producers and writing songs for the album ourselves. After eleven years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."

Westlife star Nicky Byrne lays his father to rest in emotional ceremony
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated on 07th November 2009

Westlife star Nicky Byrne laid his father to rest today in an emotional ceremony.
The 31-year-old's face was contorted by grief as he acted as pallbearer for his father Nicky Sr.
Earlier the grieving star and his family had been joined by Nicky's Westlife bandmates as they sang at the service in tribute to the 60-year-old, a musician and singer on the cabaret scene.
Grief: Westlife star Nicky Byrne (R) helps carry his father's coffin to the hearse at at Lawrences Church in Balldoyle, Dublin today

Amongst the mourners were writer Cecelia Ahern and her boyfriend athlete David Keoghan, Irish TV chef Terry McCoy, Miriam Ahern, the former Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, Irish singer Michael English, Boyzone singer Ronan's wife Yvonne Keating, Irish TV producer Bill Hughes, and Gaelic footballer Gary Kavanagh.

Famous faces: X Factor judge and Westlife founder Louis Walsh joined former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the service

Nicky Sr, who had his own band called 'Nicky and the Studz', was the person who inspired a young Byrne to go into the music business and the pair used to sing karaoke together.
The pair were partularly close and in December, Byrne threw a lavish party at a Dublin hotel for Nicky Sr 60th birthday and presented his father with a Harley-Davidson motorbike as a present.
His sudden death earlier this week left Byrne devastated. He was in London on a promotional tour and immediately flew home to Ireland.

United in grief: Brian McFadden's mother Mairead McFadden, Westlife member Mark Feehily and his boyfriend Kevin McDaid, Brendan McFadden

Tuesday - November 17 - 2009

Westlife to switch on Christmas lights

Westlife, who will switch on the Christmas lights in Grafton Street this evening, have dedicated their new album to the fathers of Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne who died this year.

Egan (29), who lost his father Kevin in July to cancer, said 2009 had been an extremely tough year for the band. His wife Jodi Albert also suffered a bereavement when her grandfather died.

Byrne's father Nicky snr (60) died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this month. The death of Boyzone's Stephen Gately also affected Westlife as both bands are close.

The album sleeve for Where We Are was due to go to the printers on the day that Byrne's father died.

The day Nicky's father died, a girl from the record label rang me and said, 'we have enough time to put Nicky's father on the dedication if he would like that'," Egan said.

We rang Nicky reluctantly because it was all so sudden for him. Luckily we had enough time. It would have felt wrong if the album was only dedicated to my father.

Mr Egan, a father of seven, died in July after a year long battle with cancer. Pictures of him and Mr Byrne will be on the inside cover the album.

We never had to deal with death ever as young adults. This year it seems that we have to deal with a lot of it. It makes you question what life is all about, his son said.

It has been a very strange and difficult year for us. I had not been to a funeral since I was a child when I think about it. All of a sudden in the last six months we have been to four funerals, two of them being parents of Westlife

The new album includes a song about death entitled I'll See You Again .

The first time I heard it, it nearly broke my heart, but then as I kept listening to it, I thought that it really fits. Anybody in the world who hears this song will see that it really means something for anybody who was lost somebody. It will really touch them emotionally,Egan explained.

Egan accepted criticisms Westlife had played it safe in the past by covering well-known songs such as Bette Midler's The Rose and Michael Bublé's Home were valid. He said the new album marks a departure from that with 11 original songs out of 12, mostly written by American songwriters.

It features only one cover, What About Now , a song by the American group Daughtry which is the first Westlife single from the new album.

Looking back, we had one too many well-known cover songs," Egan said. If we'd gone out there singing songs like The Rose and Home for the rest of our career, we would not enjoy it as much.

The album also features a rare self-penned Westlife track Reach Out , co-written by band member Mark Feehily.

We went through a phase in the early part of our career where we did want to write our own songs and we did, but they were crap in comparison with all the other great songs that we had, Egan said.

If we wanted to write the album ourselves, we could, but we know we're not naturally gifted songwriters. We know our strength is in singing the songs and performing them on stage.

November, 2009

Westlife: Us against the world
It has been a year of sorrow and loss for Westlife. Or, as Nicky Byrne puts it, 'It has been a shit year and I can't wait to see the back of it.' In their only in-depth interview this year, the four members of the band tell Barry Egan how tragedy has made brothers of them. Photography by Sarah Doyle
Sunday November 29 2009

May, 2003: I get to spend two ostensibly fun days and nights in London in the company of Westlife. At 3am one night, Louis Walsh and I are standing in the courtyard of the Conrad Hotel overlooking Chelsea Harbour when one Robbie Williams comes over and tries to wind up the Westlife manager. The ex-Take That singer repeatedly says to Louis: "What did you mean, man? I respect you . . ." A few months before, Louis, being Louis, had dubbed Robbie "a bad karaoke singer" in Heat magazine.

Standing to our immediate left, Kian Egan is waiting by his brand-new BMW. Then Louis, myself and Kian make our excuses and leave Mr Williams to argue with himself.

Five hours earlier, Kian and his bandmates had been mobbed by thousands of teenage girls as they attempted to leave Wembley Arena. I wonder whether a certain insufferable glamour model was in the audience, not least because that day's newspaper featured the particularly tender headline: "Jordan -- I want to f**k Kian".

The day before, the band are in their dressing room before the show. Outside, in the backstage area, Georgina Ahern looks utterly gorgeous in a demure, summery dress, wandering around happily as her fiance Nicky prepares to go on in front of 15,000 fans. When Westlife -- Kian and Mark and Shane and Nicky and a fella by the name of Bryan McFadden -- take the stage, each song is greeted with a veritable volcanic eruption of pubescent squeals: the choruses of Tonight and then Flying Without Wings building over soulful, multilayered, five-part harmonies are not your average boy band fare.

"Westlife are a great, great vocal group," Louis tells me during the show. "They appeal to everybody. It's not just to kids. Mammies and daddies and twenty-somethings love them. That's why they sell so many records."

"The one thing that Westlife have and that Boyzone and Take That didn't have -- it's not about one person," Bryan tells me after the show. "With Take That, Gary was the singer and Robbie was the joker. In Boyzone, it was Ronan and the other four. In our band, we are all singers."

I meet Nicky and Georgina the following morning over breakfast. I ask Nicky how they met. "We met in first year when we were like 12 or 13," Nicky says fondly, "but we didn't really talk to each other then. We were a little bit shy. She was more shy than me. We started going out when we were 16."

During the 48 hours I spend with the band, they all appear happy young people untouched by life's pain and suffering, especially Nicky Byrne who, like a young Larry Mullen in his jeans and jacket, walks around like a personification of love's young dream with Georgina.

November, 2009: Nicky Byrne's face carries the permanent, troubled aura of someone who only two weeks ago lost his father. He is standing in the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin's Ballsbridge. He points to the room opposite and says that his father, Nikki, often came here for Westlife album launches and after-show parties. It is still too soon to put any kind of proper perspective on losing his father but Nicky, who was always mature, says he is still in shock. And shock is probably an understatement. "I still don't believe it. Actually, it's not that I don't believe it's real, I can't believe it's real. I can't," Nicky says.

"I hate to sound like I'm sorrowful," he adds, needlessly. "People have dealt with grief before me and people will deal with it tomorrow and the next day. But he was the youngest 60 years. He was so full of life. He had everything going for him. He was fit and healthy. He loved his job. He loved his motorcycle. He loved his gigs at the weekends. He sang. He played guitar and he could play a bit of keyboards but his main thing was vocals."

You obviously came to music through your father?

"I spent all my childhood watching my dad sing," he answers, immediately. "He went out gigging seven nights a week. Every night after dinner, he would get his clothes on and go out singing. You would see him going out during the summer in pale blue trousers and flowery shirts. He was a cabaret star."

Nikki's favourite song, the song he always did without fail, was Honey (I Miss You), made famous by Bobby Goldsboro. At the funeral in St Laurence O'Toole Church in Baldoyle in early November, Nicky asked his mother, Yvonne: "Do you want me to sing Honey?"

She said: "No way -- I couldn't hear that."

The song Nicky did sing with Westlife at the funeral was Please Stay by The Cryin' Shames.

"It was a song that my dad always wanted Westlife to do," he recalls. "He always thought the song would suit Westlife, and me in particular. It was one of those songs that I never did. And I did it at the funeral. I said in my eulogy, 'It is probably a bit late, Dad, but I'm doing it now for you.'"

His father singing was Nicky's earliest childhood memory. He can remember Nikki singing at the Racecourse Inn in Baldoyle, or at the Grand Hotel in Malahide throughout his childhood.

"There are hundreds of people, thousands probably, walking around this city whose weddings my dad sung at. He was such a likable man. He always had a smile," says Nicky, almost smiling himself.

I ask Nicky what his oul' fella was like.

"Oh, he had bundles of energy," he smiles, adding that the Sunday before his father died he was playing football with Nicky's godson, Zack, in the garden. "I never thought we'd only have him until he was 60. I thought we'd have him until he was at least 75 or 80. But it wasn't to be."

There is a long pause. Then Nicky says: "My dad looked amazing in the coffin. He didn't look dead. He looked asleep. I have seen so many people over the years in coffins that had illness and they deteriorated and they looked terrible. He looked like he was asleep. I have a picture of him on my phone. I can't believe he is not just awake. But all those things help.

"You know, I think talking about him kind of helps it," he adds, leaving the sentence hanging there.

One of toughest parts of losing his father so suddenly was that Nicky never got a chance to say goodbye. "I was chatting to him on Saturday night, Halloween night, and he died Tuesday morning," he says. "He was out in the house on the Saturday night. We had a fancy dress for the kids and a few of the friends' kids and my dad was over and I was chatting to him. He seemed in good health and in good form."

And then he says: "I had a bad day on Sunday. And my mam had a bad day on Sunday. It is just so strange. I mean, where do you even start to pick up the pieces? His birthday is coming up on December 14 and Christmas after that. Last month, we were talking about Christmas. He was looking forward to his Christmas gigs at the Regency Hotel on the Airport Road. It is all such a punch in the face. It is like a steam train. Every morning, I get up, I feel sick."

Death of a loved one, I say, makes you realise what forever means: you will never see that person ever again in this world.

"I know," Nicky says. "The finality of it all kills me. The fact that I can never see him; the fact that I can never talk or have a laugh with him or anything like that. I suppose when you realise that, that's a bad day. Other days, you still think you have all the memories and a million photographs of him. Things like that, I suppose, help. A part of you dies with them and obviously you learn to cope and you do your best, especially when you're married and you have kids. But a part of me died with him."

His and Georgina's twins, Rocco and Jay, have been told that their grandad has gone to God. They call Nikki 'Grandad Nucan'. Ten years ago, Nicky explains, his father came in from a night out with his wife, and was plastered. When Nicky started to rib his father for being drunk, he said, "I'm not drunk at all. I could drive from all the way to Nucan and back."

"He meant to say Lucan," Nicky explains. "From that day on, his nickname was Nucan. The boys called him that. I told them that Grandad Nucan is in heaven and he is a star. So at every night at nighttime they point up at the stars to Grandad Nucan."

In July of this year, another member of Westlife, Kian Egan, had his father, Kevin, die after a long battle with cancer. The new Westlife album Where We Are is dedicated to both Nicky and Kian's late fathers.

It was a very difficult time, Kian says. He and his bride, Jodi Albert, had planned to get married in Barbados in May. But his dad, he recalls, got progressively very ill, fast. "And by Christmas of last year we knew he wouldn't be here by this time next year," Kian says. "We had to try and make a final decision on whether to move the wedding or not; you know, was he going to be able to come to the wedding, etc. So that was a whole rigmarole in itself.

"He wanted us to go ahead with the wedding. So we did. Then we came and we were on cloud nine for a week. But then we were kicked off it with my dad on his deathbed. He was dead on July 19.

"It was a very strange year," Kian says. "But that was meant to be for me."

Some people say that a man truly stops being a boy and only really becomes a man when his father dies, I say.

"My dad was a teacher in his role to me as a father," Kian says. "He would teach you how to do something. That was the type of man he was. He was a quiet man but he read books on how to fix an engine."

Kian's mother said to him recently: "Death comes in waves."

"There has been so many deaths around us this year," Kian adds. "So I kind of hope that our wave is over and that is it."

Boyzone singer Stephen Gately's sudden death on October 10 was another part of the dark wave that hit Ireland this year, lest we forget.

"People tend to forget about how powerless everyone is against the reality of the inevitable," says Mark Feehily. "It definitely does bring it right to the front of your mind. Stephen was so young. Kian's dad's death was prolonged. Nicky's dad's death was so sudden. It instilled in me, in a way, that whole thing of 'Get out there and do it before it is too late. Don't leave things unsaid.'

"Over the past year I have taken time to be able to hear myself think by taking some time away from Westlife. I took time to decide what I liked about life and what I didn't like about life. And it is quite difficult to do that in the middle of the madness. I am following my gut and believing in myself more. I stand up for what I believe. Automatically I started being happier. I wrote a song on this new Westlife album. It's called Reach Out. I've been putting my songwriting off with Westlife." His dreams, growing up in Sligo and watching Top Of The Pops, were, he says, always to sing and write songs.

So, Jedward -- pop heroes or the end of civilisation as we know it?

"I have grown to like them an awful lot," says Mark. "Some people hate them. I look at them as two 18-year-old lads from Dublin over in London and they have become the two most famous people in the country overnight. I look at them and hope they are OK and hope they can cope with all the madness. I am so close to it because I can understand to a certain extent what they are going through."

How did you deal with being judged?

"I didn't deal well with it, because I don't think I have ever been designed to be, like, a pop star. I hated it all. I couldn't believe there were people who would just casually say to you, 'You need to lose weight', or, 'You look terrible', or, when you were singing your heart out, 'That was fucking shit'. I was brought up by a lovely family with two lovely grannies, Bridget and May. So I was brought up to be nice to people."

2009 for Westlife's Shane Filan was, he says, both joyful and horrific. He started the year with him and his wife Gillian having their first son, Patrick -- someone for four-year-old Nicole to play with. "So that was great to be at home with the new baby," Shane says. "It was a big family year for me; to stay at home a lot, and doing normal stuff like having me pints in the normal pub with my father-in-law. But then, as the year went on, Kian's dad got sick and he was dealing with that the whole time. It was hard to see that. Then he died and then Stephen died and then Nicky's dad. There was so much sorrow and sadness in the year for us."

Westlife are like a band of brothers, I say.

"That's really true," he says. "We always were close but I think now we are closer than ever. We see each other like brothers. We feel like giving each other a hug more often."

So, you will be watching Nicky at this very difficult time for him?

"Oh yeah," he says instantly. "We've got to take care of him. Me and Mark, we still have our dads, but our job now is to make sure Kian and Nicky are OK in their personal lives and try to make things easier on them whatever way we can; because there are going to be really hard days for them, I'm sure. We just got to look after each other now because, as a band, without each other we don't have a band.

"It has been such a strange, strange year," he adds.

"The whole year was very strange," concurs Nicky. "Imagine: two months before my dad, Kian's dad passed away from his illness; he had been sick for a while and he didn't make Kian's wedding in Barbados. And then there was Stephen at 33. That was impossible to comprehend.

"I'll tell you what," Nicky adds, "it has been a shit year and I can't wait to see the fucking back of it, to tell you the truth."

It must have taught you a hard lesson of how random and cruel life can be.

"Absolutely. When Stephen died, I remember going to the funeral and we had to fly to Iceland the next day to shoot a video. On the plane it was just so morbid, the four of us. It only really sunk in then.

"I noticed this with my own dad's death. At the funeral, as sad as it is, you are on a bit of a high because everybody is around you and you are doing so many things. But even a day or two afterwards . . . everyone is gone, and you are alone with just your close family. I have been going to the graveyard. It's just, he was my best friend. I bought him a motorbike for his 60th last December. I bought him a brand new Merc in 2002. It is just so hard to even consider at the minute. I don't know where to start. I really don't."

Westlife's new album, 'Where We Are', is out now

Westlife Look To Put Tough Year Behind Them

December 02, 2009
Westlife have admitted they can't wait to see the back of 2009 following a year of personal tragedy.

Saturday, December 5 - 2009

Westlife 'unconcerned by singles' success'

Westlife have declared that they are not concerned about having number one singles, claiming that they are more interested in conquering the album charts.

The band released latest album Where We Are on Monday and are hoping to hit the top spot come the weekend.

"Getting the album to number one is more important than having a number one single for us and Simon [Cowell] agreed," Westlife singer Shane Filan said.

"He pushed us to make a great album. He agreed we needed to up our game and not to record as many covers. We needed to get back to making great pop music."

Filan also spoke about how the Irish group changed direction on the LP, adding to Playlist: "Simon got us in with everyone we wanted to work with. And we only hired producers we haven't worked with before.

"Simon and Louis Walsh think it's the best album we've ever made."

December 4 - 2009

Ireland this week.The top ten albums in full:

1. (1) Susan Boyle: 'I Dreamed A Dream'
2. (-) Westlife: 'Where We Are'

3. (2) JLS: 'JLS'
4. (3) Black Eyed Peas: 'The E.N.D.'
5. (5) Michael Bublé: 'Crazy Love'
6. (4) Lady GaGa: 'The Fame Monster'
7. (6 ) Leona Lewis: 'Echo'
8. (-) Andrea Bocelli: 'My Christmas'
9. (7) The Priests: 'Harmony'
10. (8) Mario Rosenstock: 'Gift Grub 10

Westlife exclusive

We were at parties with beautiful women and we wondered why Mark wasn't chatting up

Talking to The Sun ... Westlife's Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filey chat with Gordon Smart

GORDON SMART
Bizarre Editor

Published: 26 Dec 2009

WESTLIFE are modern pop legends. Under the watchful eye of SIMON COWELL they have dominated the charts for a decade, selling more than 45million records.
Here, on Day One of our exclusive two-day special on the band, MARK FEEHILY talks about his decision to reveal his homosexuality and band mate NICKY BYRNE recalls meeting the world's most important man.

Since coming out in The Sun, Mark says he feels as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

The Irish heart-throb revealed his homosexuality in August 2005. Up until then he had kept it from his legions of fans, but the burden of secrecy took its toll.

"I spent a lot of my teenage years and early 20s in a very dark place," says Mark, now 29.

Happy now ... Kevin McDaid and boyfriend Mark Feehily
"There's a real misconception about when I came out.

"I didn't tell the guys when I was 18 or 16 or anything. It took me a long time to sort everything out in my own mind before I was open to anyone about it.

"I just shoved it all down and ignored my feelings and paused, closing the door and leaving it."

Mark, now settled with long-term boyfriend KEVIN MCDAID, says: "It wasn't hiding a secret from the guys or the public. I didn't have any love life or relationship or sex life at all.

"That's why things went so dark for me. It was like a ticking time bomb but now I am so happy."

Bandmate and friend Nicky says he is relieved his pal can finally relax, and that he wasn't surprised to hear he was gay.

"We are at the best of parties with the best-looking women," says Nicky, 31.

"Obviously if you have a girlfriend it's a different scenario but if you looked at Mark, and he didn't have a girlfriend, we kept wondering why he wasn't chatting up the girls. I always knew with Mark. He had what people say is a swagger but it was a gay swagger, that thing going on.

"But you never say anything because it's no one's business.

"I remember the day he told Shane and me. We were all jumping around, hugging and everything. At last he felt comfortable in himself.

"I remember ringing round when the story came out. I rang one of my mates to tell him Mark was gay and he said, 'Make sure you tell him we are all behind him'. Then he panicked and said, 'No, no. Don't say it like that'. "

More than four years after going public over his sexuality, Mark says he is happier and stronger than ever.

He says: "I am embracing getting older. I feel more powerful against all the badness because I know how to deal with it better than I did. I know how to protect myself. I know more about life.

"Don't get me wrong, no one looks forward to getting grey and old and bald and wrinkly but I feel happier now than I ever have."

Critics
Westlife, whose album Where We Are is out now, have come under fire from critics who object to their boy-band brand of pop.

Nicky says: "People say we are not cool but I feel that's something to be proud of. I feel that's cool.

"After 11 years in the music industry and being at all the parties in the world, to have what I have and live the life I live, I am proud of it."

Mark added: "We're desensitised to people calling us s*** now.

"We don't get so worried about people slagging us off any more. We're numb to it."

Westlife were discovered by music industry supremo Simon Cowell. Although they weren't discovered through a talent show like most of Cowell's signings, the lads can empathise with new acts, including X Factor winner JOE MCELDERRY.

"One thing about Joe is he's very innocent and naive," says Nicky. "He was going on about how he doesn't really drink and he just wants to be around the house with his mum and he's a virgin.

"I just think all of that in one day? If he was more mature he wouldn't have gone down that road but he's only a kid."

Mark adds: "We were green like Joe once. When we started off everyone was so passionate and full of life. There were all sorts of positive and negative moments.

"I look at JLS and they remind me so much of us. Their eyes are so wide open. They are loving it, enjoying every minute.

"Since we started there have been BUSTED, BLUE, 5IVE. There has always been another band. We can all co-exist, no one has to go."

I wasn't hiding anything. I didn't have any love life or sex life at allMARK

Earlier this month the band met BARACK OBAMA at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and ended up being introduced to another US mega star.

Nicky says: "We were in a holding room with WILL SMITH and his wife. We got a picture taken with them. Will was so cool.

"We were talking about the guy with him who was a humanitarian who he was shadowing as research for a movie. He just stood in the corner chatting to everyone and we were all in another corner going 'it's f****** Will Smith!'

"Will was great. He told us this story how he was preparing all these questions about humanitarianism for the big interview with Obama. He said he was up all night practising the delivery and then when he met him he was telling himself to be on the ball.

"Then he met him and just said, 'What's it f****** like being the president of the United States?'"

Mark adds: "A security guard stuck his head in the door and asked for a picture with Will and handed me the camera.

Foreign
"It helped break the ice. A few other people started queuing for pics then."

Nicky says: "Meeting Barack Obama was incredible. It felt really important. On the bus going there we were with DONNA SUMMER, WYCLEF, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD and other foreign artists.

"You couldn't get anywhere near him without being vetted or given some sort of security clearance.

"We were meeting the President of America so it was incredible.

Mark says: "I came away thinking what an amazing person. The President was impressive too. He handled the situation so well, meeting everyone."

In 2003 Nicky married childhood sweetheart Georgina, daughter of former Irish Prime Minister BERTIE AHERNE. Still talking about meeting Obama, he says: "We were doing the picture and there was a moment when there was a silence waiting for the pic to be taken.

"So I asked Mr Obama if he was familiar with Bertie Aherne.

"He said yes and I told him I was married to his daughter.

"He said he was a great guy and to tell him he said hello. There were more flashes and we broke the ice then.

"I think I must be the diplomat in the band. He is a man of the people. He was cool, genuine. He was like a cool dad."

The band are enjoying continued success, despite being one man down from the original line-up. BRIAN MCFADDEN left the band in 2004 and has since become engaged to Aussie actress DELTA GOODRAM. "Brian lives in Australia now so we hardly see him but when we do it's a happy reunion," says Mark. "It's weird not knowing his day-to-day life any more. He has never said to any of us he regrets it."

Nicky says: "We played in Soccer Aid together last year and we hadn't seen each other for a while. It was great.

"He told me he never regretted leaving the band but he did hate it when we did Croke Park. He said that killed him.

So what's next for the lads?

"We've met Barack Obama, performed for the Pope, duetted with MARIAH CAREY," says Nicky. "We even knew Simon Cowell before he was really famous.

"Ten years on we are very alive and the passion is still there. We dream about the next goal all the time."

We slagged off Simon"s shoes and high trousers before anybody knew who he was

By GORDON SMART
Bizarre Editor

Published: 28 Dec 2009

IT may have been a grim 12 months for Westlife but Simon Cowell's favourite band are looking forward to a great 2010.
And the key to that will be keeping their most famous fan happy.

The lads, still our top-selling boy band after 11 years, are pop guru Simon's breakthrough success story.

And they constantly remind the record company chief he was not always the stellar name he is today.

In the final day of our Westlife series, Shane Filan reveals: "The big reason we still do so well is down to our relationship with Simon.

"We have worked together for 11 years and things go from strength to strength. Simon speaks highly of us, which means the world."

Missed ... Stephen Gately
But Kian Egan points out: "We used to slag him off about his shoes and his high trousers before anybody knew who he was.

"We used to slag off the shoes so badly, the big heels. Cobbler's shoes, we called them.

"We used to pull his trousers down lower and pull the T-shirt down and rip the p**s out of him, mocking his posh accent.

"As soon as he got on TV, people saw exactly what we saw and started to do the same thing."

Shane adds: "We were one of the first bands on Simon's S Records label, which he sold to BMG for £22million.

"He got a lot of money then before TV took over."

Despite almost 50million record sales, 14 number one songs and a host of sold-out tours, Westlife are still hungry for more.

"We're pocket change to what Simon makes annually but we've got history with him," says Shane.

"The hardest thing to do in our situation is sustain success.

"Every year is like a mountain to climb for us, even though people expect us to succeed now. We s**t ourselves before the midweek chart - we are still so ambitious."

The past year has seen the band rocked by tragedy. They have been hit by what they call "a big wave of death" that has struck their friends and family.

The recent loss of close pal and Boyzone singer Stephen Gately hit them hard, but Kian also lost his father, as did bandmate Nicky Byrne.

But with their usual upbeat, positive attitude they are now even more determined to appreciate everything they have and continue to enjoy life to the full.

Westlife have spent the best part of a year out of the spotlight, but in my interview with Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark Feehily it was obvious they have used this testing 12 months to grow stronger.

Kian told me about the terrifying moment they discovered their good pal Stephen had passed away and Shane, 30, says: "Until then, we hadn't really thought about people from our generation not being here.

"As singers we are always thinking about the next album, the next tour, the family growing.

"You don't think about being dead. You would never think that about someone in your own band.

"If one of us died... it's a terrible thought but that would be it. Over. We couldn't carry on as a band.

"For us, it makes you realise how important the other members of the group - your dearest friends - are to you, and it makes you appreciate life an awful lot more."

Kian, 29, adds: "I had been out in the local with mates, gone home and fallen asleep on the couch.

"A mate rang me and told me about Stephen and I thought it was nonsense. I rang Louis Walsh (Boyzone's and Westlife's manager) and sure enough got the same response. It was truly awful.

"It has been a really tough year. On top of that both my dad and Nicky's dad died either side of that. My dad was 64 and had been sick for a year.

"My mum said to me we are at that age now where we start losing people.

"My grandmother, my wife Jodie's grandfather, Nicky's dad, my dad, Stephen...

"My mum said in her life, death sadly comes in waves and we are experiencing one of those big waves now. At the funeral of Stephen the four of us sat together with our partners.

"Brian (ex-Westlife member McFadden) happened to be sat in front of us. I remember looking at Brian and just feeling so sad, realising life is too short.

"We all felt the same - like we all needed to give him a big hug. I felt so sad towards him.

"Once the Boyzone speeches came out we were in pieces."

Shane adds: "It was after 1am when I found out about Stephen. I rang Louis and it was like 'boom'.

"He told me it was right and said he couldn't speak. I will never forget it as long as I live.

"In Ireland Stephen was a massive icon, a true pop star. He was one of us and he was dead.

"It just doesn't happen, so it was truly upsetting and tragic.

"We appreciate each other so much more since.

"We're thankful for what we've got and for having each other because life is so precious, and sometimes you can forget that."

29 December 2009

Westlife credit Cowell with album release
Westlife star Nicky Byrne has said that the group wouldn't have released an album this year if it wasn't for Simon Cowell's help and encouragement.

Speaking to RTÉ.ie, the singer said of 'X Factor' judge Cowell: "What he is with us is... he's honest.

"What he sees is what he says. But we've a good relationship with him, especially this year, even stronger. This is our eleventh year with him."

Speaking about how the new album came about, he said: "We had a big meeting with him in August in his house in Beverly Hills... It's a tiny little house... By the time you walk around it you're tired!

"It was a great meeting and it was real positive.

"He kind of heard where we were coming from and agreed with it and was on the same page and that's how we got working on this album.

"Otherwise there wouldn't have been an album for Westlife this ye

29 December 2009

WESTLIFE - WESTLIFE STILL SOUR OVER GELDOF SNUB

WESTLIFE STILL SOUR OVER GELDOF SNUB
Irish band WESTLIFE are still fuming after BOB GELDOF snubbed them over 2004's Band Aid II single - because he could have raised more cash for charity if he'd included them.
The former Boomtown Rats star left the Flying Without Wings hitmakers off the charity song, dismissing them at the time as "not relevant".
But the four-piece is still reeling from the snub because they believe Geldof was just on a "power trip".
Singer Kian Egan says, "I think that was pretty rich given he only started his international campaigning when he realised the Boomtown Rats weren't relevant any more."
Bandmate Nicky Byrne adds, "Bob Geldof didn't include us on the Band Aid II single, even though we were the biggest band at the time. He could have made even more money for charity by having us sing, but he chose (British groups) Busted and Sugababes because he was on some sort of elitist power trip."
The group's Mark Feehily is also sick of their 'uncool' image: "We are a pop group, striving to make the best pop music we can. We don't claim to be anything other than good singers, and to dismiss us just because we might not be to some rock critic's taste, is to insult the millions of people who buy our records and enjoy what we do."

Westlife talk of being cool
December 29, 2009

London: Irish pop band Westlife has in a recent interview discussed about how they were cool despite there being reports that they weren't.

The interview between the boys, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, and Mark Feehily and Judith Woods started off with the four talking about what they had done to be deemed cool.

In the middle of the discussion, Egan, 29, rolled up his trouser leg and flashed a heavily tattooed calf in Woods' direction.

"Look, this is Buddha! Is that cool enough for you? Is it?" the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

"I've got a palm tree and waves and a Hawaiian flower on the other one. What have you got to say about that?" he stated.

Baby-faced Byrne, 31, was next to proclaim how cool he was.

"I've got a Hummer golf buggy - and I don't even play golf! How much more rock-and-roll can you get?" he asked.

Filan, 30, who is the relaxed one, joined in the fray, announcing with perfect deadpan timing that he has "a big, fat house, way, way bigger than anything Bob Geldof's got. Two fat houses, in fact. And loads of cars and watches".

Then Feehily, 29, the soulful one, reminded him that he's also got a helicopter.

"There you go, I'm so crazy and cool that I'd forgotten I have my own helicopter. Who says we're boring now?" Filan added.

The whole outburst from the boys had started after a remark about their rather bland reputation and how one critic said Westlife "were so anodyne as to make Boyzone look like Led Zeppelin at their most orgiastic".

"Honestly, we're not dull," Byrne, who is married, with two-year-old twins, had protested.

"We're the life and soul of any party - Barack Obama said he'd love to go for a pint of Guinness with us some time.

"Just because we're fit and healthy and don't look like drug addicts or as if we haven't washed, doesn't make us uncool. It makes us normal," he stated.

Feehily, who along with Filan sings the majority of the group's vocals, also came to the band's defence.

"Excuse us if we get a bit defensive, but this whole 'cool' thing is a sideshow that distracts from our music," he said.

"We are a pop group, striving to make the best pop music we can. We don't claim to be anything other than good singers, and to dismiss us just because we might not be to some rock critic's taste, is to insult the millions of people who buy our records and enjoy what we do," he stated.

Filan also joined in by stating that it did not matter if they were seen as cool or not.

"We've had an amazing time, travelling the world, singing songs we love, meeting the fans and becoming financially secure," he said.

"If our only problem is that somehow we're not deemed cool enough, well I think we can live with that," he added.

westlife takeover GMTV 2009 december

THE WESTLIFE STORY - 2009 -

Concert review: Westlife at Birmingham LG Arena
Saturday 26th March 2011, 11:29AM GMT.
Westlife at LG Arena, Birmingham
Westlife
LG Arena, Birmingham
Concert review by Helen Cartwright

Fans went wild for Westlife as the Irish popstars made a triumphant return in front of a devoted crowd.

Their followers may be a little older these days but they have lost none of their passion and turned up decked out with banners, decorated T-shirts, Irish flags, glow sticks and even the odd tiara and cowboy hat.

Both young and old arrived at Birmingham's LG Arena last night to dance the night away for the show stopping spectacular.

The band had promised they would be performing some of their songs from when they were young whippersnappers first starting out and their set list certainly did not disappoint their faithful crowd.

It is an impressive set of statistics 12 years, 11 albums and 44 million sales. But Westlife are showing no signs of flagging.

From the moment the band were lowered onto the stage in chairs suspended from the roof of the LG Arena for the opening number No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight it was clear the band have lost none of their passion to perform over the years.

With 14 number ones under their belt it is fair to say the Irish quartet had a decent back catalogue to pick from but this wasn't a show that went through the motions.

The stools they were so partial to sitting down on in their early years have given way to bright lights and a crazy stage featuring giant inflatable apples.

No money was spared when it came to the set, which boasted flames, ticker tape and even a moving bench which lifted the band over the middle of the audience.

Westlife pulled out some of their biggest hits including Uptown Girl and of course Flying Without Wings. The likes of JLS can only hope to be filling out stadiums like the LG Arena 10 years into their career.

They also performed their first singel
their upcoming tune Starlight and an impressive acoustic version of Adele's Rolling in the Deep.

Tesco worker Jodie Berrow, aged 22, from Davis Avenue, in Tipton said the show was one of the best she has seen and added: I love everything about them, they are really good brilliant entertainers.

She went along with aunt Samantha Berrow 39, from Hales Road in Wednesbury, her 15-year-old daughter Steph Berrow and friend Louise Mitchell, also 15.

Samantha said Flying Without Wings and What Makes A Man were her favourite songs and added: I have been a fan for a long time they have got the whole package.

The show was somewhat of a family affair with the mother, sister and wife of Shane singing along in the audience while the wife of Kian Egan, former Hollyoaks star Jodi Albert, was part of support act Wonderland, a girl band managed by Kian and The X Factor judge Louis Walsh.

Ahlan! Exclusive: Westlife Interview Nicky Byrne on Westlife's new direction and being abandoned by Simon Cowell

Westlife have been topping the charts for over a decade and with nearly 50 million albums sold, one of the World's most successful boybands shows no sign of giving up. After walking out on Simon Cowell's label Syco records last month, the band are already working on new material with record giants RCA to rival the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Katy Perry.

When Ahlan! Editor Nathan Kay caught up with band patriarch Nicky Byrne this week, he admitted, Pop music is moving on and when you look at someone like Lady Gaga she is the new Madonna. You've got to try and cling onto that as much as you can. Hopefully the new producers we are working with this year can come up with something a little bit of a step up from what we did last year. Not necessarily up tempo but great songs.

We have been tarnished with a very ballad brush but I'm not the boring guy who likes dressing in a suit and sitting on a stool so I'm not sure why we developed into that. It's not always about recording a ballad and only a ballad. If we are going to keep up with the big pop stars then we have to think outside of the box and that's what we're doing now with our new team.

After 13 years under the supervision of music maestro Simon Cowell, one would have thought that with his vast knowledge of the industry he would be able to guide the boys in the right direction but not according to Nicky: We signed to Simon back in 1998 and he was brilliant but then came the development of X Factor and American Idol. 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 need someone in A&R telling you that's going to be a hit or not. We had it 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. We have that now as we've just moved across from Syco records to RCA so it's a different team. It's their job to put us in with the right producers and co-writers so if it goes wrong then there's someone to blame but if it goes right then happy days. We're in that position now where we have someone working on it full time.

Two years ago, the band reached a point where they had to take a break and re-evaluate their focus and direction. It's now an ideal time for the boys to get their teeth stuck into their careers and give it their best shot with RCA. Nicky admits, The break was well needed but it was only a year so it wasn't like when Boyzone or Take That had a break and then got back together. Nobody did any work and we just thought lets not have an album out this year and it worked well. Taking a year out set us up so that we can make a good go of it for two or three years then maybe take a break. We had What About Now which was a really big hit for us everywhere and we're on tour right now which sees us go all around the world and then across to Dubai.

Ahlan! magazine is a huge Westlife fan so we are as delighted as you guys that the band will be heading over to Dubai on Thursday April 14 as part of their Gravity tour. Luckily, Nicky is a fan of the UAE and can't wait to head out. It feels good to be back, it's been too long. It's an amazing part of the World and we can't wait. I remember last time we were there we did the concert in an open air park and it was pretty spectacular so coming back to the Middle East is very special. Nicky says.
So, with all of this new found vigour and excitement back in their careers are the band going to take advantage of recent media reports that former band member Brian McFadden will be rejoining the group?

Well, I always say never say never but some of the boys may have a different attitude on that. We certainly have no plans to do that and the reason why I say never say never is because I'm older now and things come and go and I would have no problems with hooking up with him again, at the right time and for the right reason, for a song, a tour, an album but that's yet to be discussed.

We're still friends but friends to the level of where we talk to each other on Twitter and have each others numbers. It's like having an old school friend but then again we all shared something that nobody else can understand. Therefore, doing something with Brian, I think, would be fun. I don't want to get to the stage when this is long gone and I think back and say why didn't we do anything with Brian. I know Brian is quite sentimental and I have spoken to him about things. He will text one of us or when we're chatting and say you got to go on Youtube and check out X, Y or Z and you see it and remember those times. At this point, Nicky's twin sons Rocco and Jay, with former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's daughter Georgina, left, can be heard scrapping in the background and as he steps in to break up the fight, he admits, It's great being a dad. It's stressful as they get older, but it's great. They love coming to the shows and trying the songs and the moves.

As a dad I would love them to play football as that's what I did when I was growing up. Whatever they want to do, as long as they are strong, happy and healthy and we have a strong family unit then I'm happy with that.

Monday April 11 2011

WESTLIFE have ruled out any Take That-style reunion with 'prodigal son' Brian McFadden.

There's no immediate plans to welcome the former member back for a one-off performance, with the lads themselves admitting it's "unlikely" to happen.

While talking to the audience during one recent gig, their jokes about how they might bring out McFadden were met with a chorus of boos.

Nicky Byrne (31) has revealed how he "feels sorry" for Brian after his split from fiancee Delta Goodrem. None of the band members has heard from the Artane native after he confirmed his seven-year relationship was over.

Speaking for the first time about Brian's newly single status, Nicky said his sympathies would lie with him.

"I haven't actually heard from Brian at all. I like him and I genuinely feel sorry for him. I would never wish any badness on him. He's a nice guy, deep down," he said.

McFadden quit the band in 2004 to go solo, but failed to achieve the same success.

As Westlife finished a string of five sell-out dates in the O2 last night, Kian Egan also said they hadn't heard anything from Brian. "Not a word, not a text, not a tweet, nothing," he said. Asked if there was a possibility of working with Brian again, now his relationship with the Aussie crooner had run its course, he said it was unlikely.

"We really don't see it. Given that we're doing a Greatest Hits tour, there's obviously a little whisper of should we do something with Brian or not?" he explained.

"And who's to say we won't? I don't necessarily see it happening, it would have to be something really special and something small, not this big thing."

The co-manager of Wonderland also said how his heart went out to the former couple in the wake of their split.

"Of course, Delta and Brian are both lovely people and it's always sad to hear when a couple break down," he continued.

"Jodi [Albert] is a very good friend of Delta's and every time when we were around together, the four of us would go out and do something together. It is sad, I just hope they're both okay."

He went on to say how everything had been going "absolutely superb" for the boyband and the move to the new label had given them a huge boost.

"The O2 is a very special venue for us and we feel it's probably one of the best venues we've ever played. It's just the intimacy of it and the way it's laid out. It's just been amazing playing to the home crowds again," he continued.

"This year we have a platform that comes right out over the audience.

"We haven't done that since we were in the real boybandy phase of our career when we were jumping around in the white suits.

"You see older women going absolutely nuts, you can make a lot of eye contact with the audience and it's great to have that."

Irish pop superstars Westlife
will be among the lineup to perform for Queen Elizabeth in an evening celebrating Irish fashion, music and theatre during her state visit to Dublin next month

Last night a concert for the Queen Elizabeth took place at Dublin's Convention Centre and Westlife performed
You Raise Me

Fashion Kicks 2011 that includes Nicky, Georgina, Shane and Gillian on YouTube. It shows them arriving and you can also see Nicky and Shane talking to the camera

A number of Irish artists including Jedward and Westlife played to an estimated 60,000 people at College Green in Dublin this evening.

The musicians entertained athe crowd ahead of a speech by US president Barack Obama.

Rounding off the afternoon were Westlife. Kian Egan told the crowd "it was a very big honour to be singing for the president. The other day we sang for the queen and here we are again today. What an amazing week it has been for Ireland, and we're very proud to be Irish."

WESTLIFE are thrilled with their new RCA record deal after arguing with Simon Cowell’s label Syco.

Bosses refused to let Westlife release more than one single from an album.

So after 12 years, the manband have moved on to pastures new and will release a greatest hits album containing five new tracks later this year. The first single drops on August 14.

Kian Egan, 31, told me: “The new single is up-tempo and very different for Westlife. Mark Feehily co-wrote it with John Shanks.

“Simon’s company has become more about TV as the music industry is shrinking.

“We’d have arguments about wanting to release more than one single with Syco, and Simon wouldn’t even be involved. Leaving was the best decision for us.”

May 09,2011 Westlife seen leaving a business meeting in Central London, UK

Irish super-group Westlife are to release their Greatest Hits album on November 21st, it has been announced.

The band comment: “It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 Written by Jon Stickler

Irish boy band Westlife are set to announce a new UK tour for May 2012!

After a hugely successful UK tour earlier this year, kings of the charts Westlife are understood to be hitting the road once again in May 2012 to wow audiences up and down the country.

Westlife are among the world's most prolific touring acts, with ten sell out tours already under their belts, including playing to a sell out crowd at the legendary Croke Park in Dublin. They have sold more tickets at London's Wembley Arena than any other act and have played a record number of dates there.

Westlife, who will release their 'Westlife: The Greatest Hits' album on November 21st, will be visiting some of the biggest venues in the country playing out their biggest hits including tracks form their recent albums 'Where We Are' and 'Gravity'. More tour dates are expected to be confirmed during the lead-up to the tour.

'Westlife: The Greatest Hits' will feature hits from the band's entire career so far and is released in the UK on November 21st 2011. Westlife have sold an astonishing 44 million albums since they formed in 1998.

The Westlife boys said: “It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”

There are two versions of the album available including a standard CD featuring the Greatest Hits plus brand new tracks as well as a 2CD/DVD deluxe version including the Greatest Hits, brand new tracks and video footage.

Westlife's 2012 UK tour dates will be announced at Stereoboard.com in the coming weeks!

Westlife Tickets are set to go onsale in October.

Westlife are releasing a single written by Gary Barlow as they preferred it to one of their own tracks.

Westlife releasing Gary Barlow track

Westlife
The group's Mark Feehily had penned a song called 'Beautiful World', which was due to be the lead single from their forthcoming 'Greatest Hits' compilation but at the last minute they ditched the song in favour of one given to them by the Take That star and his 'Patience' co-writer John Shanks.

Mark said: "It was literally up until a day ago that we were deciding between 'Lighthouse' and 'Beautiful World' for the first single but they went with 'Lighthouse' in the end.

"I wasn't too gutted though. Once I write the song I've written it. You can't get too attached and just have to hand it over and forget the fact that you've written it."

The group insist there is no rivalry between themselves and Take That and they think it is "cool" to have Gary write songs for them.

Mark told the Daily Star newspaper: "I love the idea of Gary writing for us and throwing all the rules out the window."

Nicky Byrne added: "Some people might think Gary would be seen as the competition but we don't at all. It's kind of cool he's written for us."

They love us, we love them back: Westlife performs before their Filipino fans in their fourth Manila concert

Coliseum.

The “Gravity Tour 2011” is surely one for the books, particularly to those who, as the Irish lads said, “got through grade school” listening to their hits that never goes old… even if the guys that recorded them did. Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne may be in their 30s now yet their connection to the Filipino audience remains as strong as when they started out in the late '90s, and even if it’s already their fourth concert here.

The jam-packed venue was filled with squeals, cheers, and colorful lights—even before the white curtain on the stage fell and revealed the group and even after they’ve left the platform—from the fans who sang their lungs out to their all-time favorite Westlife songs, as well as tracks from the group’s 11th studio album, “Gravity.”

Apparently, the feeling is mutual. The members of the million-record-selling boy band incessantly said their thanks yous to their beloved Filipino audience. Shane and Kian both declared that it was one of, if not, the best crowd they’ve had. And to cement that momentous event, Nicky and Kian took out their camera phones and captured videos of the crowd. It turned out, as the latter revealed, that they’re making a “video diary” for their family in Ireland.

In spite of the large venue,

the concert felt intimate and personal. Westlife members know how to make their fans feel special. At one point during their spiels, the four chose four fans who had what they deem as the best banners,

invited them onstage and dedicated their song “Beautiful Tonight” to them. Nicky also got the Filipino fans doing their own brand of a giant wave and at another point, singing “My Love” in a capella, which Nicky both filmed through his phone.

The four also made simple, personal gestures at their fans from time to time, such as waving and smiling at them. We caught Mark pick a rolled letter which a fan in the front area of the stage probably tossed to them. After quietly signaling each other, Mark discreetly tucked the letter in his pants’ pocket. Sweet.

It was apparently a nostalgic night for the fans,

hearing the energetic three-song opener “When You’re Looking Like That,” “World Of Our Own,” a

nd “What Makes A Man,” as well as the Westlife hits

“Flying Without Wings,” “Seasons In The Sun,” and “My Love.”

Their 15-song set also included their versions of “Home,” “You Raise Me Up,” and an amusing and surprising medley of pop tunes, consisting of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)”—

the chorus of which Mark tweaked into “I’m gonna make you feel, like you’re the only girl in the world…”—The Black Eyed Peas’ “Time Of My Life (Dirty Bit),” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” (done with some Gaga-esque choreography).

Apart from singing clearly—and may we make special mention of Mark’s flair for improvisation which added a different spice to the songs—

the boys also unleashed the signature dance moves characteristic among boy bands. That’s something we don’t see often nowadays, and probably that’s why the show became all the more enjoyable.

Westlife heeded the fans’ loud screams for an encore and performed “What About Now” and “Uptown Girl” before taking their final bow in what surely the fans hope not to be their last Manila show. Two hours watching a Westlife concert was indeed time well spent.

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 September (Bernama) -- Irish super-group Westlife will be releasing their brand new single 'Lighthouse' on Nov 14, to be followed by with the release of their 'Greatest Hits' on November 21.

The single, which is co-written by Gary Barlow and John Shanks, is one of four new tracks featured in the album.

MANILA, Philippines - Did Westlife forget about American Time and keep Filipino Time?

You see, the group’s welcome presscon was scheduled at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon at a function room of EDSA Shangri-La where the four guys were billeted but they showed up at way past 3:30 p.m. Some of the media had left but some stayed to hear the guys apologize for the miscommunication between them and the organizers/ producers of the concert staged last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We didn’t know that there would be a press conference,” admitted Nicky Byrne who, at 33, is the oldest among the members.

Westlife used to have five members but one of them, Bryan McFadden, has gone solo. The three other remaining members are Shane Filan, 32; Kian Egan, 31; and Mark Feehily, 31.

The boys arrived before midnight Wednesday from Hong Kong where they had a show. From Manila, they will go to Hanoi today for another concert which is part of the promo for their album Gravity (released locally by Sony Music).

In an exclusive interview with The STAR two weeks ago, Nicky Byrne publicly invited Manny Pacquiao to watch their concert, saying, “I do hope that we could do a song with him, preferably ‘You Raise Me Up.’ During the day, I would love to do a bit of boxing training with him and at night, we could do more singing. You see, I’ve been boxing as part of my workout, part of my conditioning.”

But due to his tight schedule training in Baguio for his return bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao begged off from watching the concert.

“He would have loved to but he was really pressed for time,” somebody close to Pacquiao told The STAR.

Other boy bands have split up and new ones have cropped up, but Westlife has managed to stay on top these past 14 years. Asked how they do it, Nicky said, “Honestly, I don’t know. You know, maybe we know what buttons to push and what pushes each other’s buttons. There’s really no magic formula. If there was, we would have put it in a bottle and sold it.”

It’s not the quartet’s first time to visit the Philippines. They first came here in 1999.

“We love coming back to the Philippines,” said Nicky. “I think we’ve been here five times for promo visits and for concerts. We always look forward to coming back because the Philippines has always been very welcoming to Westlife.”

WORLD EXCUSIVE: BEHIND THE SCENES OF WESTLIFE'S NEW VIDEO LIGHTHOUSE
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/214264/Westlife-We-track-down-manband-s-new-video-shoot-in-Afri

Westlife concert interupted by health and safety fears
By Anthony Lund on 06/10/2011 : Westlife Fans were in danger of being crushed at the concert in Jakarta.
Related
Westlife concert interupted by health and safety fears

Westlife
Irish boyband Westlife were forced to interrupt their concert in Indonesia last night (05.10.11) when they had fears for the safety of the crowd.

The group took to the stage as part of their Far East tour, and were performing in Jakarta but had to leave the stage for half an hour while security fears were being addressed.

The issues started when hysterical fans began to surge forward, alerting security that there were people about to be crushed to death if something was not done.

Posting on his Twitter account, band member Kian said, “We had to stop our show in Indonesia for 30 minutes for the safety of our fans. We feared someone would die. Thankfully no one did.”

Westlife celebrate success with hits album
Friday 7 October 2011

To mark fourteen years of success in the music industry,

Westlife are releasing their Greatest Hits on November 21.
Westlife's Greatest Hits album is out in November Having sold over 44 million records worldwide,

had 14 number one singles and 7 number one albums, Westlife are treating their fans to a special compilation of their hit records.

Speaking about the upcoming album the band said: "We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved."

Westlife are celebrating fourteen years in the music industry with a Greatest Hits album.

They added: "We are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career."

The specific tracklisting will be released at a later date, but fans can preorder the album from Monday from Amazon and HMV.

Versions will include a standard CD featuring the Greatest Hits plus brand new tracks and there'll also be a 2CD/DVD deluxe version including the Greatest Hits, brand new tracks and video footage.

Westlife Reveal Greatest Hits Artwork & Tracklisting
Brian McFadden features heavily
Westlife have revealed the cover art and tracklisting for their forthcoming Greatest Hits package.

The standard edition features 18 tracks, including 14 of their biggest singles and four new recordings.

Ten of the 14 pre-existing hits on the set feature former member Brian McFadden, such as 'My Love', 'Uptown Girl' and 'Mandy'. Recent singles 'What About Now' and 'Safe' have also made the cut, as have all of their first four number one hits 'Swear It Again', 'If I Let You Go', 'Flying Without Wings' and 'I Have A Dream'.

The deluxe version comes packaged with a bonus disc, featuring 12 more of their singles (eight with Brian), including 'Seasons In The Sun', 'What Makes A Man' and 'The Rose', plus six live recordings.There's also a DVD featuring all 35 of their music videos to date.

The band said: "It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”

The album, out November 21, is preceded by the new single 'Lighthouse', written by Gary Barlow. It will face tough chart competition from One Direction and Rihanna, who also bring out their new discs on the same day.

Westlife touch down at Heathrow Airport…

On Tuesday afternoon we caught up with Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan arriving in the UK.

Well, you’ll have to take our word for it that Kian was there as he asked our photographers not take his picture. Apparently he wasn’t looking his best after a 15-hour flight. Fair enough.

Although Kian should probably get used to some extra attention as it’s just been confirmed that

the Westlife singer will be a judge and mentor on ‘The Voice of Ireland.’

The rest of the line-up with includes Bressie, Sharon Corr and Brian Kennedy.

Posted: 12/10/2011

.......

The Westlife Greatest Hits cover is a classic

The Irish boyband (that's Nicky, Kian, Mark and Shane) master the art of the staring-into-the-distance-longingly shot in the cover shot for their Greatest Hits.

And we know we've probably drunk too many cups of tea slash been staring at a computer screen for too long but we've convinced ourselves they're staring at us.

We reviewed the lads' brand new single Lighthouse and it made us feel all autumnal.

And this shot is having the same affect - with the fresh blue sky, orange hues in the trees and the biker boots/cardis.

The band have also enticed us with a tracklisting for the album (out November 21st).

1. Swear It Again
2. If I Let You Go
3. Flying Without Wings
4. I Have A Dream
5. Against All Odds
6. My Love
7. Uptown Girl
8. Queen Of My Heart
9. World Of Our Own
10. Mandy
11. You Raise Me Up
12. Home
13. What About Now
14. Safe
15. Lighthouse
16. Beautiful World
17. Wide Open
18. Last Mile Of The Way

WESTLIFE’s

dream of sharing the stage and singing together

with Manny Pacquaio during their Gravity Tour 2011 concert held at the Araneta Coliseum on Sept.

29 never came true.

Not that the boxing champ snubbed the Irish boy band because of the “informal invitation.” Pacquaio is set to fight against Juan Manuel Marquez come Nov. 12 and so his coach, Freddie Roach, did not allow him to get out of the training camp in Baguio.

Aside from the Westlife lads, who else needs the presence of our “Pambansang Kamao” in that concert anyway? Minus Manny, the Irish pop sensation composed of Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily could still whip the crowd into frenzy, effortlessly!

And that’s what exactly happened last Thursday night: Westlife showed A1, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys, Blue, F4 and all other foreign boy bands that stepped into the Philippine soil in previous years just how it’s done—and what has brought them such longevity o n the global music scene.

Second-rate opening

Since ABS-CBN was

the official TV network partner of the Irish quartet’s Philippine tour, it tapped budding Star Magic talents as front acts: Young JV, Van Roxas and Piero Vergara. But whoever thought of assigning these still-nameless performers as “appetizers” for the show should be reprimanded because they did not start the “meal” off on a delicious note, with their so-so RnB, pop and rap acts that irritated majority of the audience at the Big Dome.

It would have been better if the Kapamilya station just utilized one artist who could guarantee better routines like Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto or Marie Dibgy. In short,

the front acts’ segment was “very Asap Rocks” (read: boring).

Deafening applause and screams from adoring fans broke loose shortly after the white curtain dropped and Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark appeared on stage then belted out “When You’re Looking Like That,”

“World of Our Own” and “What Makes a Man.” All of them are in their ‘30s now, but they hardly looked any older.

The opening number was too reminiscent of their past concerts archived on DVDs—

the lads were clad in black trench coats as usual—

but it was clear they haven’t lost their passion to

perform for more than 13 years now.

The Irish group’s second set, which included “Safe,” “Home”—a Michael Buble original—“Beautiful Tonight”—which sounds like Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are”—was the least-liked segment among the elder devotees as some of them had lost track of Westlife’s most recent albums by now. But this was the part where they extended their huge thank yous to everyone in attendance at the Big Dome. “You are the most enthusiastic crowd I’ve ever seen,” Filan revealed, while Egan said, “Sorry, we left you for so long. Let us bring some old songs back… Are you familiar with the song “My Love?” The fans were made to sing a few lines in a capella, to which Egan and Byrne recorded through their camera phones.

In the absence of Pacquiao, the boy band chose four fans that carried attention-grabbing banners—“Nicky, I want twins, can I have your genes?,” “Kian, is it hot in here, or is it just you?” and “Christine Loves Shane”—and were asked to go up on stage to sing “Beautiful Tonight” with them. And the greatest upset among the female fans that night? Oh well, the openly-gay Feehily picked another gay man with “Mark, Kiss Me, It’s My Birthday!” banner to join him on stage!

Bora as backdrop

For their third set, Westlife ditched their usual suits for colorful jackets, Mickey Mouse shirts and jeans, then rocked out with the crowd with their versions of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Black Eyed Peas “Time of My Life (Dirty Bit)” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” This type of medley has become a popular staple of the four piece’s most recent shows, and their Manila concert was no exception.

But who would forget Feehily’s powerful rendition of Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)?” Not only did it showcase his full vocal range and great potential as a solo artist—it left everyone with their mouths wide open after his astounding performance!

From the more current sounds, the group then swapped to their usual slow songs on their fourth set with “Already There” and “I Will Reach You.” The fans were transported back to the beginning of Westlife’s career via “Seasons in the Sun”—where the alluring and pristine beauty of Boracay island was featured on the wide screen that served as their backdrop—and “Flying Without Wings.”

“You Raise Me Up,” a song which has been covered more than 125 times, brought the curtain down that evening along with ear-splitting applause. Surprisingly, the Irish boy band did not include in their set list some significant songs that propelled them to stardom: “Swear It Again,” their first-ever UK no. 1 single, and “Fool Again,” their fifth consecutive UK chart-topper.

Superb show?

Fans were moved when Westlife returned for their encore—they donned stylish black suits this time—and sang “What About Now.” Instead of belting out another ballad that would leave spectators at the Big Dome teary-eyed or crying during their closing moment, the quartet smartly opted for a happy, upbeat piece, “Uptown Girl.”

Gravity Tour 2011 marked Westlife’s fourth visit to Manila, the previous ones were back in 2000, 2001 and 2006. But with an estimated number of 11,000 people who trooped the Araneta Coliseum to see them face to face, it appeared like it was only their first time to come here!

The Gravity Tour 2011 concert was magnificent as it showed how much Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily evolved from being a stereotype boy band to a live-performance act.

The Irish quartet has gone so far to become a mature vocal group packed with tightly-knit harmonies and easy grace on stage. With a couple of new arrangements for some of their previous hits, they were able to make attendees at the Big Dome feel that they were hearing several songs for the first time. That’s quite an achievement in itself. Westlife’s Manila tour was indeed worth the long wait.

Westlife, . Irish Deaf Society opens 'Signs of Life' Photography Exhibition at Film Base, Temple Bar.. Dublin, Ireland - 13.10.11.

Westlife Tour Dates in FULL:

May 2012

Monday 14 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Tuesday 15 Liverpool Echo Arena
Thursday 17 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Saturday 19 Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Sunday 20 Birmingham LG Arena
Tuesday 22 Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Wednesday 23 London O2 Arena
Saturday 26 Manchester Evening News Arena
Sunday 27 Glasgow SECC

Westlife plan farewell tour to thank broken-hearted fans

But after 14 years, 14 number-one singles and 44 million album sales, the chart-topping act announced last night they were to split after a final farewell gig in Dublin next year.

"We lived the dream so we're not hanging our heads," member Kian Egan told the Irish Independent last night.

"We're celebrating what we came from and what we achieved. Meeting the Pope, Barack Obama, singing for the queen. We grew up in this wonderful, magical adventure which surpassed our wildest expectations but now the time has come to stop."

In a statement, the group said the decision had been "entirely amicable" and the four members would go their separate ways after the release of a greatest hits collection next month and a farewell tour next summer.

But Egan revealed Westlife's final goodbye was likely to be a stadium show in Dublin next summer.

"Doing Croke Park or Lansdowne would be perfect because we want to go out on a high.

"We wanted to finish it like this, and not be in a situation where we just dwindled away over the years, playing to smaller and smaller crowds," he added.

Although news of the split came around 6pm yesterday, the Sligo man said the parting had been an "ongoing discussion" among Westlife for the past few months.

It is now ticket sales rather than record sales by which the success of a music act is measured, so there was little concern when, last March, Westlife parted from record company Syco, run by Simon Cowell and with whom they had their biggest hits.

Picked up by label RCA, they have continued to be a popular live draw around the world, recently returning from an extensive tour of Asia.

But Egan revealed that each member was now keen to "do his own thing". Shane Filan (32) is working on a solo album, Mark Feehily (31) is penning songs for other pop acts and Dubliner Nicky Byrne (33) is looking at a career in the media.

Expecting his first child with wife Jodi Albert in January, Egan (31) is to be a coach/mentor in new RTE talent series 'The Voice Of Ireland'.

"We all have stuff we want to do and the time has come to do it. We're all looking forward to doing our own thing.

"We all feel very positive and we just want to thank our fans for the support they've given us over the years," added Egan.

Manager Louis Walsh was among those who paid tribute last night, calling Westlife "four of the best ambassadors Ireland has ever had".

"Westlife were always the best four people I have ever worked with. I had a brilliant time working with them," he said.

"And it just goes to show how far you can get in this business with the right attitude.

"I know the fans are going to be upset but they shouldn't be. The end doesn't really mean the end, look at what happened with the Stone Roses this week," Walsh told the Irish Independent.

Westlife's 'Greatest Hits' is to be released in Ireland on November 18, with a new single, 'Lighthouse', issued a week earlier on November 11.

Dates for a final Irish tour including a monster farewell in Dublin are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.