News 2008
Westlife star set for Crucible (27th April)POP band Westlife are currently in the middle of an exhausting tour – but that won't stop Shane Filan from ditching the white suit and flying into Sheffield this weekend.
For the Irish pin-up is a huge snooker fan, big mates with Ken Doherty, and has booked tickets for the Crucible with a bunch of friends to catch some of the action at the 888.com World Championship.
"I've loved the game since I was a kid," revealed the 28-year-old. "I played pool on a table in the local café then started going to snooker clubs and playing snooker once I could reach over the table.
"It's been a hobby ever since then. Now I've got a full-size snooker table in my house and I love it.
"I've never been to a tournament before. For the last four or five years I've always wanted to go the Crucible but we've always been on tour in April.
"But this time I'm going with three friends, we'll be there during the middle weekend, I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it," Filan told the Crucible's official tournament programme.
Filan is no stranger to Sheffield. Westlife played twice in the Steel City last month and are due back for a further date in May before the band take a 12-month break.
Filan met Doherty during a golf pro-am at the K Club, and have kept in touch ever since.
"I still remember when he won the world title in 1997," he said. "I was watching at home in Sligo. All the snooker clubs were packed.
"Ireland had never had a snooker world champion before and hasn't since so it was a great achievement."
Source: Yorkshire Post
Westlife Performing At The Logies (22nd April)
Westlife have been confirmed as the superstar act appearing at the 50th Annual TV Week Logie Awards, the 'night of nights' which celebrates the most popular programmes and stars on Australian television.
They'll be performing their current international single ‘Something Right' at the awards, which will be held at the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne on Sunday 4th May and televised on the Nine Network.
Source: www.westlife.com
Great news for fans in the Republic of Ireland - Westlife have lined up two new shows! (18th April)
They're playing Pearse Stadium in Galway on Saturday 21st June, then heading to Killarney on Sunday 22nd June for a gig at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Tickets go on sale from 9am on Wednesday 23rd April.
Source: www.westlife.com
Vote In Our New Poll (18th April)
In our last poll, we asked you which Westlife song you'd most like the boys to dedicate to you on tour. "Us Against The World" was your top pick, with an impressive 25.46% of the votes, followed by "Flying Without Wings" on 18.29% and "When You're Looking Like That" on 13.61%.
Next up, we're getting literary. The boys have an autobiography coming out on 16th June - and we want to know which member's sensational stories you're most looking forward to reading! Head to the poll on the homepage to have your say.
Source: www.westlife.com
9 Years of Westlife - the highs and lows (18th April)
Saturday (19th) will mark the ninth anniversary of the release of Swear It Again, the first single by Westlife.
The Irish group – five-strong until Bryan McFadden’s departure in 2004, since when they have operated as a quartet – hit the ground running, with Swear It Again entering the chart at number one, with first week sales of 102,325.
Their next six single also entered the chart at number one, making them the first act ever to secure seven straight number one debuts.
Although eighth single, What Makes A Man, peaked at number two, they have since returned to the number one slot a further seven times, and racked 22 consecutive Top 5 singles at the start of a career – a record.
Some would say that their run was spoilt in December 2007, when I’m Already There – a cover of a track first recorded by American country group Lonestar – briefly entered the Top 75, peaking at number 62 after the group performed it in their ITV special The Westlife Show.
As it was not serviced to radio, released physically, or accessible on iTunes any other way than as a track on their Back Home album, purists would argue that wasn’t a single at all, and that Westlife’s run of Top 5 singles was, at that stage, unbroken.
But it would be impossible to argue the same for their latest release, Us Against the World, which, with a promo video, full radio servicing, physical release and stand-alone download availability, was a bona-fide single, and peaked at number eight in March.
But if I’m Already There is disregarded, the band’s run of consecutive Top 10 hits from the start of their career now stands at 23 – another total without precedent.
Us Against The World has avoided becoming their smallest seller, easing marginally ahead of 2006’s number four hit, Amazing, but has contributed little to Westlife’s very impressive career singles sales tally, which currently stands at 5,797,898 – more than any other act in the period since they made their maiden chart appearance in 1999, in a Top 5 where supporting roles were played by Fatboy Slim’s Right Here Right Now, Martine McCutcheon’s Perfect Moment, In Our Lifetime by Texas, and Basement Jaxx’s Red Alert.
The biggest-selling single of Westlife’s career came in 2001, when their version of Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl, released as a charity single with proceeds going to Comic Relief, sold more than 750,000 copies.
Here, exclusively, is our countdown of all their hits, ranked in ascending order.
POSITION title YEAR HST.POS WEEKS ON CHART SALES FROM ALBUM
23 AMAZING 2006 4 6 43882 FACE TO FACE
22 US AGAINST THE WORLD 2008 8 7 45865 BACK HOME
21 OBVIOUS 2004 3 8 76518 TURNAROUND
20 HEY WHATEVER 2003 4 7 79981 TURNAROUND
19 TONIGHT/MISS YOU NIGHTS 2003 3 10 100562 UNBREAKABLE - GREATEST HITS VOLUME 1
18 BOP BOP BABY 2002 5 10 111716 WORLD OF OUR OWN
17 WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME 2005 2 8 114212 FACE TO FACE
16 THE ROSE 2006 1 7 124503 THE LOVE ALBUM
15 HOME 2007 3 12 166506 BACK HOME
14 MANDY 2003 1 9 184310 TURNAROUND
13 UNBREAKABLE 2002 1 16 200402 UNBREAKABLE - GREATEST HITS VOLUME 1
12 WORLD OF OUR OWN 2002 1 13 200475 WORLD OF OUR OWN
11 FOOL AGAIN 2000 1 12 204773 WESTLIFE
10 MY LOVE 2000 1 10 290783 COAST TO COAST
9 IF I LET YOU GO 1999 1 11 300273 WESTLIFE
8 QUEEN OF MY HEART 2001 1 15 327908 WORLD OF OUR OWN
7 FLYING WITHOUT WINGS 1999 1 13 349830 WESTLIFE
6 AGAINST ALL ODDS 2000 1 12 354815 COAST TO COAST
5 SWEAR IT AGAIN 1999 1 13 356278 WESTLIFE
4 YOU RAISE ME UP 2005 1 17 387267 FACE TO FACE
3 WHAT MAKES A MAN 2000 2 13 390407 COAST TO COAST
2 I HAVE A DREAM/SEASONS IN THE SUN 1999 1 17 630417 WESTLIFE 1999
1 UPTOWN GIRL 2001 1 16 756215 COAST TO COAST
NOTE: When You Tell Me That You Love Me is by Westlife with Diana Ross, Against All Odds is by Mariah Carey & Westlife; all other singles credit only Westlife.
Source: Music Week / Westlife.gr
Official Autobiography On It's Way! (10th April)
Want to find out what life's really like when you're a member of one of the biggest-selling pop groups around? Then you certainly won't want to miss Westlife's official autobiography, which will be released by Harper Collins on 16th June.
The boys have been working on it for the last three months and say it's a very personal account of their lives. Nicky added: ‘It's been a lot of fun reliving the fun stories and the sad stories and the adventures we've been on for the last ten years. I'm sure the fans will love it'.
More details to come, but mark the date in your diaries now!
Source: Westlife.com
Girls Aloud and Westlife sign book deals (4th April)
Alison Flood
Transworld has paid a substantial six-figure sum for the first book from girl band and tabloid favourites Girls Aloud. The news comes as HarperCollins snapped up the autobiography of Irish boy band Westlife.
Transworld senior editor Sarah Emsley saw off stiff competition to win the Girls Aloud book, currently entitled Girls Aloud—Dreams That Glitter—Our Story and due in October. Singers Cheryl (wife of footballer Ashley Cole), Kimberley, Nadine, Nicola and Sarah started out as hopefuls on "Popstars: The Rivals" in 2002, and have since had 18 consecutive Top 10 singles.
Transworld said that in the past two years there has only been one day on which a story about the band has not appeared in the British national press. Girls Aloud said the book would cover the stories of their lives, both individually and as a band, their style tips, and "everything we've learnt about life, love and music".
The Westlife title, due in June, was acquired by Harper Non-fiction editorial director Natalie Jerome from agent Marianne Gunn O'Connor in a "substantial deal" that was "hotly contested". All four members - Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan - will contribute to the autobiography, which will chart how they became a band that has had more number ones that any other group except the Beatles.
Source: thebookseller.com
Westlife Add Plymouth Date (4th April)
Exciting news for Westlife fans in the south of England - the boys have added a date at Plymouth Argyle Football Club!
The show's lined up for Saturday 28th June and tickets go on sale soon from www.pafc.co.uk.
Source: Westlife.com
Westlife Playing Liverpool Pops (4th April)
Fancy a day of sun, fun and Westlife? The boys will be taking to the stage at this year's Liverpool Pops one-day event on Sunday 29th June.
Tickets will be going on sale soon.
Source: Westlife.com
Life in a boyband isn't easy, but it's fun, Westlife say (1st April)
4:00PM Monday March 31, 2008
By Belinda McCammon
It's not easy being in a boyband, especially, it seems, when that band is Westlife.
Despite having 14 UK No.1 singles and more than 36 million records sold, finding someone who admits to being a Westlife fan can be tougher than catching Osama bin Laden. But someone must be going to those shows and someone must be buying those records.
Look at the person next to you - despite their howls of derision or protests, it's probably them.
In 2006, The Rose became Westlife's 14th UK No.1 single, giving them the third-most in history (with Cliff Richard), behind only Elvis Presley, 21, and The Beatles, 17.
Westlife are rich, successful and have secured their musical legacy. As you can imagine then, Westlife aren't too phased by what the critics might say; they're doing alright thank you very much.
In May, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan will perform for the first time in New Zealand.
After 10 years the members still enjoy performing, Egan says from England. "We love it and it's a passion of ours. That's the real reason behind why we do it. Every time we make an album we try make the best album we can make."
For all their success, Westlife have yet to crack the American market, a fate similar to many successful British acts, but Egan remains philosophical about it. "We've never had a proper shot at America and I think that's mainly because of how the American market is and the band we are."
There was a bump in the road also when member Bryan McFadden left the group for a solo career in 2004, several weeks before a European tour. Despite speculation the band would call it quits, and probably a bit of wishful thinking by the critics, Westlife continued on. It is the only time when the band thought it was the end, Egan says. "When Bryan left the band it was obviously something we didn't want to happen and we were very upset about it. But once we got over that, we felt if we can get over that we can get through anything."
Egan, Feehily and Filan grew up together on the West Coast of Ireland and while they were intent on a musical career they never thought they would achieve this level of success. "Being a boyband isn't the easiest thing in the world to be, especially the way the music industry is these days. We never really expected it but the fact of the matter is, it happened and we're very grateful for that."
It may not have been expected but it was planned, when they were signed in July 1998 by American producer Simon Cowell and managed by Louis Walsh.
Egan says Cowell, of American Idol fame, is one of the cleverest people he has ever met. "He's not nasty at all, he's a gentleman. He's just honest."
Westlife started with Egan, Feehily, and Filan and eventually recruited Byrne and McFadden. The group finally settled on the name Westlife and their first big break came in 1998 when they opened for Boyzone in Dublin.
Cowell, Egan says knows how to pick a song for the type of people Westlife sell records to. "We probably have too much of a say in the sense that we're all trying to look for that one that is a wee bit cooler and a wee bit R&B or whatever it may be. He goes 'no, no, lets not forget what Westlife are. Westlife sing great power ballads that everybody can relate to' and he's right. Most of the songs on the albums we'll pick ourselves and then he'll say yes or no and he'll bring in a few other ideas. It's very much a group effort when we're making albums."
At the end of this tour the members are looking forward to taking a year off but there are no plans to retire. "For what we are I don't think there is a shelf life. When we first started off it was the kids dragging the mothers along. I think what happened over the years was the mother became the bigger fan than the kid."
Egan says as long as Westlife continues to give the audience great songs and keeps standards up "they're going to keep coming back. There's noone else out there doing what we do. There's not even a solo artist doing what we do - which is just great pop songs which the everyday person can listen to on the radio." Egan says the band don't care what the critics say or what they call their music. "We're a pop band. You can put whatever tag on that you want. It doesn't really bother us whether you call us a boy band, girl band, a man band. The people who tag us are generally the people who aren't really into us for our music, they're just into us to have a pop and slag us off. We're not bothered by what we're known as, just as long as our fans are enjoying what we do."
The band knows what they are, he says. "We are four guys standing on a stage, singing songs which we haven't written ourselves, which someone else has written."
Egan is also determined to stay grounded despite the success. "I'm a man in a band. I'm not successful and famous on my own as an individual. When I'm in that band and when I'm on that stage I accept that and I go 'wow this is amazing'. When I step off the stage I'm no different."
Fame brings a lot of power and Egan says he is not someone who likes to use that power. "I'm a human being at the end of the day and just because I do what I do doesn't make me any better. It doesn't make me any worse either, so I just try to live a normal life."
New Zealand fans can expect an up-tempo show, more than people would imagine from Westlife, he says.
"It's a pop show, it's not just four guys standing on a stage singing a load of ballads."
Westlife perform four shows in NZ in May:
Christchurch - Westpac Arena, May 7
Wellington - TSB Arena, May 9
Auckland - Vector Arena, May 10
New Plymouth - TSB Stadium, May 13
Source: New Zealand Herald
Shane's blog - Gillian pregant (14th March)
Hi everyone,
You've probably all heard the news by now, but I wanted to let you know personally that Gillian and I are having another baby!
I can't even begin to describe how amazing we're both feeling right now - as you can imagine, we're completely over the moon and Nicole is very excited at the thought of having a little brother or sister to play with.
The baby is due in September, so quite a while to go yet, although I'm sure it'll fly by really quickly. Gillian's bump is growing by the day and she's extremely happy and healthy.
I look forward to introducing the new member of the Filan clan to you later in the year!
Love Shane
Source: Westlife.com
This love is unbreakable (2nd March)
With all the Westlife lads happy in love, the band have revealed that without their partners they might be alcoholics or drug addicts.
The guys let Sunday Life into a secret - not only do they still get in trouble just like everyone else, but their partners are the people who keep them sane.
Shane who is married to Gillian Walsh (Kian's cousin) said 'if we didnt have our relationships the way they are and as strong as they are it would be crazy. Without having a relationship that gives you a stable side to your life you'd be a nut bag. I think without our partners we'd all probably be drug addicts or at night clubs drinking all night. You need a rock in your life, especially in this industry. You need that other half who is on Planet Earth all the time. The other half is that level of normality - without it we wouldn't be where we are today as a band.'
Mark also revealed that even Westlife can get in trouble. He's dating former boyband star Kevin McDaid. 'we get in trouble with our partners just as much as anyone else in a relationship - we're not special, we dont get any special treatment' he said.
And Nicky, who is married to Taoiseach Bertie Aherns daughter Georgina, said they even have phone fights in front of the band.
He said ' I always think its quite funny if you are in a room and somebody else is kind of fighting with the partner on the phone or something and you are sitting there listening, because you can't obviously close your ears. You kind of giggle to yourself, because you know when you are in that position its the most horrendous thing in the world. 'So when you're watching somebody else its actually quite funny, but you know they are going to get over it in 10 minutes time.'
Shane admits he tries his best with Gillian to skip the bit where she's angry with him. He revealed ' What I just say is, 'Look let's just skip this part and make up because we are going to make up either way' and she just starts laughing.'
Source: Jane / Leanne Miller for typing it up
Shane's Filan Mashed After The Meteors... (26th February)
Shane 'housing developer' Filan sure hit the sauce hard when he and the rest of the Westlife bunch partied at the Meteor Awards recently. In fact he was pisshhed! When the pop four-piece turned up at the Krystle after party, Shane looked like he was about ready to go find kebabs and curry chips on Dame Street... We’ve ALL been there folks. Hic.
Apparently Westlife's Shane 'the one who sings' Filan has only recently discovered a taste for Guinness. But from the looks of our post-Meteor Awards pictures we'd say he's developed a taste for Gunniess, Harp, Heineken, Smithwicks, Bud, Coors, Babysham, Snowballs, Buckfast and eh Scrumpy Jack. A true connoisseur of alcoholic beverages.
It seems that our Shane is what we like to call, a 'pointy-drunk' person. You know the ones who are always pointing the finger all over the gaff when they've had one-too-many? One of those types. Think of your Da on Christmas night after skin-full. Got it? Yeah, that's it.
Luckily Mr. Filan had his sexy new wife Gillian by his side to lead the way into the club and probably say things like: "wait till I get you home Mister" and "no, he's alright. He just needs air".
Kian 'the brains of the operation' Egan was also at the VIP club with his fiancee Jodi Albert. It seems Kian likes to protect his partner's posterior from the prying paparazzi. Either that, or he was just giving the prospective wife an aul pat on the arse.
The rest of the Westlifers seemed far more reserved at the celeb-tastic afterparty. Nicky 'little Bertie' Byrne turned up with his wife Georgina looking like he spent the night on soft-drinks. Well, they have new born twins on the go, so it's responsible parenthood from here on out. Scary.
Finally, Mark 'I miss my Saffie' Feehily and his fella Kevin McDaid marched proudly through the crowd of snappers linking-arms to get access to the club. Is it just us or do Mark & Kev look a bit like mannequins from the window of Next? A bit too perfectly groomed... The Stepford husbands.
Source: Showbiz.ie
Brand new tour dates! (21st February)
Westlife are thrilled to announce a string of tour dates in New Zealand.
Here's where they'll be:
Wed 7th May - Christchurch Westpac Arena
Fri 9th May - Wellington TSB Arena
Sat 10th May - Auckland Vector Arena
Tue 13th May - New Plymouth Stadium
There will be a presale for these dates starting on Monday 25th February. You won't need a password for the presale, but you will need the web address, which we'll be sending out to the mailing list this weekend. We'll also be posting the website details on this site on Monday morning.
Tickets go on general sale on Saturday 1st March.
Source: Westlife.com
Spend Valentine's With Westlife! (1st February)
Fans in Northern Ireland are in for an extra special treat this Valentine's Day - they get to spend half an hour with Westlife!
Westlife - Back Home is a half-hour documentary charting the boys' massive success over the past decade and includes amazing interviews with all four members, as well as Louis Walsh and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern!
Tune in from 7.30pm, UTV (ITV Northern Ireland) on 14th February to see the guys discussing fame, the music industry, plans for the future and a particular career-defining song.
Source: Westlife.com
Us Against The World' Coming Soon! (1st February)
Next month sees the release of Westlife's amazing new single ‘Us Against The World'.
There are two brilliant formats to collect, one with a new song and one with some top remixes.
Here's what to look out for:
CD1
Us Against The World
Get Away
CD2
Us Against The World
Us Against The World: Ashanti Boyz remix
Us Against The World Wideboys remix
The single will be released on 25th February, but you can pre-order your copy right now by clicking these links:
CD1: Amazon, HMV
CD2: Amazon, HMV
Source: Westlife.com
Tour Pre-Sale On Wednesday (28th January)
Exciting news – the boys have added an incredible six new dates to their 2008 tour!
Tickets for the additional shows in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester will be available for Westlife.com members to buy in an exclusive pre-sale on Wednesday 30th January from 9am.
Head right back here then for further info – you’ll also need the pre-sale password which is being emailed to everyone who’s signed up to the newsletter.
Tickets will be available to the general public on Friday 1st February.
[Webmaster edit: 19th May - Nottingham, 20th May - Cardiff, 23rd May - Manchester, are confirmed
Source: Westlife.com
Rumoured Us Against The World tracklisting & release date (25th January)
According to the Zavvi Us Against The World will be released on 25th February 2008. 18th February has been mentioned as well, so we'll have to wait a confirmation. But they also mention a possible tracklisting, being:
Disc 1
1. Us Against The World
2. I'm Already There (Ashanti Boyz Remix)
3. Us Against The World (The Wideboys Remix)
Disc 2
1. Us Against The World
2. Get Away
Click here to preorder your copy from Zavvi
Source: Zavvi
Westlife's Next Single (7th January)
Westlife have confirmed their next single will be ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’. A firm fan favourite from their chart-topping Love Album, it’s an amazing version of the Bonnie Tyler classic. The single will be released in February, and will contain an exciting new mix of the track.
The boys are shooting the video later this month – more details coming soon…
Source: Westlife.com
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