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Group members
Mark Michael Patrick Feehily
born: 28/05/1980
height: 5' 11"
birthplace: Sligo, Ireland
color of eyes: blue
Bryan Nicholas McFadden
born: 4/12/1980
height: 6' 1"
birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
color of eyes: blue
Shane Steven Filan
born: 7/05/1979
height: 5' 9"
birthplace: Sligo, Ireland
color of eyes: hazel green
Kian John Francis Egan
born: 29/04/1980
height: 5' 10"
birthplace: Sligo, Ireland
color of eyes: blue
Nicholas Byrne
born: 10/09/1978
height: 5' 10"
birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
color of eyes: blue
1999-2000
So you've obviously heard the group Westlife. But, I know many of you from North America probably don't know much about the group. On the other hand, fans from Europe and Asia probably know everything written on this page.
Westlife is an Irish boy band group who got their claim to fame performing as the opening act to a 1998 Backstreet Boys show in Dublin, Ireland. They are managed by Louis Walsh and Ronan Keating. Who are these two people you ask? Ronan Keating is the lead singer of the Irish pop group "Boyzone" while Louis Walsh is the manager of Boyzone. Boyzone is a wildly popular pop group in Europe and Asia where they have scored numerous #1 hits. Sadly, the only Boyzone hit to make it to this side of the ocean (that is North America) was "No Matter What" on the "Notting Hill" Soundtrack.
But, I am digressing here so...
Westlife was originally composed of 6 friends from Sligo, Ireland. Three eventually left the group, and Nicky and Brian joined the group in their place. Westlife was originally called IOU. They later renamed themselves Westside, but they had to change the name once they found out that several groups had laid claim to the name Westside (especially in the United States).
Westlife soon shot to popularity with the release of their debut song "Swear It Again" in April 1999. The song hit #1 in the UK. It was followed by 4 more #1 songs...a record in itself within the UK. "If I Let You Go", "Flying Without Wings", "Seasons in the Sun/I Have a Dream", and "Fool Again" all shot to #1 in the UK.
After conquering Europe and Asia, the group set its sight on the United States, where they were virtually unknown. They released the song "Swear It Again" in April 2000 in the US. To coincide with the release, the group remade their video for the song. The UK video takes place in an auditorium while the US video takes place at a car wash. [I'm sure you can find a clip of the UK version somewhere on the net. A link to the US version is on this website.]
So is Westlife a success in North America? It remains to be seen, although I certainly hope so =) Swear It Again has been slowly climbing the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts, and at last count had risen to an impressive #21. However, the album itself has yet to breach the top 100.
2002
Bryan became the first married member of Westlife in January 2002. He married Kerry Katona, formerly of Atomic Kitten. They both have a daughter, Molly, who was born in September 2001.
Westlife scored their 10th UK #1 in February 2002 with World of Our Own (see the Charts section for detailed info on their hit songs). Later in the fall, Westlife scored their 11th UK #1 with "Unbreakable"They embark on their 2nd major UK/Ireland in April 2002. This tour ended in June 2002.
American fans were ecstatic upon hearing that the group's long awaited second attempt at the US market would occur in late summer. However, the ecstasy quickly faded when the group did not make any public promotional attempts. Whether it was the group's decision or the record company's (RCA Records) decision on the failed promotional attempt remains a mystery. Although they made a new video for "World of Our Own" just for a US release, they never actually did promotional effort for their album in the US. And the US video was a pretty nifty video to say the least, different from their prior video releases. Without much of any promotion, the song climbed on Radio and Records CHR/Pop charts, peaking at #41 on radio airplay. In some cities, the song reached as high as #2 in popularity in nightly chart countdowns, including Providence, Rhode Island. The release of the album in early October was shelved indefinitely. The group currently has no plans for a US release.
At Christmas time, Shane proposed to Gillian. Nicky proposed to Georgina. Both merrily accepted. With Nicky married to Kerry Katona, this leaves Mark and Kian as the only single members of Westlife. In 2003, Kian becomes tabloid fodder as his relationship with several ladies garners some "juicy" detailed revelations...nothing too terrible of course. But enough to keep the group in the spotlight.
2003
In January, Westlife made a trip to Nashville, Tennessee (USA), home of country music. They spent 3 days transforming themselves into country music artists and even recorded an unreleased song, Daytime Friends, Nighttime Lovers. Unfortunately, the show was broadcast only on BBC in the UK in May, leaving only the lucky folks in Nashville, as one of the privileged few Americans to catch them at a live performance.
Perhaps, in an ironic twist, American Idol "2" winner Ruben Studdard performed Westlife's "Flying Without Wings" and took the song to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He was outdone by runner up Clay Aiken, who took the #1 spot with "Bridge Over Troubled Waters". To the dismay of many Westlife fans, there was barely any mention that "Flying Without Wings" was a remake of a Westlife song. Many American Idol watchers assumed that "Flying Without Wings" was an original. This left many American fans to ponder what would have happened had Westlife actually released "Flying Without Wings" back in 2000 as a followup to their #20 hit "Swear It Again".
Westlife had their 14th UK top 5 hit with "Tonight/Miss You Nights"
Starting this winter and spring, they embarked on a European tour in support of their "Unbreakable/Greatest Hits Album". The tour started off in European countries including Germany and the Nordic countries, and continued to the UK/Ireland. In early summer, they will also perform their first stadium concert in Lansdowne (UK), performing for a crowd that will be far in excess of the 10,000 fans at their usual tour venues.
Despite consistent rumors early in the year of their impending breakup, the group denies all rumors. In fact, their 5th album is due for release this fall. And fans are eagerly awaiting it.
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