My love Blog

Hai album phòng thu cuối cùng: Nơi chúng tôi là và Gravity (2009–2010) [ chỉnh sửa ]

Album thứ mười của họ, Nơi chúng tôi là được phát hành vào ngày 30 tháng 11 năm 2009 tại Vương quốc Anh và đạt vị trí thứ 2 trên cả Bảng xếp hạng album của Ireland và Vương quốc Anh. Đĩa đơn mới, "What About Now", được phát hành một vài tuần trước đó vào ngày 23 tháng 10 năm 2009, với các bản tải xuống kỹ thuật số có sẵn vào ngày hôm trước. Đĩa đơn nói trên đạt vị trí thứ 2 trên cả bảng xếp hạng Singles Ailen và UK và xếp thứ 85 trong bảng xếp hạng doanh số bán hàng cuối năm. ^[85] Phiên bản gốc của Daughtry đã được tiếp xúc trong các buổi thử giọng của The The X Factor trước khi phát hành của Westlife. Họ cũng là một phần của tổ chức từ thiện Haiti vào đầu năm 2010 với "Everybody Hurts", một R.E.M. bìa được tổ chức bởi Cowell. ^[86] Các tour du lịch hỗ trợ cho album này được gọi là, "Nơi chúng tôi là Tour". Các tour du lịch bước vào số 50 của tour diễn buổi hòa nhạc hàng đầu cho quý thứ ba của năm với 241.865 vé bán hàng. ^[87] Album thứ mười một đã được thu âm và xử lý với nhạc sĩ và nhà sản xuất John Shanks ở London và Los Angeles và được sản xuất hoàn toàn bởi Shanks ^[88]

Khi thập niên 2000 kết thúc với 275 đĩa đơn đạt đến số một vị trí trên bảng xếp hạng ở Anh. Trong giai đoạn này, Westlife là nhóm thành công nhất đạt vị trí dẫn đầu, với 14 single đơn và đứng thứ hai trong tổng số tuần ở vị trí số một với 14 tuần. Westlife cũng là tác phẩm âm nhạc bán chạy lớn thứ hai ở Anh trong thập kỷ, thế kỷ 21. Và thứ hai từ danh sách các nghệ sĩ trong thập kỷ qua, những năm 1990, trong album Anh và bảng xếp hạng Singles. Trong khi vào năm 2005 một nửa thập kỷ, họ là người thứ năm ^[89]

Vào ngày 14 tháng 11 năm 2010, đĩa đơn "An toàn" được phát hành. Nó ra mắt trên bảng xếp hạng Singles Anh vào ngày 21 tháng 11 tại vị trí thứ 10, đưa nhóm của họ lên vị trí thứ 10 trong top 10 tại Anh. Album mới có tiêu đề Gravity được phát hành vào ngày 22 tháng 11 năm 2010. ^[90] Nó đã vươn lên vị trí số 1 tại Ireland và đứng thứ 3 tại Anh. Vào tháng 3 năm 2011, họ bắt đầu tour diễn lớn thứ 11 của họ, Gravity Tour. Chuyến đi này đánh dấu lần đầu tiên nhóm đến Oman, Namibia, Quảng Châu và Việt Nam cho các buổi hòa nhạc.

Westlife được vinh danh là nghệ sĩ âm nhạc làm việc chăm chỉ và thứ ba ở Anh bởi PRS năm 2010. ^[91] Năm 2011, Cowell đã mô tả ban nhạc là một người làm việc chăm chỉ và nhiệt tình. Anh ấy nói: "Tôi không nghĩ rằng tôi đã gặp bất cứ ai làm việc chăm chỉ như những kẻ này. Họ giống như những con chó nhỏ trong những ngày đó. Đó là tất cả về những người hâm mộ. Trong những ngày đó ban nhạc rất hạnh phúc và nhiệt tình và chỉ muốn hát. " ^[92] Vào tháng 8 năm 2011, nó đã được báo cáo trong Irish Examiner rằng lợi nhuận của công ty của ban nhạc đã tăng gấp năm lần trong năm 2010 với 35 triệu euro hoặc 31 triệu bảng Anh lên tới ước tính 50 triệu euro cho bốn người trong số họ trong ban nhạc ^{[93] [94]}

Cũng từ năm nói trên Billboard được biên soạn các hành vi du lịch quốc tế hàng đầu trên toàn thế giới, nhóm đứng thứ 14 với tổng doanh thu ròng ước tính là $ 5,104,109 (giả định một nghệ sĩ 34% điển hình được cắt giảm sau hoa hồng và chi phí) ^[95]

Greatest Hits split ( 2011–2018) [ chỉnh sửa ]

Kể từ năm 2011, nhóm là ban nhạc trị vì dài nhất và l thứ hai ongest trị vì số một hành động âm nhạc trong thế kỷ 21 ở Anh. Vào ngày 14 tháng 3 năm 2011, Westlife xác nhận rằng họ đã rời Cowell sau 13 năm và hãng thu âm Syco Music của anh sau chín năm. Nhóm đã trích dẫn quyết định của Syco không phát hành đĩa đơn thứ hai từ Gravity vì lý do Byrne cảm thấy đó là một lý do khác để không được yêu thương,

Chúng tôi đã ký hợp đồng với Simon vào năm 1998 và anh ấy rất xuất sắc, nhưng sau đó là sự phát triển của The X Factor và American Idol . Simon trở nên nổi tiếng và sở thích của anh ta đi theo cách đó hơn là ở Westlife. Chúng tôi gần như cảm thấy một chút không được yêu thích với Simon Cowell, nếu tôi thành thật mà nói. Chúng tôi đã có nó (hỗ trợ toàn thời gian) với Simon nhưng anh ấy đã rất bận rộn và sẽ làm điều đó vào phút cuối cùng và chúng tôi cần một người luôn ở đó. ^[96]

Vào ngày 23 tháng 4 năm 2011, Tài khoản Twitter của Egan đã đăng một loạt các mẩu tin nói rằng anh ấy sẽ rời khỏi nhóm. Sau đó, ông cho biết tài khoản của mình đã bị hack và từ chối thông báo. ^[97] Sau khi quay trở lại RCA Records toàn thời gian cho một hợp đồng album một năm, họ đã công bố album Greatest Hits của họ sẽ được phát hành vào ngày 21 tháng 11 năm 2011. Nó ra mắt ở vị trí số 1 ở Ireland và số 4 ở Anh . Đĩa đơn đầu tiên và dẫn đầu, "Lighthouse" được phát hành vào tháng 11 năm 2011. Và đĩa đơn quảng cáo tiếp theo "Beautiful World" được phát hành sau đó. Vào tháng 10 năm 2011, Egan đã loại trừ sự đầu cơ rằng McFadden sẽ đoàn tụ với họ cho album tổng hợp mới và quảng bá cho một chương trình truyền hình. Egan nói: "Tất cả những tin đồn về việc Brian tái gia nhập Westlife là không đúng sự thật. Chúng tôi đã có 4 mảnh quá lâu rồi. Chúng tôi yêu Brian nhưng sẽ không có. Điều đó bao gồm bất kỳ buổi biểu diễn nào của TV." ^[98] Với một album tổng hợp mới sắp ra mắt, nó đã được suy đoán Westlife sẽ làm một tour du lịch hit lớn nhất mới. Họ dự kiến ​​sẽ tổ chức buổi hòa nhạc ChildLine Concert tại Dublin vào ngày 12 tháng 11 năm 2011 và có một buổi hòa nhạc độc quyền khác trên O2 Blueroom, cũng tại Dublin vào ngày 24 tháng 11. ^{[99] [100]} Họ là lần đầu tiên được công bố vào ngày 18 tháng 10 năm 2011, với những ngày được xác nhận vào tháng 5 năm 2012 và có tựa đề là The Greatest Hits. Tour hoặc The Farewell Tour . Stereoboard.com đã báo cáo rằng chuyến tham quan đã được bán hết chỉ trong vài phút. ^[102] Vào ngày 19 tháng 10 năm 2011, Westlife chính thức tuyên bố họ đã chia tay sau một album và một tour lưu diễn. ^[103]

Bản phát hành album mới nhất và mới nhất của ban nhạc trước khi cải cách vào năm 2018, Greatest Hits

]After 14 years, 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top 5 albums, 7 of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44 million copies around the world, 10 sell out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish, we today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year. The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures. We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans. We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.

Over the years Westlife has become so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family. We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too. We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording, touring and having hits together. It has been a dream come true for all of us.

Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane^[104]

During this time, the Official Charts Company compiled the band's chart history which states that other than their number-ones they had 25 UK Top 10s, 26 UK Top 40s, 27 UK Top 75s, 20 Weeks at Number 1, 76 Weeks in Top 10, 189 Weeks in Top 40 and 282 Weeks in Top 75 in the UK Singles Chart. While 7 Number 1s, 12 UK Top 10s, Top 40s, Top 75s, 7 Weeks at Number 1, 92 Weeks in Top 10, 189 Weeks in Top 40, and 299 Weeks in Top 75 in the UK Albums Chart.^[105] A second statement was issued through their official site, saying the fans were continuing to be the best support system.^[106][107] Some fans on social networks described themselves as feeling "devastated" following news of the split.^[108][109] People left their messages on Twitter by using #WestlifeForever and #Westlife, it trended on Ireland, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, New Zealand, and UK. A live stream Q&A happened on 28 October 2011 as a "thank you" to their fans. As part of it, ITV commissioned a one-off music event as they took to the stage to sing some of their greatest hits, it was entitled "Westlife: For the Last Time".^[110] Another show entitled, "The Westlife Show: Live", was broadcast from Studio One of London Studios on the same channel on 1 November 2011.^[111] Then they had a live guesting on The Late Late Show.^[112] Their last TV appearance together was on X Factor UK in 11 December 2011 performing "What About Now". They were honored at that time by Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre with four specially commissioned bar stools which will be a permanent fixture at the venue. This marks an amazing 49 performances at SECC where they entertained over 380,000 fans over the years selling more tickets than any other act.^[113] The band had their final concert on 23 June 2012 at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The 82,300 capacity show was sold out in 4 minutes. Due to this popular demand, an extra date was added at Croke Park on 22 June 2012 which was also a sold-out. Combined, there was a total of 187,808 spectators on both nights.^[114] Their last concert was also screened live in more than 200 cinemas worldwide that include the UK and Ireland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Estonia, Germany, Indonesia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway and Denmark^[115] and had an additional screenings three days later due to popular demand and more countries in July and August 2012.^[116][117] It was the biggest live attendees in a last concert performance date by a music band and officially the 11th largest attendance at an outdoor stadium worldwide.^[118] They released a DVD which went to number 1 in both UK and Irish chart. It stayed for 30+ weeks in the charts so far. In that year too they were declared as 34th top grossing tour act of the year with earnings of $35.2 million (€27 million). The farewell tour consisted of eight dates in China and 33 in the UK and Ireland culminating in two nights at Croke Park in June. In total the band sold 489,694 tickets at an average price of $71.85 (€55) each. They are also the top music artist in the list that didn't have a major break in the America.^[119] Westlife was announced as the second most hard-working band and music artist in the UK by PRS in 2012.^[120]

Cowell and some media predicted a possible reunion in the future,^[121] but Westlife put an end to that speculation by vowing they would never reunite.^[122] Later reports from the Daily Record said there was an "irreparable rift" in the band,^[123] but was later denied by a source close to the band saying: "There's no bad blood in the band, they're still great pals. But all good things come to an end and they are all keen to do their own thing."^[124] Later, the band also denied it and called the split a "united decision".^[125] However he confessed three months after the split, Byrne said that members of the group fought with one another more and more often in the latter years leading up to the split and he felt that it was the right time to end their time together. A more comprehensive story behind the split was discussed by the Daily Mail where it stated that they came up with their break-up final decision in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 October 2011 despite a new 5 million British pounds record album and tour offer deal of RCA Records.^[126] A year after Westlife ended, they agreed to all voluntarily wind up Bluenet Ltd, their main entertainment firm, after going their own ways and split €2.3million to €595,500 each except for Filan who missed out any of it as he declared bankruptcy at that time due to property crash problems.^[127]

Since the split the four lads have released albums and singles individually. Filan, with three studio albums and tours (with support act dates for Lionel Richie) released and a Top 5 hit album in UK. Feehily signed with an independent record label (which he is the co-director) and released albums and singles. He also made it as a supporting act to Mariah Carey and Wet Wet Wet. Egan was voted King of the Jungle in ITV's I'm a Celebrity 2013 series, was a coach judge in The Voice of Ireland, and been a support act for Boyzone. Byrne joined Strictly Come Dancing UK and hosted several major Irish television and radio shows.^[128] They were also seen in public events by twos, Filan and Feehily, Byrne and Egan, Egan and Filan, Byrne and Filan, Feehily and Byrne, Egan and Feehily.^[129][130]

In 2014, Syco Music said to The Sun: "All the guys are up for it in principle. It's now just a matter of sorting out all the details, Syco would love Brian to be part of the band again. It’d create the same sort of buzz as when Robbie Williams returned to Take That. But the other lads will need to be convinced because they were always very clear that when Brian left it was for good."^[131] but Egan later twitted "Guys I'm sorry to say but I don't know where these rumours are coming from about a Westlife reunion but it's untrue. Sorry #westlifeforever."^[132][133] In 2015,^[134] 2016,^[135] 2017,^[136] Walsh expressed that the four-piece band will reunite. He had been in contact with Albert Hammond, Ed Sheeran and James Arthur to create songs for the band. He wants to adopt an edgier side for their comeback.^[137]

However, on 2016–2017, four years following the split, Filan told Lorraine and other media outlets that while there are currently no plans for a Westlife reunion, he would not rule it out for the future.^[138] Byrne expressed in 2017 "Shame this Westlife news is not true. They were always my guilty pleasures." He also talked about touring with the group: "Who wouldn't want to do that again? The laugh with the boys and travelling around and seeing all the fans again. It's nearly six years next summer since we've done it so who knows? Maybe in ten years. I've spoken to all the lads individually but we've never brought up a Westlife reunion, the thing about it is the four of us haven’t been in a room together since Jodi’s [Kian’s wife] mum's funeral,’ That was the last time we spoke properly as a band, if you want to call it that., I'm sure it will happen but I don't know when and I know know if even we know when the right time will be."^[139][140] Feehily added, "People have offered us blank cheques to get back together but it's not about money. There are no plans to reform. The time isn't now. We all have a lot more that we want to achieve first. It feels way too soon to be honest, a 20th anniversary tour could still happen one day as 2019 is 20 years since we released our first single, while 2021 is 20 years since our first world tour. So you never know".^[141]

On 31 March 2018, it was reported on Allkpop that all of them might guest on a Korean popular musical show Immortal Songs 2 but Filan was the only one who appeared on the show as a judge and a guest performer afterwards.^[142] As of 28 April 2018, Irish Sun published that the last four remaining members of the pop group was offered 11.4 million euros each by Cowell just to reunite with their former bandmate McFadden with an album and a tour. A total of 50 million euros set and willing to invest 20–30 million euros more for the said reunion.^[143] Egan later said any of these reports were untrue. Later they revealed they've been phoned up by Walsh and Cowell every six months since their split. On 23 September 2018, several Irish news outlets started reporting that the group has been signed to Universal Music Group for a new five-year album and tour deal with Virgin EMI Records.^{[144][145][146]}

Reunion, new music and The Twenty Tour (2018-present)[edit]

On 3 October 2018, Ken Sweeney of The Irish Sun reported that the band will officially announce their comeback online in two hours.^[147] At exactly 8 pm (London time), the same day, the group has formally announced there'll be new music and tour coming soon on their official social media accounts like on their Instagram account which was created the same day of their announcement.^[148] According to the reports, they've been preparing for their comeback for the past twelve months as Feehily also said in 2017 he hoped to get them all together for a proper catch-up.^[149] It was later revealed that Egan and Filan talked about their reunion and inspired when Adele released "Hello" in late 2015.^[150] While Byrne raised his concerns in 2016, “Where Westlife’s music fits into the current market” and not wanting to be simply a “nostalgia” act.^[151] Two years later he said, "While we were away, we realised what Westlife really meant to the fans — and to us."^[152] McFadden was not involved in the reformation as he said on his recent interview with Closer Magazine"...there's no reason for me and the boys to stay buddies." and "For me, it was just a job. I only met the guys when I joined the band and have no regrets about leaving."^[153] Their first live interviews and press conferences as a four-piece in six years were made 20 days later held in Dublin and Belfast where they revealed they have a plan on sticking around longer.^[154][155] Days later, it was followed by several radio interviews in Manchester, Ulster, Dublin and Glasgow (in order).

First single since 2011 will be released in November 2018 and confirmed to be uptempo. It is slated to have a debut live performance in the The Late Late Show.^[156] Ed Sheeran and longtime songwriter, music producer of the band Steve Mac have come up with four new tracks for them and one is upbeat. Some were composed since 2016. The duo have made the hits like "Shape of You", and "Woman Like Me".^[157] Mac revealed the band's signature sound will be back.^[158] With regards to their new music, Feehily and Filan added, "We’re not trying to change Westlife’s sound, we’re trying to evolve", "We need to be a Westlife 2.0, a better version of ourselves. We wanted to come back and recreate Westlife’s sound, but better, and be a better band, and the most important thing about any band is music."^[159] Walsh also added the most important now are the songs. Full-length album will be released in 2019, their first album to be released in eight years and first studio album in nine years. In November 2018 the pre-order link for the upcoming album was released on Amazon^[160] and HMV.^[161] Their first UK television appearance will be on The Graham Norton Show in January 2019.

In the meantime, on the evening of 17 October 2018, the UK and Ireland dates of the tour were announced through Westlife's social networks and was called The 20 Tour. A pre-order site of the forthcoming new Westlife album (for both unsigned and limited signed, which was taken down minutes later) from their official store was cited where you will receive an exclusive pre-sale code for early access tickets to the 2019 tour. Pre-sale tickets were all sold out before the general sale and been described the event as a "big one"^[162] making the original tour dates sold out at the very time of its general sales opening. The tour have twelve original dates and fourteen more dates added in less than twelve hours due to phenomenal huge demand as per ticket promoters.^{[163][164][165][166][167]} On their first full print interview as a band in six years, they said: “We will get to everyone eventually.” Egan added, “Every country that wants to see Westlife will see us at some point. We won’t step away from this until we’ve managed to tour the world.”^[168] Second round of general on-sale tickets will be opened on 15 November 2018, Thursday, 9 am for newly added dates.^[169]

Popularity[edit]

Westlife's debut album and single coincided with the apogee of boy band popularity, and their success was most apparent in Ireland, the UK, and most of African, Asian, Australian and European countries. They had 12 worldwide concert tours over their 14-year career and sold over 5 million tickets. On April 2001, over one million fans wanted to chat with the lads from 122 countries.^[170] Voted worldwide as the best boy band on MTV Battle of the Boybands with over thirty-two bands in the choices in 2012. Their battle between Backstreet Boys garnered the highest rate of votes with more than one million. The total votes throughout the two-week competition got more than 12 million votes.^[171] They have more than 50,000 official fans club members in mainland China alone in 2006.^[172] Boy band One Direction was mistaken for Westlife in Ghana.^[173] They are the biggest selling international, foreign album act in Philippine and Indonesian music records history. They are Vietnam's most viewed music artist in YouTube as of 2015.^[174] Voted by the public four times as The Record of the Year and twice as Best Pop Act on Brit Awards in the UK. Three of their studio albums were part of the 50 fastest selling albums of all time in UK.^[175] In 2000s, "Swear It Again" became a popular song for wedding and funerals in the British Isles. In 2009, "Flying Without Wings" was listed as seventh most popular song for wedding's first dances in UK.^[176] In 2016, three of their songs ("I'll See You Again", "Flying Without Wings", "You Raise Me Up") made it on the top pop music choices for funerals in Ireland.^[177] In South Korea, their singles "My Love" and "You Raise Me Up" stayed in the top 60 of the Official International Karaoke Charts since the inception of the charts in December 2010 up to its recent chart released.^[178] Their song "My Love" is the most viewed, liked and shared Facebook video post from a boy band and also the second most liked one.^[179][180] Demo song "Beautiful in White" reached more than 176 million views (on a single video only) on YouTube as of November 2018 making it as the most successful song from a pop act that was not released as an official single and never made any albums (until Filan released a different version for his solo album).^[181]

They were invited by Wayne Rooney and Coleen Rooney to sing on their wedding reception in Portofino, Abbey of Cervara, Italy and got paid £400,000, one of the highest amount paid acts for a wedding in world history. They are Coleen's favorite pop band, invited to Coleen's 21st birthday but was unable to make it.^[182] The band also performed for the Sultan of Brunei, an occasion on which they were paid £2.5 million to play a private concert of seven songs.^[183] They also performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2000, and in 2005 with the songs "World of Our Own" and "You Raise Me Up" with Rolf Løvland and Fionnuala Sherry, and in 2009 with "What About Now" and "You Raise Me Up" in front of former US President Barack Obama and met him afterwards.^[184] They also played for Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II twice in a live concert television show and shook hands with them.^[185] They were the first ever pop band to top the entertainment bill at the Vatican City and a private concert for the Pope.^[186] They also personally met former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and picked autographs also for his daughter.^[187] The band was also mentioned in the book version of Me Before Youwhich was released in 2012. Westlife's songs were also used as film soundtracks six times that include "Safe" for Dolphin Tale in 2011, "You Raise Me Up" for Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie in 2014 and "Flying Without Wings" for Pokemon: The Movie 2000. Their songs were also used as soundtracks for television shows such as Britain's Got TalentCoronation StreetDancing on IceEastEndersSo You Think You Can Dance UKand The X Factor UK. Their songs appeared in more than a thousand compilation albums.^[188]

Despite their success worldwide, Westlife was unable to break into the U.S. market. They had only one hit single in the United States, "Swear It Again", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2000. The band made an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live and the U.S. edition of their debut album, Westlife was released, but it didn't meet with success. In 2002, with the two most prominent boy bands in the US, the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, going on hiatus that year, an attempt was made to promote and release a US version of World of Our Ownbut was never successful. Billboard called the failure due to corporate politics.^[189]

"We sent over a CD of World of Our Own with no name on it. They didn't know it was Westlife and every single radio station in the States – all came back and said that this is an absolutely huge hit. They said it was great for radio and people are gonna love it, especially as there's just a slight bit of rock guitar to it. But as soon as we revealed it was Westlife, the radio pluggers all went, 'Whoa, not Westlife – it's a boyband.' And we cannot break that down, no matter what song we come out with. The problem with America is that it's all radio and you've got to break into radio first. And currently radio doesn't want to play boy bands or pop music. If Bono wrote a song with us tomorrow and it was the biggest hit in the world, if Westlife's name is put to it, it won't be a hit in America because radio will not play us."^[190]

— Nicky Byrne

"Flying Without Wings" peaked at No.2 in the US when American Idol Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard recorded and released it as his debut single. In 2003, Westlife went to Nashville to film a TV documentary. While they were there, they gave a live performance of the song "Daytime Friends", originally by country music singer Kenny Rogers. Though Westlife didn't gain as much success in the States as they did elsewhere, their music was still appreciated. Kid David Corey, assistant PD and music director at top 40 WXKS (Kiss 108) radio station in Boston, Massachusetts was a Westlife supporter that was recorded saying "Bands like Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync are still climbing the charts, and radio is supporting them, so I don't think the boy band thing is going to hurt them. Besides, this song ["Swear it Again"] is just too good for any of that to be a concern. I can't imagine anyone not playing this because it's another boy band, especially when it doesn't even sound like those other guys."^[191]

Celebrities including Chris Martin of Coldplay, Jamie Vardy, Elton John, Sharon Osbourne, Martine McCutcheon, Niall Horan, Neil Murillo, Daniel Bedingfield, Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris, Sam Mangubat, Stormzy, Sofie Hagen, Gemma Collins, Matt Kilgallon, Shona McGarty, Alexandra Burke, Michael Devlin, Scott McKenna, Dominic Ball, Dan Osborne, Union J, James Arthur, Zhong Chenle and Robert Pattinson have recognized their love for Westlife's music.^{[192][193][194][195][196][197][198][199][200][201][202][203][204][205][206][207][208][209][210][211][212]} Some well-known music artists like Ronan Keating, Will Young, Shayne Ward and Ruben Studdard have also covered their songs. Some of the following are original songs by Westlife that have been covered by other artists (which includes professionally recorded or performed list only). Some were officially released as a single.

Despite their popularity, some artist have expressed their dislike to the group like Eminem, Christina Aguilera, Bob Geldof, Pierce Brosnan, Liam Gallagher, Melanie C, Victoria Beckham, Gary Barlow, Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher.^{[227][228][229][230][231][232][233][234][235][236]} Some have also criticized the band for having lots of covers, having the same sound on every albums released and lack of songwriting skills. Feehily revealed in 2009: "There were many songs which I would be even scared to mention, you know, that were suggested to us which we turned down. "There were many cover versions and many original songs that were either terrible. There was loads of stuff through the years, like 'You Are Not Alone' by Michael Jackson?, that were suggested by their record company chief Cowell".^[237] Westlife have proven to have more original songs, worked with many songwriters and music producers and co-written numerous songs throughout their 14-year career. (See Westlife songlist for the compilation.)

Collaboration[edit]

Before their success, the band served as supporting opening acts for the boy bands Backstreet Boys and Boyzone. Since then, the group has recorded studio and live performances with music acts including Mariah Carey ("Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"), Lulu ("Back at One"), Joanne Hindley ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Diana Ross ("When You Tell Me That You Love Me"), Donna Summer ("No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"), and Delta Goodrem ("All Out of Love"), "If I Had Words" with The Vard Sisters, "I Have A Dream" with Indonesian child-star Sherina. These songs were also recorded and included on various albums. In 2002, Westlife re-recorded their hit song "Flying Without Wings" with Mexican singer Cristian Castro and with Korean singer BoA as two separate duets.

Westlife has performed live duets with many other music artists including: Will Smith, Wyclef Jean, Toby Keith, Esperanza Spalding, Luis Fonsi, Alexander Rybak, Amadou and Mariam, Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lang Lang, Natasha Bedingfield ("Man in the Mirror"),^[238]Wang Leehom ("You Raise Me Up"),^[239]Mary Black ("Walking in the Air"), Sinéad O'Connor ("Silent Night"), Dean Verbeeck ("Swear It Again"), Donny Osmond ("Crazy Horses"), Kevin Spacey ("Beyond the Sea" and "Fly Me to the Moon"), Mariah Carey ("Never Too Far/Hero Medley"), Secret Garden ("You Raise Me Up"),^[184] Lionel Richie ("Easy"), Boyzone ("No Matter What"), Ronan Keating ("The Dance"), Ray Quinn ("That's Life"), JLS ("Flying Without Wings"), Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries ("Little Drummer Boy") and various artists for a charity single and live concert or television performances with music artists such as Steps, 5ive, S Club 7, Blazin' Squad, Gareth Gates, Liberty X, Girls Aloud, Busted, McFly, Emma Bunton, Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart, Cheryl, Mika, Michael Bublé, Joe McElderry, Miley Cyrus, James Blunt, Blue, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jon Bon Jovi, James Morrison, Alexandra Burke, Jason Orange, Susan Boyle, Rachel Stevens, JLS, Jamie Cullum, Gloria Estefan, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, and V, where the former boyfriend of Feehily was a member named Kevin McDaid.^[240] In 2018, the band is reported to have a collaboration with Ed Sheeran for their comeback single.^[241]

Products and endorsements[edit]

Some of the products that Westlife officially released, aside from their music releases, include video games, Cadbury chocolates, books, calendars, and tour merchandises such as T-shirts, jewellery, stationary, toiletries, dolls, watches, clocks, mugs, duvets, wallpaper, key chains, and posters. Their second studio album Coast to Coast received additional products mostly in Asia that include MRT transport ticket, picture card calendar, postcard set, signed fold-out poster, glossy slipcase and Filofax.^[242][243] They also received sponsorship from Tayto in 2000^[244] and for their concert tours from Calvin Klein in 2001, Adidas in 2002 and Volkswagen in 2011. They have official and unofficial books released. One of them is the book written by the members of Westlife was released on 16 June 2008 by HarperCollins UK Publishing entitled, 'Westlife - Our Story', as part of their 10th year celebration.^[245] The band released two perfume gift sets, "X" and "With Love".^[246]

Charitable support[edit]

The group has supported various charitable causes. They were involved in the "Helping For Haiti" charity single that was released in February 2010. As well as releasing a cover version of "Uptown Girl" for Comic Relief, one of their biggest selling singles to date.

They have participated in a Royal British Legion poppy appeal and did an advertisement for Galway's Irish Water Safety campaign.^[247][248] They also lent their support to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).^[249] On 4 November 2005, they performed with other music artists at Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa for The "Unite of the Stars" Gala Banquet charity concert that supports four charities: the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Unite Against Hunger, St. Mary's Hospital and the Topsy Foundation.^[250] They also performed live for charity on Sport Relief,^[251]Macmillan Cancer Support,^[252] Croí, Western Alzheimer's, O’Dwyer Cheshire Home, Mayo Cancer Support Group, Marie Keating Foundation,^[253] Outward Bound Trust,^[254]ChildLine, Children in Need, Sheffield's Children Hospital. They had also helped for auctions on Meningitis Research Foundation,^[255] Carlton Celebrity Auction for Centrepoint (for the homeless),^[256] the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and The Samaritans),^[257] Zutto charity painting, Pushing The Envelope (for National Literacy Trust). They've visited also Great Ormond Street Hospital.^[258] They've been involved also with the following organizations: Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID),^[259]Cancer Research UK, United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP),^[260] Muscle Help Foundation,^[261] Global Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign^[262] and Real Man campaign.^[263] They are also included as ambassadors of The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). As part of IPSCC, Feehily signed up for their anti-bullying campaign, "Join the Fight for Children's Rights".^[264] and Aware,^[265] Byrne for Heart attack and Asthma awareness campaigns, Daily Star's Reclaim Our Streets crusade,^[266] Byrne for Oxfam's East Africa famine appeal (by Celtic F.C. v Manchester United F.C. football match),^[267] and for Children's Hospice South West (by Truro charity football match).^[268] Filan, Byrne for Soccer Aid,^[269][270]J.P. McManus Invitational Pro-Am, One World Beat.^[271] Filan for Irish Red Cross (by Sligo Rovers F.C. Showgrounds football match),^[272] and Egan for Strandhill Indonesian Relief Fund (SIRF, in aid of the South Asian tsunami victims).

Members[edit]

Discography[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

One of their biggest selling video concert tour film, Where Dreams Come True

Concert Tours[edit]

Headlining

Supporting

Promotional Tours[edit]

• 1998-2012; 2018-present UK and Ireland Tour
• 1999 European, East Asian and Southeast Asian Tour
• 2000 European, North American, South American and Asian Tour^[273]
• 2001, 2002 European, Korean, Mexican and United States Tour
• 2003 European, Hong Kong and Japan Tour
• 2005, 2006 European, Taiwan Tour
• 2007 Australian Tour
• 2009 Swedish Tour^[274]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westlife.