Westlife

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Westlife


Img_size = 500
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Sligo, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Background = group_or_band
Genre = Pop
Teen Pop
Adult Contemporary
Pop Ballad
Big Band
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Sony BMG
RCA
Syco Music
Arista
URL = [http://www.westlife.com www.westlife.com]
Current_members = Nicky Byrne Kian Egan Mark Feehily Shane Filan|
Past_members = Bryan McFadden (1998-2004)

Westlife is an Irish pop band that was formed on 3 July 1998. They were signed on by Simon Cowell and are currently managed by Louis Walsh. Over the years, Westlife's music has evolved from teen pop to an adult contemporary sound, with an emphasis on ballads.

The group's original lineup comprised of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan , and Bryan McFadden. Filan and Feehily are the band's lead vocalists. All of the band members are songwriters, although most of their hits have been composed by external writers. On March 9, 2004, McFadden left the band to work on solo projects (before his departure, McFadden also contributed lead vocals).

Westlife has sold more than 40 million records worldwide. [ [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21294938-7484,00.html Westlife tour heats up] The Courier Mail. 27 February 2007] They garnered 14 number one singles in the United Kingdom, the third-highest in UK history, tying with Cliff Richard and tailing behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles. The band has also won numerous awards such as the "Best Irish Pop Act" at the annual Ireland Meteor Awards and ITV "Record of the Year" award in the UK. The band has also broken a few top records, including "Music artist with most consecutive number 1's in the UK" and the "Biggest selling arena act in the UK".

History

Formation

Prior to Westlife, Kian, Mark and Shane along with fellow Sligonians Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron and Michael Garrett, were part of a six-member pop vocal group called 'IOYOU'. The group was groomed and managed by choreographer Mary McDonagh along with two other informal managers and they released a single titled "Together Girl Forever". Louis Walsh, the manager of the 1990s boy band Boyzone, was contacted by Shane's mother and came to know about the band. However, IOYOU did not meet Simon Cowell's approval for a record deal with BMG, thus changes were needed. Two members of IOYOU were given the sack and auditions were held in Dublin where Byrne and McFadden were recruited. A third original member of IOYOU, Michael Garrett, was also dropped. The new group, formed on July 3, 1998, was re-named Westside but as the name was already taken by another band, it was changed to Westlife. Boyzone singer Ronan Keating was brought in to co-manage the band with Walsh. Westlife then began to release an album titled Swear It Again EP, though it was only released in Asia. The album has songs such as "Until The End Of Time", "Everybody Knows", "Let's Make Tonight Special", "Forever", "Don't Calm The Storm" and "On The Wings of Love". Some of these singles were used as B-Sides to some of their number 1 hits. [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv7CIVnGGR0
title = Westlife - Fool Again-Live in Malaysia
publisher = YouTube
author =
format = Video
date =
accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

Original lineup

Dreams Come True - "World Of Our Own" (1998-2002)

Westlife's first big break came in 1998 when they opened for Boyzone in Dublin. Later that year, they won the 'Best New Tour Act' award at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. [ [http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=27201%20Westlife%20announcement GMTV - Westlife on GMTV ] ] In March 1999, the band released their first single, "Swear It Again" which immediately topped the charts in Ireland and in UK for two weeks.cite web
url = http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=27201%20Westlife%20announcement
title = Westlife on GMTV
publisher = GMTV
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Their second single, "If I Let You Go", released in August 1999 along with the highly acclaimed "Flying Without Wings" (their first 'Record of the Year'), released in October the same year, also followed suit. "Flying Without Wings" was also included on the soundtrack of the Warner Brothers film, "Pokemon 2000". The first album, simply titled "Westlife", was released in November 1999 and peaked at #2 in the UK. Ironically, the album was the biggest chart dropper in the music history of UK, falling from #3 to #37, and is also the band's only original studio album that never reached #1. In December 1999, the double a side fourth single was released,"I Have A Dream"/"Seasons In The Sun", knocked Cliff Richard's "The Millennium Prayer" off the top spot and earning them the 1999 UK Christmas number-one single.cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=949719
title = Westlife, Shania Top UK. Christmas Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
author =
date = 20 December 1999
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=869373
title = Westlife Tops UK Singles Chart For 4th Week
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 10 January 2000
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] The fifth and last single from the album, "Fool Again", also peaked at #1. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=867023
title = Westlife Go Five For Five On UK Singles Chart
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 3 April 2000
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Then, the band went on a short UK and Asian tour in support of their debut album before releasing a second album.

""Coast to Coast"" was released a year after and was another #1 UK album beating the Spice Girls' Forever album. It becomes the country's 4th biggest selling album of 2000 and is Westlife's biggest selling album to date. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=875951
title = Westlife Outlasts Spice Girls In UK Chart War
publisher = Billboard charts
author =
date = 13 November 2000
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=29350
title = Platinum Awards
publisher = British Phonographic Industry
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] The album was preceded by a duet with Mariah Carey on the Phil Collins' classic "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" and the original song, "My Love" (the song that bagged their second 'Record of the Year' award). Both singles reached #1 on the UK charts. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=876235
title = Westlife Defy The 'Odds' On UK Singles Chart
publisher = Billboard charts
author =
date = 25 September 2000
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=875991
title = Westlife Continues UK Singles Chart Monopoly
publisher = Billboard charts
author =
date = 6 November 2000
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] With this, Westlife broke an unexpected record of having their first seven singles debut at the top of the UK charts, tying with The Beatles. However, in December 2000, they failed to secure their eighth chart-topper in a row with their UK and Ireland only single "What Makes A Man" when kid's favourite, Bob The Builder's "Can We Fix It", was crowned as the Christmas number-one single of that year. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=874898
title = Bob The Builder Ends Westlife's UK Chart Run
publisher = Billboard charts
author =
date = 26 December 2000
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Outside the UK/Ireland territories, they have released "I Lay My Love on You" and "When You're Looking Like That" and gained chart success. In 2001, the boys launched their first world tour, "Where Dreams Come True Tour", unofficially nicknamed "The No Stools Tour" due to the band's reputation of performing while perched on stools. [cite web
url = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Westlife-Where-Dreams-Come-True/dp/B00005Q5AE
title = Westlife - Where Dreams Come True [2001]
publisher = Amazon UK
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] cite web
url = http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=27201%20Westlife%20announcement
title = Westlife on GMTV
publisher = GMTV
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ]

Westlife released "World Of Our Own", their third album, in November 2001. "Uptown Girl", "Queen of My Heart" and "World of Our Own" were released as singles, as of which all peaked at #1 in the UK. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1294808
title = Westlife Return To Form On UK Singles Chart
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 12 March 2001
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1100366
title = Westlife, Steps Top UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 12 November 2001
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1112974
title = Boy Bands Crowd UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 19 November 2001
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] "Bop Bop Baby" was also released as a single but it peaked at #5 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2002, Westlife went on their second world tour, the World Of Our Own Tour (In The Round)cite web
url = http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=27201
title = Westlife on GMTV
publisher = GMTV
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ]

"Unbreakable" - Departure of Bryan (2002-2004)

The band released their eleventh UK #1 single, "Unbreakable", in 2002. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1759354
title = Westlife, Blue Top UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 11 November 2002
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Amidst rumors of a split, Westlife released their first greatest hits album in November that same year. "Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1" zoomed all the way to #1 in the UK. The release was followed by the double a side single, "Tonight/Miss You Nights", which debuted at #3 in the UK. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1852616
title = Linkin Park, Room 5 Crash Into UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 31 March 2003
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] In 2003, Westlife went on to their third world tour, The Greatest Hits Tour, shrugging off rumors of a split. [cite web
url = http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808641051/info
title = Westlife: The Greatest Hits Tour (2003)
publisher = Yahoo Music
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ]

In September 2003, Westlife released "Hey Whatever", which peaked at #4 on the UK Charts. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1983903
title = Darkness, Black Eyed Peas Lead UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 22 September 2003
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Their fourth studio album, "Turnaround", was then released in November, earning the band another UK #1 album. "Mandy", a cover of the Barry Manilow hit, was released in November 2003. Their version won them their third Record of the Year award in under five years. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2042726
title = Young, Westlife Top UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 1 December 2003
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Their version of Mandy is also considered as the highest single leaper to the top (from #200 to #1) in the UK music history.cite web
url = http://www.everyhit.com/record5.html
title = Record Breakers and Trivia : Singles : Individual Hits : Number 1s
publisher = EveryHit
first =
last =
date =
accessdate = 2008-03-21 ] "Obvious" was released as the final single from the album, charting at #3. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000447618
title = Peter Andre Returns To UK Chart Glory
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 1 March 2004
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ]

On 9 March 2004, just three weeks prior to embarking on their fourth world tour, Bryan McFadden left the band to spend more time with his family and work on solo projects. On that day, a press conference was held where all the band's members were present and had an emotional individual speeches. Brian's final public performance as part of Westlife was at Newcastle Upon Tyne's Powerhouse nightclub on 27 February 2004. [cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3545399.stm
title = Boy band Westlife become foursome
publisher = BBC News
author =
date = 9 March 2004
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Westlife-Greatest-Hits-Tour/dp/B00009PACW/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0
title = Westlife - Greatest Hits Tour [2004]
publisher = Amazon UK
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] He subsequently began a solo career, deciding to revert the spelling of his first name back to its original 'Brian', he released his first solo single, "Real To Me" which entered the UK chart at #1 and soon after, he released his first solo album, "Irish Son" under Sony Music. [cite web
url = http://uk.music.yahoo.com/release/146232
title = Real To Me by Brian McFadden
publisher = Yahoo! UK
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] He went on to release more singles but those releases made moderate success only.

The new age

"Allow Us..." - 10 years (2004-present)

Less than a month after McFadden's departure, the band kicked off their "Turnaround Tour". A live version from the said tour of "Flying Without Wings" was released as an official UK download earning them the title of the very first UK Downloads #1. They then put out a Rat Pack inspired album, "Allow Us to Be Frank", peaking at #3. No singles were released in the UK from this album. "Ain't That A Kick In The Head", accompanied with a music video, was released as a physical single in other European countries. "Smile" and "Fly Me To The Moon", with music videos as well, were released as digital downloads only. Prior to the album release, Westlife scouted for "the perfect fan" to help promote their album. After X Factor style auditions, they found Joanne Hindley, who recorded "The Way You Look Tonight" with the band.cite web
url = http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=27201
title = Westlife on GMTV
publisher = GMTV
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] . To mark this special collaboration, a special programme was televised, showing auditions and live performances. Performers included Joanne, Westlife members' fathers and glamour model Katie Price. The band also performed "Fly Me To The Moon" with actor Kevin Spacey. Westlife continued to tour Europe as part of their "The Number Ones Tour", before taking a 4 months break from work. [cite web
url = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Westlife-No-1s-Tour/dp/B000BND08K
title = Westlife - The No.1's Tour [2005]
publisher = Amazon UK
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ]

In 2005, Westlife returned with their come back single, "You Raise Me Up", which was taken from their "Face To Face" album. On 6 November 2005, both the album and the single were at #1 in the UK at the same time at the second week of the single. It was the first time that Westlife have held both top album and single position in the same week. [cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4413466.stm
title = Westlife celebrate chart double
publisher = BBC News
author =
date = 7 November 2005
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001392548
title = Westlife, Robbie Williams Top UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 31 October 2005
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] "You Raise Me Up" was awarded as their 4th Record Of The Year in UK for 2005. In December that year, the band released "When You Tell Me That You Love Me", a duet with Diana Ross, as the second single and debuted at its peak position of #2. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001700449
title = Obscure Duo Nizlopi Tops UK Singles Chart
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 19 December 2005
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Westlife then released a third single, "Amazing", which debuted at #4 and marked as the band's lowest selling single yet. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002075320
title = Madonna, Jack Johnson Take Lead On UK Charts
publisher = Billboard charts
first = Paul
last = Sexton
date = 27 February 2006
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] After that, Westlife embarked on the Face To Face Tour, travelling extensively to the UK, Ireland, Australia and Asia. This tour marks the first time that Westlife have travelled to mainland China for a concert. [cite web
url = http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=114727
title = China youth prefer Westlife to politics
publisher = NineMSN
author =
date = 17 July 2006
accessdate = 2007-12-23 ] [cite web
url = http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=12;5;34;61&sku=581342
title = Live At Wembley: Face To Face Tour 2006
publisher = HMV
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ]

In late 2006, Westlife signed a brand new five album deal with Sony BMG. Their 8th album, "The Love Album", was a "love" concept album which consisted of popular love song covers. The album outnumbered other compilation albums by Oasis, The Beatles, and U2 in its first week of release and went straight to #1. The first single from "The Love Album" was a cover version of Bette Midler's classic, "The Rose", which became their 14th UK #1 single. [cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003381359
title= Westlife, Jamiroquai Assume Control Of UK Charts |publisher = Billboard charts |first= Paul |last= Sexton |date=2006-11-13 |accessdate = 2007-12-22] This made Westlife the third act (along with Cliff Richard) in the UK to have the most #1 singles, tailing behind Elvis Presley (21) and The Beatles (17). Westlife then kicked off their eight world tour, The Love Tour, in Perth, Australia. [cite web |url=http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=23776 |title = Love Westlife? |publisher =GMTV |accessdate = 2007-12-22] The band then went onto other Australian cities before moving on to South Africa, the UK and Ireland. The band played their last major concert of 2007 at Bitts Park in Carlisle, England. [cite web
url=http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/leisure/viewarticle.aspx?id=509724
title= Westlife headline at Carlisle in their only major gig this year |publisher= Whitehaven News |date=2007-06-14 |accessdate=2007-12-22]

On 5 November 2007, Westlife released their ninth album, "Back Home", which contained nine new original songs along with three cover songs. The album debuted at #1 on the UK Music Charts and it was also 2007's fifth biggest selling album in the UK. [cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003671194
title= Leona Lewis, Westlife Lead UK Charts |publisher =Billboard charts |first= Paul |last= Sexton |date=2007-11-12 |accessdate = 2007-12-22] The first single released from the album was a cover of Michael Bublé's "Home", which peaked at #3 in the UK. [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles.shtml
title = The UK Top 40 Singles |publisher = BBC Radio 1
accessdate = 2007-12-22] [cite web |url=http://www.stv.tv/content/out/music/display?id=opencms:/out/music/new_interviews/stv__Music__Westlife_video_interview_20071105
title= Westlife: Pop's not dead! |publisher= STV |first= Euan |last= Wemyss |date=2007-11-12 |accessdate = 2007-12-22] "I'm Already There", not released as a single, managed to chart in the UK based on downloads alone, following a performance on an "The X Factor" episode. Months later, "Us Against The World" was announced and released as their second single in UK and Ireland. However, it failed to perform well only peaking at #8 and is the band's lowest charting single to date. Before the release of the second single, they embarked the Back Home Tour on 2008 February 25. This tour marks the first time that the group have traveled and performed to New Zealand.Meanwhile, "Something Right" was released as the second single and Us Against The World became the third single in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. Both songs performed well on several music charts.

To mark their tenth year in music, Westlife will be staging a special "10 Years Of Westlife" sold-out concert at World's thirty-third and Europe's fourth biggest stadium, [cite web
url = http://www.crokepark.ie/page/venue_information.html
title = Croke Park Stadium Venue Information
publisher = Croke Park Stadium
accessdate = 2008-01-15] Croke Park, on 1 June 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.westlife.com/news/2007/11/02/10_years_of_westlife_concert
title= 10 Years Of Westlife Concert |publisher = Westlife.com |accessdate = 2007-12-22] With a capacity of 82 300, it will be the band's biggest show to date. Shayne Ward will be filling in as a support act for the concert, [cite web
url= http://www.mcd.ie/home/fn.php?c=3393310&ar=westlife
title= Tickets for Westlife with special guest Shayne Ward in Croke Park on sale now |publisher = MCD.ie |accessdate = 2007-12-22] which Kian described to be of a "pop extravaganza". [cite web
url = http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=73492&in_page_id=11
title = 60 SECONDS: Kian Egan
publisher = Metro (Associated Metro Limited)
accessdate = 2008-03-31] Shane confirmed that a corresponding live concert DVD will be released. The band announced that they will be on hiatus for a year after their Back Home Tour [cite web |url=http://www.metroradioarena.co.uk/events/view.aspx?ev=1239&ef=1&kw=&st=1
title= Westlife 'Back Home' Tour 2008 |publisher = Metro Radio |accessdate = 2007-12-22] and that there will not be an album release in 2008 as they will be spending more time on the production of their tenth album.cite web
url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/interviews/Westlife-42732.html
title= Exclusive Westlife Mark Feehily Interview |publisher = Female First |first= Caz |last=Moss |accessdate = 2007-12-22] On June 16, 2008, HarperCollins UK will release Westlife's autobiography, 'Westlife - Our Story', as part of their 10th year celebration. [cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Westlife-Our-Story/dp/0007288123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210668722&sr=1-1 |title= Westlife - Our Story |publisher = Amazon UK |accessdate = 2008-05-13] [cite web |url=http://www.westlife.com/news/2008/05/13/exclusive_autobiography_front_cover|title= – Exclusive Autobiography Front Cover |publisher = Westlife.com |accessdate = 2008-05-13] The book has said to be written by each members of the band for three months. It contains the life they have for the past ten years in the business. It features also some of the private pictures from the lads. As promised, the band's official website confirmed on September 27, 2008 the release of a DVD on November 24, 2008 entitled 10 Years Of Westlife - Live at Croke Park.

As the group ended their successful Back Home tour, Louis Walsh announced in the show Xpose that 1 July 2008 is the official start of the longest hiatus of the band so far. He said that it will be a one-year break, from that day up to 1 July 2009.

US market

Westlife has been unable to break into the US market. Their debut single and music video "Swear It Again", released in the US in 2000, was a hit on mainstream radio and the band even made an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live. The song was #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 year end chart of 2000. [cite web
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3038716&cdi=7610979&cid=08%2F05%2F2000
title = The Billboard Hot 100
publisher = Billboard Charts
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] A US edition of their debut album, "Westlife" was also released. [cite web
url = http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/westlife/artist.jhtml?timeline=false#bio
title = Westlife Main
publisher = MTV
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] In 2002, an attempt was made to promote and release a US version of Westlife's "World Of Our Own" album but was scaled back as the band decided to concentrate promotions in other foreign markets where they had a larger fan base. This was a surprising decision as the band did not maximize the potential and opportunity available when the two most prominent boy bands in the US, the Backstreet Boys and N' Sync, went on hiatus that year. The Westlife hit song "Flying Without Wings" peaked at #2 in the US when American Idol Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard recorded and released it as his debut single. [cite web
url = http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Without-Wings-Superstar-Studdard/dp/B00009PRZE
title = Flying Without Wings/Superstar
publisher = Amazon
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] The band was disappointed when they heard of the news as they were planning on bringing that song to the American audiences in the near future. In 2003, Westlife went to Nashville to film a TV documentary. While they were there, they gave a live performance of the song "Daytime Friends", originally by country music legend Kenny Rogers, which won them much critical praise.cite web
url = http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=27201
title = Westlife on GMTV
publisher = GMTV
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] Recently, an interview with Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell was held saying that the group will try to break into the music market of the United States in their comeback in 2009-2010.

Collaborations

The group had collaborations in some of the most renowned music acts such as 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) and have performed with Westlife on stage. These songs were also recorded and included on various albums.The band have also recorded "If I Had Words" with The Vards, "I Have A Dream" with Indonesian star Sherina and "My Love" with Amr Diab. In 2002, Westlife re-recorded their hit song "Flying Without Wings" with Cristian Castro and Korean singer BoA as two separate duets.

They had performed live duets with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Sinéad O'Connor (Silent Night), Donny Osmond (Crazy Horses), Mariah Carey (Never Too Far/Hero Medley), Secret Garden (You Raise Me Up), Lionel Richie (Easy), Ronan Keating (Brown Eyed Girl), (The Dance), M2M, The Cranberries (Little Drummer Boy), Raymond Quinn (That's Life), Wang Lee Hom (You Raise Me Up), Mary Black (Walking In The Air), Kevin Spacey (Fly Me To The Moon) and Do (Heaven). Also, prominent stars' Claudia Schiffer, Robert Bathurst, James Wilby, Ioan Gruffudd, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Tim McInnerny and Vinnie Jones have also starred in their music videos. [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8vET8AvdTs
title = Westlife and Sinead with Silent Night
publisher = YouTube
author = UTV
format = Video
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVliO-dyxN8
title = Westlife + Donny Osmond: Crazy Horses
publisher = YouTube
author = UTV
format = Video
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqrZIXMdOmI&feature=related
title = Lulu & Westlife - Back at One
publisher = YouTube
author =
format = Video
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discomania-Various-Artists/dp/B0002EBDLO
title = Discomania
publisher = Amazon UK
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8mYO7M203c
title = Easy With Lionel Richie
publisher = ITV
author = An Audience with...
format = Video
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.metacafe.com/watch/240337/westlife_feat_cristian_castro/
title = Westlife Feat. Cristian Castro
publisher = Metacafe
author = HTV
format = Video
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqi2_qAIiRY
title = westlife ronan keating meteor awards
publisher = YouTube
author = RTE Two
format = Video
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] cite web
url = http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=27201
title = Westlife on GMTV
publisher = GMTV
author =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ] [cite web
url = http://www.rte.ie/arts/2002/0516/westlife.html
title = Vinnie Jones back with Westlife
publisher = RTE.ie
author =
date =
accessdate = 2007-12-22 ]

Philanthropy

The band has had been supporting various projects for a charity cause from the start. One of which was when the group re-recorded "I Have A Dream" with Indonesian star Sherina for a UNICEF fund raising. Aside from that, the band released their cover version of "Uptown Girl" as a Comic Relief single, which was one of their biggest selling single to date. Apart from it, they have also help the S.I.R.F. organization in aid of the South Asian tsunami victims. Also in November 4, 2005, they have performed together with Christina Aguilera and Diana Ross at Coca Cola Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa for The “Unite of the Stars” Gala Banquet charity concert that supports of four charities: the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Unite Against Hunger, St. Mary’s Hospital and the Topsy Foundation. They've also been actively helping both the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), Childline and Children in Need, Cancer Research UK organizations. Most recently, they performed "Us Against the World" live on Sports Relief, "The Golden Mile Challenge" of Bluebell Wood and participating in Galway's Irish Water Safety Campaign by doing an advertisement.

Selected discography

Albums

UK No. 1 Singles

References

ee also

*Westlife videography
*Westlife songwriters
*Westlife songlist
*Westlife tours
*Boy band
*Westlife awards
*List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
*List of artists who reached number one in Ireland

External links

* [http://www.westlife.com Official Westlife Website]
* [http://forum.westlife.com/ubbthreads.php? Official Westlife Message Boards]

* [http://www.myspace.com/westlife Official Westlife Myspace]
* [http://www.bebo.com/westlife Official Westlife Bebo]

* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westlife/6103556519 Official Westlife Facebook]
* [http://www.youtube.com/westlife Official Westlife YouTube]