OCTOBER
Mandy video hits number 1 on Box and SHTV
Westlife's new video for their Mandy single has gone straight to the top of the charts on video request channels The Box and Smash Hits TV. The single comes out on November 17th, and will include the full video on the cd-rom part of the single CD.
source - westlife.com
posted -31st Oct.
Starry, starry night ahead
Westlife will be crooning to the stars at this weekend's IFTAs in Dublin. The band has confirmed it will be playing at the glitzy event in the Burlington Hotel on Saturday night.Also signed up to attend the bash will be Conlig race ace Eddie Irvine, who will be presenting the sports award, and leading actress Samantha Morton.
Among those who will be entertained by Westlife are Anna Friel, Colm Meaney,Neil Jordan and Adrian Dunbar. Westlife are expected to perform their next single, a reworking of the Barry Manilow track Mandy. The band has been advised to go back to singing ballads after their last single, Hey Whatever, a rockier track than normal for the guys, failed to reach number one.
Source - www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
31 October 2003
Track by Track from the Daily Record
WE'VE had an exclusive first listen to Westlife's make-or-break album Turnaround, out on November 24. After dumping Simon Cowell, the boys chose the following 13 tracks themselves:
Mandy: Latest single, out on November 17, a cover of the Barry Manilow ballad. The fans will love it. 6/10
Hey Whatever: The ballad boys went rock it only got to No.5. Nuff said. 6/10Heal: A Euro dance beat doesn't save a weak track. 6/10
Obvious: Another ballad in the Westlife style of epic, soaring vocals. Well produced and well-sung. 7/10When A Woman Loves A Man: A Bonnie Tyler-style intro on piano but not as good as Percy Sledge's When A Man Loves A Woman. But for fans, it's what they do best. 8/10On My Shoulder: Another ballad, with a slow hip beat adding an edge. 7/10
Turnaround: Westlife go dance. With those swirly synths, it could be The Thompson Twins. 8/10I Did It For You: Back to the ballad-by-numbers that gave them 11 No.1 hits. 6/10
Thank You: More dance beats, crunchy guitars breathing new life into Westlife. The spaceship noises let it down. 6/10l To Be With You: Dreadful lyrics. This cover of Mr Big's does them no favours. 5/10
Home: Westlife trying to be Seal without the tricks. Mid-tempo song with more spaceship-sounding synths. 5/10
Lost In You: ``Heaven knows I'm head over heels and it shows'' again bad lyrics and more ballad by numbers. 5/10What Do They Know: Almost like a lullaby with some nice Spanish guitar. 8/10
Daily Record
30th Oct
A Question of Sport for Dublin
ITV Sport stars Ally McCoist and Andy Townsend come to Dublin next month to star in an evening of sporting questions to be hosted by Dublin City Football Club at the Burlington Hotel on Monday November 17th 2003.
The team captains in the Dublin City "Question of Sport" evening will be joined by Ryder Cup golfer Christy O'Connor Jnr, and Nicky Byrne of Westlife.
Ally McCoist is one of the most popular members of the ITV team and his knowledge, sense of humour and charisma have made him a big hit with viewers. In 2001 he won the Television Radio Industry Club's Sports Presenter of the Year award. Ally was born in Bellshill, Scotland in 1962. He joined St Johnstone from Fir Park Boys Club and made his debut during the 1978/79 season. Ally's goal-scoring ability was evident from the start and he hit 22 league goals in the 1980/81 season. Ally went on to play for Sunderland, but stayed only two seasons before signing for Rangers.
A hat trick against Celtic in the 1984 League Cup Final secured his place in Glasgow football folklore and saw him pick up the first of nine winners' medals in the competition. Ally also scored the winning goal in his only Scottish Cup Final victory in 1992.
Ally played in a record ten Championship winning teams for Rangers. He scored a club record 250 league goals and, in total, netted 355 goals in 583 games for Rangers. In 1991/92 he won the European Golden Boot in 1991/92 after scoring 34 goals and was also voted Scotland's Player of the Year, and in the following season won the Golden Boot again.
Andy Townsend was signed from Chelsea for 2.1 million to strengthen the Irish connection at Villa Park during the summer of 1993. He joined his fellow International players Ray Houghton, Paul McGrath and Steve Staunton. Ron Atkinson's intent was to strengthen the team, after Villa had finished runner's up in the Premier League to Manchester United. Andy had an outstanding debut, playing his part in helping Villa to win 4-1 against QPR. He played in a 4-man midfield with Kevin Richardson, Garry Parker and fellow Irishman Ray Houghton. Under Andy's leadership, Aston Villa had their most successful season for more than a decade.
Andy subsequently left Aston Villa to sign a two-year contract at Middlesbrough for £500,000. During his Middlesbrough career he help the team to reach League Cup Final in 1998 which they lost to Chelsea and gain promotion to the premier league with a runner up position to Nottingham Forest in their first attempt of promotion since relegation in 1996-97 season.
A winner of 70 caps and captain of his country a record number of times, Andy lead the Republic into the knockout stages of the 1990 and 1994 World Cups in Italy and the US. He has captained every team he has played for, including Chelsea and Middlesbrough and during his time at Aston Villa they won the League Cup in both 1994 and '96.
The costs for the evening will be €125 or €1,200 per table. For further information & booking contact Ronan Seery, Dublin City Football Club – +353 (0) 1 837 77 80 or Rossa McDermott at optimum sports marketing, Tel +35312835414 info@optimum-sports.com.
source - uk.news.yahoo.com
30 October 2003
Fan Conference entries close on Monday
Don't forget that westlife.com will be closing the entry form for question submissions for the Turnaround Fan Conference on Monday, 3rd November.
As well as being in with a chance of attending the event and putting your question direct to the band, EVERYONE* who submits a question will get their name on the Turnaround album vaulted web area, along with their question.
You can enter your question at www.westlife.com/fanconference
*OK, not people who submit obscene questions...!
Source- www.westlife.com
30 October 2003
When A Woman Loves A Man exclusive preview
We're counting down now to the digital release of When A Woman Loves A Man, taken from Westlife's forthcoming Turnaround album. The track will be available to buy in digital format from next Monday (November 3rd), from westlife.com as well as several others.
The track will cost £1.50, and you'll be able to keep for as long as you like, play as many times as you like and burn it to CD - you'll own the track just as if you'd bought it in a shop.
You'll be able to pay via SMS or credit card. To hear an exclusive preview clip of the track go to www.westlife.com and you'll find it in the new section.
Source - www.westlife.com
30 October 2003
Ratethemusic.com reports Bryan McFadden is hoping to become a solo artist when Westlife eventually calls it quits, but he insists that split won't happen anytime soon. "There are no plans to split," he said.
"We're going to do the album and then tour and decide where to go from there - we're just taking it album by album. Westlife are a family and there are no egos. We have a very close relationship and we'll all decide when it's over. At that point we'll move into doing our own thing. I've got no solid plans but it'll probably involve going solo or being a full-time songwriter."
source - www.popdirt.com
25 October 2003
Mandy video clip
You'll find a stream of the brand new Westlife video in the news section at www.westlife.com. The single comes out on November 17th, (UK and Ireland) and one of the CD formats includes a CD-ROM section with the video in full, plus a "making of" feature...
The video has also just been added to The Box and Smash Hits TV, so if you want to check it out in full you can!
Source - www.westlife.com
25 October 2003
After finishing the promotion in Japan, Westlife are going to directly fly to Hong Kong from Tokyo (Japan) tomorrow. They will probably arrive in Hong Kong at
1pm (22 Oct) and then go to Tamar Site for press conference. They also will promote their new song "Hey Whatever" and their new album "Turnaround". They will fly back to Britain at night after the concert.
"Greet and Sign session" & "Music Video launch screening" Neway, Olympic City 2, Hong Kong 24 Oct, 7pm
Westlife Concert
Tamar Site, Hong Kong
25 Oct, 8pm
Turnaround sleeve and track listing
The sleeve and track listing for Westlife's forthcoming album Turnaround has been finalised. The album comes out on November 24th; the opening track Mandy and Hey Whatever you will of course be familiar with already.
The band will also be making track 5, When A Woman Loves A Man, available to buy as a digital download file, 3 weeks before the album is released (November 3rd). More info on that in the next few days...
Turnaround
1. Mandy
2. Hey Whatever
3. Heal
4. Obvious
5. When A Woman Loves A Man
6. On My Shoulder
7. Turn Around
8. I Did It For You
9. Thank You
10. To Be With You
11. Home
12. Lost In You
13. What Do They Know?
This is the UK sleeve and tracklisting. The European album may be different.
Source - www.westlife.com
25 October 2003
Westlife ordered to revert to former style
Irish boyband Westlife have been ordered to return to their former ballad-style of music after attempts to rock up their music failed. The singers had tried to cultivate a rockier sound with up tempo number "Hey, Whatever", but the single only made number five in the UK chart.
In response, manager Simon Cowell has insisted they return to the studio to rectify the problem - they have now recorded a cover of slushy Barry Manilow track "Mandy" as their new single.
A source tells British tabloid The Daily Star, "Westlife were determined to move away from being ballad merchants. But they're desperate for a number one and this is their best option." However, a spokesperson for the band insisted, "Mandy was recorded at the same time as the rest of the album. Everyone thought it became the natural choice of next single."
source - www.soundbuzz.com
21 October 2003
Westlife - Top Notch
Westlife are set for a fourth No. 1 DVD Christmas on the trot. The Irish lads Greatest Hits Tour DVD has whipped the competition this week. Emergency supplies have had to be sent to northern shops, such the demand. In London, on Monday, eager fans even tried to follow Nicky Byrne into the toilets. The lads first topped the festive charts in 2000 with Coast To Coast. Where Dreams come True held the top spot in 2001 and Unbreakable did last year.
The star newspaper
20th Oct 2003
Aww! Sometimes you can't help but feel sorry for Westlife. They make teenage girls cry wherever they go, they're not Blue, and now they've been condemned to a life singing sopping wet ballads for all eternity.
The schmaltz offensive has come from his lordship Simon Cowell, who reckons the boys can forget earning chart-topping hits with more upbeat songs like 'Hey Whatever', and must do more songs like 'Flying Without Wings'.
One band insider told the Daily Star: "Westlife are determined to move away from being ballad merchants but they're desperate for a No.1 and this is their best option." Bryan and co have made it clear in the past that they're not the biggest fans of some of their songs, which is great news for anyone who hates them too, surely.
The Irish hunk boys are to release a cover of super-slowie 'Mandy' next month. Talk about being hung out to drip...
Source - www.bbc.co.uk/totp!
Mandy set for release on November 17th
On the 17th of November Westlife will release their brand new single, Mandy, through S Records.
Mandy was originally a hit for Barry Manilow back in 1975, the first number one for the newly formed Arista Records. Westlife have brought this classic love song back up to date for a brand new audience for 2003.
This is classic Westlife, full of emotion, melody driven and beautifully produced, featuring soaring vocals and a dramatic string section. The song starts softly and subtly builds up to an epic finale, and the video will reflect this with a heroic performance in a larger-than-life setting that will echo the emotion and grandeur of the song.
Mandy was produced by long term collaborator Steve Mac and will be the second single to be taken from the band's brand new album Turnaround, which will be released on the 24th of November and also features the hit single Hey Whatever.
All very exciting, and you can play a clip of the track if you go to www.westlife.com (news)
Source - www.westlife.com
14 October 2003
Belfast Odyssey
SHANE Filan has vowed that Westlife will top their record breaking number of concerts at the Odyssey Arena next year. The star invited me for a chat in Dublin and it wasn't long before he was plotting the pop superstars' return to Belfast after this year's sell-out Unbreakable tour. Shane may have his mind firmly on wedding plans these days, but he's also determined to keep Westlife at the top.
As we met in Dublin's Great Southern Hotel, he told me: "We would love to do 20 nights at the Odyssey - if the fans want us. "Each time we visit Belfast we do more shows so by the time we tour again next year it could be as big as that. "To be honest, Belfast is our favorite place to perform anywhere in the world. We always have a ball. "We are already planning a tour for next year and, needless to say, we're going to be having a lengthy stay in Belfast."
Shane will marry fiancé Gillian Walsh at Christmas - and yours truly is on the guest list. The ceremony will be staged in the plush surroundings of Ashfield Castle and the star says he has been finalizing every last detail of the big day. "I had a full day of planning and meetings about it yesterday," he said. "I'm very hands on with this kind of thing. "The guest list is currently around 450 and it's growing by the day. There will be about 10 people there from the north - good friends of mine who I have made over the years. "I'm glad I didn't sell my wedding photos to a celebrity magazine because I would have to start watching my back and worry about contracts and all. "At least I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the whole day without having to worry about it being spoilt."
Anthony Costa about Westlife
... Blue, who release a new single, Guilty, on October 20 and a third album next month, also spoke of their "utmost respect" for fellow boy band Westlife.
And they dismissed any suggestions that the Irish band, who failed to reach number one with their last single, were washed up.
Anthony said: "I tend to measure success by album sales. An act can have a number one single, but their album might be rubbish.
"Westlife are great at what they do and they have had such wonderful success with their albums. Blue would love to be in their position.
"People try to compare us with them, but we're two different bands.
"But we have the utmost respect for them and I reckon their last song, Hey Whatever, was one of their best so far." ...
This is the part where Westlife are mentioned. For the whole article click here.
Source - www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
10 October 2003
Kelly did a Klinsmann in my £2,500 leather pants
Westlife star Nicky Byrne today revealed he has a score to settle with Leeds United's Gary Kelly – over a practical joke on the training pitch. The singer – once an apprentice goalkeeper with United – had to write off thousands of pounds of clothes after a visit to see his former teammates. And he warned: "I haven't had a chance to get my own back yet – but I will do one day."
The 23-year-old recalled how he was invited to take part in a training session with the players at the club's Thorp Arch training base. Nicky said: "I turned up wearing some leather trousers which, believe it or not, cost me £2,500. I bought them when I was in Los Angeles from some money we were given from royalties.
"Then some of the players suggested we do a spot of training. I was up for that, so I got changed into some training kit and pinged some balls around with the lads. It was great." But he was in for a shock when Gary Kelly went back to the changing rooms only to reappear in Nicky's expensive clobber.
"He came out wearing all my clothes. And I mean everything. My shoes, socks, boxer shorts and my trousers. He then ran on the pitch, found the biggest, muddiest puddle he could find and did a Jurgen Klinsmann dive right across the Thorp Arch training ground." He added: "You had to laugh but the clothes were a mess. They had to lend me a tracksuit to go home in."
Nicky played in United's youth team from 1995 to 1997 before being released after being told he was too small at 5ft 10ins to play pro football. He was speaking exclusively to the YEP in the run-up to the release of Westlife's new album next month.
Source - www.leedstoday.net
4 October 2003
Westlife surprise an ill fan in London
Westlife made a schoolgirl’s dream come true when they agreed to meet her backstage after performing their latest single. Kirsty West (14) from Essex started to get very sick when she was 11. In her letter to the Sligo Weekender Kirsty explained how at the time she was admitted to hospital almost every week. Eventually after test results were done in the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, doctors discovered Kirsty had epilepsy.
Kirsty said: “I could not go anywhere on my own ... The full column is available in the print edition.
Source - www.sligoweekender.ie
2 October 2003
It's pitta-ful, Bryan
It had to happen eventually. Tubby Bryan McFadden has been given a gold card by his local kebab shop. Dublin takeaway joint Abrakebabra presented Westlife’s very own Rik Waller tribute act with the card, which allows the singer to get cut-price doners. Pretty soon the lads are going to have to change their name to Waistlife.
Source - www.thesun.co.uk
2 October 2003
Westlife go digital
Irish popsters Westlife release a new DVD on October 6 called Westlife - The Greatest Hits Tour 2003. It's a record of the concert in June at Manchester's MEN Arena when the group performed their extensive collection of hits.
Added bonuses on the disc are four music videos that have never appeared on DVD, including their top 10 hit Hey Whatever. There's also a different cut of their Prince pastiche When You're Looking Like That alongside some hidden extras that include a game and a backstage tour.
Source - uk.launch.yahoo.com
2nd October 2003