Latest Westlife News

note: thanks to the following websites for providing some of the news items found on this site - Worldpop | MTVasia | Music365 | The Sun | BBC

If you want to share your positive concert experiences, feel free to send it to us at westlife@previewstock.com and we will post it on this site and share it with other Westlife fans. Please include the date/concert venue that you attended. Also send any Westlife news we might have missed to that address above!

The Westlife news archives can be found at the bottom of the page

7/02/01

Billy Joel claims that Westlife missed the point when they re-recorded his '80s smash hit "Uptown Girl." The cover version is an almost exact carbon copy of the original, which, claims the 52-year-old singer, only heightens the error in missing the joke. "I'm flattered. I think their harmonies are good. The strange thing is that they do this in dead earnest. The song is really a spoof!" he said. "I was actually trying to sing like Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, as if someone was squeezing my testicles!" The former husband of supermodel Christine Brinkley adds, "When I first heard Westlife, I thought 'These guys are doing this seriously!' Maybe they're too young to remember." Joel might have done too good a job in his interpretation. "To this day there are people in the States who think 'Uptown Girl' is sung by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons."

6/30/01

Thanks to Agnes for more info on the new video =)

The video was made by Cape Town's Sasani Studios. The Farm, based in Cape Town, was commissioned to facilitate the entire video production process in South Africa. The company was responsible for filming the the Westlife concerts at the Velodrome in Cape Town, Sun City and at the MTN Sundome in Johannesburg.

6/29/01

Thanks to Agnes for the following piece of news!

Westlife have finally made the video to "When You're Looking Like That". As another fan told us earlier this month, the layout is similar to "I Lay My Love on You", but this time there are video clips from the concerts in South Africa (instead of Singapore). The video isn't realeased yet, but you can see it on the German BMG site. note: you will need Windows Media Player to see it. It's gotten rave reviews from fans that have seen it =)

6/28/01

For Westlife's 3rd album, Westlife will be recording at Dublin's Windmill Lane Studios. And for once, the boys won't have to fly away and record their album. Instead, the producers will be coming to Ireland. A friend of the group said, "They're big enough not to have to travel to the top producers anymore. The producers are now happy to come to them. They know that if their tracks are chosen as singles, they'll be guaranteed huge hits." Westlife are set to team up with American producer Rhett Lawrence, who has worked with Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey, as well as top production duo Jam & Lewis, who made Janet Jackson's last album, "All For You," a huge success.

6/26/01

The expert, Professor Carey Cooper, occupational stress expert at the University of Manchester, said that Westlife could face burn-out and even heart disease if they don't slow down their lifestyle. "Young entertainers aren't like young sports people who are physically trained to have some resilience. They really should be better managed by Walsh. It's like he's abusing a new Ferrari. He obviously thinks these young boys don't have a long shelf-life, so he works them as hard as possible. It will all end in tears."

Bryan McFadden has had to miss some of the dates on the band's world tour because of an ear infection. "Already Bryan's body is telling him it can't cope," he said. A Westlife spokesman said: "The boys are always over-worked."

6/22/01

Here's a quote from Nicky about Bryan: "The fact is we are all thrilled for Bryan. We're going to be bigger and better than ever by the end of the year. We'll be moving a step up with our new album. All the lads are totally committed and we'll also be touring again very soon. In terms of what we want to achieve, all of us are only getting started. There are still so many things we have to do."

O-Town's second single All Or Nothing was penned by Westlife writer Steve Mac (it's a catchy song too!). The group said that they have met Westlife several times and get on well with them.

6/20/01

As we told you last month, Dane had submitted an uptempo song for Westlife, perhaps for a US release. This past week Dane gave an update about that song. He said, "It's [the song is] something with attitude. It's called 'The Answer's No' and it's a bit more uptempo. They wanted an attitude track so it's more like 'Shut Up and Forget About' It than their ballads. Westlife have heard it and they like it so that might be released in the States. I've been doing a bit of writing lately. I'm also trying to pitch a song I did to 'N Sync. It's nice to write for other people because then I can just sit back and watch."

6/18/01

As you know, we just launched the westlife.org chatroom. I'm thinking of putting together chat times twice a week to get more of you together into the chat room...at the same time. For now, let's set it at 1pm EDT (6pm GMT, 7pm CET) on Wednesdays and Saturdays...but remember that the chatroom is open 24 hours a day! I am open to suggestions, so post them in the forum =)

Thanks to Agnes for sending this tidbit of news in:

Westlife will be back in the recording studio (UK) on the 25th of this month to begin recording their 3rd album that will be out (maybe) November this year.

"Hi, Off 2 the Festival Bar in Naples on Sat, will b fantastic! Back 2 work in the studio at end of the month 2 bring u some new tunes! Take care Markx "

"Hola! In Spain at the moment, back in the UK recording from the 25th, so maybe we'll bump in2 a few of u then! OK - back 2 rehearsals! Take care, Nicx"

"Hey, back in the studio soon, so I hope u r ready 2 hear some more music! In Spain at the mo and in2 Italy on Thurs! Fantastic! Stay Cool! C Ya! Kx"

"Hi fans! How r u? Hope most of u got 2 c us throughout the tour, + if not, don't worry we'll b back soon! Looking 4ward 2 a rest! C u soon! Shanex"

" ey guys...sorry we haven't been txting lately! In Spain 2day + we have 4 days of the tour left below we can relax 4 a week! Hope 2 c u all soon Bryx "

6/17/01

Thanks to Ashley for this tidbit from her local newspaper (but seeing how there's so many rumors going around about their next album/christmas release...i would take everything with a grain of salt at this point.

"IRISH boy band Westlife are to release a cover version of the Bing Crosby classic White Christmas. It will appear on the flip side of their Christmas single later this year. A band insider said: "The song has always been one of the lads' all-time favourites." Westlife are working on their third LP, provisionally titled Boys To Men. The insider said: "It will be the best yet."

6/16/01

Much thanks to all the fans sending in Westlife info. Today's update is completely from fans like you =)

Thanks to Taryn for the following info:

"Westlife's new video, When You're Looking Like That, will feature clips from their South Africa tour from the 18-20 May. The band filmed footage of the very excited audiences, telling them "they were the best looking audience they had ever seen". I bet they say that to every audience!!!"

Thanks to Erich B. for sending in the new Westlife "Coast to Coast" cd sold in Mexico (and probably for all of Latin America):

01. My Love 02. What Makes a Man 03. I Lay My Love on You 04. Against All Odds 05. When You're Looking Like That 06. Close 07. Somebody Needs You 08. Angels Wings 09. Soledad 10. Puzzle of my Heart 11. Dreams Come True 12. No Place That Far 13. You Make Me Feel 14. Loneliness Knows Me By Name 15. Fragile Heart 16. Every Little Thing You Do 17. Uptown Girl 18. I Have A Dream 19. My girl 20. En Ti Deje Mi Amor 21. Con Lo Bien Que Te Ves

Thanks to Chris for the following info from Germany:

"Hello, the Popkomm gala will be on the 15th of August in the "Kölnarena", One day later they will be part of TOTP in Germany"

6/15/01

More rumors as to Westlife's Asian duet. First it was with Coco Lee. Now its with child actress Sherina Munaf (from Indonesia). Sherina is a well-known local TV star who commands approximately 75 million rupiah (US $6700) per appearance and rose to success in the popular Indonesian film Petualangan Sherina (Sherina's Adventure) last year. Her popularity is being known throughout Asia after a recent article in Asiaweek and an interview with Hongkong's TV network Star TV in their "Focus Asia" program. The duet would be on a new version of their UK #1 "I Have A Dream".

Despite her talents on the big screen, Sherina, who won the Asia Pacific Film Festival Most Talented Child Actress accolade for the year 2000, prefers to be known as 'just a singer'. She already has enjoyed the fruits of two hit albums following her triumph at a Jakarta karaoke contest in 1998. However, the rumors go on to say that the two may not actually get together for the recording of the duet. Westlife would record in Europe while Sherina would record in Jakarta. The unconfirmed date is scheduled for October.

6/14/01

Miss Malaysia, Tan Su Wei, appeared on stage with Westlife during their concert in Kuala Lumpur...and this is what she said about her experience:

You actually took part in Westlife's recent concert at Bukit Jalil as the ‘Uptown Girl'. How was the experience?

I actually tried to get the tickets, lucky I didn't. Initially I was quite excited. But after I got to meet them I started getting worried. We didn't really have time to rehearse. We had to play it by ear. It was get up there and do whatever you could. I kept looking at the manager - ‘where am I supposed to go now, do I get off the stage now' - but they were nice, so friendly.

How did you feel with 20,000 pairs of eyes on you?

When I was up there I felt so good. When I felt the crowd's response it was like wow! And it was over so quick, it felt like a couple minutes on stage. I didn't know what I did! I was supposed to look snobbish initially and later on be part of the gang. I was waiting for signals, as to what to do. Initially I felt very stiff, like a log or something. I had to first be a snobbish lady but who later becomes one of the gang.

6/11/01

Here's another bit from the rumor mill: [thanks to Agnes for the info]

According to the News Of The World, Bryan has been forced to flee his £1 million Irish home because of death threats. And the poor chap hasn't even moved into the place yet. Apparently Bryan and his pregnant fiancée Kerry have been hounded by gangs of yobs and poison pen letters while doing up the Co Wicklow gaff, so they have reluctantly decided not to move in at all now.

6/10/01

Here's some stuff from the rumor mill:

Details of Westlife's backstage rider have been leaked by one of the band's roadcrew to a website. The group is fixated by the sport of basketball and insist that their promoters provide a full size hoop and a supply of basketballs backstage at all their gigs. And to quench that thirst after a session on the court, the fivesome's contract demands no less than 25 bottles of posh British grocers' Fortnum & Mason's own brand chardonnay (white wine). As PeopleNews correctly deduces, that's five bottles each. Enough to make anyone dribble....

6/05/01

Bryan has had to miss out on Westlife's Japanese promotional duties due to an ear infection. He will miss shows in Tokyo and Osaka, rejoining the group in Barcelona on Friday (June 8) to wind up the European leg of their current dates. Bryan was ordered by doctors to rest and has been warned that if he flies he could lose his hearing. As a result, Shane, Nicky, Mark and Kina have restructured their concert to perform without Bryan. Tonight the four will appear at Tokyo's Akasaka Bullets venue. Westlife will return to the UK next month where they will begin planning their new single, expected to be upbeat album track "When You're Looking Like That". [thanks to Agnes for the info]

6/04/01

For some strange reason, Westlife's Spanish endeavors have made it through the press....again...this past weekend. So here we go again =)

Westlife releases in Mexico and Spain

The group's English language success has earned them 10 million in album sales and 8 UK #1's. But record company executives believe further growth lies in the Spanish-speaking world. As you all know, the group recorded "I Lay My Love on You" and "When You're Looking Like That" in Spanish...respectively "En Ti Deje Mi Amor" and "Con Lo Bien Que Te Ves". Westlife follow other groups in the bid for a slice of the Spanish music market, including Boyzone, Robbie Williams and Christina Aguilera. Last year, sales of Latino music in the United States alone ­ propelled by the likes of Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez ­ were worth $608m (£434m).

There are currently about 30 million Spanish speakers in the US, making Hispanics the largest ethnic minority, with 15% of the population and increasing economic power. Mexico is already the second-biggest music market in the Americas. BMG, Westlife's record company, believes the new Spanish songs will boost sales of the band's album, Coast to Coast, by up to a quarter million copies in Spain, Latin America and the US. The 2 Spanish songs were released this week in Mexico, and will be released in Spain later this month.

Dave Shack, BMG's vice-president for international operations, said: "Recording these songs in Spanish shows the band's commitment to ... recognising the culture in these countries. We have taken two songs which are suited to the tempo of Latino music. But of course it's equally important that the intonation is right and the boys enunciate correctly." Despite recording the two songs in the distinctly un- Hispanic surroundings of Park Lane studios, Glasgow, an authentic Latino sound was further secured by recruiting the Cuban producer Rudi Perez (who has worked with Spanish superstars Julio Iglesias and Placido Domingo).

Westlife's Spanish cultural interests

The lads have recorded two tracks, 'I Lay My Love On You' and 'When You're Looking Like That', for inclusion on their album soon to go on sale in the US, and in Spanish-speaking countries. It is reported that the songs are receiving a fairly decent amount of airplay.

All of the band are huge fans of Spanish-language literature, particularly Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his magic realism. Kian has spoken often of a great yearning to read 'One Hundred Years Of Solitude' in its original tongue.

The Philippines brawl - part II

There are two sides to a story. The first version that got released in the press showed Westlife's bodyguard at fault...but were they really?

That first version tells how Westlife's bodyguards cursed and shoved the photographers who tried to get close and take pictures of the band members. The second version (i.e., bad language, leg action on the band's baggage, etc.) tells of a certain uninvited local reporter.

Westlife, arrived from Singapore last Monday at 1:10 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque. The boys were met by hordes of reporters flashing their camera and getting mighty good shots of the band. The band obliged for a few minutes but after the protective bodyguards perceived an imminent mob, both from fans and reporters, the boys had to be removed from the scene and hurried off to their hotel.

An unfortunate scene occurred thereafter as told by BMG Pilipinas' promotions coordinator Nixon Sy. One particular reporter was still trying to take photos of the band when he was asked to stop because the crowd was getting a bit too dangerous for Westlife. The reporter apparently resented the request and suddenly flew into explanation of sorts that he was a member of the press and that he had proof of it.

A shove and push exercise went on until the band's luggages were kicked. Someone decided to intervene and thank goodness no one got beat up. However some of the reporters who were there attests that they were shoved and pushed by the "arrogant" bodyguards and they only reacted naturally to the purported abuse. None of the reporters were going to take this kind of treatment in their own country. Westlife arrived safely at their hotel in Manila Galleria Suites, unscratched perhaps but more notorious.

Westlife monthly news archives

May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
August 2000