THE WESTLIFE STORY

THE WESTLIFE Westlife were born in 1998 when Boyzone's manager, Louis Walsh, teamed up with Ronan Keating to manage a new Irish pop group made up of five guys. These five guys were Shane Filan, Mark Feehilly and Kian Egan from Sligo in the west of Ireland and Nicky Byrne and Bryan McFadden from Dublin. The group (originally known as Westside) toured the UK and Ireland with Boyzone in November 1998 and stunned audiences on the Smash Hits Tour around the UK, winning "Best New Tour Act" at the Smash Hits Awards in November 1998. However, the group were obliged to change their name from Westside to Westlife early in 1999 when it was discovered that a number of existing bands and many merchandising companies in America with the same name. Undeterred, Westlife went on to release their first single "Swear it Again" in April 1999 which went straight to the top of the British and Irish charts, becoming the biggest-selling debut single *ever* in Ireland. Westlife are currently about to release their second single "If I Let You Go" which looks as it it's going to be as successful as their first single! Their eagerly-awaited debut album is expected to be released in the UK in October. With a strong management team behind them, soulful harmonies, angelic voice and drop-dead good looks, Westlife look set to become the next big thing in the world of pop. It all started off in a place called Sligo in the north west of Ireland, when Kian, Shane and Mark were in a band called IOU. They put out an independant single and Shane's mother passed it on to Louis Walsh, who manages Boyzone. They eventually got in touch with him last February. Louis then got them a support slot with the Backstreet Boys, but he didn't want to manage them at the time because he was too busy with Boyzone. Once he saw them on stage, he changed his mind. The band then dropped three of the other members from IOU, brought in Nicky and Bryan, changed their name to Westside and took it from there. Ronan Keating from the very well known Irish band, Boyzone, is Westlife's co-manager. This came about when he was introduced to them by Louis Walsh. He had a chat with the band, then he spoke to Louis and decided that he wanted to be the bands co-manager. When asked how he would like Westlife's career to develop over the next couple of years, this is what he said: "Well, obviously I'd like them to be the biggest band in the world! It's taken a lot of hard work and hopefully they'll keep their feet on the ground, but I think there's a lot of potential there!" ........................................................................................................
LYRICS 1 [Coast To Coast] 01. MY LOVE An empty street An empty house A hole inside my heart I'm all alone and the rooms are getting smaller I wonder how, I wonder why I wonder where they are The days we had, the songs we sang together oh yeah And oh, my love I'm holding on forever Reaching for a love that seems so far Chorus So I say a litter prayer And hope my dreams will take me there Where the skies are blue To see you once again, my love Over seas from coast to coast To find the place I love the most Where the fields are green To see you once again, my love I try to read I go to work I'm laughing with my friends But I can't stop to keep myself from thinking, oh no I wonder how, I wonder why I wonder where they are The days we had the songs We sang together oh yeah And oh, my love I'm holding on forever Reaching for a love that seems so far Repeat chorus To hold you in my arms To promise you my love To tell you from the heart You're all i'm thinking of I'm reaching for a love that seems so far Repeat Chorus to fade
................................................................................................... 02. WHAT MAKES A MAN This isn't goodbye even as I watch you leave This isn't goodbye I swear I won't cry even as tears fill my eyes I swear I won't cry Any other girl, I'd let you walk away Any other girl, I'm sure I'd be okay Chorus Tell me what makes a man wanna give you all his heart smile when you're around and cry when you're apart If you know what makes a man wanna love you the way I do girl you gotta let me know so I can get over you what makes her so right Is it the sound of her laugh? that look in her eyes When do you decide? she is the dream that you seek that force in your life when you apologise no matter who was wrong When you get on your knees if that would bring her home Repeat Chorus other girls will come along, they always do But what's the point when all I ever want is you? Tell me... Repeat Chorus
............................................................................................................ 03. I LAY MY LOVE ON YOU Just a smile and the rain is gone Can hardly believe it (yeah) There's an angel standing next to me Reaching for my heart Just a smile and there's no way back Can hardly believe it (yeah) But there's an angel and she's calling me Reaching for my heart I know, that I'll be ok now This time it's real (Chorus) I lay my love on you It's all I wanna do Every time I breathe I feel brand new You open up my heart Show me all your love, and walk right through As I lay my love on you I was lost in a lonely place Could hardly believe it (yeah) Holding on to yesterdays Far, far too long Now I believe it's ok cause This time it's real Repeat Chorus I never knew that love could feel so good .... Like a once in a lifetime You change my world ........... I lay my love on you Repeat Chorus to fade
..................................................................................................... 04. AGAINST ALL ODDS (FEATURING WITH MARIAH) How can I just let you walk away just let you leave without a trace when I'm standing taking every breath with you, ooh You're the only one who really knew me at all how can you just walk away from me when all I can do is watch you leave cause we shared the laugher and the pain and even shared the tears You're the only one who really knew me at all so take a look at me now There's just an empty space There's nothing left here to remind Just the memory of your face So take a look at me now There's just an empty space If you're coming back to me it's against all odds and that's what I've got to face I wish I could just make you turn around turn around and see me cry there's so much I need to say to you, so many reasons why You're the only one who really knew me at all so take a look at me now There's just an empty space There's nothing left here to remind me Just the memory of your face so take a look at me now There's just an empty space but to wait for you is all I can do when that's what I've got to face Take a good look at me now Cause I'll be standing here and you coming back to me is against all odds it's the chance I've got to face
.................................................................................................. 05. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING LIKE THAT (when you're looking like that) ..yeah... She's a 5 foot 10 in catsuit and bambi eyes Everybody who's staring wouldn't believe that this girl was mine I should have known I was wrong When I left her for a life in pity but They say you never miss the water til it's gone ..yeah... Guess I failed to love you And you're taking it out tonight Chorus How am I supposed to leave you now When you're looking like that I can't believe what I just gave away Now I can't take it back I don't wanna get lost (lost) I don't wanna live my life without you How am I supposed to leave you now When you're looking like that She's all dressed up for glamour and rock and roll Wanna squeeze her real tight get out of this place If only I could take control But she's out of my reach (forever) And just a week ago she lied next to me It's so ironic how I had to lose just to see That I failed to love you And you're taking it out tonight Repeat Chrous I dont wanna forget you I dont even wanna try How am I supposed to walk on by When you're looking like that .. Repeat Chorus x2 When you're lookin' like that
....................................................................................................... 06. CLOSE Across the miles It is funny to me How far you are but how near you seem to me I could talk all night Just to hear you breathe I could spend my life Just living this dream You are all I'll ever need Chorus You give me strength You give me hope You give me someone to love someone to hold When I'm in your arms I need you to know I've never been Never been this close With all the loves I used to know I kept my distance, I never let go But in your arms I know I'm safe Cause I've never been held I've never been kissed In this way You're all I'll ever need You're all I'll ever need Repeat Chours Close enough to see it's true Close enough to trust in you Closer now than any Words can say And when, when I'm in your arms, I need you To know I've never been I've never been This close Repeat Chours