CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Wednesday, December 18, 2019 | 19 YOUTH

estlife is used to adula­ Feehily, Filan and former member tion. The Irish pop Bryan McFadden, who departed the band is a global phe­ lineup in 2004, Westlife was formed nomenon and sells out in 1998 and their self­titled debut concertW venues the world over. But album, which was released in the even the band members were sur­ United Kingdom in November prised at the enthusiastic reception 1999, was a smash hit. they got in Shanghai on Aug 16. Westlife in tune With their records selling over 55 Arriving at the city’s National million worldwide, the then­boy Exhibition and Convention Center group achieved 14 UK No 1 singles, for an afternoon rehearsal they were including Flying Without Wings warmly welcomed by more than and You Raise Me Up, and their ver­ 5,000 waiting fans. sion of Phil Collins’ Against All “When they cheered and sang our with their fans Odds, recorded with pop diva Mari­ song, My Love, we were so touched ah Carey. and amazed,” recalls singer­song­ On Nov 15, their new album, writer Shane Filan, a member of Irish band overwhelmed by rapturous welcome titled Spectrum, was released, Westlife, in an interview with China which was their first since the 2010 Daily. they receive in China, Chen Nan reports. album, Gravity. The band disband­ They also performed in the first ed in 2012 and reunited in 2018. Tencent Music Entertainment Recorded in Dublin, Los Angeles Awards, which was held in Macao and London, the 11­song new on Dec 8. album features collaborations with The star­studded gala also gath­ Ed Sheeran and James Bay, among ered Chinese pop stars such as others. Zhang Yixing and TF Boys. Byrne says of the ideas behind the During the gala, Westlife per­ album: “We are very picky this time formed three songs, My Love, Better and we want to make sure what we Man and Hello My Love, featuring have on this album is still Westlife the band’s trademark vocal harmo­ but also works for the current nies. music industry because it has Westlife’s performance received moved on a lot. fantastic feedback from fans in the “It was an enjoyable process, arena and fans who watched the recording the album. We even livestreaming elsewhere. The band recorded three songs in Macao and is no stranger to Macao, after play­ we had never recorded in Asia ing two shows there in July. before.” “We came all the way from across Filan adds: “The album has the world and saw the joy on the everything that we love in music, fans’ faces, that’s what it’s all about,” heartfelt emotional songs, which Filan says, adding that their fans in “We want to return to more Chi­ memories and I cried.” are full of energy and are colorful. China are very passionate and the nese cities to meet more fans. They Another internet user writes: “I We will perform more shows for the songs mean something special to know us so well. They even know our am a fan who has loved you for sev­ overseas fan base to get our music them. children’s and pets’ names,” Feehily en years. I am so glad that you can out there.” “They (our fans) tell us stories and adds. come to China. I am very happy that The four members are all fathers, share their memories, which make “For the fans, they have a lot to you can return to the stage again and Feehily recently welcomed his us proud.” choose from and they chose us, and I hope you can bring us more daughter Layla. They have paid The performance in Shanghai which is very special for us.” music.” touching tributes to their children was part of the group’s reunion tour To better interact with their fans, Feehily says: “My dream is to as they perform the song titled My titled The Twenty Tour, which, in Westlife launched their official record a song in Chinese. This time Blood from the new album. celebration of their 20th anniversa­ account on Sina Weibo in 2012, and we met some Chinese singers and Their children are their fans too, ry, began on May 22, 2018, in Belfast, toured seven Chinese cities that it’s possible that we could collabo­ says Byrne. Northern Ireland. year during their The Greatest Hits rate.” “Our children sing our songs at They also did a performance in Tour. He mentions Chen Li­nong, a home and they watch our shows,” Beijing on Aug 13 as part of the The coming tour is good news to 19­year­old Taiwan singer­actor, he says, adding that being good tour. their fans. who started his career a year ago by fathers, they “try to find a balance The group will announce a new One of the fans, who attended the participating in a Chinese reality between a normal family life and global tour in January, says Markus Aug 16 Shanghai concert, wrote on Top: Irish pop band Westlife performs at a music awards ceremony show, Idol Producer, created by iQi­ touring life’’. Feehily, one of the lead singers of the same platform: “I went to their in Macao on Dec 8. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Above: The band sings dur­ yi, and stood out as a member of the Westlife, though he didn’t give show in Shanghai and I sang along ing a concert, as part of The Twenty Tour celebrating its 20th anni­ boy group, Nine Percent. Contact the writer at details of dates or cities. with them all night. There are lots of versary and reunion, in Beijing on Aug 13. LIU JIAHAO / FOR CHINA DAILY With Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, [email protected]

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