December News

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27th December 2000

Westlife Beat by Bob!

As you may know, Westlife lost out for that prestigious Christmas Number One! But they did sell more than they needed to be number one if Bob hadn't released his single!! Here's the article... (from the sun)

   "BOB the Builder has fixed it for himself - by clinching the Christmas No1 AND the biggest selling single of 2000. The 9-inch BBC puppet's Can We Fix It beat Westlife's What Makes A Man to the No1 spot. 

  Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey, who does Bob's voice, said last night: "It's fantastic - the best Christmas present me or Bob have ever had."  Can We Fix It - which has raised £20,000 for the charity War Child - sold more than 250,000 copies in the past week, taking its total sales figure to 650,000 by Christmas Eve. 

 And Bob is now sure to have the biggest selling single of the year, needing only another 30,000 sales to beat Pure Shores by All Saints. 

 Bob also ended Irish boyband Westlife's amazing chart record - their first seven singles all went straight to No1.  Westlife's Kian Egan, 20, said: "Huge congratulations to Bob. It was inevitable that we weren't always going to hold on to our record, but it's Christmas and we couldn't have been beaten by a nicer bloke."

22nd December 2000

Obviously not enough Westlife fans log onto dotmusic...

The votes are in for the best Pop Single and Album in the 2000 Dotmusic poll, and here's how Westlife did... Obviously we know that they're class - but the rest of the world must need reminding!

Top 20 Singles 1 Madonna - 'Music' 2 Spice Girls - 'Holler' 3 Mel C - 'Never Be The Same Again' 4 All Saints - 'Pure Shores' 5 Robbie Williams - 'Rock DJ' 6 Britney Spears - 'Oops I Did It Again' 7 Kylie Minogue - 'Spinning Around' 8 Westlife - 'My Love' 9 Geri Halliwell - 'Bag It Up' 10 Christina Aguilera - 'What A Girl Wants'

Top 20 Singles 1 Madonna - 'Music' 2 Mel C - 'Northern Star' 3 Spice Girls - 'Forever' 4 Robbie Williams - 'Sing When You're Winning' 5 Britney Spears - 'Oops' 6 Steps - 'Buzz' 7 Westlife - 'Coast to Coast' 8 Kylie Minogue - 'Light Years' 9 The Corrs - 'In Blue' 10 All Saints - 'Saints and Sinners'

...but they watch Celebrity!

Westlife have won the top place in the Celebrity (ITV, UK) Pop Stars poll! Yep, they beat Spice Girls, Ronan, Madonna, Robbie and S Club 7 to win the award! Just another one for their mantelpiece...

19th December 2000

Will they make it to Christmas number one?

Will they? Won't they? Want to be kept up to date with the latest news? Go to this page where you can read all the latest articles on Westlife and their race to get to Christmas number one...

Westlife to Work with Max Martin (taken from worldpop)

Westlife are planning to work with Max Martin, the man responsible for writing and producing hits for Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, according to a report in yesterday's Irish edition of The Sunday Times.

 The report claimed Westlife and their manager Louis Walsh are unhappy with the group's latest album Coast To Coast, feeling that it contains too many ballads and too few upbeat tracks. The decision about tracks included on the album is said to have been made by RCA Records executive Simon Cowell who also claims a production credit on the album.

 In the weeks leading up to Coast To Coast's release, members of Westlife promised fans that there would be uptempo tracks on the album. However, some fans were disappointed to discover that hardly any of the record's 18 tracks strayed from the classic ballad formula. In fact, they band's failure to produce any upbeat singles is a standing joke in the music industry. Even Ant and Dec pointed out on this week's SM:tv live that each Westlife performance has the fivesome sitting on stools!

 The Sunday Times reported that Max Martin would soon be asked to produce Westlife's third album with recording commencing in early 2002. The group's plan to approach Martin suggests that they are looking towards a global market, in particular the US charts which are notoriously difficult to conquer, with the report also alleging that Louis Walsh plans to amend the band's image, believing it to be 'too clean' to break America. 

16th December 2000

Go to this link to see info from the soccer in Singpaore & this one

Westlife Christmas Number One (taken from msn) (thanks to my dad for showing me this)

Westlife release their Christmas single 'What Makes A Man' next week (18th December) and there could be no better way to end a year which has seen them go from strength to strength.

In less than two years, Westlife have become a global pop phenomenon. Now a household name, Westlife have plenty to be happy about. Millions of fans worldwide, two No.1 albums, seven consecutive No.1 singles (equalling a record set by The Beatles), Record of the Year winners two years in a row and 3.5 million sales of their second album, 'Coast to Coast in less than a month!
The festive Westlife hunks also have some fantastic signed goodies to give away in a special Christmas competition. Click here for more details on how to enter.
In the meantime, check out the video for 'What Makes A Man' here!

14th December 2000

Westlife Lay Into Fan (taken from worldpop)

Bryan McFadden from record-breaking band Westlife lost his cool last night during the recording of a UK TV show when a fan sabotaged their performance. The band, who hope to swipe their eighth UK No 1 on Christmas Eve with their latest single What Makes A Man were performing their cover of the Smokey Robinson classic My Girl when a male member of the audience leapt on stage to join them. McFadden, furious about being interrupted mid-performance, immediately lunged at the fan, fists flailing and then proceeded to push him off stage.

 The fan wasn't put off by Bryan's violent reaction however and clambered back on to the stage forcing bandmate Shane Filan to intervene until security guards rushed in to escort the mad music lover off the premises.

 An onlooker reported, 'It was quite terrifying. The band looked really angry, especially Bryan and Shane. For a second, it looked as if Bryan was going to punch him.'

 She added, 'The guy had this mad look in his eye. Even after he was pushed off the stage the first time, he jumped back on and the whole band moved forward like they wanted to grab him before the security guards arrived.'

 Bryan McFadden, reportedly engaged to Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona, has received more attention this morning after his picture appeared in today's edition of the UK's Daily Star newspaper. The Irish lad is shown tucking into a burger looking 'worse for wear' following Five's end of tour party. The star has come under constant criticism in the press for his supposed weight problems but has in fact slimmed down considerably since his early teens.

 Westlife release What Makes A Man on Monday 18 December.

Bryan the worse for wear after Five (taken from Daily Star)

WESTLIFE'S Bryan McFadden relished the chance to get stuck into a burger after partying with pop pals.

He looked the worse for wear when he decided to have a late night bite before heading home following Five's end of tour bunfight.

  Bryan went to London's new Propaganda venue to join Scott, Abs, Ritchie, J and Sean for Five's bash to celebrate the end of their UK jaunt.

  But he had an attack of the munchies as he left and tottered over to a street vendor to snap up a burger before clambering into a taxi to take him home.

  Unfortunately, fiance Kerry Katona was not there to welcome him. She is in Scotland with her band Atomic Kitten supporting Steps on tour.

10th December 2000

Westlife Win The Record! (taken from dotmusic)

Westlife have won the coveted Record Of The Year award for the second year running.

 The Irish sensations' track 'My Love' was voted as the top song of the year in a telephone poll conducted by ITV. 1.5 million people voted for their favourite track.

 The other nominees included All Saints (with 'Pure Shores'), Robbie Williams ('Rock DJ') and Craig David ('Fill Me In').

 Westlife won the award last year for 'Flying Without Wings'.

 However, as the band went up to the stage to collect their award they were pelted with bread rolls from the audience. Westlife release their new single 'What Makes A Man' on December 18.

Westlife Smash the Hits!

Westlife showed everyone today that they are the band that everyone is talking about! As well as performing at the Smash hits Pollwinners party with "My Love" they won a massive 6 - yes, count 'em - 6! Congrats lads!

Best Band in the Universe, Best International Group, Best Haircut (Kian), Most Fanciable Male (Shane), Best Single (My Love), Best Album (Westlife)...

Congrats again, boys!

9th December 2000

Record of the Year on tonight!

Just to remind all our British surfers that tonight, Record of the Year, is on and you can vote for the guys' song "My Love". It's up against some very tough competition, so every vote is necessary! Unfortunately, I can't give you the phone number as it won't be available until the show! So, watch your Channel 3 region at 7.50pm to see the guys singing "What Makes a Man" and "My Love", vote, and then watch the results at 10pm!

 Here's the list of nominees... Of course, saving the best till last! (I think it'll be between Robbie, All Saints and Ronan - up against our Westlife, of course!)

All Saints / 'Pure Shores'
Craig David / 'Fill Me In'
Gabrielle / 'Rise'
Robbie Williams / 'Rock DJ'
Ronan Keating / 'Life Is A Rollercoaster'
S Club 7 'Reach'
Samantha Mumba 'Gotta Tell You'
Sonique 'It Feels So Good'
Spiller 'Groovejet'
Westlife 'My Love'

Worried? Not us! (taken from dotmusic)

"Westlife have been speaking out about the race for the coveted Christmas Number One. The group's Kian Egan says "we're not really that worried about getting to Number One or not. People seem to think we're obsessed with topping the charts with every single release, but that's not just rubbish."

 Their single 'What Makes A Man' is the hot favourite for the Christmas top slot, which would give them their second consecutive festive chart-topper. The boys are also going for their eight straight Number One. 'What Makes A Man' is released on December 18.

  Meanwhile, Westlife's Nicky has revealed who he'd most like a Christmas kiss from - model and actress Elizabeth Hurley. Nicky said, "I'm still waiting for her call, but obviously she's not up for it.""

WEBCHAT Friday 15th December, on BBC ONLINE! (from click2music.co.uk)

"Friday 15th December at 8pm is the date to scribble in your diary and we're even offering the fans the opportunity to send their questions to us in advance.
  We're looking for five special questions that we guarantee we will ask the boys on the day. All you have to do is email your questions to: feedback@click2music.co.uk, putting 'Westlife BBC Webchat' in the subject line of the email and include your age, name and address. Simple.
  If you want to send your question in now, just click here
  All questions must be received by Thursday 14th December at 12pm. The chat will take place in the Events section of westlife.co.uk.
  But if you can't wait till Friday, then why not log into a chat with Westlife on Monday 11th December at 5pm. Organised by our Westlife/Click2Music partners in Norway, all you need to do is click here"

Odds on for Christmas number one? (taken from worldpop)

 Westlife are still favourites for the Christmas No 1 according to bookmakers William Hill who give their single What Makes A Man odds of 4/9 for the festive chart topper. But Bob The Builder's strong sales of We Can Fix It this week have reduced the handyman's odds to 2/1 while Big Brother's Craig Phillips, despite being voted a flop by worldpop users, is third favourite at 7/1 with At This Time Of Year.

Ronan no longer Manager (taken from dotmusic)

 You've probably heard this already, but here's the story...

 "Ronan Keating's contract as manager of Westlife is reported to have been terminated, according to sources in the UK. Keating, who used his experience as a member of Boyzone to help guide his fellow Irish boyband to superstardom, has apparently been told his services are no longer required.

  Despite the band scoring seven consecutive Number Ones, UK music magazine Q reports that pop guru Louis Walsh is to take over the reins.

A source close to the band is quoted as commenting on Keating's departure: They haven't made a big deal about him going, but are happy to come out from behind his shadow.

  They are thankful for his support, but Ronan is busy and Westlife are doing very well on their own."

4th December 2000

Westlife and Steps "at arm's length" (taken from dotmusic)

Record company bosses have ensured that the feud between members of Steps and Westlife isn't re-ignited by keeping them apart at BBC Television Centre.

Both pop bands were there today (Friday December 1st) to rehearse their performances on tomorrow night's National Lottery show.

It's been reported that extra measures were taken to make sure that they were kept at opposite ends of the building and lookouts were even put in place to make sure neither group bumped into each other.

A music industry insider has revealed that the band's record companies aren't taking any chances. Since the well publicised spats between them, every precaution is being taken to avoid repeat performances.

Both Steps and Westlife had to pre-record their parts for tomorrow's show because of the current industrial action at TV Centre and because of previously scheduled touring commitments.

Westlife bomb Australia (taken from worldpop)

"Westlife's Coast To Coast may be sitting pretty at No 2 in the UK after four weeks of release, but in Australia the album has barely managed to scrap into the charts at all, debuting this week at No 40.

Higher debuts on the national ARIA chart include Elton John's One Night Only Greatest Hits at No 32 and Whatever by comedian Guido Hatzis, this week's highest new entry at No 8. Elsewhere on the album chart, the Beatles remain at No 1, Aussie band Powderfinger are at No 2 and U2's All You Can't Leave Behind rounds out the Top 3."

*just remember guys that Australia has still to be bombarded with Westlife, so to them it's like America to the Spicey's...right?!?*