News Westlife & Brian

SLIGO WEEKENDER !

30 août 2008

Mark Feehily’s blend of dark mysterious looks and rich soulful voice have made him an integral part of the success story that is Westlife. As part of a series of features marking the 10th anniversary of the band, Sharon Conway chatted to the down-to-earth singer about his early days auditioning for plays at the Hawk’s Well, the harsh reality of the music industry and what he plans to do with his well-earned year off.

Mark Feehily is, without a doubt, one of the most natural and down-to-earth people I have ever encountered through music.

With his meteoric rise to fame through Westlife you could be forgiven for thinking that at least some of that success could go to a young man’s head. But not so with Mark.

You can tell within minutes of meeting him that this is a guy who has been brought up well. And for anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting his parents – Oliver and Marie – you will know why.

It is easy to see where he inherited his modesty, good nature and worldly realism.

I caught up with mark when he was in Sligo recently and we chatted about the decade he has spent in one of the world’s biggest pop acts. Throughout those ten years as Westlife, they have achieved so much and are an amazing success story. >>>>

‘I never expected that we would go on to have the success that we have had,’ he said. ‘When I was a young fellow, the ultimate buzz for me was being in the musicals at the Hawk’s Well. In fact I remember scaling the ‘Bits & Pieces’ section of the Sligo Weekender for auditions for the local musicals.

‘Getting into the plays in the Hawk’s Well was a big thrill as being on any other stage in the world!’ said a reflective Mark. ‘That stage was the only stage in my world back then. Though there was a time in my life where I didn’t think I was good enough to be picked for any play, musical or band,’ he said. ‘I suffered periods of self doubt and lack of confidence just like anyone else does.’

But it just goes to show you that if you persevere at something and you are passionate big things can happen. ‘I mean, I never thought I would have a ten-year music career at this level. I thought I’m just a boy from Calry, who’s going to want to listen to me?’

Well… as it turns out there are a couple of million people who want to listen to the sultry smooth and soulful tone of Mark Feehily’s voice. His distinctive singing style lends depth and panache to the Westlife sound, marking the band out from your average boy band trying to crack it in the music business. ‘I have never for one minute taken the success we have for granted or been blasé about it, particularly at the start when we were new to the industry. When we started achieving things and having number one singles and albums, we never got carried away with the success. ‘Each and every step of the journey has been amazing. It just goes to show that you can come from anywhere in the world and have success.’

Mark has some advice for young people wanting to make a career out of music. ‘It’s not everyone who is cut out for this business. In fact it took me a long time to get used to being in the industry and the whole marketing aspect that goes with being in a boy band. There is a huge emphasis on image which is unfortunate. How you look is nearly as important as how you sound.

‘The music business is a business after all and you shouldn’t expect miracles. Record companies will always want to change the way you look and the songs you sing. People are so fickle in this industry, one record company head might say that you are crap while another record company man might think you are the next big thing and sign you on the spot and make you a huge international star. You just can’t predict how things will go and you can’t be too sensitive because sometimes your feelings will get hurt.

‘It’s a weird business but if you can take a step outside of it and look at it objectively then you see it for what it is. After all it’s a very lucrative business to be in and the record companies look at you like you are a product – just like a jacket on a rail in a shop, or a car in a showroom. You are a product that could potentially make the record company a lot of money.’

The entertainment industry is cut-throat at the best of times but Mark maintains it’s even tougher on girls. ‘It’s very different for girls. At least guys can get away with a little stubble but with girls there is so much more involved in terms of hair, make up, clothes. There is so much competition from other girls and it’s definitely a lot harder for girls to make it in the music business. Girls need to be even tougher than men.

‘The size zero trend, which started in LA, is really bad in the UK at the moment. It’s really worrying to think that so many young girls feel they have to be bone thin to be attractive. It’s nice to see that Irish men still appreciate a normal looking woman with curves. They don’t like that skinny look on women.’

Another downside of the industry is that you will always be compared with other artists, he says. ‘You will always be called the next Britney Spears, or the next J-Lo etc, and I don’t think it will change.

‘The business will always be full of people who are rude. You have to be very strong and if you the kind of man who can’t take a few knocks then you can surely forget about it.

‘I was naïve at the beginning of the Westlife years. We were literally thrown in the deep end and it was a case of sink or swim. I have learned to toughen up and not be too sensitive. It’s like any other business where people are trying to succeed.’

When he’s not involved in the demanding throes of the music world, Mark loves nothing better than spending time at home.

‘I am extremely proud to be from Sligo. I live in London most of the year and it can be a very fast and impersonal place to be.

‘There is so much emphasis on image and materialism that personality gets lost. Here, people have a much more relaxed view of life and I feel very much at home. There is no bitchiness about appearance. In fact I would go so far as to say that I feel very protected by the local Sligo people.

I asked Mark whether people are constantly harassing him wherever he goes.

‘It’s funny, but people don’t hassle you when you are in Sligo. There is a mutual appreciation thing going on. People give you your space. That’s because people are very proud of you and what you have achieved as a band. ‘Well I am just as proud to be from Sligo,’ he said. ‘The last thing I would want is to be put on a pedestal in my own hometown. I just want to be perceived as normal here.

Whether or not Mark Feehily will ever be perceived as just a normal person is doubtful. He is loved and adored by millions of women (and a lot of men too, I’m sure) worldwide.

‘You do get the students who are from out of town coming up to you saying ‘Oh my God it’s Mark Feehily from Westlife! But the local people don’t bother you. I think they like for us to feel that we can come home and just chill out and relax in Sligo.

Ten years on and I still get people passing by on the street saying ‘How are you Mark’. It’s like people here want you to feel that you can walk around town as normal. They sense it.

And when he does get to spend that valuable time at home he likes to pick up a certain local newspaper to get reacquainted with current affairs in Sligo.

I love reading the Weekender whenever I can, especially because we are away so much and have to rely totally on our friends and families to tell us what’s going on in Sligo. ‘It’s nice to pick up the local paper and see who you know in it.

Looking to the future, I ask Mark if he has plans for a solo venture. And the answer is unequivocal. ‘I have absolutely no aspirations to make solo singles or videos but I will always sing. As it is I sing from the minute I get up until I go to sleep at night. I don’t just stop because Westlife are on a break.

Singing is part of me! It’s more about waiting until we go back into being Westlife.

And before he gets back into the swing of being part of one of the most successful pop acts of all time, he intends to enjoy a well-deserved break (the band announced a few months back they were taking the best part of a year off) doing a bit of everything.

‘I would really love to do some travelling. There are so many places I want to see. I’m the kind of person who loves to immerse myself in anything that’s creative. Be that painting, writing songs, or even just going to the theatre.

‘What we have done as Westlife has been massively positive, but there comes a point when you have to do your own thing, even just for a short while. I am hoping that this will be a fruitful year for me personally and I am really looking forward to it.

 

Sources : TheCommitted - lvgt

 

MARK EN COUVERTURE !

30 août 2008

 

Mark est en couverture du magazine anglais, Attitude dans le numéro de septembre 2008.

 

 

 

Sources : TheCommitted - mfeehilyfan

ECRIVEZ UN CHANT DE FOOTBALL POUR NICKY !

29 août 2008

 

Avec Soccer Aid dans un peu plus d'une semaine, nous avons une super compétition pour vous.
Nous voulons que vous veniez avec un chant de football à propos de Nicky ! Si vous étiez à Soccer Aid, que lui crierez-vous pour lui montrer votre soutien?

Postez votre proposition à l'endroit prévu en cliquant ici. Les textes ne doivent pas faire plus de 8 lignes, et si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez nous faire entendre ce que celà donnerai. Nous allons choisir les 5 meilleures pour les afficher sur la page d'accueil, et la meilleure recevra une photo avec un autographe de Nicky.

Date de clôture est à midi le vendredi 5 septembre.
N'oubliez pas de regarder le match le dimanche 7 septembre sur ITV1, et encourager Nicky !

 

Source : SiteOfficiel

VOTEZ POUR LE SITE OFF !

29 août 2008

 

Le Site Officiel est en compétition pour les BT Digital Music Awards dans la catégorie Best Official Music Site.

Si vous appréciez le site pour toutes ses infos sur les garçons, son blog et son forum votez pour lui ! Cliquez-ici

 

Source : SiteOfficiel

NOUVELLES DATES - BRIAN

29 août 2008

 

En raison à des circonstances imprévisibles Brian McFadden doit reporter sa prochaine tournée en Nouvelle-Zélande
et les organisateurs de reporter les dates au début de l'année 2009. Les dates annulées sont :

Vendredi 3 octobre - Wellington Bar Bodega
Samedi 4 octobre - Auckland Transmission Rooms

Les remboursements sont disponibles à partir du point d'achat.

Brian a exprimé sa déception du report de ses dates de tournée en Nouvelle-Zélande, mais se réjouit de revoir ses fans en 2009.

Source : Myspace Officiel

 

DOLLY TEEN CHOICE AWARDS

26 août 2008

Brian a participé le 13 août dernier au Dolly Teen Choice Awards voici les photos !

 

 

 

Sources : WireImage - GettyImages - Newscom - TheCommitted - Alfee

CALENDRIER 2009

22 août 2008

Commandez le Calendrier Officiel 2009 des Westlife, en cliquant-ici

 

 

Source : Amazon

 

VOTEZ POUR WESTLIFE FRANCE !

22 août 2008

 

 

 

Source : BT Digital Music Awards

BOP BOP BABY VIDEO

21 août 2008

 

Après une semaine de pause, voici une vidéo :

Les garçons interprètent 'Bop Bop Baby' au TMF Awards 2002, en Hollande.

 

 

Source : Youtube

 

VACANCES WF

11 août 2008

 

Il n'y aura pas de news jusqu'au 21 août, mais l'Equipe reste active sur le forum !

Cliquez-ici pour y accèder !

 

Source : WestlifeFrance

I LAY MY LOVE ON YOU

11 août 2008

 

La suite de notre semaine en 2000 !

 

Source : Youtube

 

BRIAN INTERVIEW

10 août 2008

 

Brian a donné une interview le 8 août à Myrddin Gwynedd reporter au New Zealand Herald.

Pour visionner l'interview cliquez-ici

 

Sources : TheCommitted - gisari27

MORE THAN WORDS

10 août 2008


La suite de l'escapade en 2000 avec More Than Words.

 

 

 

Source : Youtube

 

MEDLEY OF NUMBER ONES

08 août 2008

 

Nous restons toujours en 2000, pour une seconde vidéo !

 

Source : Youtube

 

YOU MAKE ME FEEL

07 août 2008

 

Repartons en 2000 au début des Westlife, en commençant par cette magnifique chanson.

 

Source : Youtube

 

WESTLIFE SHOW 3e partie

06 août 2008

 

Voici la dernière partie de cette magnifique soirée !

 

 

Source : Youtube

 

WESTLIFE SHOW 2e partie

05 août 2008

 

Voici la seconde partie du Westlife Show !

 

 

 

 

Source : Youtube

 

WESTLIFE SHOW 1er partie

04 août 2008

 

Je vous propose de redécouvrir tous les moments fort de la carrière des Westlife !

Commençons cette semaine par le Westlife Show !

Décembre 2007.

 

 

Source : Youtube

 

WESTLIFE FRANCE PASSE EN MODE ....

1er août 2008

 

Durant la pause des Westlife, le site passe en mode animation !

Nous vous proposons de venir nous rejoindre sur le forum, pour participer à des jeux sur les Westlife,

tout en jouant vous pourrez gagner des points, qui vous serons distribués par les membres de l'Equipe.

Le but pour vous est de récolter un maximum de points, pour gagner des cadeaux WestlifeFrance.

Plus de détails sur le forum...

De nombreuses surprises vous attends sur le forum, fichier audios, vidéos, photos, récits....

Source : WestlifeFrance

 

OUR STORY !

01 août 2008

 

Faites de Our Story le livre de vos vacances ! En l'achetant sur la boutique Amazon de WestlifeFrance !

 

Source : WestlifeFrance

CALENDRIER 2009

01 août 2008

 

 

Vous pouvez acheter le calendrier 2009 sur la boutique Amazon WestlifeFrance.

Sources : Amazon - WestlifeFrance