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[nirvanamusic]

People may have forgotten, however when Boyzone arrived in Britain, they went head to head with the biggest acts. This was deliberate for their first five UK singles by the group.

The reasoning was Louis Walsh wanted a big, bold, tabloid worthy, take down of a giant act, to fuel huge publicity for Boyzone and a changing of the guards, so to speak. Take That being his main target, though East 17 and Michael Jackson were also pitted against. Hoping to knock the act off the top spot.

I'm so thankful Take That had a strong fanbase which didn't allow that to happen! The headlines, as Walsh predicted would have been HUGE.

Interestingly he famously did reverse with Westlife, picking 'quiet weeks' with no competition and easy routes to the top.

Single #1. 1st January 1995

#1. Stay Another Day - East 17
#2. Love Me For A Reason - Boyzone

Single #2. 23rd April 1995

#1. Back For Good - Take That
#3. Key To My Life - Boyzone

Single #3. 6th August 1995

#1 Never Forget - Take That
#3 So Good - Boyzone

Single #4. 23rd December 1995

#1 Earth Song - Michael Jackson
#2 Father And Son - Boyzone

Single #5. 3rd March 1996

#1 How Deep Is Your Love - Take That
#4 Coming Home Now - Boyzone

By the end of 1996 and Take That's initial split, they had double the overall British sales of Boyzone. (8.4 million to 4.2 million)

This post has been edited by nirvanamusic: 10th October 2023, 01:19 PM