I am thinking about whether Shane Filan's flop solo career would mean Westlife would come back at some point.

Shane's debut single will sell no more than 40-50 thousand copies (UK Chart #14, lower than any Westlife single, except last one Lighthouse), and Shane put so much effort on promotion and stuff. That means second single will be even lower and album won't have any big success. I don' think album will reach Top 5 or sell more than 100.000 copies.

 

So Shane could be dropped maybe in 1-2 years and be unemployed.

 

What do you think? Would Westlife reunite again in a few years? It's an interesting think to discuss.

 

PS: Westlife quality was much more than Shane's even though he looks to be more freshed now. (my opinion)

You seem very DISPARAGING of Shane and his solo career. Should he not have a voice outside of the group? Should he not pursue his life's dreams?

 

 

Of course he should, and I am totally supporting him as an artist and a man. But I am talking about facts. His music doesnt seem much interesting to the world and the sales are proving it.

Probably a little early to call his solo career a flop - the album isn't out yet

I agree it is too early to predict anything. Also, I wouldn't call his single a flop if you consider this:

 

1. He may have promoted it very hard, but not in places that are significant - VERY important thing to remember is that his single wasn't played on big radio stations like Capital Radio or Radio 1, he got the support from Radio 2 which is like a radio for B artists. He wasn't lucky like 1D that are played ALL THE TIME on the Radio 1. Also, he didn't have much tv promo opportunities - he sang only on Daybreak and had 1 interview on Bliss Tv - that is it. He didn't have X Factor back up - if he had that and sold this amount, then I would say he flopped, but he didn't.

 

2. Seriously, when was the last time that a true pop song without dance and electro shit even managed to get Top 10, let alone no.1? This is the sad reality now. So him selling 21 K with a old school catchy pop song is very good.

 

3. People were pleasantly surprised with the different sound than Westlife's - I haven't read 1 bad review from the critics as well - they all said positive things and praised his songwriting. Many Westlife haters said they loved the song.

 

Considering all this, he didn't really flopped. If this was Westlife, I would have said that they did flop, BUT this is Shane on his own starting from the scratch.

 

Being no. 14 is a good start for him, I didn't expect anything major from him. Besides, it also depends when do you release a single - I did check the week after Shane's release and he would have been no.10 with 21K sales as that week DJ Fresh/Diplo/Dominique Young Unique was no 10. with 24,683 sales.

 

At the end of the day, I am so happy and proud he wrote his album which automatically means that this is the album he is very passionate about - he has written 36 songs and about 14-15 will go on the album. No matter how the album ends up in the charts, it is something he has created. I honestly believe he is a good songwriter, everything I have heard so far had very nice lyrics. Besides, this is his first real try, I'm sure he will get better in the future. Also, the record company obviously believed the material is good enough to be released.

 

And don't forget his solo tour is selling out - Dublin show sold out in 20 minutes.

 

BUT even if his career does flop, that doesn't mean that would be the reason for reunion. Mark is also going solo so we have to see his success, even Nicky is doing something in music business. Regardless of that, it is their decision to reunite, flopped careers don't have to necessarily be the reason. They have said many times that they aren't planning anything, but never say never. So, who knows - but, Shane's career won't be the main reason for the possible reunion.

Edited September 20, 201311 yr by zeze88

2. Seriously, when was the last time that a true pop song without dance and electro shit even managed to get Top 10, let alone no.1? This is the sad reality now. So him selling 21 K with a old school catchy pop song is very good.

Well said, zeze88.

Best post, which I ever read on Buzzjack forum.

Agree with everything, I only choose the main part from your post.

Well said, zeze88.

Best post, which I ever read on Buzzjack forum.

Agree with everything, I only choose the main part from your post.

 

Thanks :) I'm just being honest. We all have to be realistic here - only Robbie and Justin have managed to become superstars after boyband years, it would be crazy to expect anything huge from Shane. Even he is not expecting anything, he is so humble about everything and is very happy how the things are going for him now.

 

Also, 1 other thing to consider is - it is quite different for Shane to start now 14 years after the band and we all know their popularity has died down a little in the recent years which is understandable because you can't expect the same hysteria and hype after so many years in the business. Brian left at the time when they were still enormously successful and popular, so did Justin, Robbie and Ronan - they all had it a lot easier as their bends were still in their heydays.

Edited September 20, 201311 yr by zeze88

Thanks :) I'm just being honest. We all have to be realistic here - only Robbie and Justin have managed to become superstars after boyband years, it would be crazy to expect anything huge from Shane. Even he is not expecting anything, he is so humble about everything and is very happy how the things are going for him now.

 

Micheal Jackson begs to differ....

 

Micheal Jackson begs to differ....

 

I always consider MJ outside this comparison as I never saw Jackson 5 as a typical boyband - they were a family band, the dad put them together and everything. The same I just can't see The Beatles as a boyband because they are considered legends.

 

 

I am thinking about whether Shane Filan's flop solo career would mean Westlife would come back at some point.

Shane's debut single will sell no more than 40-50 thousand copies (UK Chart #14, lower than any Westlife single, except last one Lighthouse), and Shane put so much effort on promotion and stuff. That means second single will be even lower and album won't have any big success. I don' think album will reach Top 5 or sell more than 100.000 copies.

 

So Shane could be dropped maybe in 1-2 years and be unemployed.

 

What do you think? Would Westlife reunite again in a few years? It's an interesting think to discuss.

 

PS: Westlife quality was much more than Shane's even though he looks to be more freshed now. (my opinion)

 

I don't think debuting at #14 is bad at all, especially compared to radio / tv airplay it did very well. It's a shame it dropped as quickly as it did however and I think he needs to work on expanding his fanbase and getting the general public on side, but without a big promo campaign it isn't going to happen over night. I disagree with you saying that he had a big promo campaign - I only remember him performing on Daybreak. Hopefully with the new single they'll manage to book him some big tv slots and make more of an event of it.

 

But Westlife reforming isn't solely in Shanes court, I can't see the other three going back atm, Nicky & Kian are both doing very well tv wise and Mark is gearing up for his own solo career. I don't think any of them are expecting Westlife levels of success ever again, but that doesn't mean they can't have healthy careers either. We'll have to see how everything pans out, but I can't see westlife reforming in the next 2 years. Maybe they'll do a little celebration for their 20th year in the business though, that might be a likelier story regardless of any one of theirs success.

We can only hope not!

 

2. Seriously, when was the last time that a true pop song without dance and electro shit even managed to get Top 10, let alone no.1? This is the sad reality now. So him selling 21 K with a old school catchy pop song is very good.

Roar, #1 last week, been #1 in many countries around the world. Pop song, no dance, no electro. Olly Murs, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen (Call Me Maybe), all pretty big, all pop with no dance and electro.

Those who complain about dance and electro "clogging up" the charts clearly aren't the ones who look at it regularly.

 

Roar, #1 last week, been #1 in many countries around the world. Pop song, no dance, no electro. Olly Murs, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen (Call Me Maybe), all pretty big, all pop with no dance and electro.

 

I was talking about couple of months time and just in the UK, Jepsen was a 1 hit wonder last year. Katy Perry is obviously an exception because she was so huge with Teenage Dream so no wonder it got no. 1 - plus, the scandal with Sara Bareilles also helped her. And Swift used a lot of elecro vibes on I Knew You Were Trouble.

 

Ok, maybe disregard what I have said about pop songs, but everything I said around Shane stands.

 

And it does stand that dance and electro tracks are very popular these days (Avicii, Example, Daft Punk, Goulding. Miley Cyrus), it is hard to deny that.

 

Shane couldn't have gained much bigger success than he did because he was barely properly promoted.