'Hello My Love' was certainly a surprisingly decent comeback from them and was kind of cool to see them get such a stable hit in the streaming era although I don't love it.

3 good songs to start the top 10, I'd put them all above 2 that are still to come personally. 'Hello My Love' is fab and 'Starlight' has an strong chorus imo, very good song as well.

Edited September 19, 20222 yr by Roba!

 

10. My Love [Coast to Coast] (7.14)

Highest Score: vibe + Sean. (11); Alex! (10)

Lowest Score: Viper* (02)

 

Kick starting the top 10 is the lead single from their 2nd album 'Coast to Coast' and it's pretty much "more of the same" with 'My Love'. It's "nice" but just your typical Westlife ballad. But at that stage it was very "if it ain't broke..." as it scored them another #1 single. Their 6th UK #1 in a row! It's quite apt that this and 'Fool Again' are next to each other as I find them very, very similar. It's good, not great. Would never really listen to it out of choice.

 

Actually Against all odds was in between them and My Love was their 7th No1

come on Hello My Love has some very very very cringe Ed lyrics that ruins the Steve Mac melody

come on Hello My Love has some very very very cringe Ed lyrics that ruins the Steve Mac melody

 

True. Thats why it will never compete with classics like fww, wooo and u raise me up

 

07. You Raise Me Up [Face to Face] (7.4)

Highest Score: Tafty³³³ + isanka + Dobbo + Sean. + Ho-Lee Smokes (10)

Lowest Score: Jessie Where + Roba! (00)

 

Up next is one of their biggest hits. I remember in 2006 this was EVERY WHERE. 'You Raise Me Up' is another cover, but unlike majority of their past covers, this felt like it was written and recorded specifically for them and them only. They made it their own, completely and I do love this tbh. But I'm a sucker for a huge key-change and Shane's little voice crack soon after... WHEW! The emotion! Reading wiki and apparently they didn't want to record this, originally. Can you imagine if they hadn't? Lmao. I'm not sure they'd have had another hit quite like it at the time and whatever they led with would've just been another 'The Rose' at best. Such a gorgeous song and I'm surprised to learn this wasn't some Irish folk song before hand lmao omg.

DID 'I LAY MY LOVE ON YOU' GET A RELEASE/END UP CANCELLED????

 

 

It's one of their best songs! Why did they not push for it here?

 

EDIT: Oh it was the 4th single for territories outside of the UK & Ireland. BOOOO. Shoulda been a single here!

I don't get why people rate it so highly above most of their other output, it's dreary as hell and sounds like something you'd hear on Songs of Praise.

I was never a fan of their cover of YRMU. The Josh Groban version though is lovely imo (the original iirc)

 

Oh it isn't, it's originally by Secret Garden interestingly.

Edited September 22, 20222 yr by Roba!

 

06. Uptown Girl [Coast to Coast] (7.5)

Highest Score: Run For Cover + isanka + Slick + Ho-Lee Smokes (10)

Lowest Score: NarCow (04)

 

At #6 is their Comic Relief single, which was a cover of the Billy Joel classic, 'Uptown Girl'. One of their biggest hits here and a much needed tempo change for them. Not only that, but this captures that "joyous, cheeky, fun cover version", that Comic Relief relied heavily on, perfectly. The video is very tongue in cheek and it was nice to see them show off a bit of personality instead of the moody boy band stare into the camera look. Fun song. I find it a tad annoying at times, but it's decent.

You Raise Me Up felt like a much bigger hit than expected at the time to me. No.1 was a given but I remember being bowled over by its opening sale, and then that very long and stable chart run in the top five, as their star had been on the wane in the singles chart for a while. The right song at the right time I guess.

 

It's a good version of the track, although very rinsed by X Factor so always makes me think of a successful TV audition and Simon Cowell's grin when I hear it now :lol: Shane and Mark both sound realy good on it, and the second half is very uplifting, although once again it might as well be by Daniel O'Donnell, from Mandy onwards in one fell swoop they really did fully go from being a contemporary pop band to - with the odd exception - churning out serviceable covers aimed at the middle aged masses and Heart FM.

 

I think this is partly why Hello My Love and some of the other recent singles have been so refreshing. The rinse and repeat November ballad cover->album release->smaller second single OR no follow up at all->end of era formula of 2003-2011 was too much.

 

I Lay My Love On You was good and popular outside the UK, they did that Cheiron style very well and Coast To Coast was clearly stacked with potential hit singles.

 

Uptown Girl is fine but glad it's not in the top five. The video was fun indeed though.

Edited September 22, 20222 yr by gooddelta

'Uptown Girl' is fine for me too but again prefer the original by Billy Joel. School nostalgia over it being played on the playground for Red Nose Day though :lol:

 

05. Swear It Again [Westlife] (7.64)

Highest Score: Nina West + Dobbo + ElectroBoy + Slick (10)

Lowest Score: Jessie Where (02)

 

Starting us off in the top 5 is the song that also started it all off for them. Originally under the band name "Westside" (which was already taken - Thankfully lmao omg) before they launched with the name "Westlife", 'Swear It Again' went on to be an absolutely massive debut single for them. It went to number 1 here in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand and has been certified Gold. As a song, this song really bores me. I'm very surprised it managed to go top 5 here? It's so bland. I should've rated it lower than a 6 tbh. Meh. Really don't care for this at all.

I don't find their version of 'Uptown Girl' quite as offensive as most of their other covers, although it's still middling for me.

I’ve always liked Swear It Again, it has lovely strings, a good build, and served as a solid debut single.

 

I remember them performing it on the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party in 1998 when they were Westside still!

 

Swear It Again is one of their better efforts and I think 5th is quite a fair position for it.

 

Is If I Let You Go really still there? The other 3 are good.

I don't mind You Raise Me Up and Uptown Girl, their more decent covers

Swear it Again so-so

is If I Let You Go really still to go? thats not a good one...

I don't mind 'If I Let You Go', I think it's a fairly reasonable effort for them. 🙈

 

04. Flying Without Wings [Westlife] (8.06)

Highest Score: Charis + Tafty³³³ + Nina West + zeze88 + Herbs + Run For Cover + Feel_The_Fever + Slick + Sean. + Ho-Lee Smokes (10)

Lowest Score: Jessie Where (01)

 

Up next is a song I assumed would have been in contention for the win. We have the mega 'Flying Without Wings' out in 4th place. This has gone on to become somewhat of a boyband classic/classic in general. I see most people talk about this song quite favourably and I think it's the one people outside of the Westlife fanbase go to. This was their 3rd UK #1 and as of 2019 it is their 2nd biggest hit to date here in the UK. It's my 2nd favourite by them, but I am a sucker for a key-change with a choir sound, ngl. Lmao. I just think this song holds a lot of meaning and it's delivered in a perfect way and imo, I'd probably argue it's one of the most essential boyband ballads ever.

The top 3:

 

If I Let You Go vs When You're Looking Like That vs World Of Our Own

 

Which one is the winner? Any surprises to you?