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I really like UnionJ, but find it so annoying when artists do multiple versions just with a different photo - 7 of them, seriously? I think that is the most anyone has ever done - that is just an easy way to assure commercial success :rolleyes:

I listened to the new song. It sounds good, but I think it is way to similar to Mumford and Sons, kind of like Hopeless Wonderer. But I appreciate it is not a another typical ballad.

I also love Not A Bad Thing, but I like the hidden track even more - why don't you like it? It really is a great ballad to me :) And I totally agree that True Blood has a "Thriller" vibe :D

I presume you have made a mistake with this post right? :unsure:

Well thank god for that - I mean, I myself am a Westlife fan and I will be the first one who will say they were idiots for staying with Syco for so long and releasing all those covers when they were clearly against it. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. I also think Progress album was very overrated by the critics and public, despite the fact that I liked The Flood and The Kidz - I listened to the album and I actually liked the first half until Underground Machine - the rest gave me headache. The critics praised it way too much because they are Take That, I honestly think that if JLS have released it, they would have called them insane.

Seriously, no need to be so rude! :unsure: You should have written Gary Barlow Appreciation thread (bad comments not allowed) then if I can't say a negative opinion about him. I hate when his fans are acting like he is some kind of God and that he can't do no wrong. Take that Lighthouse he wrote for Westlife - it was very weak, the melody was good but the lyrics were pretty bland and weak. It was clear the song was missing something as it was the first time ever in 13 years that their single ended in Top 40. But I''m sure you will say that this was Westlife's fault. The only mistake they have done was to their management and release it even if they already had single planned that was written by Westlife member. Plus, he later admitted he didn't wrote it for them, that song was 3 years old and sitting on a shelf. And that Matt Cardle song was also missing something.

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.

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.

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.

I agree it was hard for him last year on the X Factor, but to me he was obnoxious the year before. Regardless of the issues, he was a hypocrite for slagging of Rylan when he was the one that put through disastrous Frankie Cocoza who couldn't sing and was later banned from the show for bad behavior. Also, all Take That/Gary fans can say all they want it was all a joke regarding Rylan - ok, but was completely uncalled of him to insult him during his solo tour. Why drag him outside the show? That is why I think it wasn't all a joke. Regarding his music, I find him way overrated, the UK acts like he is the best thing since bread. Yes, he may have had great songs with Take That which i respect, but all the songs he wrote for others weren't major hits.

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.

Great to see his solo tour is successful, he tweeted this: I'm speechless guys !Cant believe Dublin sold out in 20 mins

That is true, but I think Shane's record company is actually very good with promoting him - they have done everything right so far, the only thing they couldn't is to get his music played on Radio 1, but that is truly impossible. I'm sure they will help him with the album campaign, certainly more than Syco ever did in recent years since they refused to let Westlife release even a 2nd single.

I hear that too :) I hope people won't diss him because of that. Anyway... too bad he isn't releasing it little sooner than the album, but he still can release 4-5 singles if he wants to - he can have the 3rd in January/February before the tour and then the 4th in May and 5th in July. I mean, look at Pink, Rihanna, Perry - they all have 5-6 singles. Later it is not even important to have high position, they release it to help album sales more. Hopefully he will do the same.

What style that is? Nobody truly has a style on X Factor when they are singing various covers - I don't see them abandoning anything. However, I do believe District 3 are more creative, their EP is very good.

Much better than the debut single. It has very uplifting, encouraging lyrics and the melody is very nice - 1D tried a positive song with Little Things, but I think this is much better as the lyrics are less cringe-worthy.

It says on Shane's website that the album will be released November 4th and the single the day before that. Shane Filan will release his debut solo album ‘You & Me’ through Capitol Records on November 4. This follows the success of his debut single ‘Everything To Me’. The next single ‘About You’ will be released a day before the album – November 3. ‘About You’ is written by Shane with Steve Mac and Wayne Hector, who famously wrote ‘Flying Without Wings’ for Westlife. Shane co-wrote a handful of Westlife songs, but his solo album sees him emerge as a pop writer to be reckoned with. Shane says “I got off to a really good start. Everything To Me felt like beginners’ luck, but I didn’t know how good it was. Then the label were phoning, going “This is great!” I’d shown to myself I could do this and that took the pressure off. I was flying in those first two weeks and then suddenly I was in Nashville with really famous songwriters, partly thinking ‘WOW!’ but also ‘Right, let’s do this.’” Shane’s co-writers include his old Westlife writer/producer team Steve Mac & Wayne Hector, plus Nick Atkinson (Gabrielle Aplin), Nexus (Lana Del Rey), Paul Barry & Patrick Maskell (Enrique Iglesias’ Hero) and Nashville songwriters Kylie Sackley and Brandon Hood (LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill). It’s produced by Martin Terefe (Train, Jason Mraz) and Steve Mac. He will release a standard and Deluxe version (2CD), while he also has a limited signed edition that will include a DVD. I wonder what will it have, maybe that documentary.

Shane announced the UK tour: http://instagram.com/p/d6VX--H2q-/

Shane's album is called You and Me, he also said he dedicates it to all of the fans :)

I find it ridiculous that Radio 1 and Capital don't want to support him. They support 1D now but they never did Westlife - I just don't get that and it frustrates me. They are truly hypocrites - If 1D had Shane's song, they would play it constantly. I mean, the song is perfect for radio - it has that summery pop radio friendly vibe. I just don't get it, who are they to judge artists? I'm also happy it is not a ballad - I seriously don't remember when was the last time that a ballad ended up high in the charts. But I do think a ballad for 3rd single is a good idea to show variety. I still kind of hope that he will perform on The X Factor - one music site said he will perform in October so who knows. However, even as a guest judge will be great, he was very good in that year when JLS formed. I can't wait for the documentary - I have a feeling it will be aired a week before or during the week of the album release. Also, he gave a clue on Twitter for the 2nd announcement - he drew 3 lines, I think that could be either the name of the album or the album release date :)

Shane confirmed on Twitter that new single isn't a ballad and that he wrote it with Steve Mac and Wayne Hector.

Here is the article about Shane's documentary: Shane Filan has made a documentary about the making of his debut solo album. The former Westlife star wanted to capture every moment as he stepped out alone and visited Nashville to pen his own material. Excited Shane, 34, told me: “I spent two weeks out there and had a documentary crew filming as I was writing. “It’s going to be out later in the year – a 60 minute documentary on the last day of Croke Park (Westlife’s final show) then the day after with me talking to the camera and not knowing where my life was going. “It’s really good footage catching me how I was feeling at that moment, signing the record deal and the process of going through making the album.” With his first single Everything To Me in the Top 15, Shane is hoping to announce a solo tour to tie in with the release of his album, due out before Christmas. Shane continued: “My live show will be about me having a laugh and jumping around the stage. “I love interacting with the crowd, there will be 10-12 musicians and it’ll be a bit of a jam. “It’s all going to be new when I tour, I want to start in smaller venues and go to different cities which I haven’t been to before and try to build up my confidence as a performer. “I’m more excited than scared as I’m singing songs I love. “I’ll sing Westlife songs as well of course or the fans would be very disappointed.” While his band days are in the past, one role Shane wouldn’t mind picking up again is helping out Louis Walsh on The X Factor as a guest mentor. Shane, who worked with JLS on the show in 2008, added: “I’d love to help Louis out again. “X Factor has been very good to Westlife and last time was so much fun.” I can't wait to see that - I always love when I can see how album was made :)

That is quite understandable, I would be very surprised if that had happened. It is very different for him to start the career now 14 years after the band than say, Brian, who left the band in their heydays - if Shane had left then, I think he would have been a lot more successful as he was always the favorite member.

Shane had a first proper gig yesterday and today he tweeted this: Still buzzing from last night but even more excited about next week !! 3 big announcements!!! Stay tuned guys.. 1st one on Monday!!

Here is the performance of Everytime: