July 17th 2024.
The popular boy band, Westlife, have recently made waves by releasing a Mandarin version of their hit song in 2016. Yes, you read that right - the Irish band has ventured into the Chinese music scene. In an effort to connect with their Chinese fans, the Flying Without Wings singers have collaborated with AI technology to cover Jason Zhang's Love + Courage, a popular song from 2016, using the teaching software Kugou AIK.
In a statement, the band expressed their excitement about this new release, saying, "The overwhelming response from our fans when we sang The Ordinary Road in Mandarin was truly heartwarming. We thought it would be a fun thing to do for our Chinese fans." This move comes after the band's successful virtual concert on Chinese social media platform WeChat in December 2021, which garnered a whopping 27.9 million viewers. During the concert, Westlife performed The Ordinary Road, a song by Chinese singer-songwriter Pu Shu, and the performance was viewed over 72 million times in just three days. The band shared, "It took us months to perfect this cover as we wanted it to be a true reflection of our voices. We are thrilled with the final version."
Although they did not lend their vocals to the track, the band was heavily involved in the creative process. This decision was made even more special as Love + Courage is one of Jason Zhang's songs, with whom Westlife had previously performed during a tour. The band expressed their hopes that their Chinese fans would love this new release. Made up of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan, Westlife used the world's first multilingual AI singing technology to create a song that sounds like them.
Their efforts paid off as the song was streamed over a million times in just its first week of release. Tencent Music Entertainment, one of China's leading music platforms, praised Westlife for their deep connection with their Chinese fans, saying, "Since the release of their album Wild Dreams in 2021, Westlife has continued to strengthen their bond with China and Tencent Music Entertainment. In 2022, they participated in our annual non-profit program, If Music Has a Shape, showcasing their love for their Chinese fans. This is why we chose Westlife as the first international artist to collaborate with for an AI music release. We hope to bridge the gap between Westlife and their Chinese fans through this technology, bringing them closer together."
A lot has changed for Westlife since their formation in 1998. The band reflected on their journey, saying, "This collaboration perfectly aligns with Tencent Music Entertainment's mission of exploring the endless possibilities of music and technology." After their successful virtual concert in 2021, the band was ecstatic about the real-time reactions from their fans and expressed their excitement for future tours in China.
During the concert, Kian Egan shared, "Performing old songs brought back so many memories. Even after 20 years, singing these songs still feels special and fresh." The band revealed that they fell in love with The Ordinary Road, a song that was featured in the popular Chinese film The Continent in 2014. The You Raise Me Up singers learned the lyrics through English translation and were eager to release their own version of the song.
This release holds a special place in the band's heart as it comes after band member Mark had to drop out of their Wild Dreams tour due to his battle with sepsis in February. The 43-year-old took to Instagram to explain his decision, revealing that his health challenges began in August 2020 during surgery. He had to undergo intensive care treatment and more surgery to save his life. Mark shared his experience, saying, "I spent months in the hospital during lockdown, without any visitors, including my fiancée and 10-month-old daughter. It was a physically and mentally difficult time, and being in the ICU for so long was traumatic."
The band has come a long way since their formation, and this new release is a testament to their dedication and love for their fans. They continue to explore new avenues to connect with their Chinese audience, and this collaboration with AI technology is just the beginning. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, share it with us by emailing us, calling us, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We would love to hear from you!
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