westlife20years

“You didn’t just make our dreams come true once, you made it come true 2 times.”- Kian

Westlife’s reunion is undoubtedly one of the best gifts bestowed upon the 80s and 90s kids. No matter how many new groups sprouted over the years, none is as good as old, for old is gold in our hearts.

Do these Irish guys still have it?

Oh yes, they absolutely do.

They age like the finest 1980s vintage wine. Looking as charismatic as yester-years, their vocals amazingly better, a tribute to Queen medley, a marriage proposal, a 48.75-second record breath-holding longest note for “Fool Again”, the thunderous cheers, massive karaoke session & white lights from a 22,000 strong crowd in the biggest indoor arena that they have ever played in their 20 years, pretty much summed up the reminiscence rendezvous.

You don’t need Infinity stones when you have Westlife. Their vocals have got healing and therapeutic powers which can soothe your hearts and minds.

“Eargasm” at its best.

Time came to a standstill when the quartet emerged on stage. We were channeled back to the early 2000s through a time tunnel.

The euphoric pleasures from yester years coming to life before you felt so surreal, making you feel young and old at the same time.

As they sang their new hit “Hello, My Love”, fluttering hearts screamed “Rehi, My Loves!”.

Yes, they are back to S̶W̶E̶A̶R̶ ̶I̶T̶ swoon us all over again with their melodious vocals. The lovelorn fans would no longer be flying without wings for Westlife’s reunion sparks hope and faith and have given them a pair of angel wings.

It was a dream come true twice for Westlife, and us.

The number of people sprouting on their feet, waving their hands, swaying along to their most renown hits, singing along as loudly as they could, screaming for these guys at the top of their lungs, the number of phone screens raised, was a clear indication how much Singapore fans miss Westlife.

The sound system at National Stadium is often described as “substandard”, but Westlife proved they could take full control with their strong vocals.

Classics are best served RAW.

This was most evident during their best hits like “Swear It Again”, “Uptown Girl” and “If I Let You Go”. The crowd reacted the most fervently during these timeless hits and past video snips on the LED screen brought back loads of adolescent memories.

“If I Let You Go” exuded the most Nostalgia vibes as I watched the “young lads” on screen. We could vaguely remember Jamie Teo right in making a guest appearance during “Uptown Girl” back in Westlife’s 1st SG concert.

We could still remember the lyrics of yester years by heart as we sang along line after line. Some things are just etched in the mind and heart.

You felt like a teenage girl once again, going gaga over your long-time-no-see high school beaus who have maintained themselves so well.

Westlife’s vocal has got a therapeutic effect.

Shane sounding as perfect as ever, Mark’s remarkably high notes reminded you of Divas, while Nicky and Kian had a chance to prove they could sing fairly well too. Even more surprising was how Kian managed to pull off “I want to Break Free” so well.

Weslife announced disbandment at the height of their music career in 2012. This decision broke million of hearts worldwide. No matter how fans petitioned for a reunion, how many blank cheques were offered to them, they stuck by their decision to have a go at their personal interests. They thought this was the end of Westlife, and we too, thought this was really it.

20 years passed us by & many things have changed in the course of our lives, including these guys who took a break to get back to normal routine lives.

“What makes a man” seems to be the most apt song for these guys who have tasted fame and popularity, but being able to let it all go at their peak. It takes more than pure courage and determination to stand by what they believed in and wanted so badly.

This was in exchange for a commoner’s life, for more time with their families.

As Nicky put it, they never knew what a “routine” life was. They have matured and nurtured into family men, loving husbands, daddies and pursued their solo interests. Now that they are ready to take on the world stage once more as Westlife, they made good their promise to return bigger and better.

These humble, down-to-earth, fun-loving guys didn’t change.

Their new collaborations with Ed Sheeran have seamlessly integrated them back to the current music scene. There’s an infusion of the latest pop elements in their new tracks. It affirms they did not just want to be a passé nostalgic act, but they still have what it takes to stay relevant now and all ready to move forth to the future.

National Stadium may be the biggest and hottest sauna they have ever played in, but they are just like the bubble tea that quenched our thirst in this humid weather.

We bet Shane wasn’t just talking about the weather when he said it was BURNING HOT. Mark exclaimed it was hard to believe that halfway across the way, people know their songs and names.

Nicky quipped that their lives totally changed when their band enjoyed worldwide popularity. They were grateful for the love and support for the past 20 years, even when they split up, got married and did different things.

Kian confessed they were really worried if they still had it if they were to make a comeback. We didn’t even need to hear the resounding “YES” from the audience to know that’s not a cause for worry at all. Even when the guys had their reservations, we never doubted it.

Kian shared that “You Raise Me Up” was what they sang at his dad’s and Nicky’s dad’s funerals. This song is about family, their beloved departed, the ones that are still here and for all their loved ones around the world.

It was an impactful, heartfelt moment when their soulful rendition comforted our hearts. It was a poignant moment to reflect. The resounding backup vocals from the audience raised goose bumps.

While some may feel it’s a drastic twist from their usual “acapella” performances, I simply love their “Tribute to Queen” segment. How smooth Kian sounded in “I want to break free” caught us by sheer, pleasant surprise. We loved his solo on the electric guitar. It didn’t matter if their butt shaking was a little awkward.

We love how Westlife unleashed the little wild side in them. That clamping and thud-thumping during “We Will Rock You” never gets old. They did a splendid job for “We are the Champions” too.

When it was time for Encore, the silhouettes of these guys walking up the stage was Déjà vu at its best manifestation.

Clad in white suits, they looked like angels descending from heaven, when they began crooning to the all-time classic “Flying without wings”. It reminded us of them donning similar but longer-flowing white suits back in 2001.

Time has been kind to these lads-turned-dads. They are still oozing with charisma; they still make butterflies flutter in our stomachs.

The last song “World of Our Own” depicts their take on life the most. No matter what people say, they held on to their beliefs, without yielding in to allow the world to change them, but for them to build a world of their own.

Now, we are glad that they have let us back in again to their world.

Thank you Westlife for the awesome performance, swooning us with your amazing vocals & positive vibes.

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