Westlife have released a song in Mandarin. Yes, you read that right.
The Flying Without Wings boy band have drafted in AI in a bid to make it in China, and they have worked on a cover of Chinese singer Jason Zhang’s 2016 hit Love + Courage using teaching software Kugou AIK.
They said in a statement; ‘The fan response from us singing The Ordinary Road in Mandarin was truly overwhelming and this just felt like it could be another fun thing to do for our Chinese fans.’
In December 2021, the band held a virtual concert through Chinese social media platform WeChat, which attracted 27.9 million viewers.
During the livestream, the band performed The Ordinary Road by singer-songwriter Pu Shu, and the performance was viewed over 72million times over the course of three days.
‘It took months to get it right as we wanted it to be the perfect reflection of our voices and we are thrilled with the final version,’ the statement continued on the new release.
‘It’s hugely exciting. We are delighted it is one of Jason Zhang’s songs as we performed with him on a previous tour. We hope our Chinese fans love it!’
The band – made up of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan – didn’t actually sing on the track, which was created using the world’s first multilingual AI singing technology to sound like them.
However, they were still heavily involved in the creative process, which resulted in the song being streamed more than a million times in its first week.
Tencent Music Entertainment added: ‘Since the release of their album Wild Dreams in 2021, Westlife have continued to deepen their connection with China and Tencent Music Entertainment.
‘In 2022, Westlife took their love for their Chinese fans to new heights by deeply participating in Tencent Music Entertainment Group’s annual non-profit programme If Music Has a Shape, demonstrating their love for their Chinese fans through the campaign.
‘This ongoing mutual dedication is why we have chosen Westlife as the first international artist to collaborate with to release AI music.
‘We hope to use AI technology to bring Westlife a bit closer to their fans in China.
‘This aligns perfectly with Tencent Music Entertainment’s corporate mission of creating endless possibilities with music and technology.’
After the 2021 livestream, Westlife said it was ‘great’ to see fan reactions in real time, and added: ‘We can’t wait for what’s next and also to come back to China to tour.’
During the virtual concert, band member Kian Egan said: ‘When we performed old songs, memories came back. To sing these songs 20 years later, it still feels special and fresh.’
They fell in love with The Ordinary Road – which featured in a Chinese film called The Continent in 2014 and is hugely popular – when they first listened to it. The You Raise Me Up hitmakers learnt the lyrics through English translation, they said.
This new release comes after band member Mark dropped out of their Wild Dreams tour when he contracted sepsis in February. He was unable to attend dates in Denmark, Sweden, Mexico festivals, Cardiff and Henley Festival.
The 43-year-old took to Instagram at the time to explain his decision, telling fans that his ‘challenges’ began in August 2020 whilst having surgery, which led to needing intensive care treatment.
Due to complications, he developed sepsis and needed more surgery to save his life.
Mark detailed his hospital experience on Instagram, as he said: ‘I spent the next few months in hospital. It was during lockdown.
‘For months, due to strict Covid restrictions, I was not allowed any visitors including my fiancée [Cailean O’Neill] and my then 10-month-old daughter [Layla],’ he recalled.
‘It was physically and mentally a very difficult time, not to mention traumatic having to spend so long in ICU.’