Better Man (Westlife song)

Last updated

"Better Man"
Westlife-BetterManSingle.png
Single by Westlife
from the album Spectrum
Released29 March 2019 (2019-03-29)(original and orchestral)
26 April 2019 (acoustic)
Length3:17(original)
3:23 (orchestral)
3:13 (acoustic)
Label Virgin EMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Steve Mac (original and acoustic)
Tobie Tripp (orchestral)
Westlife singles chronology
"Hello My Love"
(2019)
"Better Man"
(2019)
"Dynamite"
(2019)
Music video
"Better Man" on YouTube

"Better Man" is a song by Irish pop vocal band Westlife. It was released by Virgin EMI Records on 29 March 2019 as the second single from the band's eleventh studio album, Spectrum . It is their second single released under Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI Records. The song was written by Ed Sheeran, Fred Again, Steve Mac and Wayne Hector. This is the most successful and highest-charting song and single co-written by Gibson for a pop and male band. As of 30 November 2021, this is their twentieth biggest single of all time in the United Kingdom. [1]

Contents

This is their second number-one hit in the UK Singles Physical Chart and number-two in UK Singles Sales Chart and Scottish Singles Chart in 2019 and in 2010s decade. The single is their 29th Top 10 hit in Ireland and 28th Top 40, and 29th Top 75 hit in the United Kingdom.

Background, development, and release

Since they announced their breakup in 2011 and their last appearance together in 2012, several rumors about them reuniting and making new musics have appeared. On 23 September 2018, several Irish news outlets started reporting that the group has been signed to Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI Records for a new music record deal. On 3 October 2018, the group announced that there would be new music coming soon. [2]

This song is set in the key of B major, in a moderate 4/4 time signature. The vocal range of this piece ranges from F#3 to B4 (Feehily's harmony).

Music video

The music video was directed by Lochlainn "Locky" McKenna and was filmed in Dublin, Ireland in two locations. The band were shot in the historic Windmill Lane Studios. The music video depicts a teenage romance blossoming in 1993, and they become estranged after the boy ignores her after a school performance, but they soon get back together. That same girl is shown in the recording studio where the band is singing the song, all grown up. And she is married to that same boy, and they have a kid together. [3]

Tours performed at

Formats and track listings

  1. "Better Man" – 3:17
  1. "Better Man" (orchestral) – 3:23
  1. "Better Man" – 3:17
  2. "Better Man" (orchestral) – 3:23
  1. "Better Man" (acoustic) – 3:13

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
China Airplay/FL ( Billboard ) [4] 44
Denmark Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [5] 10
Hungary (Single Top 40) [6] 24
Ireland (IRMA) [7] 8
New Zealand Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [8] 9
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [9] 26
Scotland (OCC) [10] 2
Sweden Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [11] 5
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 26

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [13] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormatVersionLabel
Various29 March 2019Airplay, CD, digital download, streaming Orchestral, original Universal Music Group, Virgin EMI
26 April 2019Digital download, streamingAcoustic

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westlife</span> Irish boy band

Westlife are an Irish pop group formed in Dublin in 1998. The group consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member before leaving in March 2004. The group disbanded in 2012 after 14 years and later reunited in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying Without Wings</span> 1999 single by Westlife

"Flying Without Wings" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife, released on 18 October 1999 as the third single from their self-titled debut studio album (1999). It is the band's fourth-best-selling single on both paid-for and combined sales in the United Kingdom as of January 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Feehily</span> Irish pop singer (born 1980)

Markus Michael Patrick Feehily is an Irish singer, best known as a member of the pop vocal group Westlife. Westlife has released twelve albums, embarked on thirteen world tours and won several awards, becoming one of the most successful musical groups of all time. With 15 number one appearances, Feehily is also the highest-charting LGBT performer on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Mac</span> British musician and producer (born 1972)

Steve McCutcheon, known professionally as Steve Mac, is a British record producer, songwriter and musician. A multi-award-winning producer, he is one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers in modern British music, with contributions to 30 number one singles in the UK Singles Chart.

"You Raise Me Up" is a song composed by Rolf Løvland and written by Brendan Graham. It was first recorded by Secret Garden, in collaboration with Brian Kennedy. Although the original version was not a major hit, the song has since been recorded by more than a hundred other artists, most notably American singer Josh Groban in 2003 and Irish group Westlife in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen of My Heart</span> 2001 single by Westlife

"Queen of My Heart" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on 5 November 2001 as the first single from their third studio album, World of Our Own (2001). It was released as a double A-side single with "When You're Looking Like That" in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swear It Again</span> 1999 single by Westlife

"Swear It Again" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife. The ballad was released on 19 April 1999 in the United Kingdom as the first single from their self-titled debut album (1999). The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks, giving Westlife their first of 14 UK number-one singles. "Swear It Again" is Westlife's only single to have charted in the US, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ranking number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westlife discography</span>

Irish boy band Westlife have released twelve studio albums, sixteen video albums, one live album, three karaoke albums, thirty-eight singles, twenty-one promotional singles, nine compilation albums and fifty-four music videos. Formed on 3 July 1998, the group was made up of singers Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden. The band was signed under Simon Cowell, Clive Davis, and Jordan Jay and under record labels' BMG, S Records, Arista Records, Sony BMG, Syco Music, Sony Music Entertainment and RCA Records from 1998 to 2012 and currently on Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI Records from 2018. The last four members remained active until their last live concert performance in the Europe's third largest stadium Croke Park on 23 June 2012 and have reunited on 3 October 2018 for new music and tour. Based on the British Phonographic Industry certifications, the group have sold more than 32 million records and videos in the United Kingdom alone across their 20-year career–8.8 million singles, 12.5 million albums and 1.5 million videos. Their biggest selling album is their first Greatest Hits compilation, followed by Coast to Coast, with seven of their albums selling one million copies or more. Their biggest selling video is "Where Dreams Come True", which has sold 240,000 copies to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Tell Me That You Love Me</span> 1991 single by Diana Ross

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 20, 1991 as the lead single from her nineteenth studio album, The Force Behind the Power (1991). The song was released on the Motown label in the United States and by EMI Records in the United Kingdom. It was written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and produced by Peter Asher. A sentimental ballad, it became the album's biggest hit, peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard R&B singles chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Ross considers it one of her signature songs and it was subsequently covered by various artists. The UK release of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" included her 1985 hit "Chain Reaction".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love (Westlife song)</span> 2000 single by Westlife

"My Love" is a song by the Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on 30 October 2000 as the second single from their second studio album, Coast to Coast (2000). The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their seventh UK number one. The song was the 35th best-selling single of 2000 in the UK. It also won The Record of the Year in 2000. It has sold 400,000 copies in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bop Bop Baby</span> 2002 single by Westlife

"Bop Bop Baby" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 20 May 2002 as the third and final single from their third studio album, World of Our Own (2001). The single peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart; during an interview, the band claimed this was due to the obscure choice of single, as they would have much preferred to release "Why Do I Love You", for which they had recorded a video. It is the band's 18th-best-selling single in paid-for sales and in combined sales in the United Kingdom as of January 2019. Billboard named the single one of the "Top 15 Underrated Boy Band Jams" in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Makes a Man</span> 2000 single by Westlife

"What Makes a Man" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on 18 December 2000 in the UK and Ireland as the third single from their second studio album, Coast to Coast. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and was their first single not to peak at number one, being beaten to the Christmas number-one spot by "Can We Fix It?", the theme to the cartoon series Bob the Builder. It also debuted and peaked at number two in Ireland, held off the top spot by Eminem's song "Stan".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What About Now (Daughtry song)</span> Song by Daughtry

"What About Now" is the seventh single from American rock band Daughtry's self-titled debut album. The song is a ballad, that was written by Ben Moody, David Hodges, and Josh Hartzler, who is married to Amy Lee. It is one of only two songs on the album not at least co-written by Chris Daughtry. The song was announced as the band's next single on their website. It was officially released in the U.S. on July 1, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safe (Westlife song)</span> 2010 single by Westlife

"Safe" is a song by Irish pop group Westlife from their tenth studio album Gravity (2010) and this pop rock ballad was released on 14 November 2010 as the album's lead and only single in the United Kingdom. It was written by John Shanks and James Grundler, and the single version was produced by Shanks, Richard "Biff" Stannard, and Ash Howes. This song is the group's last physical single under the tutelage of Simon Cowell, having left Syco and Cowell in March 2011. "Safe" debuted at number four in Ireland. It charted at number ten in the UK, becoming their twenty-fourth and last top ten single, meaning that they had one top ten hit in three different decades. The song was featured in the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale starring Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Morgan Freeman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lighthouse (Westlife song)</span> 2011 single by Westlife

"Lighthouse" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife and it is the lead single from their second compilation album Greatest Hits (2011). The song is their final physical single after their announcement to disband prior to their 2018 reformation. Also the single is the group's first and last physical single not under the tutelage of Simon Cowell, having left Syco and Cowell in March 2011. The song was written by Gary Barlow and John Shanks, and was released on 11 November 2011. A music video was filmed in South Africa and premiered on 20 October 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't That a Kick in the Head?</span> 1960 song by composer Jimmy Van Heusen and lyricist Sammy Cahn

"Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" is a pop song written in 1960 with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was first recorded that year on May 10 by Dean Martin in a swinging big band jazz arrangement conducted by Nelson Riddle. Martin performed the song in the 1960 heist film Ocean's 11 in an alternate arrangement featuring vibraphonist Red Norvo and his quartet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is a Drug (Markus Feehily song)</span> 2015 single by Markus Feehily

"Love Is a Drug" is a song by former Westlife member Markus Feehily. It was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 19 April 2015 through Harmoney Entertainment. It was released as the lead single from his debut studio album Fire (2015). The song was written by Feehily, Steve Anderson and Tinashé Fazakerley, and produced by Mojam. It peaked at number 65 on the Irish Singles Chart and number 56 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hello My Love</span> 2019 single by Westlife

"Hello My Love" is a song by Irish pop vocal band Westlife. It was released on 10 January 2019 as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album, Spectrum, and is their first single to be released under Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI Records. It is also their first official single in eight years since the release of their last single, "Lighthouse", in 2011. The song was written by Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac. As of 30 November 2021, this is their eighth biggest single of all time in the United Kingdom with 54.5 million streams in the country alone as of 30 November 2021.

<i>Spectrum</i> (Westlife album) 2019 studio album by Westlife

Spectrum is the eleventh studio album by Irish pop vocal band Westlife, released on 15 November 2019 through Virgin EMI Records. It includes the singles "Hello My Love", "Better Man", "Dynamite" and "My Blood", and features songs co-written by Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, Ryan Tedder, Camille Purcell, and James Bay. It is the band's first major album in eight years, and their first album under Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI. The album debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and UK Albums Chart. It is also the biggest selling album of the record label by a UK signed artist in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dynamite (Westlife song)</span> 2019 single by Westlife

"Dynamite" is a song by Irish pop vocal band Westlife. It was released on 5 July 2019 as the third single from Westlife's eleventh studio album Spectrum. It is their third single released under Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI Records. This is released on band member Shane Filan's fortieth birthday. This is written by Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, and Andrew Wyatt.

References

  1. "Westlife's Top 20 biggest songs on the Official Charts" via Official charts.
  2. "Westlife Official Instagram of Westlife" via Instagram.
  3. "WATCH: Westlife's 'Better Man' video is a MASSIVE hit with fans". heatworld.com. 2019.
  4. "China Airplay Chart/Foreign Language - 15/07/2019". Billboard China (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  5. "Denmark Digital Song Sales - Westlife - Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved 13 April 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Westlife". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  8. "New Zealand Digital Song Sales - Westlife - Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved 13 April 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  11. "Sweden Digital Song Sales - Westlife - Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved 13 April 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  13. "British single certifications – Westlife – Better Man". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 12 August 2022.