Where We Are

Where We Are is the tenth studio album by Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on 27 November 2009 in Ireland and on 30 November 2009 in the UK through S Records, RCA Records and Sony Music, the band's tenth album under them. Where We Are is the group's first album following a break from music in 2008. It was also the band's fifth album to be released as a four-piece. This album was preceded by the lead single "What About Now" (a cover of the Daughtry song) and it was released on 23 October 2009[1] as a digital download a day later as a CD single.[2]

This article is about the Westlife album. For Westlife concert tour, see Where We Are Tour (Westlife). For other uses, see Where We Are Tour (disambiguation).

Where We Are
Studio album by
Westlife
Released27 November 2009
RecordedJuly 2008 – October 2009
Genre
Length52:05
Label
Producer
Westlife chronology
Back Home
(2007)		 Where We Are
(2009)		 Gravity
(2010)

The group collaborated with numerous notable producers for the album, notably Ryan Tedder of the pop rock band OneRepublic, Jim Jonsin, Greg Wells and Sam Watters, among others. Where We Are is also notably the first Westlife album not to have Steve Mac and Wayne Hector produce or write any of the songs.

The album was met with mixed reviews, although it was still commercially successful, debuting at number two at the UK Albums Chart and got 2x Platinum Certification in the United Kingdom which sold more than 600 000 records. Despite the high peak, it was the first Westlife album not to peak at number one since their 2004 album Allow Us to Be Frank peaked at number three. This is the 7th top-selling album of 2009 in Ireland.

Background

Before Christmas 2008, they wrote a letter to their website saying that 2009 was going to be the most exciting year yet for Westlife. The recording process of their tenth album started on 1 July 2009. Byrne said that there will be many first-time producers and writers for the upcoming album. He also wanted to have collaboration works with Chris Martin of Coldplay who happens to be a big Westlife fan.[3] Westlife worked with JC Chasez, Darren Hayes, Ben Adams, Adrian Bradford, and Guy Chambers for the album but all did not make the cut.

Filan talks about the content of the album and stated:

A different direction might be a bit wrong. I think it's still pop music, but there's a different variation on it. One massive thing is we worked with different producers, who we've never worked with before, and new song writers. There are thirteen songs on the album and twelve of them are originals. There's more tempo, more rocky songs, some more American songs, some darker songs on there with darker lyrics. It's the best production we've had on any other album. The strings, the music is just on another level. Even if you're not a Westlife fan but you're a music fan, you will recognise the quality on this album.

On their new biography posted on their official website, it has been added that the recording sessions began in LA, with a completely fresh team of producers and songwriters. The first song they recorded was the ballad, "I’ll See You Again", described as "haunting bereavement".[4] "I'll See You Again" was recorded by Ross at Metropolis Studios.[5] For their first single "What About Now" Feehily told The Daily Mirror, "We wanted the first single from our new album to be somewhere between the Westlife sound our fans know and love, and the new direction we're heading in. We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record. After 11 years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."[6] The song "Shadows" which has been confirmed to be included on the album was written by Ryan Tedder and AJ McLean for the Backstreet Boys' seventh album This Is Us but was not selected for inclusion. It was subsequently purchased by record label boss Simon Cowell for Leona Lewis's second album Echo but it was later decided that the song was more suited to a boyband and thus given Westlife to record.[7]

The album also contains an "in memory of" section to Nikky Byrne and Kevin Egan, the fathers of Westlife members Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan. The last song from the standard track listing of the album, "I'll See You Again", was included in the concert tour set list of the album. The song is established as the tribute song to their deceased fathers by putting their pictures at the background of the stage each time they performed it. The song is also the band's twelfth most streamed song in the United Kingdom as of January 2019.[8]

Promotion

On 25 October 2009, during the X Factor results show, Westlife performed "What About Now". It was released online the same day.[9] On 26 October they performed on GMTV and were interviewed in addition to hosting a webchat, with a further interview on The One Show on 30 October 2009.[10] They will also perform at BBC Children in Need on 20 November and be interviewed on 26 November and 4 December on Alan Carr's Chatty Man and The Friday Show respectively.[10] They are also doing radio promos in major cities of UK and Ireland from 24 October–November including an interview on BBC Radio One.[11] TV dates were announced later.[12][13] Following a Swedish promotional tour with performance on Swedish Idol.[14] On 27 November 2009, Westlife performed on infamous UK television shows like Paul O' Grady Show and The Late Late Toy Show.[15]

On 1 February 2010, their official website was revised. They called it as a first phase of 2010 assault.[16] On 10 February 2010, they are invited to Jonathan Ross show for an interview to be televised on 12 February 2010.[17] First week of February, they embarked on a promotional tour of Germany and guested on the Oliver Pocher Show on the third week of February.[18]

"How to Break a Heart" was released as a promotional single on 10 March 2010 in some countries.[19] They got the chance to perform with Boyzone for a track on the Stephen Gately Show in Ireland.[20] They opened the ceremony on News of the World Children's Champion Awards.[21] They are invited to perform on Sun City Super Bowl Show on South Africa to be held on 19 March and Fashion Kicks 2010 on 13 April.[22][23]

Supporting tour
Main article: Where We Are Tour (Westlife)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Rovi Music		[24][25]
BBC Music(favorable)[26]
The Times UK[27]
Daily Express[28]
Digital Spy[29]
Entertainment Ireland[30]
London Evening Standard[31]
MSN UK[32]
The Observer(unfavorable)[33]
Virgin Media[34]

Where We Are received mostly unfavorable reviews, with most reviewers criticizing the album's similar music style, as well as the fact that there is little difference from their previous material.

Robert Spellman of Daily Express gave the album two stars out of five, saying that "all the songs sound alike and deal with heartbreak."[28] Lauren Murphy of Entertainment Ireland gave a similar score, stating that "as maudlin and one-dimensional as any of their recent material", although she praised Feehily's vocals.[30] Rick Pearson of London Evening Standard called the album's songs "bland" and "uninspiring", concluding that "Where We Are finds Westlife exactly where they were at the beginning of the decade."[31] Ben Chalk of MSN UK stated that the album is "aimed squarely at the sort of person who buys one album a year, usually at Christmas, to listen to in the car."[32] Hugh Montgomery of The Observer criticized the album's "usual...over-production, ersatz yearning and (anti-)climactic key changes."[33] Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy panned Where We Are, saying that "there isn't a drop of passion, genuine emotion or soul to be found anywhere."[29] Ian Gittins of Virgin Media gave the album one star out of five, saying that "The only emotion...is a sinking sense of déjà vu."[34]

Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic and Rovi Music gave the album three and a half stars out of five, noting the group's usual musical structure, although he praised the album for containing "many first-rate songs...and the production is polished to perfection."[24][25] Mike Diver of BBC Music gave Where We Are a favorable review, referring to many "surprises" contained within the album, although he notes that "their style has barely changed."[26]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."What About Now"David Hodges, Ben Moody, Joshua HartzlerSteve Robson4:11
2."How to Break a Heart"James Scheffer, Louis Biancaniello, Sam WattersBiancaniello, Jim Jonsin, Watters4:04
3."Leaving"Carl Falk, Bryn Christopher, Steven Lee OlsenCarl Falk, Quiz & Larossi[a]3:57
4."Shadows"Ryan Tedder, AJ McLeanTedder4:01
5."Talk Me Down"Simon PettySteve Anderson4:01
6."Where We Are"Tedder, Savan KotechaTedder3:57
7."The Difference"Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, Brian Kennedy SealsCutler, Preven, Kennedy Seals3:30
8."As Love Is My Witness"Conner Reeves, Jonathan ShortenMartin Terefe4:07
9."Another World"Steve Booker, Sophie DelilaBooker3:16
10."No More Heroes"Kotecha, Emanuel Kiriakou, Lindy RobbinsKiriakou3:58
11."Sound of a Broken Heart"Wayne Wilkins, Biancaniello, Watters, John ReidBiancaniello, Watters, Wilkins3:51
12."Reach Out"Mark Feehily, Shaznay Lewis, Chris BraideGreg Wells3:56
13."I'll See You Again"Andy Hill, Shelly PooleKiriakou, Hill[a]5:17
Japan bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."You Raise Me Up"Brendan Graham, Rolf LøvlandDecca5:00

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • "Leaving" is also referred to as "You're Leaving".[35]
  • "The Difference" is also referred to as "Difference".[35]
  • "Reach Out" is also referred to as "Reach Out for Me" and "Sanctuary - Cues" according to the ACE ASCAP repertoire.[35]
  • "I'll See You Again" is also referred to as "Could Be Already" according to the ACE ASCAP repertoire.[35]
  • "What About Now" was not included on the Czech and Slovak track listing.[36]

Charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Ireland (IRMA)[51] 3× Platinum 45,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[52] Gold 7,500^
Sweden (GLF)[53] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] 2× Platinum 600,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history
Country / Region Date Format Label Catalogue
Ireland 27 November 2009 CD, Digital download RCA Records 88697611272
Philippines 28 November 2009 Sony Music Entertainment
New Zealand 30 November 2009
Norway[55]
South Africa[56]
United Kingdom[57] S/Syco Music
Hong Kong[58] Sony Music Entertainment
South Korea[59] 1 December 2009
Europe[60] 2 December 2009
Finland[61]
Malaysia[62]
Sweden[63]
Netherlands[64] 3 December 2009 Sony Music
Taiwan 4 December 2009
France[65] 8 December 2009 B002RHP88S
Japan[66] 23 December 2009 Sony Music Japan SICP2509
Thailand[67] 21 January 2010 Sony Music 88697611272
Australia[68] 22 January 2010
China[69] 25 January 2010
Austria[70] 5 February 2010
Germany[71]
Switzerland[72]
Mexico[73] 15 March 2010 886976112721
Czech Republic[74] 5 April 2010 289173
Slovakia[75]

Credits

Source: Allmusic.com[76]

gollark: It's a rewritable lock, obviously.
gollark: They're obviously going to use the suborbital package railguns in London to ship it faster.
gollark: Did you know? Hexagonal prisms.
gollark: Randomly generate words?
gollark: Chemical energy storage still has density advantages, sadly.

References
  1. "What About Now: Westlife: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  2. "What About Now: Westlife: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  4. "Westlife's Biography on Official Website". Westlife.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  5. "Westlife "Where We Are" Album". Dights.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  6. "Westlife return with new single". Daily Mirror. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  7. "Music - News - Westlife 'given Leona Lewis song'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  8. Copsey, Rob (12 January 2019). "Westlife's Top 20 biggest songs on the Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  9. "Michael Bublé and Westlife perform on The X Factor". Itn.co.uk. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  10. "Westlife on TV". Westlife.com. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  11. "Westlife on the Radio". Westlife.com. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  12. "TV Dates". Westlife.com. 11 November 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  13. "Westlife TV appearances". Westlife.com. 24 November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  14. "Westlife in Sweden". Westlife.com. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  15. "Tubridy thrilled with Toy Show figures". RTÉ Entertainment. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  16. "The New Site". Westlife.com. 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  17. "Westlife on Jonathan Ross!". Westlife.com. 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  18. Where We Are on IMDb
  19. "How To Break A Heart". Naver Music. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  20. "Boyzone and Westlife stars pay tribute to Stephen Gately". Unreality TV. 11 October 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  21. "www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/727815/Westlife-to-perform-at-Childrens-Champions-awards-ceremony.html". newsoftheworld.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  22. "Clarkson, Parlotones, Westlife wow Sun City | Times LIVE Multimedia". Multimedia.timeslive.co.za. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  23. "Fashion Kicks". Fashion Kicks. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  24. Where We Are at AllMusic
  25. "Listen to Where We Are by Westlife - Album Reviews, Credits, and Awards". AllRovi. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  26. Diver, Mike (27 December 2009). "BBC Music review". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  27. http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/1363/Westlife-Where-We-Are.aspx. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. "Daily Express review". Express.co.uk. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  29. Released on Monday, 30 November 2009 (30 November 2009). "Digital Spy review". Digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  30. "Entertainment Ireland review". Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  31. "London Evening Standard review". Thisislondon.co.uk. 27 November 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  32. music. "MSN UK review". Music.uk.msn.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  33. Montgomery, Hugh (29 November 2009). "Where We Are by Westlife". The Guardian. London.
  34. Gittins, Ian (30 November 2009). "Virgin Media review". Virginmedia.com. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  35. https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/performer/WESTLIFE
  36. "Westlife - Where We Are". Gorila.sk. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  37. Steffen Hung. "Westlife - Where We Are". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  38. "Westlife - Where We Are - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  39. Steffen Hung. "Greek Charts". Greek Charts. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  40. Kilkelly, Daniel (4 December 2009). "Boyle triumphs over Westlife in Ireland". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  41. "ウエストライフのアルバム売上ランキング – ORICON STYLE". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  42. Steffen Hung. "Westlife - Where We Are". mexicancharts.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  43. "Charts.nz – Westlife – Where We Are". Hung Medien.
  44. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20091206/40/. Retrieved 27 September 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. "South Korea Album Chart". Hanteo.com. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  46. "Swedishcharts.com – Westlife – Where We Are". Hung Medien.
  47. Steffen Hung. "Westlife - Where We Are". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  48. "OfficialCharts.com". Official Charts Company. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  49. "South Korea Gaon Album Chart". On the page, select "{{{date}}}" to obtain the corresponding chart. Gaon Chart
  50. "Westlife | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  51. "Irish album certifications – Westlife – Where We Are". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  52. "New Zealand album certifications – Westlife – Where We Are". Recorded Music NZ.
  53. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2009" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  54. "British album certifications – Westlife – Where We Are". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Where We Are in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  55. Leveringstid: 4-7 arbeidsdager. "Where We Are - Westlife - Musikk - CDON.COM". Cdon.no. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  56. "Westlife - Where We Are (CD) : Music". TAKE2. 27 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  57. "Where We Are: Westlife: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  58. "Westlife / Where We Are - Hmv Hong Kong". Hmv.com.hk. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  59. 문*순 (5 March 2010). "[인터넷교보문고] Where We Are" (in Korean). Kyobobook.co.kr. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  60. Delivery time: 3-6 working days. "Where We Are - Westlife - Music - CDON.COM". Cdon.eu. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  61. "Where We Are - Westlife - Musiikki - CDON.COM". Cdon.fi. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  62. "Sony Music". Sony Music. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  63. "Westlife". Ginza.se. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  64. "Where We Are, Westlife | Muziek". bol.com. 3 December 2009. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  65. "Where We Are: Westlife: Amazon.fr: Musique". Amazon.fr. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  66. "Where We Are【CD】-Westlife｜Popular Rock｜Rock & Pop｜Music｜HMV ONLINE Online Shopping & Information Site". Hmv.co.jp. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  68. "Buy Where We Are Westlife, Rock & Pop, CD". Sanity. 22 January 2010. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  70. "Westlife - Where We Are - Sony Music Entertainment Austria GmbH". Sonymusic.at. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  71. "Westlife - Where We Are - Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH". Sonymusic.de. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  72. "Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH". Sonymusic.ch. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  73. "Mixup Music Store". Mixup.com.mx. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  74. "CD WESTLIFE: WHERE WE ARE za 217, - Kè | Arara". Arara.cz. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  75. "CD WESTLIFE: WHERE WE ARE za 7.12 € | Gorila". Gorila.sk. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  76. https://www.allmusic.com/album/where-we-are-r1696096/credits/credits-asc
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.