Westlife in tune with their fans

Irish band overwhelmed by rapturous welcome they receive in China, Chen Nan reports.

Westlife is used to adulation. The Irish pop band is a global phenomenon and sells out concert venues the world over. But even the band members were surprised at the enthusiastic reception they got in Shanghai on Aug 16.

Arriving at the city's National Exhibition and Convention Center for an afternoon rehearsal they were warmly welcomed by more than 5,000 waiting fans.

"When they cheered and sang our song, My Love, we were so touched and amazed," recalls singer-songwriter Shane Filan, a member of Westlife, in an interview with China Daily.

They also performed in the first Tencent Music Entertainment Awards, which was held in Macao on Dec 8.

The star-studded gala also gathered Chinese pop stars such as Zhang Yixing and TF Boys.

During the gala, Westlife performed three songs, My Love, Better Man and Hello My Love, featuring the band's trademark vocal harmonies.

Westlife's performance received fantastic feedback from fans in the arena and fans who watched the livestreaming elsewhere. The band is no stranger to Macao, after playing two shows there in July.

"We came all the way from across the world and saw the joy on the fans' faces, that's what it's all about," Filan says, adding that their fans in China are very passionate and the songs mean something special to them.

"They (our fans) tell us stories and share their memories, which make us proud."

The performance in Shanghai was part of the group's reunion tour titled The Twenty Tour, which, in celebration of their 20th anniversary, began on May 22, 2018, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

They also did a performance in Beijing on Aug 13 as part of the tour.

The group will announce a new global tour in January, says Markus Feehily, one of the lead singers of Westlife, though he didn't give details of dates or cities.

"We want to return to more Chinese cities to meet more fans. They know us so well. They even know our children's and pets' names," Feehily adds.

"For the fans, they have a lot to choose from and they chose us, which is very special for us."

To better interact with their fans, Westlife launched their official account on Sina Weibo in 2012, and toured seven Chinese cities that year during their The Greatest Hits Tour.

The coming tour is good news to their fans.

One of the fans, who attended the Aug 16 Shanghai concert, wrote on the same platform: "I went to their show in Shanghai and I sang along with them all night. There are lots of memories and I cried."

Another internet user writes: "I am a fan who has loved you for seven years. I am so glad that you can come to China. I am very happy that you can return to the stage again and I hope you can bring us more music."