Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Shane Filan

Irish pop singer (born 1979) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shane Filan
Remove ads

Shane Steven Filan[1] (born 5 July 1979) is an Irish singer best known as a member of the pop vocal group Westlife, which was formed in 1998, disbanded in 2012, and regrouped in 2018. Westlife has released thirteen albums, embarked on twelve world tours, and won several awards, becoming one of the most successful musical groups of all time.

Quick Facts Background information, Also known as ...
Remove ads

Filan has released three solo albums: You and Me (2013), Right Here (2015), and Love Always (2017). He has appeared sixteen times in the UK Singles Chart with number-one hits, making him one of the most-appeared Irish music artists in British music number-one singles history.[2][3]

Remove ads

Early life

Shane Filan was born on 5 July 1979 in Sligo, Ireland.[4] He is the son of Peter (1942-2020) and Mae Filan (née McNicholas) (1937-2019), natives of Roscommon and Mayo respectively.[5] Filan is the youngest of seven siblings; he has three brothers and three sisters. From a very early age, Filan worked behind the counter of his parents' business – a diner in Sligo called the "Carlton Café". He attended primary school at a local Catholic school, and secondary school at Summerhill College, with future Westlife bandmates Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. All three of them participated in a school production of Grease. The Hawkswell Theatre became a significant part of their careers.

Filan was a fan of Michael Jackson as a child, and says the singer inspired him to pursue a music career.[6] Before Westlife, Filan studied business and accounting.[4]

Remove ads

Career

Summarize
Perspective

Six as One, IOYOU and Westlife (1997–2012)

Before Westlife, Egan, and Feehily were with Filan in a band known as Six as One and, later on, IOYOU, with other Sligonians Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron, and Michael "Miggles" Garrett. Filan co-wrote the IOYOU song "Together Girl Forever." For six months, Shane's mother, Mae Filan, tried to phone Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, eventually succeeding in talking to him about her son's band. Three of the members were dropped and the other three, Filan, Egan, and Feehily, joined in finding two more singers for the band. The members that joined were Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden, forming Westside. The name of the band was subsequently changed to Westlife as there were already several bands with the name Westside. Their first album was released in November 1999, titled Westlife.

With Westlife, Filan has received twenty-eight platinum discs and sold 55 million records worldwide.[7] In his 2014 book My Side of Life, he revealed that in 2001, he had been the first member of Westlife to be offered a solo record deal, but that he had rejected it, as he was scared of going solo.[8]

Solo career, You and Me (2012–2014)

On 20 October 2011, Westlife announced that they had decided to split and go their separate ways at the end of their 2012 Farewell Tour. In December 2011, press reports announced Filan was close to signing a solo deal with one of several potential competing UK record labels. Filan and his manager Louis Walsh, had been in talks with several of the labels at the time. "There's four, possibly five labels so far who have made it clear that they want to sign Shane," said a music source to showbiz writer Paul Martin.[9][10]

In a March 2012 interview with Paul Martin, Filan said he would be signing within the next few weeks.

"It's exciting but, of course, I'll be nervous. It's only natural when you're coming out of a band after 14 years, you don't know where your life's going to take you [...][11]

In 2013, Filan announced he had officially signed a record deal with UMG subsidiary London Records worth 20 million British pounds. UMG had previously offered him a solo deal in 2001; the first member of Westlife to have received such an offer, but turned it down. For the new deal, Filan stated that he had spent the past 12 months in both US and UK writing songs and recording, and that a forthcoming single and an album would be released later in the year.[12]

On 10 May 2013, he announced that his first single would be released, along with three other tracks,[13] later revealed in July to be "Everything to Me", and "Everytime", "Today's Not Yesterday" and "Once", respectively. The release date was announced as 25 August.

On 10 September 2013, Filan released About You, the second single from his album You and Me,[14] followed by the album shortly after.[15]

Right Here (2015)

After the Westlife split, bankruptcy, the You and Me Tour, and his debut autobiography My Side of Life, Filan announced on 13 March 2015 that he was working on his second studio album, Right Here.[8] The album was mostly recorded in London and Denmark, and featured collaborations with Cutfather (The Saturdays, JLS), Jez Ashurst (Will Young, Gabrielle Aplin), Jon Maguire (Union J), Tre Jean-Marie (MNEK, Jason Derulo), and Girls Aloud.[16] The album was released on 25 September 2015, reaching No. 1 on the Irish Album Charts during its first week.[17]

Love Always (2017–2018)

On 25 August 2017, Filan released his third studio album Love Always.[18] and announced his next tour, the Love Always Tour 2017.[19][20][21]

Previously, in April 2010, an unreleased solo song by Filan called "Beautiful in White" leaked on the Internet, but was incorrectly credited as being recorded by Shayne Ward instead of Filan. During this time, Filan also sang a duet with Irish country singer Nathan Carter. The album reached No. 5 in the UK Album Charts, making it his highest-charting album in the United Kingdom.

In 2018, Filan also had success in Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.[22][23][24] Beautiful in White was particularly successful in Asia.[25]

Westlife reunion with new single, album, and tour (2018–present)

On 3 October 2018 Westlife announced their reunion as a four-member group. In 2019 four singles were released, penned by Ed Sheeran. The group embarked on a hugely successful 50-date tour called "The 20 Tour", in honour of Westlife's 20th anniversary since the release of their first single in 1999. On 15 November their 13th studio album, Spectrum, was released.

Remove ads

Personal life

Filan is a practising Catholic.[26] He married his childhood sweetheart, Gillian Walsh, on 28 December 2003 at Ballintubber Abbey, followed by a reception at Ashford Castle, Ireland.[27] Gillian is the cousin of fellow band member Kian Egan, making Filan and Egan cousins-in-law.[28] They have a daughter born in 2005, and sons born in 2008 and 2010.

Filan and his eldest brother, Finbarr, ran Shafin Developments – a property development company. The company was placed in receivership in May 2012[29] and Filan was declared bankrupt a little over a month later after suffering losses in Ireland's property crash.[30]

Philanthropy

Discography

Summarize
Perspective

Filan has released three studio albums, eight singles, and two featured songs.

Studio albums

More information Title, Details ...

Singles

As lead artist

More information Year, Title ...
More information Year, Title ...

Promotional singles

More information Year, Title ...

Music videos

As lead artist

More information Title, Year ...
Remove ads

Songwriting

Summarize
Perspective

Sources: APRA, ASCAP,[41] BMI, OSA,[42] SESAC,[43] SOCAN, SUISA Repertoires. In SESAC, Filan uses John Francis Filan as an alias.[44] Filan has co-written a number of songs including:

Westlife (1998–2012; 2018–present)

  • "Starlight"
  • "Alone Together"
  • "Wild Dreams"
  • "Lifeline"
  • "Rewind"
  • "Magic"
  • "Always With Me"
  • "Take Me There"
  • "L.O.V.E"
  • "Fragile Heart"
  • "Bop Bop Baby" (reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart)
  • "Don't Say It's Too Late"
  • "I Wanna Grow Old with You"
  • "I'm Missing Loving You"
  • "Singing Forever"
  • "Where We Belong"
  • "Never Knew I Was Losing You"
  • "Love Crime"
  • "How Does It Feel"
  • "Crying Girl"
  • "Reason for Living"
  • "Miss You When I'm Dreaming"
  • "A Little Part of Me / Little Part of Me / Extraordinary Love"1
  • "Love Ain't War"1
  • "This Life"1
  • "Closer"
  • "Too Hard to Say Goodbye"
  • "Last Mile of the Way"

Love Always (2017–2018)

  • "Completely"
  • "Eyes Don't Lie"
  • "Crazy Over You"
  • "Back To You"
  • "Girl in My Heart"

Right Here (2015)

  • "I Could Be"
  • "Right Here"
  • "Better off a Fool"
  • "I Can't Get Over You"
  • "Effortlessly You"
  • "All My Love"

You and Me (2013)

  • "Everything to Me"
  • "About You"
  • "All You Need to Know"
  • "Knee Deep in My Heart"
  • "One of These Days"
  • "Everytime"
  • "Always Tomorrow"
  • "When I Met You"
  • "Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
  • "Coming Home"
  • "Baby Let's Dance"
  • "In the End"
  • "You and Me"
  • "Just the Way You Love Me"
  • "Once"
  • "Today's Not Yesterday"

^1 – Songs were found to be Filan's co-written songs during his time with Westlife. No other details whether it's for Westlife or not.

Unreleased

  • All About You
  • As Far As I Go
  • Back Home
  • Best is Yet to Come
  • Don't Look Back
  • Counting the Days
  • Fall in Love With Me
  • Feel Alive
  • Headed for a Fall
  • I Can't Get By
  • I Got Nothing at All
  • I Love You
  • Intimate
  • Lean Back
  • Learn to Fly
  • Letting it Go
  • Like 'Em Wild
  • Love and Plan B
  • Lullaby
  • More
  • Never Give Up Lullaby
  • Night Sky
  • No One's in Control
  • Not in This Alone
  • One Last Second Chance
  • Only Got Tonight
  • Only You
  • Our Story
  • Save Me
  • Say We'll Meet Again
  • Shine Down
  • Slowing Down
  • Skyline
  • The Perfect Storm
  • The Truth
  • Things are Looking Up
  • Too Strong
  • Wherever You Are
  • Wouldn't Change a Thing About You
  • You Always Will
  • Your Ordinary Man

Songs written for other artists

  • "Listen Girl" performed by Johan Östberg
  • "Let Me Be the One" performed by Simon Casey
  • "Sei Parte Ormai Di Me" performed by Il Divo, in their self-titled album (2004)[45]
  • "The Music Won't Last / Music Won't Last" performed by Jerry Given
Remove ads

Tours

Summarize
Perspective

Concert tours

Headlining

As part of a group
As a solo performer
More information Year, Title ...
You and Me Tour (2014)
Setlist

Setlist A

  1. When I Met You
  2. Uptown Girl
  3. My Love
  4. What Makes a Man
  5. Everytime
  6. Baby Let's Dance
  7. Amazed
  8. Once
  9. Always Tomorrow
  10. Flying Without Wings
  11. Blurred Lines
  12. Wake Me Up
  13. What About Now
  14. Mandy
  15. Let It Be
  16. All You Need To Know
  17. About You
  18. You Raise Me Up
  19. Everything to Me
  20. Knee Deep in My Heart

Setlist B

  1. When I Met You
  2. Uptown Girl
  3. What Makes a Man
  4. In the End
  5. Amazed
  6. Baby Let's Dance
  7. True Colors
  8. Always Tomorrow
  9. Once
  10. Flying Without Wings
  11. Blurred Lines
  12. Wake Me Up
  13. What About Now
  14. Mandy
  15. Let It Be
  16. All You Need To Know
  17. About You
  18. You Raise Me Up
  19. Everything to Me
  20. Knee Deep in My Heart

Support acts

More information Date, Country ...

Cancelled Shows

More information Date, Country ...
Right Here Tour (2016)
Setlist
  1. Everything to Me
  2. What About Now
  3. Effortlessly You
  4. Home
  5. About You
  6. Swear It Again
  7. Shut Up and Dance
  8. World of Our Own
  9. Worst Kind of Love
  10. I Can't Get Over You
  11. Fool Again
  12. Knee Deep in My Heart
  13. I Could Be
  14. Right Here
  15. Uptown Girl
  16. Me and the Moon
  17. You Raise Me Up
  18. White Christmas (Manado date only)
  19. Merry Christmas Everyone (Manado date only)

Support acts

  • Joe Miles
  • Nikki Loy
More information Date, Country ...
Love Always Tour (2017–2019)
Setlist

Setlist A

  1. When You're Looking Like That
  2. About You
  3. Unbreakable
  4. This I Promise You
  5. What Makes a Man
  6. Everything to Me
  7. Beautiful in White
  8. What About Now
  9. Knee Deep in My Heart
  10. Eternal Flame
  11. I Can't Make You Love Me
  12. Heaven
  13. Cake by the Ocean
  14. Power of Love
  15. Uptown Girl
  16. If I Let You Go
  17. You Raise Me Up
  18. Don't Dream It's Over
  19. World of Our Own

Setlist B

  1. Unbreakable
  2. My Love
  3. Beautiful in White
  4. Need You Now
  5. Uptown Girl

Setlist C

  1. Unbreakable
  2. My Love
  3. Beautiful in White
  4. Uptown Girl

Setlist D

  1. When You're Looking Like That
  2. About You
  3. Unbreakable
  4. This I Promise You
  5. Swear It Again
  6. Beautiful in White
  7. My Love
  8. What About Now
  9. Need You Now
  10. If I Let You Go
  11. Heaven
  12. Uptown Girl
  13. You Raise Me Up
  14. World of Our Own
  15. Back to You
  16. Home
  17. Knee Deep in My Heart

Setlist E

  1. Knee Deep in My Heart
  2. About You
  3. Swear It Again
  4. My Love
  5. Heaven
  6. Need You Now
  7. Unbreakable
  8. Beautiful in White
  9. If I Let You Go
  10. What About Now
  11. This I Promise You
  12. Uptown Girl
  13. You Raise Me Up
  14. World of Our Own

Setlist F

  1. Everything to Me
  2. About You
  3. Unbreakable
  4. This I Promise You
  5. Swear It Again
  6. Beautiful in White
  7. What About Now
  8. Home
  9. Heaven
  10. Need You Now
  11. My Love
  12. If I Let You Go
  13. Fool Again
  14. Happy Birthday
  15. Uptown Girl
  16. You Raise Me Up
  17. Flying Without Wings
  18. World of Our Own

Setlist G

  1. Everything to Me
  2. About You
  3. Unbreakable
  4. This I Promise You
  5. Swear It Again
  6. Beautiful in White
  7. What About Now
  8. Knee Deep in My Heart
  9. Home
  10. Heaven
  11. My Love
  12. If I Let You Go
  13. Flying Without Wings
  14. Need You Now
  15. You Raise Me Up
  16. Uptown Girl
  17. World of Our Own

Setlist H

  1. When You're Looking Like That
  2. What About Now
  3. Swear It Again
  4. Beautiful in White
  5. Heaven
  6. My Love
  7. If I Let You Go
  8. You Raise Me Up
  9. Uptown Girl
  10. World of Our Own

Support acts:

More information Date, Country ...

Supporting

Lionel Richie (2018)
More information Date, City ...

Promotional tours

  • 2013–2017 UK and Ireland Tour
  • 2013, 2014, 2018 Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine, Singapore Tour
Remove ads

Honours and awards

More information Year, Ceremony ...

See also

References

Loading content...
Loading content...
Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads