That is true but I doubt he will do that to Shane. Shane keeps saying Louis is like a father to him, they have been working together for so long that he trusts him completely. I mean, Louis could have easily dropped him when the debut didn't do great and when label dropped him but instead he found him another contract.

Its true that reality TV would help him - just look at Kian who recorded an album thanks to winning I'm A Celebrity Get Me Outta Here. But I don't think he will go down that route, it may be stupid but I do respect his decision.

One thing has to be acknowledged though - his albums may be flopping here but I think he is still doing quite alright when it comes to touring, and he has some album success in Asia, he even went there for few gigs and a promo.

Hmm that's what Ronan used to say about Louis, until he sacked him for not doing his job properly! Then he turned out to be the very worst kind of enemy to have! It has to be said that Louis likes people that he can manipulate easily. Louis is great as a manager until the act realises that he doesn't always have their best interests at heart. Maybe Shane is different - or maybe he is afraid to cross him because he knows that Louis can be a bad enemy to have Time will tell I guess but Louis' track record speaks for itself - Shane is the only act that has stayed with him - everyone else has gone

Yeah, I know he is nasty towards Ronan and Boyzone but some things he sometimes says about someone are true, even if it sounds brutal. He just looks like a guy who won't sugarcoat anything, he will tell you what he think

Obviously I don't know the details on why the artists part ways with him but the guy must know what he is doing, since he did make Westlife, Boyzone and Girls Aloud after all. All these managers I imagine are difficult and ruthless, that is the music business. I think Simon Cowell is much much worse, he manipulates all the time, he is the one that is mostly to blame that Westlife sadly turned into a cover band and he sabotaged releasing 2nd singles from last 2 great albums.

He gets bitter! and when an act question's his management he turns into a bitchy queen, and has the Irish press eating out of his hand, so his words can damage careers in Ireland. Did he really do that much for Girls Aloud? I think they have been quite audible about his lack of involvement in their career post Popstars. When you look at his books he does start things but, rarely sticks with anyone (apart from Westlife). I think Jedward also ended up managing themselves just as Boyzone and Ronan did because Louis was never there! As for it being just Simon's idea for Westlife to become a covers band - I think Louis is the king of the "Its not broke, don't fix it" style of management - he loves "covers" Don't be fooled into thinking he had nothing to do with that

The one thing I have been surprised about is that he has let Shane write and record his own songs - however I do wonder if he will end up using that as the get out clause! He can then blame that on the reason that he wasn't successful and he will then try to talk him into getting Westlife back together - because lets face it that is where the money is going to come from!

By all accounts (other than his own), Louis actually had very little to do with Girls Aloud in the 2 years he managed them. That's why he and Cheryl have such a frosty relationship.

Cowell is by far the worst of the two. Nicky from Westlife likened him to Andy from Toy Story. He has all of these toys and then you get dumped to make way for the next one, Shayne Ward, Gareth Gates and Leona in the case of Westlife. It's quite sad that Westlife were still by far Syco's best selling artists when he began to transition them from a boyband that did a few covers to a cover band that did a few originals. Their prior success was so big that World Of Our Own (great song) and Bop Bop Baby going in at #3 and #4 was deemed a crisis lol.

Just to clarify, I know Louis is also to blame for the covers, not just Simon. But I do think Simon is worse that Louis. Simon cares for you until he finds something more interesting. Westlife were still very successful when he started to ignore them because he found launching US X Factor more important and then 1D came along the way. I mean, I remember reading that people at Syco actually apologized to them in the end because of the way they treated them in the last few years.


I don't think Louis is that cunning, that is more of in Simon's area. But if it is, he can't blame only Shane as he did co-wrote the songs with quite a few songwriters, he didn't write on his own.

Also, Louis can beg all he wants for Westlife to come back together but as long as Shane and Mark are happy doing solo stuff even if they aren't popular, there is nothing he can do. Even Nicky is enjoying his successful career as a radio and TV host and is planning to release a solo album next year.

I haven't got the album yet, but I've listened to the clips on iTunes.

I'm...disappointed by the tempo of a lot of it. Shane does brilliant ballads, he has a beautiful voice (I have quite honestly never heard him sing a note out of tune in the 15 times that I have watched him perform live, and I could listen to his voice forever), but on the whole it feels a bit too slow-paced throughout to me. I'm not sure how much of that is just differences in the music I've been listening to recently, but there's nothing that stands out to me so far in particular.

I do, however, absolutely love the lyrics to Effortlessly You, and I cannot wait to get the album for this alone (and I am sure I will grow to love the other songs also) - the words are just perfect.

I must admit that I thought that song and All My Love are very cheesy at first but those two are now my favorite songs I love the fact that he co-wrote those two songs, I bet Gillian was on his mind during those sessions.

I won't lie that I'm also slightly disappointed by slow pace but I think the album works perfectly as a whole, it is very consistent and I don't think that in a bad way. I never get bored of the album, I listen to it once a day and it is just great to listen to it from start to finish.

Worse Kind of Love is a bit faster, I'm sure you'll like that one

I have a friend who is so disappointed by the album but I feel he is way too harsh on Shane - I definitely think Shane CAN do better but this album is a step forward from his debut.

Good post, and I think you are definitely right. It's not the best he can do, but he is still finding his way and learning as a solo artist, and he deserves so much success. I love the fact that he's co-writing more these days too, and I like that he's recording songs that he enjoys - he knows his style and what suits his voice, and he never tries to be something that he's not.

So despite the slight disappointment by the slow pace, that's not to say it's a bad album or anything like that - his voice is as brilliant as ever, and I think a lot of his songs definitely grow on you over time.

And I shall have a proper listen to Worse Kind of Love then!

Unfortunately Shane dropped to #22 in Irish chart - I thought he would at least do better in Ireland.

Not really too surprised when his first weeks sales were made up from the in-store signings he did in its week of release. That guaranteed him his number 1, but it ensured that all possible buyers already had their copy

Shane and Walsh were on BBC Radio 2, they are hilarious

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p034wjz6

I was surprised by the huge drop in Ireland more so than the huge drop in the UK. I thought he would have a much stronger second week in Ireland but if the sales came from signings it makes sense.
Shane has a great voice and i like him but i have found all his solo material extremely bland. I find it strange to say but Brian McFaddens early solo releases are far stronger than any of the other solo offerings from Westlife. Mark will, like Shane, have no major success based on his first solo single performance. I would be confident that Westlife will reunite in the next 2 years but what success they will achieve outside a tour i am unsure of. I would think Shane would be happy to get the pay cheque from a Westlife tour.

This proves a point about personality, if he has to rely on Louis Walsh to come along on his promo interviews he will never make it as a solo artist

While I do agree Brian's early releases are indeed stronger than Shane, I can't compare him with Mark as his music is very different from all the rest, it is all on what you prefer - in my opinion Mark's material is stronger than Brian's. Just listen to his full album on Digital Spy.

However, Mark is in a very difficult position going by himself with his own record label and the fact that he is starting something 3 years after the band which is a very long time, But, the critics love him and I think his album will be critically acclaimed. And I am hoping his album will have a better charting than his single at least in Ireland since he is now supported by Sony Music Ireland.

I think Westlife reunion in 2 years is just too fast. Even all of them won't be the next Robbie, they are all very much enjoying their solo work.

To be fair, this more looked like Walsh was a guest and he just brought Shane along to mention the album and squeeze a few tunes from it. Because Shane barely talked, Graham was asking Louis questions about X Factor, Ireland's Got Talent, going to I'm a Celebrity.. the only thing that was about Shane is a bit on album and how Nadine is amazing.

Shane on Twitter:

Really excited to perform "I Could Be" on @BBCCiN with @NadineCoyleNow on November 13th.

I don't think it will be 2017, more likely 2019 to celebrate 20 years. Shane and Mark are doing ok, performing shows etc, Kian's got The Voice and Nicky is doing really quite well on his radio show.

Shane recorded a charity single When I Grow Up, it will be released by the end of the November. You can read all about it here:

http://www.timminchin.com/2015/10/17...d-of-november/

Heard the Nadine duet on radio today, I love it even more. I hope it does well.

I hope that the music video will be released soon. It would be wise to put it as a single around the time when CIN is happening, 13th of November.

The charity single Shane is involved with will be released 27th of November:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/When-feat-Sh...when+i+grow+up

The song will be performed on the TV3 Toy Show on November 20th .

here is Shane's and Nadine's duet on Children in Need:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7XZ49e3PmU

He also revealed that he sang Right Here that will be aired today.

I thought Shane and Nadine had a great performance but once again I have no idea what is going on with his PR team. The song hasn't been released as a single (like an impact date or something), they still haven't revealed music video... I think they missed a great opportunity for at least a decent single, the video could have at least been revealed before this live performance.

Love that performance and the song is bloody great. I want more from them as a duo!

Shane has announced a 20 date UK tour for next year too

Good performance and agreed the song is brilliant! It is weird there's been no push for this as a single since it's the best solo material either have had so far imo.