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Product Description
Review
They arrived in the middle of a pre-X Factor boyband boom, five guys standing in a line, looking constipated in love, and plucking imaginary keys out of the air. In popular memory, every new single was a ballad, ending with a key-change, the boom of a confetti cannon, and a sudden leap off a line of stools. Fourteen number one singles and one former bandmate later and they’re leaving amid a craze for cavernously anthemic pop/classical albums, made by stubbly men in tuxedos who don’t care about credibility. It’s a genre they paved the way for, possibly without realising it.
A Westlife greatest hits is a controversial thing. To some, the very idea is an oxymoron; to others, a missed opportunity for a box set. And while the addition of four new songs – at the expense of actual hits like When You’re Looking Like That – offers value for money for the fans, it defeats the object of the exercise a smidge.
It’s strange listening to all of these triumph-after-adversity songs in one go, in the context of this being the band’s final album. In a way, they’ve been singing nothing but grand finales since their very first single, Swear It Again, and now the curtain is finally closing for real, there’s nowhere left to go, musically or emotionally. They’ve found that special thing; they’re flying without wings. Certainly the songs can’t swoosh upward any swooshier, the key changes can’t boom any louder. You get as far as You Raise Me Up, and it’s all over.
Which is a problem for these new songs. Had the chipper Lighthouse – written by Gary Barlow – been released two years ago, it probably wouldn’t have made the list. On the other hand, the more agitated Beautiful World and Wide Open actually hint at new possibilities, being close to recent hits by Tinie Tempah and Bruno Mars respectively.
The genuine finale, Last Mile of the Way, is an understated country waltz – no key change, no boom, no fireworks: a rather sweet ending, and one your ears will probably be begging for after more than an hour of solid bombast.
--Fraser McAlpine
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CD Description
Having sold over 44 million records worldwide, had 14 number one singles and seven number one albums, Irish super-group Westlife celebrate over 14 years of success with the release of their Greatest Hits. With two Brits, an MTV Award, a World Music Award, no less than four Record of The Years under their belt and an incredible back catalogue spanning well over a decade not many artists can compare to Westlife’s extraordinary success. In the UK alone they have earned the title of Biggest Selling International Band this Decade, scoring 10 multi platinum albums, the third highest number one single record in UK history (with only Elvis Presley and The Beatles ahead) and they also hold the crown for the Biggest Arena Act of All Time in the UK performing a record of 25 concerts at Wembley Arena.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've grown up with Westlife songs and love them all, so I just had to get this when I noticed it was available to pre-order.
First of all I love the packaging. It's like a little book with the cd's and dvd forming one of the pages. It's very original.
This has all the classics on that you would expect plus a few new songs (such as Lighthouse.) I don't think there are any songs that I'm sad are not on there.
I chose this version of the greatest hits because I felt the other version didn't have all the songs I would have liked. The dvd is a great extra but I wouldn't have been bothered about it if the other cd had just had a few more songs on. As I type this I notice that this cd isn't available through Amazon anymore, which is a shame, but I noticed it was limited edition when I ordered my copy.
A great CD which I'm sure will be listened to over and over again.
First of all I love the packaging. It's like a little book with the cd's and dvd forming one of the pages. It's very original.
This has all the classics on that you would expect plus a few new songs (such as Lighthouse.) I don't think there are any songs that I'm sad are not on there.
I chose this version of the greatest hits because I felt the other version didn't have all the songs I would have liked. The dvd is a great extra but I wouldn't have been bothered about it if the other cd had just had a few more songs on. As I type this I notice that this cd isn't available through Amazon anymore, which is a shame, but I noticed it was limited edition when I ordered my copy.
A great CD which I'm sure will be listened to over and over again.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Let's face it.Any Westlife fan would already own most of the tracks on the single disc edition "Greatest Hits" bar the four new songs,two of which are mediocre at best.So what's in this three disc set to make you buy lots of songs you already own again?? Not much.The attraction for me was the dvd,collecting all the music videos together.A much better career defining collection than the audio discs,but,as is the case with most Sony Music bonus discs,the quality varies from one clip to the next.I'll try to explain.
Essentially what you have here is "Westlife - the Greatest Hits [DVD]" with the videos released since that collection added on to the end.The first video collection was released in 4:3 picture aspect ratio,so if you have one of the newer widescreen televisions,these clips all appear,for the most part,as a rectangle in the middle of the screen which will need to be zoomed up if your set has that function.Some clips are shot in full screen 4:3 so for these you will need to zoom your tv down to avoid clipping the top and edges of the picture.When we get to "Mandy" this video is correctly displayed in widescreen then everything drops down to 4:3 again before reverting to widescreen again for "Amazing" then back to 4:3 again for "The Rose" after which all the newer videos are in widescreen.Confused?? your tv will be!If you're watching this dvd on an older square shaped tv,or computer you won't have any problems but,most of us have upgraded our sets to watch our movies and music/concerts in widescreen.
The sound for the majority of the clips is ok but only in two channel stereo not 5.1 surround like the "Chapter One" dvd.Whoever put this dvd together either didn't know what they were doing,had no budget or should be fired.
The package itself is also pretty thoughtless,my discs are ALL scratched from the tight card sleeve pages inside the book where they are stored.
As some other reviewers have pointed out,what was wrong with calling it Chapter Two and releasing a proper cd & dvd,focused on the music since "Unbreakable",instead of rehashing the first half of their career again.I hope the dvd gets remastered and re-released but I'm not holding my breath.
Westlife have given me many happy moments over the last decade and a bit,they deserve a much better send off than this.
Essentially what you have here is "Westlife - the Greatest Hits [DVD]" with the videos released since that collection added on to the end.The first video collection was released in 4:3 picture aspect ratio,so if you have one of the newer widescreen televisions,these clips all appear,for the most part,as a rectangle in the middle of the screen which will need to be zoomed up if your set has that function.Some clips are shot in full screen 4:3 so for these you will need to zoom your tv down to avoid clipping the top and edges of the picture.When we get to "Mandy" this video is correctly displayed in widescreen then everything drops down to 4:3 again before reverting to widescreen again for "Amazing" then back to 4:3 again for "The Rose" after which all the newer videos are in widescreen.Confused?? your tv will be!If you're watching this dvd on an older square shaped tv,or computer you won't have any problems but,most of us have upgraded our sets to watch our movies and music/concerts in widescreen.
The sound for the majority of the clips is ok but only in two channel stereo not 5.1 surround like the "Chapter One" dvd.Whoever put this dvd together either didn't know what they were doing,had no budget or should be fired.
The package itself is also pretty thoughtless,my discs are ALL scratched from the tight card sleeve pages inside the book where they are stored.
As some other reviewers have pointed out,what was wrong with calling it Chapter Two and releasing a proper cd & dvd,focused on the music since "Unbreakable",instead of rehashing the first half of their career again.I hope the dvd gets remastered and re-released but I'm not holding my breath.
Westlife have given me many happy moments over the last decade and a bit,they deserve a much better send off than this.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all I believe Westlife were a group who can sing and have had a great carrier of 14 number ones, its just a shame that this is just not the best farewell to the group that sold millions. I was lucky enough to get the two disc set with the DVD of all the hits when it was out, and is far better value than this set. Really this disc only has nine songs not on the original Greatest hits and considering they have released six album since the last million selling hits collection, they could have issued a Greatest hits two not duplicating any tracks from the first best off, and as the first was called volume one then this would have been a great chance for volume two, and then make the limited edition the previous tracks that were available. Of the knew tracks Gary Barlow has given them lighthouse a good tune, and fitting to a group coming to the end of there carrier. All and all I am a bit unsure who this collection is amid at, as the casual fan will have volume one, and the fan would want the two disc version with the DVD. On the plus side the songs are great and we do know then very well yes Flying without wings, the wonderful cover of i have a dream. My real disappointment is the CD has been compressed to buggery and is so distorted at times its ridiculous, this seems to be typical of modern pop CD's,Westlife have great voices always and its sad CD's realsed in the 80's sound a lot better and this is just getting ridiculous I hate the MP3 world its all so distorted and loud, don't these people realise we have volume knobs? The rating is for the duplicate selection and awful mastering.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
excellent
arrived on time , great condition love these lads cant wait to see them live on 11th june this item brings out the full talent of these lads
Published 2 days ago by tara0707
Beware of new stock!!!
The original of this release has manufactured as hardcover picture book. After it ran out of stock Amazon has fulfilled new stock with ordinary big box version. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Manapong Khumsir
Fabulous
Fantastic collection of all their music with the addition of a DVD which unfortunately we already had but neverthless an excellent purchase.
Published 2 months ago by Cat Woman
westlifer forever
I have always loved westlife and had this cd/dvd preordered from day one. I felt a bit shortchanged as it is just a release of past hits[which i love] but it would be nice if the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Y. J. Freeman
It is what it says on the "tin"!!
Lovely compilation of all the boys hits!! Die hard fans have probably got all the hits elsewhere but it's always nice to have them in one place.
Published 3 months ago by Viv64
westlife, wow
great cd, wife loves it, keeps playing it over and over again.glad im not home all day ha ha! but seriously a good cd if you love westlife.
Published 3 months ago by S. L. Farmer
love it
i love westlife and love the fact that all there greatest hits are on one album and it includes some new tracks as well. wish they were staying together.
Published 3 months ago by C. Crane
Goodbye...you will be missed
So, it is it. The end of Westlife. For some, this will almost be a celebration - another dreaded boyband who offered nothing but music made to formula that ensured a successful... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. T. J. Toft
Brilliant Retrospective!
This is my 12th full length cd of this fantastic Quartet. Their greatest appeal for me lies in their choice of songs - which they always delivered excellently. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Christoff
WESTLIFE GREATEST HITS
NOT BAD A GOOD SELECTION OF SONGS WORTH THE MONEY WOULD RECOMEND THIS THANK YOU NO MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS
Published 4 months ago by paul
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