May 31, 2000 - Smash Hits - In The Sack With Shane Westlife
If Shane was a girl, who in Westlife would he fancy? What's the hardest thing he's done? What exactly is it about high heels? The answers are all in the sack...
I came to see you at your record signing in Manchester, but by the time I got to see you you couldn't sign any more albums. Whose decision was that, and were you annoyed that your fans were upset?
The decision was the record company's because we literally didn't have time to sign everyone's albums. If we'd stayed and signed them all we wouldn't have been able to go to the next signing. it's really unfortunate 'cos it's happened a lot. In Glasgow 7,000 people turned up to a signing but we could only sign 1,000 autographs, so people were disappointed. But 1,000 people is still a lot of people to sign for! We're really sorry if people were disappointed, but don't worry, there will be other opprtuinites to meet us.
I'm really disappointed that Westlife, an Irish band, supported the Poppy Appeal. Are you concerned about losing some of your loyal Irish fans because of it?
When we launched the appeal, we didn't know much about it. We're not political, we're a pop band, we sing sons and we support charities. We've done Children In Need and loads of other stuff, and when we saw in our schedule we were doing the Poppy Appeal we didn't think much about it. It wasn't 'il later that we realised that we may be offending people. We're really sorry if we did offend anyone. If I'm honest, we probably won't do it again because it caused so much controversy.
What do you think about your former andmate Derek Lacey saying in an Irish newspaper that you kicked him out of the band?
(Sadly) I don't know. Derek was one of my best mates. Probably my best friend in the band when it started, but it was me who had to tell him he had to go. It was probably the most horrible thing I've ever had to do. I've seen him since it all happened and he's said hello and stuff, but he's obviously not happy. I suppose nobody would be because of the success weve had. I feel terrible and I'm really sorry that I hurt his feelings but I'd love for us to be mates.
Are Westlife ever going to do a fast song instead of a ballad?
Of course! We've recorded a couple of uptempo songs recently, and I think one of them is going to be the first song we release in America. It's written by the same person that wrote Christina Aguilera's single Genie In A Bottle and (clasps his hand together joyfully) it's fantastic. There will definitely be more uptempo songs on the next album as well. Defintely.
Is there big rivalry between Westlife and Five?
(Shakes his head) No, there's no rivalry at all. Last year we weren't very close to them 'cos we didn't know them that well, but lately we've got very close 'cos we've been on loads of the same TV shows and got really friendly with them. They're a really nice bunch of uys and they're totally opposite to what we do. There can't be rivalry because we're a totally different kind of band. They're realy uptempo and we're a mid-tempo ballady type band. I think people think we don't get on 'cos we're on the same record label, but, if anything, that means we get on better.
Does it feel strange knowing that there are lots of girls around the world with posters of you in their walls?
It does feel very weird. A year and a half ago I was in college, looking at Smash Hits and dreaming. totally dreaming of being in it. Now I've been on the front cover on my own - I can't believe it! I always worried about how people would take me, whether or not people would like, but it's turned out to be really good. I love it!
On your album, are any of the songs dedicated to anyone?
No, 'cos we didn't write any of the songs on this album. But we're already co-writing songs for the next album, so hopefully we'll get some on there. Even if it's just two or three it'd be brilliant. We enjoy writing but we're more talented at singing at the moment. Hopefully by the third of fourth album we'll have learnt a lot and we'll have a lot of our own songs on there.
Which of Westlife would you fancy if you were a girl?
Probably Nicky because he's the cleanest! He looks after himself well, he's the Posh of Westlife. He's neat and tidy and he's a nice guy so I think he'd be my favourite.
Why do you slag off A1? At least they write their own songs.
(Confused) Do we slag off them off? When? We're really good mates with A1, we wouldn't ever slag them off. How weird!
I read recently you've got a Chinese symbol tattooed on your back. Is this true?
Have I got one? (Lifts up his top to reveal a tanned, tattooless back) No! I have no tattoos at all. Some of the boys have, but I'm not saying who 'cos it's not my place. Although... (whispers) Kian has one on this ankle. I have no plans to have one either. They're not my thing and I don't think you need ink on yourself to look better.
Scott Five kept his girlfriend secret. Would you ever lie about a girl?
I started going out with a girl I would keep quiet about it for a couple of months 'cos I'd want to get to know her before everyone else did. I wouldn't want her to get loads of hassle so I'd keep it a secret 'til I knew I was in love with her and we were going to stay together. I wouldn't be able to keep quiet for long though, that would kill me. It owuld be hard enough to have a relationship with a girl, let alone trying to keep ot a secret as well.
Would you rather date a girl that's slighty overweight with a smashing personality, or a girl that's extremely thin but dull?
Of course I'd date a girl that's overweight. Perfect bodies are a bonus and a girl with a fantastiic figure looks great on your arm, but you could go out with someone gorgeous who's a right dope and that'd be a nightmare. If you want a lasting relationship you're going to go for a girl that's got a great personality.
I read in Smash Hits that you'd date a fan. Then more recently you said you wouldn't date anyone under 20. Most of your fans are teenagers. Explain yourself!
Some of our fans are over 20! I probably said I'd rather date someone around my age. I'd defintely date a fan, but I couldn't date someone that was like 15 or 16 - they'd be too young for me. I dont; ahve a problem with dating a fan, and I wouldn't not date them just 'cos they like the band. Not all fas are fanatical and if someone treats me normally and not just as someone they see on TV or in magazines then fine, there would be no problem. If she's nice looking and a nice girl and she liked me, then why not?
Which member of the band of the band are you closest to?
I don't think I'm actually cloest to any of them, but mine and Nicky's personalities and most alike. Bryan, Mark and Kian are all quite mad, butme and Nicky are much more laidback.
My friend says "taking the easy way out" and "if ilet you go" are about suicide when you sing. Are they?
No! The line "taking the easy way out" refers to a guy who's in love with a girl but he's afraid to tell, so he's taking the easy way out by not revealing his feelings to her. And the line "if I let you go" means if you don't tell someone how you feel, you'll never know how they feel about you.
If I went back to your old school and asked your teachers to tell me about you, what would you say?
They'd probably tell you tI was giddy in class, always singing, and practising my autograph and hoping I'd be famous. They'd also tell you I talked about Michael Jackson a lot! I think they'd sy I was a dreamer with a bit of a naughty side, but a good side too!
Are you ticklish and if so, where?
I'm not really ticklish anywhere, but if anyone grabs me from behind and digs really deep into my armpits I can't stand it. I freak out!
In the September 8 issue of Smash Hits Nicky said you had a fetish for high heels and short skirts. Is that true?
(Laughs) Very, very, very true. I love girls' legs/ I love it when a girl has a good pair of legs and shows them off. Girls don't have to be models, but if they have something nice they shouljd show it off, and high heels show off good legs so much it's unbelievable. It's a very big fetish I have!