Singer Ronan Keating was in Kuala Lumpur for less than two days, as part of his tight schedule touring Asia to promote his first solo album, 'Ronan'. The question is, will the fans of the defunct Boyzone take to his kind of music of will Ronan be another footnote in the history of boyband music? Whatever it is, the handsome 23-year-old is game to try everything in the entertainment scene.

Former Boyzone main man Ronan Keating is counting on his Irish luck to succeed in his solo career. Like other previous boy-band members, Ronan is trying hard to convince the music industry, particularly impressionable teenage girls and boys who buy music CDs, that he is worth listening to. At a press conference in KL, the heartthrob singer constantly attributed the group's and his own success to luck.

" I consider myself lucky to have joined Boyzone, and that we were lucky to have gotten into the boy-band era at the right time. And also, we were lucky to have managed the transition from teenybop team to the kind of mainstream appeal that has helped us sell over 12 million albums,' he said.

It seems that luck has also played a vital part for him as a solo artiste. He hit the charts with his first single ' When you say nothing at all', last March. The song, featured in the Notting Hill soundtrack, also bagged the 1999 British Best Soundtrack Award.

In July this year, Ronan released his first album single 'Life is a rollercoaster' which was written by Gregg Alexander and Rick Nowels. Another chart-topper, the song paved the way for the star to launch his proper self-titled solo album, 'Ronan', which also topped the album charts. Wanting for something different, the singer hooked up with several country songwriters.

" I feel that some of the best pop songs have been written country artistes. 'I will always love you' by Whitnet Houston, that was originally a country song and All for one's 'I swear' was also a country number. Even 'When you say nothing at all'. So i went on a drive down there to find something i could work with and i found it."

'Life is a rollercoaster' reflects Ronan's life. " Every other day you can see me on planes, planes and automobiles. Always at different places, meeting different people. But it's a rollercoaster where it's always up and not too many plunges down." Even work on shooting for the video was like a rollercoaster ride for the funny singer who was suspended in mid-air for a total for 12 hours for the drifting in the air' effect that can be seen in the music video that's been playing over the telly. Despite the discomfort that he had to endure, Ronan quipped that it was still fun as he was the one who wanted the effect to be done.

That is why, Ronan said, it's important to always have goals. " I make sure i always have goals to achieve. Initially, it was the first magazine cover, first top of the pops number, first No. 1 single, first No. 1 album and you keeping wanting more. Then you have number one album in Europe, then you want to have a number one album in Asia." " It's when you continue to work really hard that people will eventually notice and respect you for what you are doing. From there you will achieve greater success," explained the singer, who added that one should always have new goals. That's the thing that will keep me going for the next 25 to 60 years, i hope!"

WIFE AND KIDS So far, everything has been peachy. But the singer confessed that there are advantages and disadvantages of being successful and going solo. Personally, his success and work means less time at home with his family.

" Usually, my wife (Irish model Yvonne Connelly) would follow for some of the tours but she is now pregnant with our second child," said Ronan proundly. " I do get worried being away from for too long but i always keep in touch and work very hard. I want to be a good husband and a good father."

" As far as the group goes, it means being on the road without the other guys and sometimes it gets a little lonely. The advantage is that I get total independence and creative control of my work. If I fail then i know it's because of me and not anyone else. It's a great feeling to be able to decide what you want and not have other people tell you what to do."

BOYZONE

While some fans are unhappy with Boyzone's decisions to break up, the move made by the five lads, Ronan, Stephen, Mikey, Shane and Keith was inevitable. But the boys intend to re-group something next year to record another album and tour together. However it's no secret that many were just waiting for the band to make this move with each member pursuing his own solo projects. Just like members of Take That - Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange - the audience wanted to know how Ronan and Stephen will fare in the conpetitive teen-dream market which is already packed with the likes of Five, N'Sync, Westlife, Point Break, and 98 Degrees to name a few.

Gary Barlow lasted an album and only Robbie is still seen gracing the MTV screen and the airwaves. Although Stephen released his album (amidst his controversial announcement of being gay) before Ronan, it is clear that Ronan will enjoy greater success. At only 23, it seems that Ronan has it made. Apart from the group's success, Ronan is blessed with a beautiful family, a son, Jack and another child due in Feb. next year But this has not stopped him from working, in fact, it's the reason why he is determined to work even harder - so that his children will have a better future.

A great father, and a role model for many hopefuls out there, Ronan, though we wonder how he fits it all in his schedule, has expanded his career into awards, Miss World, the Eurovision song contest and his own BBCI talent show, 'Get your act together'.

WESTLIFE

And if that's not all, the blue-eyed singer also co-manages Irish Boyband Westlife whose list of success is enough to make sure it has the right to succeed Boyzone in the teen-pop scene. Ronan said that he initially did he set-up for the band - its looks and sound before Louis Walsh (Boyzone's manager) took over. " But i'm still pretty much in touch with boys and the second album is being set up right now, and i'll be helping them at the studio with some of the songs," said the singer, mater-of-factly.

But it doesn't seem enough for the ambitious and talented artiste whose second single 'The way you make me feel' will keep him busy till the end of the year. Ronan is always craving for something new. So, it wasn't a surprise that after all those years working and touring together, Boyzone, which is the most successful Irish group since U2, found itself stuck in the mud. Since it emerged in 1993, the group has been extremely popular among the teenage crowd, garnering 16 top three singles, four No, 1 albums and numerous sell-out tours, but all that travelling and work have finally taken their toll.

So the band members agreed to concentrate on its solo projects. Ronan, Stephen and Mikey went on to record their own albums. Keith hosts TV programmes and Shane indulges himself in his favourite pastime - racing cars.

Said Ronan: " It came to the point where we were answering the same questions and that the music sounded pretty much the same. It became boring to us and, I believe, others too. That was when we knew it was time for the group to take a break and find ways to reinvent ourselves."

Always pausing to think before answering any question, it is not hard to see why this fine songwriter has been looked upon as a role model. " I was told that i've been thought as a role model but truthfully i consider myself a normal person. I have my principles. I'm totally against drugs and i'm very open about it and i think the older people look highly on that. I have great family which is very important to me and it's pretty much an Irish thing where we have big families and it's our priority."

His politically-correct answers have always amazed many, and made people wonder whether he will ever consider going into politics. With a laugh, the singer said, " It's not my cup of tea really. I love music. I'm lucky enough to be doing other thngs like hosting TV shows and I am also a part of the millennium commitee in Ireland."

" There are a lot of different things i do on the side. For me, music is my true passion and I want to do it for many years. Politics is not something I think I can get into because politicians join a party and they only have one view on life and how that party should be. But for me, I have a very wide, open mind and I believe in many different things, so I don't think I can ever join one party."