This is pop!

In a year that saw Irish artists from most musical genres including U2, Enya, Ash, The Corrs etc. enjoy significant international success, Irish pop artists, with the notable exceptions of Samantha Mumba and Westlife failed to progress in the way that might have been hoped.

This trend was most apparent in the solo careers pursued by the ex-members of Boyzone. Most pundits would have predicted that Ronan Keating, at least, would be a reasonably sure bet for solo success. He’s done well so far, selling close to 2 million copies of his debut album.

The UK responded favourably to his singles ‘Lovin’ Each Day’ and ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’ with both songs going top ten. Predictably, his popularity with Irish fans remained high. His sell-out live dates this year also received excellent reviews. But so far Keating has found it difficult to raise more than token interest in the US, with ‘Lovin’ Each Day’ stalling at 25,000 sales (compared to the 500,000 Samantha Mumba notched up with ‘Gotta Tell You’). There’s a new album on the way from Ronan early next year, and – unless he’s really in it for the long haul – that could prove to be make or break time for his solo career.

Meanwhile, his fellow-Boyzoners have disappeared into Pop’s equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle.

Stephen Gateley, despite being nominated for a Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation award for the A New Beginning album, turned from doe-eyed ballad singer to Britney-wannabe.

Although his record company insist he hasn’t been dropped, Gately was last seen looking like the most uncomfortable man on earth as he pranced about promoting ‘Stay’ on This Morning With Richard And Judy. The single sank without a trace.

Mickey Graham’s management blamed lack of radio support for the poor showing of his useful ‘You Could Be My Everything’, released on Graham’s own Public Records label. The failure of the song to chart resulted in the cancellation of a UK and Irish tour, and Graham has regrouped to consider his options.

Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy released a version of the Milli Vanilli hit ‘Girl You Know It’s True’ which, perhaps due to the fact that the duo didn’t follow the good example of the originals and mime, enjoyed little success. Keith Duffy, however, appeared in a celebrity edition of the Big Brother series for BBC’s Comic Relief and proved a surprise hit, with Brookside’s Claire Sweeney as well as the general public. He’s since gone on to record a series of travel shows for TV and is expected to enjoy a successful career as a presenter.

Meanwhile, B*Witched failed to complete what is turning out to be an extremely difficult third album and, despite record company denials of a lack of faith in the band, a release in 2002 will necessitate a virtual re-launch of the act. The failure of Louis Walsh’s girl-group Bellefire to gain Top 10 status in the UK, despite stunning looks, a creditable degree of musical talent, and what must have looked like a surefire hit in U2’s ‘All I Want Is You’ doesn’t bode well for either girl band. While a certain wholesomeness is a saleable commodity in boy-bands, it appears the same is not necessarily true for the girls.

MCA signing Carly Hennessy’s debut album Ultimate High may have received a ‘thumbs up’ from crirics across the US and Canada, but so far it has failed to give the Dublin teenager a hit. However, with a voice that’s equal parts Britney and Janis Joplin, and a sassy yet grounded attitude, her time may yet come.

Ditto Louis Walsh’s ‘Duran Duran’-style pop band who are currently recording in Sweden, although perhaps Louis might learn from his Bellefire experience and allow the boys a little lead in their pencil.

The good news is that, without releasing a new album, Samantha Mumba continued to sell records by the truckload, and she has officially, attained iconic status with a million-dollar L’Oreal contract and a starring role in the Steven Speilberg opus The Time Machine. Eleven-year-old brother Omero also appears in the film, and signed to Polydor earlier this year.

Westlife, meanwhile, were the unqualified Irish pop success of 2001. This year did see them issue a series of singles that suggested a move toward more up-tempo songs, which, credit where it’s due, they performed with aplomb. With their album slugging it out at the top of the charts, 2001 will have to go down as a great year for them.

Westlife have broken their own live record, announcing 13 dates at the Point Depot in May and June 2002. That’s the equivalent of two Landsdown Roads or one Slane gig.

They’ll be around for a while yet – of that you can be certain.