We met the girls in Florida - and they're a bit of alright!
Hi Mark here,
TODAY is a big day in my life because it's the day I get to perform at the
Rose Of Tralee.
It's another milestone in my short - but eventful - career with Westlife,
because I grew up watching this contest on the telly every year religiously.
I used to spread out on the couch in my house in Sligo, pick my favourite
girl and hope that she'd win.
So how did I get from there to here? It amazes me everytime something like
this happens. One day you're watching it on TV and the next... you're
performing at it.
I just know that the excitement is going to be incredible when we hit town
and blast off at Denny Street, Tralee.
Unfortunately, the free open air concert is limited to 12,000, but we hope
that those of you who make it along will have a great day.
LAST weekend we were in Florida appearing on a big American TV special
called Music Mania 2000.
That was fantastic fun for all the lads in Westlife, because we got to hang
out with a load of other performers like Destiny's Child, Mandy Moore,
Jessica Simpson, N Sync, Boys & Girls United and 98".
It was a special treat for me to see Destiny's Child perform in the flesh
because I'm a big, big fan. They are absolutely amazing singers and they are
a bit of alright as well, I have to say.
I love doing those kind of shows because you get the chance to hang out with
people who are doing the same thing you do. They are the only ones in the
world who are in the exact same position that you are in, so it's great to
sit down with them and compare experiences.
We all understand each other and what we are going through; the fun we're
having, the up-sides and down-sides to the business. So it's like having
therapy and letting off steam.
Generally, though, the conversations are about normal things like, "Did you
hear so-and-so's new album."
After the TV show we all went to a club where there was a fantastic live
band playing soul music. They were so good I spent the night dancing beside
them.
WE arrived back in London mid-week and we didn't even have time to recover
from jet-lag. It was straight in to the studio and down to work on the new
songs for our next album.
Everything is going really well, but there's still a lot of work to be done
as it goes on release in October.
Like I promised, you are going to be really amazed by the new songs. They're
really different and a lot more up-beat. It's really going to be party time
with this album.
One thing is certain, we won't get the chance to party after Tralee because
we'll be flying back to the studio in London. I won't even get the chance to
visit all my family and friends in Sligo.
SHANE, I'd like you to tell your manager Ronan how much I love his new
trousers. They're really cool. And his single, Life Is A Rollercoaster, is
just brilliant.
Denise Flynn, Dublin 24.
WESTLIFE, I have a joke for you. Why do French people eat snails? Because
they don't like fast food.
Michelle Egan, Dublin 8.
I HAVE just been on holidays in Sligo. The place I stayed in was lovely.
Sligo is a lovely county with lots to do and see. The Sligo sausages are
nice lads, but my home-town ones are nicer. You should try them.
Michelle Harte, Daingean, Co Offaly.
WESTLIFE, I am your biggest fan. My bedroom is covered in posters of you
and I kiss them every night before I go to bed. I dream of meeting you all
the time. I love your piece in the Sun-day World, it's cool. You're the best
band in the world. Shane, I think you're the cutest. I love you lots like
Jelly Tots.
Michelle Burke, Co Mayo.
MY dream is to meet you guys in Westlife some day. Nicky, you're my
favourite member of the band.
Deirdre Hibbits, Co Kilkenny.
