Let’s talk about the top songs of the iconic Irish pop group, Westlife.
When I think about it, where do I even start with Westlife? They were basically the soundtrack to my teenage years – and I’m probably not alone in that. We’re talking about a proper phenomenon here, one of those boy bands that just got everything right. Two decades of absolute bangers, and honestly, I still get a bit emotional when “Flying Without Wings” comes on shuffle. First heartbreak? Westlife had a song for that. Wedding? Definitely had you covered. Or feeling a bit rough after a night out? Shane, Nicky, Kian, Mark, and Brian were there with something to make it all better.
Here’s what I loved about them – they never tried to be something they weren’t. Early days, it was all about those massive ballads, then they started mixing things up a bit, threw in some upbeat stuff, covered some classics, and even dabbled with modern producers. Truth is this: whether they were sitting on those bloody stools for the millionth time or playing to packed arenas, you always knew exactly what you were getting.
Top Westlife Songs
1. Swear It Again (1999)
2. If I Let You Go (1999)
3. Flying Without Wings (1999)
4. I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun (1999)
5. Against All Odds (with Mariah Carey) (2000)
6. My Love (2000)
7. Fool Again (2000)
8. What Makes a Man (2000)
9. Uptown Girl (2001)
10. Queen of My Heart (2001)
11. When You’re Looking Like That (2001)
12. World of Our Own (2002)
13. Unbreakable (2002)
14. Mandy (2003)
15. You Raise Me Up (2005)
16. The Rose(2006)
17. Home (2007)
18. What About Now (2009)
19. Hello My Love (2019)
20. Better Man (2019)
Top 20 Westlife Songs
Let’s review the top 20 Westlife songs in history
1. Swear It Again (1999)
The one that started it all. First single, straight to number one, and somehow managed to crack America too (peaked at 20 on the Billboard Hot 100). Still, their only proper US hit, which is mad considering how good they were. This passionate love song introduced the world to what Westlife was all about.
2. If I Let You Go (1999)
Second number one. It’s all about that horrible feeling when you’re terrified of losing someone you love. 600k+ sales and streams combined, and it properly cemented them as the kings of the love ballad. No arguments there.
3. Flying Without Wings (1999)
Right, this is it. This is the one that still gives me proper goosebumps every single time. Third number one in a row, shifted 800k copies, won Record of the Year, and it’s now sitting pretty with 37 million streams. Shane wasn’t wrong when he said this defines their whole career – it’s got everything you want from a Westlife song.
4. I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun (1999)
You think it’s a weird combo, right? ABBA’s hopeful anthem paired with that properly sad Terry Jacks song. Shouldn’t have worked, but it absolutely did. Christmas number one for 1999 and the first chart-topper of the new millennium. Over 700k sales. Not a bad way to see in the year 2000.
5. Against All Odds (with Mariah Carey) (2000)
What happens when you stick Westlife in a recording studio with Mariah bloody Carey? Magic, that’s what. Her incredible vocals with their smooth harmonies on Phil Collins’ classic – it was always going to be number one, wasn’t it? Half a million copies sold, and it’s still a proper banger.
6. My Love (2000)
Beautiful tribute to both romantic love and Ireland itself – those Cliffs of Moher shots in the video made half the country want to book a holiday. Seventh UK number one, 18 million streams today, really knew how to tug at the heartstrings.
7. Fool Again (2000)
Proper heartbreak song, this one. Raw emotion about being betrayed in love, and they delivered it with such conviction that you believed every word. Another number one, of course.
8. What Makes a Man(2000)
This one was different. Bit deeper, bit more thoughtful – asking what it really means to be a man (spoiler: it’s about feelings and love, not being a tough guy). Only got to number two, but the critics loved it. Showed everyone these weren’t just five pretty faces in matching outfits.
9. Uptown Girl (2001)
Uptown Girl was everywhere. Comic Relief single that completely caught everyone off guard – instead of the usual tears-inducing ballad, we got the lads dressed up as American diner waiters serving supermodels. Claudia Schiffer was in it, that’s a big deal! Over a million copies were sold in the UK– yes, people went to shops and bought the physical single.
10. Queen of My Heart(2001)
No exaggeration here, but I think every wedding since 2001 has featured this song. Fact. This gorgeous love song debuted at number one, sold 400k+ copies, and went gold.
11. When You’re Looking Like That (2001)
One of their rare upbeat moments, and it showed off a playful side we didn’t see nearly enough. It wasn’t even officially released as a UK single, but it’s got 25 million streams and remains a proper fan favorite. I think sometimes the album tracks are the hidden gems.
12. World of Our Own(2002)
This sunny little number about creating your own perfect world went straight to the top and proved they could do more than make us all cry into our tea. Title track of their third album, too good a choice.
13. Unbreakable (2002)
Another straight-to-number-one love song that was good enough to be chosen as their greatest hits title track. The clue’s in the name, really; some things are just built to last, and Westlife songs are definitely one of them.
14. Mandy (2003)
Taking on Barry Manilow’s classic could’ve been career suicide, but they pulled it off with typical Westlife sincerity. Mandy is another UK number one that showed Westlife could make any song sound magical, whether theirs or not.
15. You Raise Me Up (2005)
They absolutely nailed this cover. I mean, everyone and their mum has done this song, but Westlife’s version? Different gravy. Thirteenth UK number one (show-offs), sold 600k+, and it’s the only version that actually made it to number one here. Nearly 20 million streams later, and it still brings the house down at their concerts.
16. The Rose (2006)
Bette Midler’s emotional masterpiece about love surviving everything got the full Westlife treatment. Another UK number one, of course it was. That incredible ability to make every cover sound like it was written specifically for them never ceases to amaze me.
17. Home (2007)
Michael Bublé’s original is lovely, but Westlife’s version? Absolutely heartbreaking. This tender ballad about missing the people you love peaked at number three and became one of their most beloved later hits.
18. What About Now(2009)
Ten years in, still smashing it. This motivational anthem peaked at number two and proved they weren’t going anywhere. Sometimes the best advice is the simplest – stop overthinking everything and just live in the bloody moment.
19. Hello My Love (2019)
Eight years they were gone. EIGHT YEARS; then they came back with this Ed Sheeran-penned beauty and reminded us all why we missed them so much. Only got to number 13, but here’s the kicker – it’s got over 54 million Spotify streams. Their most-played song ever. The streaming generation finally discovered what we’d known all along.
20. Better Man (2019)
Ed Sheeran and his mates crafted this tender ballad about wanting to be worthy of love. Peak position of 26 doesn’t tell the whole story – it became a quiet favorite among fans who’d grown up alongside the band.
Legacy
From “Uptown Girl’s” daft fun to “You Raise Me Up’s” emotional sucker punch, these 20 tracks tell the whole Westlife story. They’re not just songs – they’re memories set to music. First dance at your wedding, crying in your car after a breakup, singing along at their comeback tour.
The numbers are mad when you think about it – all those chart records, millions of sales, billions of streams. But what matters is that these songs are still there for us. Still soundtracking the big moments, still making us feel something real. Not bad for five lads from Ireland who just wanted to make decent music and maybe get a few people singing along.
That’s the thing about Westlife – they never overcomplicated it. Great songs, proper emotion, and harmonies that could make you believe in love again. Job done.
