Stung by their first ever non-number one (‘What Makes a Man’ having been kept off top spot by Bob the Builder), Westlife return with a foolproof strategy for restoring their chart fortunes. A carbon copy of a beloved classic.
Uptown Girl, by Westlife (their 8th of fourteen #1s)
1 week, from 11th – 18th March 2001
If a note-for-note cover of Billy Joel’s 1983 chart-topper was not enough of a guarantee, then making it the official Red Nose Day single was the clincher. Guaranteed, sure-fire, bookies not even letting you place bets sort of number one. And so it was, opening with Westlife’s biggest ever sales week.
And, on a very surface level, this isn’t a terrible record. It doesn’t irk in the same way that, say, A1’s cover of ‘Take on Me’ does. Probably because Westlife’s producers sensibly kept things very un-experimental, retaining the original’s doo-wop, Four Seasons-aping energy. It adds nothing, however, and you will never need to listen to the Westlife version of ‘Uptown Girl’ as long as Billy Joel’s original is available.
Actually, it’s not strictly true that nothing is added. Because this is Westlife, ‘Uptown Girl’ now has a key change. Hey ho. Again, it doesn’t ruin the song. If you squint hard enough you can imagine you’re listening to the original. Am I being overly charitable? About this charity record? Maybe. Or maybe I’m just glad that this is a Westlife number one that ISN’T A BALLAD! Of their frankly unbelievable total of fourteen number ones, I’d say that only two are officially not ballads (while I will hear arguments for ‘If I Let You Go’ being their third non-ballad #1, if anyone cares to make them…)
Westlife were following in Boyzone’s footsteps here, Ronan and his gang having released the previous Comic Relief single two years earlier: a similarly faithful redo of another eighties classic. It’s almost as if the same evil genius was behind both bands… But I will give Westlife the credit of not being anywhere near as reliant on cheesy covers as their predecessors. Over half of Boyzone’s chart-topping records were covers, whereas this was only Westlife’s second out of nine releases.
To be fair, the video is quite fun, with Claudia Schiffer as the uptown girl, and a little dig at Bob the Builder too…
The UK Number Ones Blog 
I saw Billy do this at Cardiff Millenium Stadium last year, packed to the rafters with folk knowing all the words to some of his songs, even my early 20’s niece and nephew. Westlife are merely basking in his reflected glory, but should be thanked for introducing new audiences to the very classically-as-well-as-history-of-rocknroll-influenced mighty Billy, recently very poorly and cancelling concerts.
I actually like Westlife’s version. Can’t believe I’m saying that (maybe I don’t dislike Westlife as much as I thought). It’s not as good as the original and it’s got that British teen pop sheen to it that makes it a bit more cornier, teethless and cheesier, but it’s pretty charming. I would never play this over the original but it’s perfectly fine. I think it helps that A) it’s very faithful to the original just with that late-90s/2000s pop production and B) the Westlife boys clearly like the song and are enjoying themselves both recording it and in the music video.
One thing I will say for Westlife is that they do seem to really enjoy being in Westlife. Even now, 25 years on. Most boyband stars itch for a way out sometime around the third album (and Brian McFadden did leave around then). But the other four still look like they’re having a great time. And fair play to them – it must be the easiest gig in music to turn up and sing Westlife songs for a couple of hours.
You know…it is almost a duplicate and yes they did a good job on it…but and this is where I can be a hypocrite. I want to say…whats the point Stewart? You can just listen to the original. On the other hand if they would have really messed with the song I would say…why did they mess with the song? So I feel bad saying anything about it. I figured that out about myself… just like when you told me…”so you like women who sound like men” lol…that was perfect. I learn all kinds of things at your site.
I mean one cover I really like is With A Little Help From My Friends…he DID mess with the song but all in the right ways. One of the worst covers is Todd Rundgren’s Good Vibrations…on that one he is absolutely perfect in mimicing the Beach Boys…but what was the point?
This was for charity, and it’s a pretty likeable cover. I’m with you though: make your mark on the song, for better or worse. I quite like it when someone ‘destroys’ a classic. Tiffany’s ‘I Saw Him Standing There’ always comes to mind in this regard…
Yea…that cover is like a shot in Max’s gut.
Haha I like it… I like the chutzpah of it. A 16 year old kid mutilating the Beatles! And it does sort of work, for what it is.
LOL…oh you are a sick sick person Stewart!
Yea I do like hearing bad covers I will admit…but leave the bloody Beatles out of it!