Biography
An Irish singer and songwriter in the pop and rock vein, Brian McFadden first rose to worldwide prominence as a founding member of the boy band Westlife, a role he held from 1998 through 2004, before embarking on a solo trajectory that opened with the international chart-topper “Real to Me” in 2004. Born April 12, 1980, in Dublin, McFadden counted among the five young men whom A&R executive Simon Cowell gathered in 1998 to launch Westlife. Over his time with the group the quintet issued five albums—Westlife (1999), Coast to Coast (2000), World of Our Own (2001), Unbreakable, Vol. 1: The Greatest Hits (2002), and Turnaround (2003)—each achieving multi-platinum status and topping the Irish albums chart, while four of the five also reached number one in the United Kingdom. The same span yielded twelve U.K. number-one singles: “Swear It Again,” “If I Let You Go,” “Flying Without Wings,” “I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun,” “Fool Again,” “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now),” “My Love,” “Uptown Girl,” “Queen of My Heart,” “World of Our Own,” “Unbreakable,” and “Mandy.” McFadden departed Westlife in 2004 and delivered his debut solo long-player, Irish Son, later that year. Issued via Sony BMG, the record did not replicate Westlife’s commercial scale yet still performed solidly, reaching the Irish Top Ten and the U.K. Top 30; its singles included the chart-topping “Real to Me” (Ireland, the U.K., Denmark, Norway), “Irish Son” (number four Ireland, number six U.K.), and “Almost Here” (number one Ireland and Australia, number two Denmark, number three U.K.). Several years later he resurfaced with Set in Stone (2008), released under Universal Music Group and initially aimed at Australia, where it climbed to the Top Five and was led by the single “Like Only a Woman Can,” a number-one hit in Ireland and Top 20 success in Australia. Two years afterward the vocalist issued his third album, Wall of Soundz, again launched first in Australia and shaped in close partnership with American songwriter Rob Conley; the project leaned toward electronic textures, featured a rap from New Yorker Kevin Rudolf on the single “Just Say So,” and showcased former flame Delta Goodrem on “Mistakes.” During this stretch McFadden also expanded his broadcasting work, serving as a judge across three seasons of Australia’s Got Talent (2010–2012), co-hosting FOX8’s Football Superstar (2008–2009), and hosting radio segments on 2Day FM. In 2011 controversy erupted around his track “Just the Way You Are (Drunk at the Bar),” whose lyrical content drew sharp criticism and prompted McFadden to direct all proceeds from the Australian Top 50 single toward support for rape victims. He returned to the studio in 2012 for a covers collection that presented his interpretations of songs by prominent Irish acts including U2, Van Morrison, and Snow Patrol; issued as The Irish Connection, it marked his second release to surface in the U.K.
Albums
Singles
