Irish boy band Westlife made pop history today by becoming the first group in the UK to see their first five singles enter the charts at number one. As Fool Again hit the top of the charts, the quintet earned record-breaking status and an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. The band, currently in New York promoting their debut single Swear It Again, were planning to celebrate the news by cracking open a bottle of champagne. Band member Kian Egan is reported to have said the band's latest chart success is a dream come true.
The battle for the top slot was very close fought with Westlife losing their midweek lead over current number one Mel C by Friday - but Saturday sales figures tipped the balance and the band came out on top by a narrow margin of around 1,400 singles. Westlife's track was the fifth single on their album, so many fans already had a copy and the band struggled to keep strong sales up through the week.
Boyzone singer Ronan Keating, who is co-manager of Westlife, has helped the group achieve success far more quickly than his own Irish boy band. Although Boyzone has so far attained six number one singles, these were spread over a longer period of six years. Boyzone's 1994 debut single Love Me For A Reason only went to number two and it was not until 1996 that the band achieved their first number one with Words.
Last year fellow Irish stars B Witched set a new record by becoming the first group to have each of their first four singles go straight to number one. Their chart-topping success has since tailed off with the releases from their second album. While, the Spice Girls made number one with their first five singles, but they did not all enter the charts at the top. First single Wannabe made it to number two in its first week, climbing a place a week later.
After their four-week tour in New York, Westlife will perform further concerts across Asia and another six-week stint in the US.
