UK Music Hall of Fame – The biggest selling artists of the 21st Century Top 50

Sunday 6th November 2005

Ronan Keating No. 17

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Dermot O’Leary: In 1999 U2’s fellow countrymen Boyzone had ruled the charts for 6 years with 15 top 3 singles, but the writing was on the wall.

Whilst Boyzone split, there’s only 1 person from that group who’s going to make a reasonable career out of music and that’s Ronan Keating

David Quantick (Writer and broadcaster)

Ronan was like the evil Bond villain he knew exactly what he wanted from his career and he was smart enough to go for it.

(Clip of Ronan laughing – then the video for When you say nothing at all)

Dermot: Ronan’s big break came when he was still a member of Boyzone. Approached to sing the theme tune of a major new film by Richard Curtis without the rest of the band, Ronan said Yeah!

Richard Curtis (Writer of Notting Hill)

It was the story about 1 guy being in love with 1 girl. It would not have been suitable to have a band, suddenly as though Julia Roberts was walking along with 5 blokes instead of 1 bloke.

Ronan: The record came out on Monday and we got the chart sales on Tuesday which were, it was No.1. So we knew, so we knew it was doing well. So it was a perfect launch pad ya know for the solo career, it wasn’t planned, it just happened.

Richard Curtis: I don’t think he’s thanked me I‘ve thanked him, oh although I think he paid for lunch when we had lunch, I think he paid for lunch.

Dermot: With the success of the single, Boyzone’s record company saw the potential in Ronan to emerge as a solo artist.

(Clip of Life is a rollercoaster Video)

Ronan: As soon as I heard it I knew it was a hit record. It was just immediate it gets under your skin; it’s one of those great summer records.

Liz McClarnon (former Atomic Kitten)

I have to say I was a Boyzone fan so when he came out with that as well I was like “Ooh I love Boyzone and I love Ronan Keating it’s great!, so that’s one that made me a fan of Ronan Keating

(Signing 2000)

Dermot: It seemed that every Boyzone fan felt the same way. And by the time Ronan’s first album was released in 2000, his former band was forgotten by both the fans and Ronan.

Lulu: I’ll tell you something he’s ambitious, he’s ambitious.

It’s not even beneath the charm, he’s very open about how determined he is.

Lulu: Focused, focused on his career

Richard Park (Radio and music executive)

He really believes in himself. I’ve seen him perform all over the world. I recall seeing him in South Africa, charm 10,000 people in a park in Cape Town, you know for a young guy who started singing in Ireland aged 14 that’s a very special achievement.

(Clip of Destination 02 Tour DVD)

Dermot: Now at the age of just 28; Ronan has clocked up 12 years in the music business and as a solo artist shifted nearly 2.5 million albums

Neil Fox (Magic fm Radio)

The reason why he’s done well ultimately is he managed to carry on through the kids that loved him in Boyzone and were just happy to scream coz they were on stage. Ya know and it was like “Aaarrrghhhh!” it’s Boyzone but I think after that you realised the guys got a great voice.

Ronan: Oh yeah I was worried because Boyzone were so successful and ya know you wanna match that if not better it, but it went well, I got away with it (Laughs)