Wild Dreams (Westlife album)

Wild Dreams
Standard cover
Studio album by
Westlife
Released26 November 2021 (2021-11-26)
Genre
Length36:55
LabelEast West
Westlife chronology
Spectrum
(2019) 		Wild Dreams
(2021)
Alternative cover
Deluxe edition cover. Another version of the deluxe edition feature the same photo, tinted either green or yellow
Singles from Wild Dreams
  1. "Starlight"
    Released: 14 October 2021
  2. "My Hero"
    Released: 5 November 2021[2]
  3. "Alone Together"
    Released: 4 February 2022[3]

Wild Dreams is the twelfth studio album by Irish pop vocal band Westlife. It was released on 26 November 2021 by East West Records, their first release on the label.[4] The album was preceded by the lead single "Starlight", released on 14 October 2021. Its second single, "My Hero", was released on 5 November 2021.[5] Wild Dreams includes songwriting contributions from Ed Sheeran ("My Hero") and Amy Wadge ("Lifeline", "Rewind"), along with production from Jamie Scott, Rami Yacoub and Steve Mac.

Background

Westlife recorded the album over an 18-month period and were "inspired by the challenges" of that time, a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the band described the album as "uplifting", explaining that it "captures the mood of the moment" and has "moments of reflection and is about new beginnings, hope and looking to the future".[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
i[7]
The Independent[8]
RTÉ[1]

RTÉ editor Alan Corr called the album "another confection of airy, midtempo electro pop [...] earnest ballads and soft-focus pop anthems [...] They sound mostly reinvigorated on a set of 13 new songs that sees them further embrace grown-up pop and invite fresh song-writing talent on board to varying degrees of success."[1]

Track listing

Wild Dreams track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Starlight"
  • Scott
  • Lostboy
3:44
2."Alone Together"
  • Yacoub
  • Sly
3:28
3."Wild Dreams"
  • Feehily
  • Filan
  • Richard "Liohn" Zastenker
  • Yacoub
  • Johannes Klahr
  • Klahr
  • Liohn
2:32
4."Lifeline"
  • Steve Fitzmaurice
  • Alex Stacey
3:31
5."Alive"
  • Henessey
  • Rainsford
3:31
6."Rewind"
  • Digital Farm Animals
  • Stacey
3:48
7."Do You Ever Think of Me"
3:25
8."My Hero"
Mac3:16
9."End of Time"
Saints + Sinners3:16
10."Magic"
  • Feehily
  • Filan
  • Tom Williams
  • Alexander Charles
  • Scott
  • Scott
3:20
11."Always with Me"
  • Feehily
  • Filan
  • Philip Magee
  • Stephen Garrigan
  • Cian MacSweeny
Saints + Sinners3:04
Total length:36:59
Digital and deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."World of Our Own" (live at Ulster Hall)4:10
13."Uptown Girl" (live at Ulster Hall)3:12
14."Flying Without Wings" (live at Ulster Hall)4:24
15."You Raise Me Up" (live at Ulster Hall)6:50
Total length:55:38

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Wild Dreams
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Corr, Alan (25 November 2021). "Westlife back falling between two stools on new album". RTE. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  2. ^ Clinton, Orlaith (5 November 2021). "Westlife release new single "My Hero" after powerful Pride of Britain Awards performance". Belfast Live. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Westlife release 'Alone Together' as third single from 'Wild Dreams' album". 4 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ^ Lovejoy, Hannah (14 October 2021). "Westlife announce "uplifting" new album Wild Dreams". Smooth Radio. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  5. ^ Breen, Nadia (14 October 2021). "Westlife announce new album 'Wild Dreams' which will be released next month". Belfast Live. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  6. ^ Griffiths, George (14 October 2021). "Westlife announce new album Wild Dreams and release new single Starlight". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  7. ^ Solomon, Kate (25 November 2021). "Album reviews: Westlife 'Wild Dreams', Peter Capaldi 'St Christopher', Julie Doiron 'I Thought of You'". i. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  8. ^ Nugent, Annabel (25 November 2021). "Album reviews: Westlife – Wild Dreams and Peter Capaldi – St Christopher". The Independent. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Ultratop.be – Westlife – Wild Dreams" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Westlife – Wild Dreams" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Westlife – Wild Dreams" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 50. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Westlife – Wild Dreams". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Western Weekly Top 20, Week 52, 2021" (in Chinese). G-Music.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024. Click Western Music and scroll to 2021, Week 52.
  17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  18. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  19. ^ "British album certifications – Westlife – Wild Dreams". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 September 2022.