"Better Man" is a song by Irish pop vocal band

Westlife Westlife is an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1998. The group currently consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member, until he left in 2004. The group temporarily di ...

. It was released on by

Virgin EMI Records Virgin EMI Records was a British record label owned by the Universal Music Group that was formed in 2013. In June 2020, the label was rebranded as EMI Records, and operates Virgin Records as an imprint of the new EMI Records. History Virgin ...

on 29 March 2019 as the second single from the band's eleventh studio album, ''

Spectrum A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors i ...

''. It is their second single released under

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...

and Virgin EMI Records. The song was written by

Ed Sheeran Edward Christopher Sheeran (; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently r ...

, Fred Gibson,

Steve Mac Steve McCutcheon (born 15 January 1972), known professionally as Steve Mac, is a British record producer, songwriter and musician. A multi-award-winning producer, he is one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers in modern British ...

and

Wayne Hector Wayne Anthony Hector is a British songwriter who is best known for his work with pop artists such as Nicki Minaj, One Direction, the Wanted, Toše Proeski and Olly Murs. He co-wrote seven of Westlife's number one singles, including "World of O ...

. This is the most successful and highest charting song and single co-written by Gibson for a pop and male band. As of 30 November 2021, this is their twentieth biggest single of all-time in the United Kingdom. This is their second number-one hit in the UK Singles Physical Chart and number-two in UK Singles Sales Chart and Scottish Singles Chart in 2019 and in 2010s decade. The single is their 29th Top 10 hit in Ireland and 28th Top 40, and 29th Top 75 hit in the United Kingdom.

Background, development, and release

Since they announced their breakup in 2011 and their last appearance together in 2012, several rumors about them reuniting and making new musics have appeared. On 23 September 2018, several Irish news outlets started reporting that the group has been signed to Universal Music Group and Virgin EMI Records for a new music record deal. On 3 October 2018, the group announced that there would be new music coming soon. This song is set in the key of B major, in a moderate 4/4 time signature. The vocal range of this piece ranges from F#3 to B4 (Feehily's harmony).

Music video

The music video was directed by Lochlainn "Locky" McKenna and was filmed in

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

, Ireland in two locations. The band were shot in the historic

Windmill Lane Studios Windmill Lane Recording Studios (earlier Windmill Lane Studios) is a recording studio in Dublin, Ireland. It was originally opened in 1978 by Brian Masterson and James Morris in premises at 22 Windmill Lane, and it subsequently relocated to its cu ...

. The music video depicts a teenage romance blossoming in 1993, and they become estranged after the boy ignores her after a school performance, but they soon get back together. That same girl is shown in the recording studio where the band is singing the song, all grown up. And she is married to that same boy, and they have a kid together.

Tours performed at

The Twenty Tour The Twenty Tour (also known as the 20th Anniversary Tour) was the thirteenth concert tour by Irish pop vocal group, Westlife. It began on 22 May 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the SSE Arena and concluded on 15 September 2019 in Hyde Park, ...

(2019)

Formats and track listings

*Digital download #"Better Man" – 3:17 *Digital download #"Better Man" – 3:23 *CD single / streaming #"Better Man" – 3:17 #"Better Man" – 3:23 *Digital download / streaming #"Better Man" – 3:13

Credits and personnel

(Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan) – vocals, associated performer *

– songwriting *

– production, songwriting, keyboards, piano * Fred Gibson – songwriting *

– songwriting * Chris Laws – drums, engineering, mixing * Dann Pursey – engineering * John Parricelli – guitar * Dave Arch – strings, arranger * Steve Pearce – bass * Dick Beetham – mastering * Duncan Fuller – engineering * Mike Horner - engineering

Charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{authority control Westlife songs 2019 singles 2019 songs Virgin EMI Records singles Universal Music Group singles Song recordings produced by Steve Mac Songs written by Steve Mac Songs written by Ed Sheeran Songs written by Wayne Hector Pop ballads Songs written by Fred Again