Flying Without Wings
"Flying Without Wings" | ||||
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![]() One of European artworks | ||||
Single by Westlife | ||||
from the album Westlife | ||||
Released | 18 October 1999 | |||
Format | CD single | |||
Recorded | Rokstone Studios, London | |||
Genre | Pop, Gospel | |||
Length | 3:36 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Writer(s) | Wayne Hector, Steve Mac | |||
Producer(s) | Steve Mac | |||
Certification | Silver (UK), Gold (SWE) | |||
Westlife singles chronology | ||||
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"Flying Without Wings" is a song released by Irish boy band Westlife from their self-titled debut studio album (1999).
Background
The song was written by Wayne Hector and Steve Mac. In an interview with HitQuarters, Hector said the basic idea for the song came to him while on a break from working on a hip hop session with Ezi Cut in Los Angeles:
"I came up with a couple of lines for the first verse and then phoned my mama’s house, left it on the answering machine, and said, “Don’t get rid of this!”[1]
Upon returning to England, Hector went into the studio to work on the idea with long-time songwriting partner and producer Steve Mac.[1] When the two discussed what the song was about they agreed that, "this is about our wives. This is about the things that make our lives complete."[1] According to Hector the lyrics were completed in about half an hour.[1]
Commercial performance
The song became an instant hit in the United Kingdom and many parts of the world. The song became the group's third UK number-one single, spending 13 weeks on charts.[2] It is also one of Westlife's biggest selling singles. The song has received a Gold sales certification in the UK for over 400,000 copies sold.[3]
Track listing
- United Kingdom
- CD1
- "Flying Without Wings" - 3:35
- "Everybody Knows" - 3:45
- "Flying Without Wings" (Video) - 3:40
- CD2
- "Flying Without Wings" - 3:35
- "That's What It's All About" - 3:20
- "Flying Without Wings" (Acappella) - 3:29
- Australia
- "Flying Without Wings" - 3:35
- "I Have A Dream" (Remix) - 4:06
- "Seasons In The Sun" (Single Remix) - 4:10
- "Flying Without Wings" (Video) - 3:40
Charts
Charts (1999/2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[4] | 31 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 7 |
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[6] | 8 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[7] | 14 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] | 19 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] | 10 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] | 17 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[11] | 85 |
Ireland (IRMA) | 1 |
Norway (VG-lista)[12] | 7 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] | 6 |
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[14] | 2 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] | 12 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] | 1 |
UK Radio Airplay Chart | 8 |
Charts (2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 67 |
Charts (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[17] | 165 |
Charts (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[18] | 172 |
Duets
"Flying Without Wings" | |
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Promotional single by Westlife featuring BoA from the album Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Asian edition), Shine We Are! and Next World | |
Released | 2003 (Asia) |
Format | CD single |
Recorded | 2002 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 3:36 |
Label | BMG, S.M. Entertainment |
Writer(s) | Wayne Hector, Steve Mac |
Producer(s) | Lee Soo Man, Steve Mac |
"Flying Without Wings" | |
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Promotional single by Westlife featuring Cristian Castro from the album Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Spanish/ Mexican edition) | |
Released | 2002 (Mexico) |
Format | CD single |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 3:36 |
Writer(s) | Wayne Hector, Steve Mac |
In 2002, as part of the promotion of their Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 album, the band re-recorded the song as a duet with Mexican singer Cristian Castro and South Korean pop singer, BoA. Both duets were included on the album in their respective regions. Both duets were also released as singles in their respective regions.[19]
Track listing
- Mexico[20]
- "Flying Without Wings" (Duet with Cristian Castro) - 3:35
- "Never Knew I Was Losing You" - 4:09
- Asia[21]
- "Flying Without Wings" (Duet with BoA) - 3:35
- "Never Knew I Was Losing You" - 4:09
Live version
In 2004, as part of the promotion for their Turnaround Tour , the band released the live version of the song. It was recorded during their tour in Stockholm Globe Arena. Their live version peaked at number one in UK Singles Chart and was the first ever number one in the UK downloads chart.[22]
Track listing
- UK
- "Flying Without Wings" (Live)[23]
Chart performance
Charts (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 1 |
Video album
A karaoke version of "Flying Without Wings" was released on DVD in 2000 and debuted at number one. It includes easy to read lyrics, photographs & interactive menus, picture sleeve. It has a running time of 45 minutes.[24]
Track listing
- Swear It Again
- If I Let You Go
- Flying Without Wings
- Fool Again
- Seasons In The Sun
- I Have A Dream
- More Than Words
- Against All Odds
CD production
Arranged by (strings) | : Richard Niles |
Arranged by (vocals) | : Steve Mac, Wayne Hector |
Arranged by, mixed by | : Steve Mac |
Artwork by (design) | : Root |
Photography | : Brian Aris |
Bass guitar | : Steve Pearce |
Guitar | : Paul Gendler |
Performer (Choir Md) | : Benny Diggs |
Engineer (Mix) | : Matt Howe |
Engineer, Programmed by | : Chris Laws |
Other (management) | : Louis Walsh, Ronan Keating |
Tours performed at
- Where Dreams Come True Tour
- World of Our Own Tour
- Unbreakable Tour
- Turnaround Tour
- Number Ones Tour
- Face to Face Tour
- The Love Tour
- Back Home Tour
- Where We Are Tour
- Gravity Tour
Other appearances
The Westlife song has appeared in Pokémon: The Movie 2000 as the final song of the credits in the film and on the official movie soundtrack.[25] It also featured in the 2000 Australian film The Magic Pudding and 2000 French film Archibald the Koala: The Movie.
Ruben Studdard version
"Flying Without Wings" | ||||
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Single by Ruben Studdard | ||||
Released | June 10, 2003 | |||
Format | CD single | |||
Genre | Urban contemporary, contemporary R&B | |||
Label | J Records | |||
Writer(s) | Wayne Hector / Steve Mac | |||
Producer(s) | The Underdogs and Face | |||
Certification |
Gold (RIAA) 3× Platinum (CRIA) | |||
Ruben Studdard singles chronology | ||||
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"Flying Without Wings" was covered by American Idol winner Ruben Studdard as his debut single in 2003. The single was released on June 10 and charted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 28, behind "This Is the Night" by Clay Aiken. "Flying Without Wings" also gained attention on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, peaking at number thirteen, while it reached number 27 on the adult contemporary chart. It was also released in New Zealand and reached number two behind Clay Aiken. The single had sold 751,000 copies through December 2006. This version of the song also appears on the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol.
Track listing
- "Flying Without Wings"
- "Superstar"
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Interview With Wayne Hector", HitQuarters, 1 Feb 2010.
- ↑ "WESTLIFE | Artist". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ "Westlife | Official Top 20 | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Westlife – Flying Without Wings". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Westlife – Flying Without Wings" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Westlife – Flying Without Wings" (in French). Ultratip.
- ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Westlife – Flying Without Wings". Tracklisten.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Westlife search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
- ↑ Billboard - Google Books
- ↑ "Westlife: Flying Without Wings" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ↑ "Musicline.de – Westlife Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Westlife – Flying Without Wings". VG-lista.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Westlife – Flying Without Wings". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 1999-10-24". Scottish Singles Top 40.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Westlife – Flying Without Wings". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ "Westlife: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "Chart Log (2008)". http://www.zobbel.de/. 2008-12-27. Retrieved 2014-07-12. External link in
|publisher=
(help) - ↑ "Chart Log (2011)". http://www.zobbel.de/. 2011-11-19. Retrieved 2014-07-12. External link in
|publisher=
(help) - ↑ "Westlife Flying Without Wings Mexico Promo 5" CD SINGLE (239371)". Eil.com. 2003-03-12. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ "Westlife Flying Without Wings Mexico 5" CD SINGLE (244450)". Eil.com. 2003-04-24. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ "Westlife Flying Without Wings Japan Promo 5" CD SINGLE (255411)". Eil.com. 2003-08-15. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3617020.stm
- ↑ http://www.westlife.com/global/discography/all/all/all/flying_without_wings_live#flash-nav
- ↑ "Westlife Flying Without Wings Karaoke UK DIGITAL VERSATILE DISC (246048)". Eil.com. 2003-05-07. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ "Pokemon 2000: The Power of One- Original Soundtrack;". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
External links
- "Flying Without Wings" - Westlife official music video on YouTube
- "Flying Without Wings" - Westlife with BoA official music video on YouTube
- "Flying Without Wings" - Westlife with Cristian Castro official music video on YouTube
- "Flying Without Wings" - Ruben Studdard official music video on YouTube
- Official Westlife website
Preceded by A Moment Like This |
American Idol winner's singles 2003 |
Succeeded by I Believe |