Better Man

Album: Spectrum (2019)
Charted: 26
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Westlife's Nicky Byrne once read that Ed Sheeran had grown up a fan of the boyband. So, when Westlife decided to record their first album in eight years, he thought there was a good chance he could persuade the English hitmaker to pen some material for them. Steve Mac, who had written several of Westlife's biggest hits, had been working with Sheeran, so Byrne spoke to him about a possible collaboration. Mac replied that not only was he interested, they had already written a couple of songs.

    Sheeran and Mac eventually penned five tracks for Spectrum. This classic old-school ballad with a modern twist was the first one they wrote for Westlife.
  • The 10-year-old Sheeran learned to play the guitar to Westlife's hit singles, many of which were written by Steve Mac. Said Westlife's Shane Filan to Apple Music: "When Ed met Steve for the first time, they were probably a bit in awe of each other. It was a perfect union for them to come together and write Westlife songs."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.