Evergreen (Westlife song)
Encyclopedia
"Evergreen" is a pop
song, co-written by Jörgen Elofsson
, Per Magnusson
and David Kreuger
, and originally recorded by Westlife
. The song appears on their album World of Our Own
, and was released as a single, only in the Philippines
, where it reached number 3 due to the insistent demand of their fans. The song was made famous by Pop Idol
UK series 1 winner Will Young
.
The song was chosen to be the first single by the winner of Pop Idol and was recorded by the final three acts of the show, Will Young, Gareth Gates
and Darius Danesh
.
The song was performed on Pop Idol in the final by both Young and Gates. Young went on to win the show, and released "Evergreen" as a double A-side single, along with "Anything Is Possible", which was also recorded by the final three and performed by the final two. The single went straight to the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart
and stayed there for three consecutive weeks, only to be knocked off the top spot by Gates' debut single, "Unchained Melody
". It became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, selling 403,027 copies on its day of release. It went on to sell over 1.7 million copies and in the official list of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK issued later that year, it appeared 11th. It is also the best-selling single of the 21st century in the United Kingdom so far.
The song was included on Young's debut album, From Now On.
Gates' version of the song was also released as a B-side to his single, "Unchained Melody".
On December 31, 2009 the song was named number one of UK singles chart of the first decade of the 21st century
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song, co-written by Jörgen Elofsson
Jörgen Elofsson
Jörgen Kjell Elofsson is a Swedish songwriter who has written or co-written hits for stars such as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Guy Sebastian, Ana Johnsson, Marie Serneholt, Shayne Ward and Super Junior. He has also written hit singles for groups such as Il Divo and Westlife...
, Per Magnusson
Per Magnusson
Per Magnusson is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. His musical career took off in 1994 as one of the original team members of the now-legendary Cheiron Productions, meeting great international success working with Boyzone, Britney Spears, Westlife and the Backstreet Boys.Shortly after...
and David Kreuger
David Kreuger
David Kreuger is a Swedish songwriter.David Kreuger began at Cheiron Studios in the spring of 1993. During the period 1993-1997, he worked with Per Magnusson on several projects....
, and originally recorded by Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
. The song appears on their album World of Our Own
World of Our Own
World of Our Own is the third studio album by the Irish boyband Westlife, released on 12 November 2001. It reached number one in the United Kingdom and includes the singles "Queen of My Heart" , "World of Our Own" , "Bop Bop Baby", and the final single from the group's last album,...
, and was released as a single, only in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where it reached number 3 due to the insistent demand of their fans. The song was made famous by Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
UK series 1 winner Will Young
Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
.
The song was chosen to be the first single by the winner of Pop Idol and was recorded by the final three acts of the show, Will Young, Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
and Darius Danesh
Darius Danesh
Darius Campbell , also known as Darius Danesh or simply Darius, is a British Iranian platinum-selling singer-songwriter, a West End stage actor, operatic baritone, Sunday Times best-selling author, and an Ambassador for The Prince's Trust.He established himself as a popular West End leading...
.
The song was performed on Pop Idol in the final by both Young and Gates. Young went on to win the show, and released "Evergreen" as a double A-side single, along with "Anything Is Possible", which was also recorded by the final three and performed by the final two. The single went straight to the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and stayed there for three consecutive weeks, only to be knocked off the top spot by Gates' debut single, "Unchained Melody
Unchained Melody
"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
". It became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, selling 403,027 copies on its day of release. It went on to sell over 1.7 million copies and in the official list of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK issued later that year, it appeared 11th. It is also the best-selling single of the 21st century in the United Kingdom so far.
The song was included on Young's debut album, From Now On.
Gates' version of the song was also released as a B-side to his single, "Unchained Melody".
On December 31, 2009 the song was named number one of UK singles chart of the first decade of the 21st century
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK | 1 |
| Ireland | 2 |
Personnel
- Written by Jörgen ElofssonJörgen ElofssonJörgen Kjell Elofsson is a Swedish songwriter who has written or co-written hits for stars such as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Guy Sebastian, Ana Johnsson, Marie Serneholt, Shayne Ward and Super Junior. He has also written hit singles for groups such as Il Divo and Westlife...
, Per MagnussonPer MagnussonPer Magnusson is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. His musical career took off in 1994 as one of the original team members of the now-legendary Cheiron Productions, meeting great international success working with Boyzone, Britney Spears, Westlife and the Backstreet Boys.Shortly after...
and David KreugerDavid KreugerDavid Kreuger is a Swedish songwriter.David Kreuger began at Cheiron Studios in the spring of 1993. During the period 1993-1997, he worked with Per Magnusson on several projects.... - Published by BMG Music Publishing / Good Ear Music / Peer Music / Warner-Chappell Music
- Produced and arranged by Per MagnussonPer MagnussonPer Magnusson is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. His musical career took off in 1994 as one of the original team members of the now-legendary Cheiron Productions, meeting great international success working with Boyzone, Britney Spears, Westlife and the Backstreet Boys.Shortly after...
and David KreugerDavid KreugerDavid Kreuger is a Swedish songwriter.David Kreuger began at Cheiron Studios in the spring of 1993. During the period 1993-1997, he worked with Per Magnusson on several projects....
for A Side Productions - Co-produced by Jörgen Elofsson
- Stockholm Session Orchestra arranged and conducted by Ulf and Henrik Janson
- Recorded at Olympic Studios, London, and A Side Productions' Studios, Stockholm
- Engineered by Peter Lewis
- Assistant engineering by Tim Roe
- Orchestra recorded at R.O.A.M. Studios, Stockholm
- Orchestra engineered by Fredrik Andersson
- Mixed by Bernard Löhr at Olympic Studios, London, and Mono Studios, Stockholm
- Keyboards by Per Magnusson
- Programming by David Kreuger
- Guitars by Esbjörn Öhrwall
- Bass by Tomas Lindberg
- Backing vocals by Anders von Hofsten, Jeanette Olsson and United Colours of Sound
- Mastered by Richard Dowling at Transfermation