When INOX Megalplex, in Malad’s Inorbit Mall announced the screening of Westlife – The Twenty Tour – Live from Croke Park (it was also screened at INOX, Nariman Point), there was no way I was going to miss this. The theatre that screens the best of Bollywood and Hollywood literally turned into a stadium for One Night Only. With a majestic Dolby Atmos® system, which had the sound emanating from all directions, you almost felt you were in the stadium with Westlife and joining them in the music.

If you thought after Bryan McFadden’s departure in March 2004, Westlife were doomed to have gone into oblivion, you had to watch the live concert and see how Westlife are still as tight as ever in their music and came back after a hiatus of 7 years. Hardcore fans of the band will revel in the boy’s music for even with Bryan’s exit; their timing of all tracks has managed to fit in well as a quartet.

With age, their voices have matured, but not much, for their cute boyish singing style is still present and kicking. Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily still give some cracking rockers and ballad moments that still be on any teenybopper’s lips.

The emotion the lads displayed during the show shows just how much the night at Croke Park meant to every single one of them. The lads displayed great vocals something they are already known for and joined by the crowd who knew all their songs, it was all the more exciting.

From a high energy beginning with songs like Hello My love, to Swear It Again, you had singing and dancing, making you want to leave your seat and get up and dance along. A few female fans in the audience did just that, swaying to their chart singles like Billy Joel’s cover of Uptown Girl and When you’re looking like that.

Love has always been the center of their theme of all songs and they do it with practiced ease, which can be seen in the ballads like I have a Dream, Unbreakable, Better Man, Fool Again. 

Saying their music is better when they started off, well not really, but to make a comeback after their split is remarkable. They have shed the boy image to a more ‘men’ - mature tag, with most of them now dads to little angels.

Their voices resounded in Barry Manilow 70s cover of Mandy with its catchy chorus line that’s sharp and strong. Other highlights was a medley of rock band Queen flipping to songs like Another One Bites the Dust, I want to Break Free and Radio Gaga, later moving onto We are the Champions with the whole 80,000 strong audience joining them.

Their songs still point to one thing – girls, girls and more girls with the emphasis more on sex and adulthood. Hardcore I’d say. The sound is still the bubble gum pop, R & B with a striking mix of electronica laced on a few tracks. 

Quite unforgettable would be the gospel based You raise me up a strong ballad that literally gave your goose bumps.  The concert ends with their super hits Flying without wings and World of our Own.

Boys Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian created a furore like they hit the Number one spot years ago. Today, their band Westlife surely comes in as the most frighteningly assured pop act around. Their music has all the ingredients that they are known for, catchy songs and beautiful lyrical contributions, not forgetting charming vocal chords. Skeptics proclaimed that their ‘greatest hits’ marked the end of the road. But they were wrong. Westlife have outlived the entire boy bands deadline and managed to stay than burn out.

The Irish boys have never let you down before and surely don’t do that here either. There’s serious punch and mushiness. You don’t need to be a big fan of the boys; a single listen is sufficient for you to get converted. A great comeback effort that’s guaranteed to keep their fans from coast to coast happy, yes there were fans from all across the world, Australia, US, Africa and the Middle East sharing space with fans from Europe who lapped every minute of the concert in celebration of one of pop's most sensational comebacks.

This evening was really is a must have for everyone who claims to be a Westlife fan. Can’t wait for the concert to be released on DVD.

The Twenty Tour was Broadcast LIVE in cinemas on Saturday 6th July from Dublin's iconic Croke Park stadium for one unforgettable night.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira