The Story of Pop: 2000 (Chapter 29)

Time once again to bring you another slice of the delectable chart pop cake that was the new millennium with this week’s edition of The Story of Pop: 2000. So buckle up and get onto the rollercoaster that was about to take off for the leading man from Ireland’s biggest boyband of the 90s…

Though they’d not formally admitted it at the end of their …By Request greatest hits tour – instead, opting for the ‘We’re taking a year’s break for solo projects’ line – it was safe to assume by 2000 that Boyzone weren’t to be a going concern again for some time.

They all immediately jumped into said solo projects. Stephen Gately had scored a top 3 with his debut release, ‘New Beginning’, a month previously. Mikey Graham had likewise hit the chart – albeit lower down in the top 20 – with ‘You’re My Angel’. Keith Duffy was turning his hand to TV presenting with short lived BBC Saturday morning show FBi, whilst Shane Lynch was rediscovering his boy racer roots.

But all eyes were undoubtedly on the band’s most popular member, and de facto lead singer, Ronan Keating. He had of course enjoyed a solo number one a year ago with ‘When You Say Nothing At All‘, but that was largely a one off for the soundtrack of Brit romcom flick Notting Hill.

A big bucks solo deal awaited him for his self titled debut solo album, recorded in America, the UK and Ireland. And its lead single would all but prove that he was the one being groomed and destined for further success away from his boybanding roots.

Written by Gregg Alexander, former lead singer of one hit wonders The New Radicals (remember ‘You Get What You Give’?), ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’ was a soaring uptempo number with a feel good vibe, and a Transatlantic video that saw Ronan flying (albeit in a cleverly disguised harness).

Once released on 10th July 2000, ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’ gave Ronan his second solo UK number one, spending 11 weeks on the top 40 and becoming one of the biggest selling singles of 2000, whilst his debut album Ronan also hit the top of the album chart a couple of weeks later. More success followed for his solo career in the following years, but it was ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’ that proved that Ronan Keating the solo artiste was here to stay.

Don’t forget to follow our brand new playlist on Spotify – updated weekly so you never miss a song from the story of pop in 2000. And you can leave your memories of the songs below in the comments or Tweet us, using the hashtag #StoryofPop2000.