Post by sanz on Apr 13, 2003 13:58:43 GMT
Okay finally got around to writing this interview out for ya’s. I don’t like the way he refers to Ronan as “Keating” tho lol. And I’ve made a few dumb comments bout some of the stuff in the interview… let me know if you agree…
HAS RONAN ARRIVED?
Ronan keating, teenage idol turned serious songwriter, is sprawled across a couch at South Yarra’s Hotel Como holding his stomach and giggling hysterically. The cacophony is a result of his minders accusing him of “trying to look sexy” while posing for the photograph (it says left but it’s at the top of this post for u lot). The former Boyzone frontman continues to find the hysterical and hasn’t stopped laughing for the past three minutes.
His face is contorted and he looks more like a skylarking drinker at Dublin’s Temple Bar rather than an international sex symbol turned crooning chart-topper.
Soon another, more serious minder will ensure Keating, who has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide, is not photographed while he is on his back, (hmmmmm like to have seen that whoops sorry for interrupting) knees huddled toward his chest, tears streaming down his face.
“OK, OK- hang-on” says Keating as he sits up.
There’s a moment of sobriety and the photographer looks relieved. Then, once again, Keating cracks up.
He’s still grinning like a maniac when he comes to the nearby table and chair to be interviewed.
Any reporter will tell you it’s important to leave the hard questions until the end. But in this case, the subjects happy mood must be taken into account.
“Boyzone,” I say.
The smile drifts from his face.
“what about them?” asks Keating.
The Dublin boy band- which Keating led up to 16 top three singles and four No.1 albums – decode to take a break two years ago and never took off again.
“everything went pear-shaped after we had that break,” he says. “My album (Ronan, his first solo release) took off. People just got a bit bitter I think. I hate to use the word, but I think jealousy came into it. I don’t know that. I cant say that for sure. But that’s what I think it was. It’s the only thing that comes to mind because all of a sudden we knew each other, then, we didn’t. So we drifted apart.
“We’ve all got our families now. We’ve all got our new careers. Everyone seems happy with their lives – so that’s fine. I think the bitterness might have calmed down.”
Keating, 25, is in Australia (not any more *tears*) promoting his second solo album, Destination. Unlike Ronan, which contained songs from several writers, the majority of Destination is born from his own pen. (sorry but…. what the??? Look at the song list mate…. I don’t think so!!!! It says on the cd thingy… all tracks written by Gregg Alexander & Rick Nowels except track 01 written by Garth Brooks & Kent Blazy. Track 10 written by Gregg Alexander, Rick Nowels & Ronan Keating. Track 11 written by Ronan Keating, Bill Padley & Jeremy Godfrey. Track 12 written by Bob Seger. Track 13 written by Ronan Keating & Paul Brady. So unless I’m mistaken that’s 3 songs of 13??? Hardly most!!! We want more Ro songs!!!! Sorry back to the article)
Its country flavour – which Keating calls “accidental” – is highlighted by the Garth Brooks’ ballad of ITNC, a song Keating coveted during his days with Boyzone.
Keating went into self-imposed exile when making Destination. Not only did he want to give his profile a rest, but it was time to re-invent himself as a serious songwriter.
“On the first solo album I was trying to find my feet as an individual,” he says. “ I was working with a lot of songwriters, But on Destination I wrote all but two of the songs myself. (still What the???) And I think I’ve arrived at the sound I’m looking for.
“getting there wasn’t easy. I had to changed how I approached music, and I also had to change people’s perceptions of me. And that meant staying out of the press and staying out of trouble as much as I could.
“ it was refreshing. Besides, I think people were sick of looking at me. (whatever Ro we could never be sick of ya) You know, after eight years of constantly being in people’s faces – I think they needed a break.”
Keating grew up quickly. When he was 11, his three grown-up brothers and sister left Dublin and emigrated to the US. He had to fend for himself.
He found work in a shoe shop when he was 13 and by the time he joined Boyzone at 16, he says he was already an adult.
“When my brothers and sisters left home I was forced to take care of myself,” he says. “I was king of like an only child all of a sudden. It was a shock.
“sure, the music industry make you lose your innocence. And it robs you of that rebelling period – between 16 and 21 – drinking and smoking down the back fields. But I was already a grown-up. I’d taken the reins long before I joined the band.”
Keating wrote his autobiography at 23 and now, at 25, he is married with two children. He tries to keep his trips away to ten days or less – but if it had to be longer he will pack up the family and take them with him.
“I didn’t get married and have kids to be away from them all,” he says.
Will they follow in Dad’s footsteps?
“ I doubt it very much,” he says “Jack’s (3) going to be a football star and Marie (1) will be a brain sergeon.” (awwwwwwwwwww)
An incidental and often glossed-over fact about Keating is how close he came to winning Ewan McGregor’s role in Moulin Rouge.
“ I arrived in New York for the audition and there were super-stars everywhere,” he says. “And I’m thinking: ‘What am I doing here?’
“but Baz (Luhrmann) was very nice. I sung a few songs and then read some scenes from the script. The acting part of my audition was crap – crap as could be. (surely not) But supposedly, I was close to getting the role.
“if I am going to do acting, I think it would be best if I did something obscure. Bit like what Bon Jovi’s done. He’s been clever about he’s chosen his movies.
“but ultimately, I’m a singer/songwriter. That’s what I am.” (u forgot /sexgod hehe)
interview by Adam Zwar
it took me FOREVER to write out!!!! Would of given anything to see him laffing his arse off like that!!!
c-u’s
