In pre-"Pop Idol" days, circa late 20th century B.C. (Before Cowell), the lid was firmly sealed on manufactured pop but fame-hungry wannabes still queued to be systematically humiliated. The only difference being that it was in private and not on primetime TV.
A seventeen-year-old Ronan Keating took his place in one such line, got a ticket and won big. As the cornerstone of Ireland’s biggest boyband, aptly named Boyzone back then, Keating was perfect for the job – fresh-faced, suitably naïve, semi-talented, available, malleable and, most importantly, ambitious.
The ‘brains’ behind Boyzone (later Westlife) and now recognisable TV personality, Louis Walsh, had a simple game plan for his charges – form a five-piece, develop an identity, tweak once or twice, record covers, stick to your formula, keep the band together, and bleed the fanbase dry before they grew too old to care. Basically, enjoy your five or six years and then get out.
So Ronan did as he was told. He towed the line as unofficial lead singer, focus of attention and pin-up, all while getting rich. It must have been tough. Then he suddenly started to outgrow the band, settled down with his wife and kids, spend more time on TV and finally, and very inevitably, went solo when someone - probably Walsh - planted the seed.
Since then Ronan’s greatest achievement has been to keep his career going. As the title reminds us, he’s notched up a decade in the charts – six in the ‘Zone and four solo. Fair play, he’s succeeded where his fellow bandmates, all the Spice Girls, Mr Barlow, and many more have all so painfully failed.
During that time he’s busied himself with soundtrack weepies ("When You Say Nothing At All"), being a male mirror of Texas ("Lovin Each Day"), and keeping Gregg Alexander in designer woolly hats ("Life Is A Rollercoaster").
His Irish lilt is definitely his secret weapon, most at home on the slow numbers ("Tomorrow Never Comes") but readily found wanting when the pace picks up ("Love It When We Do"). He’s never been the greatest singer but then again he never claimed to be. It doesn’t seem to bother the mums and grannies who get hot under the collar whenever he flashes them a cheeky smile.
Looking back, the one disappointment is that Ronan never felt the need to rebel. He’s kept on the straight and narrow, pedalling safe and dull wherever possible, with a knowing wink that suggests he’s perfectly happy playing the game that way. Good for him.
Ronan’s never been passionate enough to really chase the dream and who can blame him. He’s a veteran at only 27 and you imagine he’s got very few demons to keep him awake at night.
