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Ronan Keatingshays it bescht

The former Boyzone band member is now a successful solo artist respected for his ballads, Irish brogue and charity work. He appears on stage tonight in Taipei. PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL RECORDS

A star is born but can just as easily be manufactured and the boy band phenomenon is proof of this.

Boyzone was the creation of pop industry svengali Louis Walsh, who copied the Take That formula by recruiting five good-looking lads from Ireland and teaching them to sing, dance and be media-friendly.

They went on to sell over 15 million records and were major celebrities in Europe and parts of Asia, including Taiwan, which they visited three times in the late 1990s.

Seven years ago they warbled their final notes, did their last dance routine and the principal singer, Ronan Keating, embarked on a solo career.

Going it alone is the hardest act for a boy band artist to pull off. Though Walsh initially helped guide Keating, the Dubliner has defied the odds to succeed.

For every Robbie Williams there are four others who do not make it, even if they are arguably more talented, like Mark Owen.

George Michael's star continued to rise after Wham! because he wrote great songs and covered them inimitably; while partner Andrew Ridgeley's pop career crashed with the release of his first record.

Justin Timberlake's graduation from the ranks of The Mickey Mouse Club (with Britney Spears) and 'N Sync to R&B megastar owed a great deal to the production skills of Timbaland and The Neptunes.

A mixture of hard work, talent and making the most of an opportunity generally sifts the men from the boys.

Since doing it his way, Keating has released 14 top 10 singles in the UK and his song-writing talent was recognized with a BMI award for The Long Goodbye, which went to number one in the US' Billboard country chart. He has released four solo albums and one compilation of greatest hits that celebrated a decade in the music business. He also briefly managed another Irish boy band, Westlife.

Keating's career flourished even after his acrimonious 2003 split with Walsh (who compared him with Cliff Richard), proving he is more than just a mannequin.

He has burnished his reputation with charity work, performing in front of over 50,000 people for the Live 8 charity concert and becoming a Fair Trade ambassador for Christian Aid.

He completed two sponsored walks around Ireland to raise cancer awareness, after his mom died of the disease, and last month planned to run the London marathon for his cancer charity but pulled out because of a bad back.

That won't stop him, however, from performing at National Taiwan University Sports Center tonight. The show will go on for the 30-year-old trouper, who is on a three-date tour of Asia.

According to Jasmine Yang, the promotional manager for Universal records, international division, this will be the second solo visit by Keating to Taiwan, and his fifth in total.

"He's universally popular here and his greatest hits record sold over 50,000. That's a lot for the international market, which is shrinking. There are a lot of diehard fans out there, he's been putting out records for a long time.

"He's really down to earth and cares about issues like cancer and poverty. Also, he really cares about his fans," said Yang, who said she had met the singer and evidently fell for his blarney.

"He's good looking and can do great love songs. When You Say Nothing at All is his trademark and Taiwanese audiences love these type of ballads," she concluded.

It is his greatest vocal performance and the brogue inflections are priceless. "The shmile on your face letsch me know that you need me … The toutsch of your hand shays you'll catsch me, wherever I fall/You shay it besht, when you say nothing at all."

Keating's still got the David Beckham-lite looks, cheeky smile and sapphire-colored eyes that made him a favorite with teenagers when he was with Boyzone. His emotionally syrupy back catalogue of tunes has earned him new fans over the years.

Expect a big turnout of women and not a dry eye in the house when the Irish pipes start up. It's a potent recipe for waving glo-sticks and a shared moment.

As of press time the cheaper seats had sold out but there were still tickets priced from NT$2,500 to NT$5,000 and sales staff said tickets would also likely be available on the night at the venue.

Doors open 7:30pm at National Taiwan University Sports Center: 1 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段1號). Call (02) 2363-0231. Tickets are available from Era Ticket at www.ticket.com.tw, call (02) 2341-9898. 
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