"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind that was popularised by Irish
boybandBoyzone in 1998 when they recorded it to tie in with the show's first UK production. The song was written by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and
Jim Steinman, while Lloyd Webber, Steinman and
Nigel Wright produced the track, with additional production by
Franglen & Lupino. The song was also featured on the US edition of the soundtrack to the 1999 film Notting Hill, and was released to American radio on 10 May 1999.
The song became their fourth number-one on the
UK Singles Chart, with its three-week stay atop the chart making it Boyzone's longest-running number-one single. It also became the band's first and only song to have any chart success in the US. Jewels & Stone did a remix for the song for dance clubs which was popular. In the UK, the song has sold 1.15 million copies and another 3 million worldwide.[1] The song was performed by
Meat Loaf as a
B-side to his 1999 single "
Is Nothing Sacred".
Critical reception
British newspaper Birmingham Evening Mail wrote, "
Tina Arena has already had one hit from the
Andrew Lloyd Webber/
Jim Steinman stage musical '
Whistle Down The Wind' - but expect this one to do even better. As a change
Stephen Gately shares lead vocals on what is essentially a simple but hugely memorable
ballad. Prepare that number one spot now."[2] A reviewer from Daily Record noted that it "shows a depth of maturity that bodes well for the future",[3] later adding that the band "are continuing their efforts to evolve into a group which will be able to appeal to an older audience."[4]
Music video
A
music video was made to accompany the song. It shows an African man leaving in a hot air balloon. The members of Boyzone are standing on the ground watching him depart. The African man eventually drops a small golden crucifix, in reference to the Christian themes of the play, "Whistle Down the Wind", from which the song originates. The video is filmed in The Roundhouse, London.[citation needed]
Credits are lifted from the By Request album booklet.[11]
Studios
Recorded at Skratch Studios,
Metropolis Studios,
Sarm West Studios (London, England), FLM Studios (Hollywood, California), and Barking Dog Studios (New York City)
Personnel
Andrew Lloyd Webber – music, production, executive production
Jim Steinman – lyrics, production, executive production
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^No Matter What (UK CD2 & Australian CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1998. 567 609-2.{{
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^No Matter What (UK cassette single sleeve). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1998. 567 566-4.{{
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^No Matter What (European CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1998. 567 566-2.{{
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^No Matter What (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1998. 567 823-2.{{
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^No Matter What (Japanese CD single liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. POCP-7353.{{
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^By Request (UK CD album booklet). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1999. 547 599-2.{{
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link)