--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every year, we couldn't believe it, and…" description: "\"Every year, we couldn't believe it, and even when I look back on it now, to sell 14 million singles, 50 million albums and sell out arenas and stadiums..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/shane-filan-13663_achieved_every-year-we-couldn-t-believe-it-and-ev_1010466.jpg" --- # Every year, we couldn't believe it, and even when I look… ![“Every year, we couldn't believe it, and even when I look back on it now, to sell 14 million singles, 50 million albums and sell out arenas and stadiums, what Westlife achieved was crazy. It's like One Direction probably don't realise how big they are. They'll look back one day and think, 'Holy…” quote by Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/shane-filan-13663_achieved_every-year-we-couldn-t-believe-it-and-ev_1010466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/shane-filan-13663_achieved_every-year-we-couldn-t-believe-it-and-ev_1010466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/shane-filan-13663_achieved_every-year-we-couldn-t-believe-it-and-ev_1010466.jpg) > “Every year, we couldn't believe it, and even when I look back on it now, to sell 14 million singles, 50 million albums and sell out arenas and stadiums, what Westlife achieved was crazy. It's like One Direction probably don't realise how big they are. They'll look back one day and think, 'Holy God, that was pretty amazing.'” [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on Westlife's massive commercial achievements and how they may seem unreal even to the artists themselves. **In simple terms:** Westlife's huge success feels almost unbelievable. Key Takeaway Recognize and appreciate extraordinary achievements. Themes celebration humility achievement Mood proud reflective Type celebratory inspirational When to use this quote - concert planning - career retrospectives - fan engagement - media interviews Key Concepts music industry career milestones public perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay grounded after massive fame? - What does success truly mean to you? A Different Perspective Success can be fleeting and may not translate to personal fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieved/) [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Albums Sell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums-sell-2190651/) [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arenas/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-god/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million/) [Million Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-albums-1067331/) [Million Singles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-singles-2190650/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty/) [Realise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realise/) [Sell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sell/) [Singles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singles/) [Stadiums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stadiums/) [Stadiums Westlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stadiums-westlife-2190649/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Westlife Achieved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/westlife-achieved-2190648/) [Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year/) ## Related quotes > [It's amazing how lucky Westlife were and what we achieved. It's very rare to have seven number ones in a row. Ridiculous in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/it-s-amazing-how-lucky-westlife-were-and-what-we-achieved-it-s-very/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I grew up in the day when the Beatles sold 1 million singles in a week. And all you've got to do now is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-grew-up-in-the-day-when-the-beatles-sold-1-million-singles-in-a/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [I think it was to make really good music and give something to the people that, you know what I am saying, buy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irv-gotti/i-think-it-was-to-make-really-good-music-and-give-something-to-the/) [Irv Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irv-gotti/) > [I think it would be nice to sell 15 million albums as a solo artist. I'd have to deal with all the repercussions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-frey/i-think-it-would-be-nice-to-sell-15-million-albums-as-a-solo-artist-i/) [Glenn Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-frey/) > [We all make choices. Believe me, I would like to write the hit of the world. It's not like I have any desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/we-all-make-choices-believe-me-i-would-like-to-write-the-hit-of-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Singles, whatever. But selling a million albums feels like an impossible thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-antonoff/singles-whatever-but-selling-a-million-albums-feels-like-an/) [Jack Antonoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-antonoff/) > [When I got to the second album, there was an expectation, because we'd sold nearly seven million albums on the first record, that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/when-i-got-to-the-second-album-there-was-an-expectation-because-we-d/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [Raoul' sold a respectable 700,000 copies without a hit single. It didn't take off. If you don't sell 8 million albums or 4 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-orzabal/raoul-sold-a-respectable-700-000-copies-without-a-hit-single-it-didn/) [Roland Orzabal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-orzabal/) > [There's a plaque on our wall that says we've sold over 65 million albums, and I don't feel I've accomplished anything. I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/there-s-a-plaque-on-our-wall-that-says-we-ve-sold-over-65-million/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [Someone at Hollywood Records said, 'Are you into Alanis Morissette?' I said 'Yeah, she sells 26 million albums, of course. It would be perverse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/someone-at-hollywood-records-said-are-you-into-alanis-morissette-i/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [When you start out as a band, you stake your claim and you go for it. And there's a part of you that dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kowalczyk/when-you-start-out-as-a-band-you-stake-your-claim-and-you-go-for-it/) [Edward Kowalczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kowalczyk/) > [I don't ever want to think my time is up as a performer. I have been afforded the opportunity to sell 150 million albums,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/engelbert-humperdinck/i-don-t-ever-want-to-think-my-time-is-up-as-a-performer-i-have-been/) [Engelbert Humperdinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/engelbert-humperdinck/) > [It's arguable whether a hit song is gonna add to the business a film does. There are plenty of films that didn't do any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/it-s-arguable-whether-a-hit-song-is-gonna-add-to-the-business-a-film/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [I don't do something because I think it will sell 30 million albums. I couldn't care less. If it sells one, it sells one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-peterson/i-don-t-do-something-because-i-think-it-will-sell-30-million-albums-i/) [Oscar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-peterson/) > [It's kind of cool that we've quietly been selling a million albums. We knew the album wasn't going to debut at No. 1. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacoby-shaddix/it-s-kind-of-cool-that-we-ve-quietly-been-selling-a-million-albums-we/) [Jacoby Shaddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacoby-shaddix/) ## More by Shane Filan > [It's a big deal to bring your family on the road, you know? I'd love to do it sometime, but you have to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/it-s-a-big-deal-to-bring-your-family-on-the-road-you-know-i-d-love-to/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [Everybody, every tradesman that worked for Shafin or built my house got fully paid, well paid. Everybody got paid. I would like that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/everybody-every-tradesman-that-worked-for-shafin-or-built-my-house/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [My mum and dad ran a family cafe in Sligo for 35 years and worked long hours. We grew up in a very hard-working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/my-mum-and-dad-ran-a-family-cafe-in-sligo-for-35-years-and-worked/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [The adrenaline of performing on stage to a crowd - there's nothing like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/the-adrenaline-of-performing-on-stage-to-a-crowd-there-s-nothing-like/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [Why me? Why did this happen? How could I be in Westlife and then have nothing to show for it financially at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/why-me-why-did-this-happen-how-could-i-be-in-westlife-and-then-have/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I have three children to take care; I have a wife. My job is to take care of them, and I can say it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/i-have-three-children-to-take-care-i-have-a-wife-my-job-is-to-take/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [When I finished Westlife, we had - Louie Walsh is still managing me - I was lucky to have options from different labels such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/when-i-finished-westlife-we-had-louie-walsh-is-still-managing-me-i/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I didn't really like 'You Raise Me Up' at the time we recorded it; now it's my favourite Westlife song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/i-didn-t-really-like-you-raise-me-up-at-the-time-we-recorded-it-now/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I've been a solo artist for a year now, and I think I should start thinking about the future now. Every spare time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/i-ve-been-a-solo-artist-for-a-year-now-and-i-think-i-should-start/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [You shouldn't end a band like Westlife and not be financially secure to some extent, but I wasn't at all - it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/you-shouldn-t-end-a-band-like-westlife-and-not-be-financially-secure/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [The couple of years before I was declared bankrupt were the roughest. The bank letters, the pressure, the stress was awful. You're in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/the-couple-of-years-before-i-was-declared-bankrupt-were-the-roughest/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [My wife is my best friend. The thought that people are afraid to go home to their partners for fear of being abused physically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/my-wife-is-my-best-friend-the-thought-that-people-are-afraid-to-go/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I can say 100% that Westlife is not breaking up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/i-can-say-100-that-westlife-is-not-breaking-up/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I love Ireland. I'll always be 100pc Irish. I get really excited when I go to Sligo; it's my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/i-love-ireland-i-ll-always-be-100pc-irish-i-get-really-excited-when-i/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [When your child is looking up at you, and you are putting them to bed at night, and they are just lying there, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/when-your-child-is-looking-up-at-you-and-you-are-putting-them-to-bed/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) [Explore all 49 Shane Filan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) ## More Achieved quotes > [By the time you have no difficulties in your life, you have achieved Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brown/by-the-time-you-have-no-difficulties-in-your-life-you-have-achieved/) [Charles Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brown/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [My decision was that after nearly three years at Celtic - with everything we'd achieved and the success we'd had on the pitch, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/my-decision-was-that-after-nearly-three-years-at-celtic-with/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [Now when I watch my films after 10 years, I realise what have I achieved? Nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rimi-sen/now-when-i-watch-my-films-after-10-years-i-realise-what-have-i/) [Rimi Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rimi-sen/) > [Justice is not cheap. Justice is not quick. It is not ever finally achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/justice-is-not-cheap-justice-is-not-quick-it-is-not-ever-finally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [No doubt the ridiculous politicians are right to like politics. They have found careers in which success can be achieved by being ridiculous. Imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-doubt-the-ridiculous-politicians-are-right-to-like-politics-they/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [If I can achieve for Celtic what I have achieved for Hibs, then I feel I will have done well for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-stein/if-i-can-achieve-for-celtic-what-i-have-achieved-for-hibs-then-i-feel/) [Jock Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-stein/) > [I can only thank Manchester City for everything they have done for me. What we have achieved in such a short space of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-can-only-thank-manchester-city-for-everything-they-have-done-for-me/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [The victory will be only entirely and finally achieved when the whole world is free of Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-streicher/the-victory-will-be-only-entirely-and-finally-achieved-when-the-whole/) [Julius Streicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-streicher/) > [Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/nothing-great-is-ever-achieved-without-much-enduring/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [You've got to admire Sir Richard Branson. He is a completely different style of businessman to me, but you have got to admire what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sugar/you-ve-got-to-admire-sir-richard-branson-he-is-a-completely-different/) [Alan Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sugar/) > [In the end, individual titles are achieved with the help of all your team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ramos/in-the-end-individual-titles-are-achieved-with-the-help-of-all-your/) [Sergio Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-ramos/) > [Success is not found in what you have achieved but rather in who you have become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/success-is-not-found-in-what-you-have-achieved-but-rather-in-who-you/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Gender equality cannot be achieved by cutting programs that allow girls to get the same chance to compete, learn, and play. The United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sanchez/gender-equality-cannot-be-achieved-by-cutting-programs-that-allow/) [Linda Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sanchez/) > [It is only through religion that communism can be achieved, and has been achieved over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/it-is-only-through-religion-that-communism-can-be-achieved-and-has/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) [Browse all 410 Achieved quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieved/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every year, we couldn't believe it, and even when I look back on it now, to sell 14 million singles, 50 million albums and sell out arenas and stadiums, what Westlife achieved was crazy. It's like One Direction probably don't realise how big they are. 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