So what happens when Ronan meets Burt?

No way! There’s nothing I like about my face or my body, honest! I hate my teeth, my hair and…what else? The reason why I have the confidence to go on stage and perform is because I love my music so much.

— Ronan Keating refusing to be called a “Poster Boy” in a 2000 interview with Conversations in Manila when he promoted his eponymous solo album

And, added Ronan (who turned 34 last March 3), “ever since I was a kid, music has been my biggest passion.”

It’s true what they say about Ronan, the youngest and shyest among the five members of Boyzone, one of the original boy bands which continues to regroup for a tour even if they have decided to go on a break (not actually to disband) more than a decade ago. He’s soft-spoken, gentle and shrinks from being described as a younger version of Clint Eastwood, with eyes so sad (like those of Boyzone Stephen Gately, the one who “outed” himself and, only a few years later, died in his sleep while vacationing in Spain with his partner) that you can almost feel it (that sadness) in his songs, particularly his well-loved hit When You Say Nothing At All (theme song of the romance-comedy Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant).

“The best perk of fame?” Ronan also said then. “Yes, seeing people sing along to my songs and knowing that my music is making a lot of people happy,” adding, “I was at a bar and a guy came up to me and said, ‘Ronan, I think your voice is fantastic and your album is cool.’ That, I feel, is a greater compliment than anything else…”

That “fantastic voice” is at its best in Ronan’s latest (seventh album) When Ronan Met Burt which carries 10 enduring Burt Bacharach songs and released last month in the Philippines by MCA Music.

Conversations did an exclusive phone interview with Ronan recently.

How were you able to convince Bacharach to do an album with you?

“I didn’t have to convince him. It was actually Burt who came up with the idea of me and him working together. He broached the idea to the record company. Then, Burt called me and that’s it.”

Why Bacharach of all the great songwriters around?

Ronan with Bacharach during the recording of his seventh album, When Ronan Met Burt, released locally by MCA Music.

“Why not Burt? He has covered the greatest songs of all time. Over the last 50 years he has written many of the best songs that are still on the radio today. So, you know, it’s a great honor for me to have this opportunity and to be the one that he chose.”

I understand that, like millions of others around the world, you are a big fan of Bacharach.

“Yes, I am. It has been a dream come true to work with Burt. I grew up listening to his songs and the tracks we’ve chosen to record for the album are simply some of the greatest pop masterpieces ever written.”

It’s a pity that you and Bacharach didn’t do even one duet. Did he give you tips?

“We worked closely together on this album. We shared a lot of ideas. We spoke about our choices of songs, how we wanted the album to sound. The first time we met was at the Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. Basically, you know, he didn’t really give me any tips. We were just two professionals working together for the best of the album.”

Did he guide you during the recording?

“He just told me what he wanted for the album and I kept that in mind. But I must say that it was one of the hardest sessions I’ve ever done. It’s hard enough trying to do justice to such legendary songs but to record them with the man himself was another level of pressure.”

Ronan (second from left) with the original four other members of Boyzone Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately (center) who died in his sleep a few years ago. Although the members have gone separate ways, they still regroup to do concerts, with Gately who, according to Ronan, ‘never, never, never will be replaced.’

What were the Bacharach songs that you grew up with?

“Among them: The Look Of Love, Walk On By, What The World Needs Now and many others. Most of them are on the album.” (Note: The others are I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, Arthur’s Theme [The Best That You Can Do], My Little Red Book, Something Big, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, This House Is Empty Now and Make It Easy On Yourself.)

Did you give the songs a new “twist”?

“Not a ‘new twist,’ really. I just sing the songs the way that I usually sing and perform, and emotionally how I can attach to the songs. That, I guess, is what I bring to Burt’s songs.”

Up to now, even if you’ve done a lot of other songs, people fondly remember you for When You Say Nothing At All.

“There’s been a lot of different songs that I’ve been doing through the years. Yeah, I’m glad that people are still singing that song. And I’m also grateful that after 18 years I’m still around.”

Of course, you and the other Boyzone guys have broken up years ago but you did a reunion concert in 2007. Are you in touch with the three other members?

“We didn’t really break up. I wouldn’t say that we broke up. We just felt that we’d been together for so long that we kind of got stuck in a mold and we needed time away from each other. We needed a break, we needed to do something new individually because together, we were becoming mechanical, just going through the motions. Oh yes, we are in touch. We just recently did an arena tour in the UK. We continue working together. Maybe we’ll do an album together before the year is over.”

It’s sad that Stephen left us all too suddenly a few years ago.

“Stephen may not be around anymore but he continues to be with us. During our recent tour, we did a tribute to him. It’s been tough, very tough, without him but, you know, we try to move on. Up to now, we still feel the loss; we are still going through a grieving period.”

It’s only the four members going on tour now. Haven’t you ever thought of looking for a replacement for Stephen?

“No. Never, never, never!”

How did Stephen’s death affect your outlook in life?

“It has made me love my wife and my children even more; it has made me work even harder at my career.”

How do you divide your time between your career and your family?

“I try to spend quality time at home so that I can go on the road and work hard and go back to have more quality time with my family. That’s the way I keep a balance between my family and my work.”

What are your most cherished memories with Boyzone?

“I have nothing but sweet memories with the Boyzone, too many of them to single out just one.”

When you listen to the current breed of boy bands, how do you feel about them? You know, you’ve been there, done that.

“Oh, there’s a lot of great music around.”

What are the challenges that you have to handle while going solo?

“You know, when you’re in a band, you have the camaraderie and the friendship. On your own, in the beginning it was very scary. You carry the weight on your shoulders with nobody to share it with. As Boyzone, the five of us members were responsible for our work. I could feel the pressure because I knew that people were expecting too much from me. But I l love the challenges and I’m glad that I was able to hurdle them. Now on my own, I get a lot of opportunities to continue to prove myself, like a chance to work with Burt Bacharach.”

You’ve been in Manila a few times, with the Boyzone and alone when you promoted your eponymous solo debut album. Any chance for you to come to Manila again maybe to promote When Ronan Met Burt?

“I hope so. I’m talking to the promoter for the possibility of my doing a promo tour in Asia. So I’m sure I will go back to Manila.”

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