No Matter What (Boyzone song)

"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind that was popularised by Irish boyband Boyzone 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. The song was performed by Meat Loaf as part of a medley with another number from Whistle Down the Wind, "Home by Now", in his 1998 compilation album The Very Best of Meat Loaf and individually as a B-side to his 1998 single "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste" and to his 1999 single "Is Nothing Sacred", and by Luciano Pavarotti as a duet with Boyzone in the live concert and album Pavarotti & Friends for Guatemala and Kosovo.

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." A reviewer from Daily Record noted that it "shows a depth of maturity that bodes well for the future", later adding that the band "are continuing their efforts to evolve into a group which will be able to appeal to an older audience."

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, joined by a shirtless boy with a guitar and an apple, a girl in a white tank top and grey trousers, and an East Asian woman. The African man eventually drops a small golden crucifix, in reference to the Christian themes of Whistle Down the Wind.

An alternate version was later produced as a tie-in for Notting Hill, using alternate footage of Boyzone from the same shoot as the original video and clips from the film.

Track listings

 * UK CD1
 * 1) "No Matter What" – 4:34
 * 2) "Where Have You Been?" – 3:08
 * 3) "All That I Need" (Phil Da Costa's Oxygen edit) – 3:35


 * UK CD2 and Australian CD single
 * 1) "No Matter What" – 4:34
 * 2) "She's the One" – 3:12
 * 3) "Live Interview with Boyzone" (CD ROM video)


 * UK cassette single
 * 1) "No Matter What" – 4:34
 * 2) "Where Have You Been?" – 3:08


 * European CD single
 * 1) "No Matter What" – 4:34
 * 2) "She's the One" – 3:12


 * European maxi-CD and Japanese CD single
 * 1) "No Matter What" (album version) – 4:34
 * 2) "Father and Son" – 2:47
 * 3) "Words" – 3:55

Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the By Request album booklet.

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
 * Tracy Ackerman – backing vocals (London)
 * Andy Caine – backing vocals (London)
 * Friðrik Karlsson – guitar (London)
 * Michael Thompson – electric and acoustic guitars (Los Angeles)
 * Nigel Wright – keyboards (London), production
 * Lee McCutcheon – keyboard programming (London)
 * Franglen & Lupino – additional production, arrangement
 * Angela Lupino – bass (Los Angeles)
 * Simon Franglen – keyboards, programming, engineering (Los Angeles)
 * Steve Rinkoff – mixing, engineering (London)
 * Mick Guzauski – mixing (Los Angeles)
 * Robin Sellars – engineering (London)
 * Alex Black – engineering assistant (London)
 * Tom – engineering assistant (Los Angeles)