No Matter What (Boyzone song)

"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical "Whistle Down the Wind" and 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 the band’s longest-running number-one single. It also became the first and only Boyzone 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 a B-side to his "Is Nothing Sacred" single in 1996.
Critical reception.
"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." "Daily Record" noted that it "shows a depth of maturity that bodes well for the future." They added 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. The African man eventually drops a small golden cross, 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.