 They're superstars in Europe, but America is about to get its first taste of Boyzone, the five-member Irish pop group who've already captivated the rest of the world with their potent blend of soulful harmonies and unforgettable melodies. After earning plenty of accolades and racking up platinum records overseas, the quintet is descending upon the U.S. with their first domestic release, Where We Belong. As lead singer and songwriter Ronan Keating says, "What we set out to do is make a great pop album. That's what's important to us." And that's exactly what they've done. Where We Belong is the culmination of five years of hard work for Ronan, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, a band of twentysomethings from the north side of Dublin, Ireland. Since their entrance into the music world with 1995's Said And Done, international fans and critics alike have been mesmerized by the quintet, who's solid voices and unique style set them apart from other synthesizer-driven, pre-fabricated "boy bands." The five of us have our own personalities," explains Ronan. "We don't have somebody telling us what to say or do or wear. We've taken control from day one." Boyzone have always had a say in their career -- from songwriting to producing, they've been involved in all aspects of their sound. With the knowledge and experience of writing songs for Said And Done, 1996's A Different Beat found the group challenging themselves by co-producing nine of its tracks. The album, like its predecessor, went straight to the U.K. charts at Number One and sold over 2.2 million copies worldwide. Where We Belong, a lush album full of sing-along songs and romantic tracks recorded in New York, Stockholm and Dublin, isn't just a bunch of singles thrown together -- it's a body of work that the guys are extremely proud to introduce to an American audience. With all the fame and acclaim they've achieved in Europe, Asia and Latin America, Boyzone have their sights set on conquering the United States. "We're really looking forward to it," says Ronan. These five lads from Dublin have done plenty of growing up along the way -- and the album's title Where We Belong says it all. "We're very happy and confident in doing what we do," he adds. "We're passionate about succeeding. We're five good friends and we know what it takes to make things happen."
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