Ronan Keating says Boyzone missed out on song that became mega hit for another Irish band

Ronan Keating has revealed that Boyzone turned down a song in the late 1990s that turned out to be a huge hit for another Irish band.

Boyzone were at the height of their fame when they were approached by U2 singer Bono, who offered them the song Sweetest Thing.

While Keating and his bandmates liked the song and were keen to release it, their record company had other ideas.

Of course, U2 decided to record the song themselves and it earned them another worldwide hit to their enviable catalogue.

They even managed to persuade Boyzone to make a cameo in the video.

Keating said: “We were [in the Sweetest Thing music video]. We had a great day shooting with the lads. They asked us to be in the video for the Sweetest Thing.

“Well, actually, if I go back even longer, Bono gave us the song the Sweetest Thing, to Boyzone. It was a gift to Boyzone.

“And we tried it in the studio and afterwards the record company and people, they felt it wasn’t sounding like a Boyzone song, so it was never released.

“So, there is a version somewhere of Boyzone singing Sweetest Thing, which I would love to hear because I’ve never heard it.”

Boyzone were offered the consolation prize of appearing with Bono in the video, which they jumped at, so at least they played a small part in the hit – even if it was nowhere near as big as it could have been.

Keating continued: “Then the lads went, ‘Well if you don’t want it, we’re gonna record it,’ and they did and had a huge hit with it. So, big mistake on our part.

“But they very kindly asked us to be in the video and it was just off Merrion Square. We spent the day with them.”

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