Xmas With WestlifePopworld - Kian & Mark (December 2005)

 

Kian and Mark get festive

What's the best thing about Christmas?
KIAN: The Christmas atmosphere. As soon as we finish for the year and head back to Ireland, that's when I feel it. Everybody's in good spirits and the decorations are up and the pubs are packed and everyone's happy. Christmas creates such a good atmosphere and I love that.
We always have Christmas off. We all believe Christmas is a time you have with your family.


What's bad about Christmas?
MARK: All the re-runs on telly. A good and bad thing is that the pubs are always full. It's good 'cos there are loads of people but then you can't get to the bar. Oh, and another bad thing is having to see people you don't necessarily want to see.

What's your favourite Christmas memory?
KIAN: I remember the first drum kit I got when I was nine and just destroying everybody's brain on Christmas Day.

What's the best present you've ever received?
MARK: I loved my Commodore 64 computer when I got that. One year I did ask for the Airwolf helicopter [Airwolf was an '80s TV show about a pilot and his state-of-the-art helicopter that fought crime]. Not a toy, the actual helicopter. I looked into the garden on Christmas morning expecting it to be there. Mum had to explain that Santa probably couldn't get it on his sleigh.

And any presents you'd rather forget?
KIAN: My sister bought me an awful present last year, bless her. It was a toy casino. I think it was because I'd been in Las Vegas that year and enjoyed a bit of gambling and she thought I'd love one for my house.

What do you want Santa to bring you this year?
KIAN: A remote control boat.
MARK: I'll have a boat, but not a remote-controlled one. A real boat.

If you could do something different one year, what would you like to do?
KIAN:
You know what, I just don't vision Christmas being anywhere else. I don't like the idea of being in the sun at Christmas. I eat salad when I'm in the sun and I need turkey and stuffing on Christmas.
MARK: You could always eat inside with the air conditioning on.

Best Christmas song ever?
MARK: Anything off Mariah Carey's Christmas album.
KIAN: I like the ones that have a bit more meaning to them than just 'Happy Christmas, let's have fun, ho, ho, ho.' The Band Aid song, 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over)'.
MARK: There are some great South Park Christmas songs.

Best Christmas movie?
MARK: When I was a kid every Christmas my dad would hire a video recorder and get some films out as well. I don't know why but he always got me Michael Jackson's Thriller. I used to watch that on repeat every Christmas.

On a personal level what are you particularly proud of this year?
KIAN: I learnt how to surf properly. Before I was just a gromit, which is a word for a beginner in surfing terms, and in the water all time, in everybody's way. This year, it clicked.

What's defined your year?
MARK: During some time off we had I went to America and travelled. It's something that I've always wanted to do.

Who have you been impressed by music-wise?
MARK: Mariah Carey's album is my album of the year. Just like us she's had a lot of flack over the last couple of years so it was really sweet as a fan of hers to see her come back so superbly and stick it to her critics.
KIAN: I've loved the Jack Johnson album.

What have you learnt?
KIAN: The thing about the music industry is that it's all about songs. It's not about anything else. It's not about your name, your power, the money, it's about the song.
If the songs connects, everything happens.

 

Credit/Source: www.popworld.com