In June 1998, McFadden auditioned for the new Irish male band (at the time), Westlife with Nicky Byrne and eventually both joined the group alongside Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan. McFadden left Westlife in March 2004 to spend more time with his family - he was married with two children to ex-Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona - and to work on solo projects.
Following his departure from Westlife, McFadden released his debut solo album, Irish Son which peaked within the top 5 on both the Denmark and Ireland Albums Charts, and produced his first two No. 1 solo singles "Real to Me" in four European countries and also "Almost Here", a duet with his fiancée Delta Goodrem which gained a platinum accreditation in Australia. "Like Only a Woman Can", the lead single from his second album, Set in Stone (2008), became his third No. 1 single as a solo artist. In 2010, McFadden scored his fourth No. 1 with the hit single, "Just Say So" featuring American rapper, Kevin Rudolf and gained his second Australian platinum accreditation. The single received a nomination at the 2010 ARIA Music Awards for Most Popular Australian Single.
Following the release of "Just Say So", McFadden release his third studio album, Wall Of Soundz in Australia on 23 April, 2010. The album was originally going to be released as a side-project McFadden embarked on with American songwriter Rob Conley but both decided to release it as McFadden's third solo album. It debuted at No. 27 on the ARIA Albums Chart and spent only three weeks in the ARIA top 50. "Chemical Rush" was the second single released from the album in June 2010 and peaked at No. 12 on the charts. In September 2010, McFadden released the third single titled, "Mistakes", a duet with his fiancé Delta Goodrem.
On 25th February 2011, McFadden released a new single "Just The Way You Are (Drunk at the Bar)".
Oblivious
Brian McFadden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And some of the time, I wish I were dead
If I hadn't listened to her
Would she still be here?
Would she still be here?
I wish I, could steer by
Avoid the mess and carry on
Like I'm oblivious to it all
Invading my space, if only that's what it was
Left with egg on my face, but I'll shrug it off
Could somebody translate for me and make it more clear
Then she'd still be here
I wish I, could steer by
Avoid the mess and carry on
I'd sit back, and just act
Like I'm oblivious to it all
All,...
If I hadn't listened to her
Would she still be here?
Would she still be here?
Well that's the man in me who thought he'd never change
Ohhhhh....
I wish I, could steer by
Avoid the mess and carry on
I'd sit back, and just act
Like I'm oblivious to it all
Ohhhhh I'm oblivious to it all
Ohhhhh I'm oblivious to it all
I'm oblivious to it all
The song "Oblivious" by Brian McFadden is a poignant reflection on the aftermath of a failed relationship. Throughout the song, McFadden describes the confusing and nonsensical behavior of his former partner who now appears to be speaking in rhymes that make no sense. He wishes that he could just ignore her and the mess she has made of their relationship and "carry on" with his life. He also reflects on the possibility that if he hadn't given her so much of his attention and listened to her so closely, maybe she would still be with him. The final stanza of the song acknowledges the singer's own flaws, accepting that he is just a man who thought he'd never change.
The lyrics are full of sadness and regret, conveying the pain of losing someone who was once very important. The repetition of the line "if I hadn't listened to her, would she still be here?" underscores the singer's deep sense of responsibility for the failure of the relationship. His wish to be "oblivious to it all" suggests a desire to ignore the pain and move on with his life, but the fact that he cannot suggests that he is still grieving.
Line by Line Meaning
She's talking in rhyme, and making no sense
The singer's partner is speaking incoherently in a nonsensical manner, possibly due to emotional distress.
And some of the time, I wish I were dead
The singer is overwhelmed and wishes they could escape the situation by dying.
If I hadn't listened to her
The singer feels responsible for their partner's current state and wonders if it would be different if they didn't engage with them as much.
Would she still be here?
The artist is questioning if their partner would still be present, mentally or physically, if they had acted differently.
I wish I, could steer by
The artist desires to be able to control the situation and avoid the turmoil caused by their partner's behavior.
Avoid the mess and carry on
The singer wishes to avoid the emotional mess their partner is causing and continue with their life as normal.
I'd sit back, and just act
The singer would rather detach themselves from the situation and pretend to be unaffected by their partner's behavior.
Like I'm oblivious to it all
The artist wants to appear as if they are unaware of the chaos happening around them.
Invading my space, if only that's what it was
The artist's partner is causing emotional turmoil and invading their mental and emotional space, but the artist wishes it was just a physical invasion they could easily remove themselves from.
Left with egg on my face, but I'll shrug it off
The artist is feeling embarrassed or humiliated due to their partner's behavior, but they will try to dismiss it and move on.
Could somebody translate for me and make it more clear
The singer is struggling to understand their partner's words and seeking help in making sense of them.
Well that's the man in me who thought he'd never change
The artist is acknowledging their own personal growth and the changes they have undergone since the beginning of the relationship.
Ohhhhh I'm oblivious to it all
The singer is using obliviousness as a coping mechanism for the emotional turmoil caused by their partner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MCFADDEN, PAUL MICHAEL BARRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind