Backstreet Boys: Ruling the '90s Boyband Style

Title: Backstreet Boys: Ruling the '90s Boyband Style
Written by Jamie Ortega

People term it as a guilty pleasure, like munching chips in the middle of the night or texting an ex-boyfriend. But for die-hard fans (just like this writer), boy bands are more than just a guilty pleasure, they provide music that never fails to inspire. What makes boy bands so irresistible? Let us count the ways- they produce songs that are perfect for any occasion. Who hasn’t hummed to I Will Never Break Your Heart in the shower while going to work, or at your favorite Karaoke joint? Who hasn’t copied the dance moves of Step By Step? There’s also the precise choreography, dapper outfits, and boyishly handsome good looks to contend with, all wrapped up in one delectable package-ooh- la- la!
 

Each generation possesses their own set of boy bands: the ‘80s had Menudo, while groups like Backstreet Boys, N Sync and 98 Degrees ruled the ‘90s. Now, everyone is all about One Direction.  As Backstreet boys founder Lou Perlman once put it, “As long as there are little girls we will always be boybands.”
Once word broke out that Ovation Productions will be bringing the boy band tandem of NKOTBSB to Manila on June 3, 20122 at the SM MOA Arena, boy band lovers all over Manila nearly went out of their minds. To herald their arrival in the country, we at MCS are bringing a two part special on the New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. Find out how they started, how they’ve endured, and what they are up to now. Enjoy!

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS:
Back in 1992, friends Howie Dorough and AJ McLean met Nick Carter through several commercial, theater, and television auditions. They all wanted to be actors, but obviously God was preparing them for something greater. Kevin Richardson met the rest of the boys through a co-worker, and upon discovering their love for classical soul, formed a group amongst themselves.

   All the boys answered a newspaper ad posted by Lou Pearlman within the same year. Aj, unfortunately, was the only one who made the cut for that specific ad. Years later Lou have aspiring singers all over Orlando another chance, by holding another open casting call, to be part of a new boy band. Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough finally made the cut after meeting Pearlman’s expectations. Brian Littrell was later added to the group after Lou had him audition for the group over the phone. Who named them the Backstreet boys? It was Perlman. He named the group after Orlando’s famous Backstreet flea market.

RECORD-BREAKING SUCCESS:
The boys rose to fame first in Europe when the single We’ve Got It Goin On became a hit back in 1995. This was followed by 'Get Down (You're The One For Me)' which reached number 3 in the UK charts back in August 1996.  Get Down was followed by I'll Never Break Your Heart' which climbed to the 8th spot in the UK charts that same year. As expected, their self-titled debut album was widely –received in Europe.

So when did they touch the US market?  Two years after, with Everybody (Backstreet's Back)!  The hit dance ditty climbed to the number 4th spot in billboard charts back in June 1998. Subsequent singles Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) and As Long As You Love Me also became hits, altogether making their second album the third bestselling record of 1998 in the United States.

A year later they topped the UK singles chart in May 1999 with a new single, I Want It That Way, which also became a US Top 10 radio hit. You can probably guess what happened next, their third album Millenium topped the US album charts one month later, selling two million copies in just over three weeks. The boys were definitely on a roll because, on November 2000, their other album Black & Blue achieved platinum status in over 30 countries and gold certification in 10 regions around the world just during its first week of release with sales of over 25 million copies worldwide. The boys of Orlando officially became international superstars.

You know the saying quit while you are on top? The boys did just that, not by quitting but by going on a five year hiatus. The Backstreet Boys reemerged with a new single, Incomplete, in 2005, which was the #1 most requested song in top markets in both the U.S. and overseas. Fans of the boy band noticed a maturity in the group’s sound after listening to Incomplete, an aching ballad with tones reminiscent of bands Five For Fighting and Nickelback.

Incomplete was a mere sign of things to come as, on June 14, 2005, the group released their comeback album Never Gone, which they spent more than a year recording. It sold over 13 million copies worldwide.  With over 13 years in the music industry, the Backstreet Boys legacy lives on!
Catch them together with New Kids On The Block on June 3, 2012 at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena concert grounds. Tickets are available at SM Tickets  or call 470 2222

Ticket prices are as follows:
SVIP – P13,200
VIP – P8980
LOWER BOX VIP - 8450
LOWER BOX REG – 7920
UPPER BOX – 3700
GENL ADM – 1060