Tag Archives: Backstreet Boys

Show Me the Meaning of Being a Boy Band

It seems like the term “boy band” is being very loosely thrown around these days. Just because a group of young, good-looking men are in a band together, this does NOT make them a boy band.  If you go by this rule, then we’d have to call The Strokes and Vampire Weekend boy bands.  I think we can universally agree that they are not.

So, what exactly is a “boy band” then?  Let’s consult the dictionary!

Boy band (noun):  a group of young men who perform popular songs together and dance as a group.

Now compare this to the definition of a band:

Band (noun): a group of musicians who play music together.

See the difference?  The biggest being that boy bands DANCE.   We’d also add that they tend to dress in matching/similar outfits, and are known for their harmonies.

Just because a group of young, cute guys are in a band, and in many cases being marketed to younger audiences, it does NOT mean they are a boy band.  Now, here are some examples.

NKOTB – Boy band!

Big Time Rush – Boy band!

Backstreet Boys – Boy band!

Jonas Brothers – NOT a boy band!

The Vamps – NOT a boy band!

Midnight Red – Boy band!

5SOS – NOT a boy band!

AJR – NOT a boy band!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dg8pB2mfoE

NSYNC – Boy band!

Got it?  In summary, being boys in a band does NOT make you a boy band.  Please choose your words wisely.

And if you’re a group of boys in a band, and you don’t dance OR play instruments?  We’re just not sure what to call you.

For example, The Wanted – Props for trying though!  Dancing is hard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-oIH3r1jw0

Forgotten Boybands Who Should Reunite in 2014

It’s been an amazing couple of years for boyband aficionados such as ourselves.  It all started when NKOTBSB (that’s New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, duh) announced they would be joining forces for a tour in 2011 (arguably the best tour of our entire lives).  The next year, 98 Degrees reunited!   We still aren’t sure if the t-shirt we got at their Mixtape Festival show has a picture taken in 2002 or 2012.  They’ve aged EXTREMELY well.  And of course 2013 brought us the Package Tour: NKOTB, 98 Degrees, AND Boyz II Men.  What more could a boyband fangirl ask for?  Well then we got the greatest gift of all: NSYNC REUNITING AT THE VMAs (yes, we have to write this in all caps every time we mention it, because OMG!)  We should actually thank Big Time Rush for all of these boyband reunions, because they brought boybands back.  Alright?

While we impatiently wait for that NSYNC reunion tour, which unfortunately doesn’t look possible for this summer as Justin Timberlake will still be out on his 20/20 Experience World Tour, we thought about which OTHER boybands could reunite in 2014 to fill the void…

1.  5ive – They were the original Simon Cowell boyband.  Their first single, “Slam Dunk (Da Funk)” debuted at number 10 in the UK, but had little success in the United States. Their second single, “When The Lights Go Out” was certified Gold in 1998. They made a few bad decisions along the way, like turning down a song called “Bye Bye Bye…”

Who can forget their iconic choreographed dance scene cameo in Disney’s “Smart House”

2.  2ge+her – Okay, so they were created as a joke but they’re still iconic in boyband history. We still find ourselves breaking out into their hit song “U + Me = Us (Calculus)”

3.  BBMak
Remember when they were on Even Stevens?  Pretty sure “Back Here” was also played on every single WB show.

4. O-Town
Apparently, this is already actually happening.  They recently launched a Twitter page and keep hinting at future music.

5. LMNT
We wanted to share the official music video here, because it’s amazing, but someone has managed to faceblock it from the internet.  In summary: the boys bring a boom box to the laundromat and dance around in their muscle tanks.

6. Dream Street
Baby.  JMAC.

7. LFO
Otherwise known as the Lyte Funky Ones, they made it impossible for a generation to say “Abercrombie & Fitch” without thinking of this song.  (or is that just us?)

8. The Original Menudo
with Ricky Martin.  If you’re into these pants, you can buy them now at American Apparel!  In the women’s department.

menudo-5

9. Boyzone
We’ve actually never heard of them before, but this is an amazing name, so yes.

10.  The Moffatts
This band has FOUR brothers!

11. S Club 7
This isn’t strictly a boyband, but they are still awesome.  Remember their show on ABC Family?

But really, WE JUST WANT AN *NSYNC REUNION!!  Please?

Aaron Carter Releases New Song – “Let Go”

It’s been a hot minute since Aaron Carter released new music but he’s out to prove that even bankruptcy can’t stop him! (sorry AC, we had to go there) Aaron is coming back stronger than ever with new music and private lunch parties for his fans on tour!! Click here for all the details about how you can have lunch with Aaron Carter.

Aaron’s new song, “Let Go” is streaming on his SoundCloud account for your listening pleasure right now.

https://twitter.com/aaroncarter/status/423925366349000704

Check it out here

Don’t forget to tweet Aaron Carter what you think of the song!  Use the hashtags #Aaronators and #LetGo and he might even follow you back!!

Jesse McCartney: In Technicolor Part 1

We’ve been fans of Jesse McCartney and his beautiful soul since his days in Dream Street.  He took a short break from music since the release of Departure, but he’s back with a new EP: In Technicolor Part 1.   The EP includes “Back Together,” which was released over the summer while J Mac was on tour with the Backstreet Boys and has a fun Timberlake-esque vibe to it.

The EP starts with a spacey Drake – sounding intro aptly titled “In Technicolor (Part 1)” that compares finding ‘the one’ to having your black and white world shocked into what else – technicolor!
“Tie The Knot” puts the horns and the funky Timberlake vibe into full force as McCartney swings in wearing a tux (at least we imagine him in a tux) begging “C’mon girl let’s tie the knot!” He really knows how to win our hearts and you can bet we all still day dream about marrying J Mac!

Jesse says this four song EP is just a taste for what he has in store for his full length release. Finally, new J Mac music!!
Now, what do we have to do to get Summerland on Netflix?

In Technicolor Part 1 is available now on iTunes

Don’t forget to follow Jesse on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest updates!

Austin Mahone Z100 New York Jingle Ball

Last night, Austin Mahone performed at Z100’s Jingle Ball to a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden.

The “Banga! Banga!” singer wowed in a holographic suit that *NSYNC would have been proud of.  We can’t wait for his debut album, which he says has influences of 90’s boy bands like *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys.  (We don’t call him the one man boy band for nothing!)

It was Austin’s first performance at MSG, and we are sure we’ll be seeing him there again in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFAwDi5jZg

Check out the full Z100 Jingle Ball Gallery for more from your favorite performers.