Written by Kyle Slagley
If you were a girl between the ages of 11 and 20 anytime
between 1988 and 2002, there’s about a 67.3% chance you proudly displayed
posters, cassettes, CDs, t-shirts, or other assorted swag that sported the
faces of Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, or Shawn Stockman. Guys who had
highlighted or frosted hair anytime before 2005 should bow down and thank Lance
Bass for making it “cool.”
The ‘90s were, by and large, the decade of the Boy Bands; together
they formed an unofficial cartel that ruled the Billboard charts and teen
girls’ hearts. Of course, this was back in the days when MTV actually played
music videos still, so I’m sure that had something to do with it.
Much to the chagrin of teenage garage bands everywhere,
earlier this week New Kids on the Block (aka NKOTB), Boys II Men, and 98
Degrees announced their “Package Tour” that will begin in Uncasville, CT, on
May 31 and conclude in Minneapolis on July 13. It’s a heck of a lot harder to
get a girl’s attention when you’re competing against the likes of Nick Lachey
and Donnie Wahlberg, not that I’m bitter or anything.
In honor of this summer’s Grand Boy Band Comeback (Attempt),
let’s take a look at the biggest groups of the movement. You’ll want to make
sure your collections are complete before the tour triggers the inevitable
stampede of fangirls.
The
Beatles – Those of you thinking, “Wait a minute!” can rest easy. I am fully
aware that the Beatles were truly the fathers of the boy band – as well as a
slew of other pop music trends. Combine fashionable clothes, youthful faces, a
lot of actual musical talent, and the sheer magnitude of their fan base and you
have the formula that is still the industry standard. Much more could be said,
but we all know how influential the group has been.
New
Kids on the Block – Widely considered the first group in the “modern” boy
band age, these five guys epitomized the ‘80s. Heavy synthesizer beats, break-dancing,
ripped jeans, and pompadours can all be found in their family album. Their
first big hit, “Hangin’ Tough,” put them on the map in 1988 and they would
eventually break up in 1994. They reunited in 2008 and have been working ever
since; meanwhile, there are those among us who can still sing you the chorus to
“You Got It (The Right Stuff).”
Backstreet
Boys (aka BSB)– Kevin is the quiet one, Nick is the heartthrob, Brian is
the boy-next-door, AJ is the bad boy, and Howie is the fun-loving jokester. BSB
quite literally became the definition of “boy band” in the late ‘90s. They hit
it big with “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” in 1997 and have been working
together in some form ever since. Their spiked hair, meticulously groomed
goatees, and pensive looks into the distance would be emulated in millions of
senior pictures for years.
‘N
Sync – The second quintet to appear in the ‘90s, the group was formed after
band member Chris Kirkpatrick auditioned for the Backstreet Boys and failed to
make the cut. The group blew up overnight after the Disney Channel aired a
concert special in July of 1998 – a concert originally offered to BSB. ‘N
Sync’s single “Tearin’ Up My Heart” became one of the biggest songs of the
decade and by the time they released “Bye Bye Bye” they were fully out of the
shadow of BSB. The group lasted a handful of years before breaking up in 2002
after member
Justin
Timberlake decided to go solo.
98
Degrees – Rounding out the boy band trio of the late ‘90s, 98 Degrees broke
the five-man rule and comprised four guys from Ohio. The group’s story is
similar to that of ‘N Sync in that they made it big in 1998. It’s interesting
though that unlike BSB or ‘N Sync, 98 Degrees had some help in their early
days. In 1997, they collaborated with label-mate Stevie Wonder to record “True
to Your Heart,” the theme song to the animated Disney movie
Mulan.
They stayed together until 2002, and following Nick Lachey’s brief solo career
and marriage to
Jessica
Simpson, reunited in 2008.
Boyz
II Men – I hesitated to include Boyz II Men in this column, because I don’t
consider them a typical boy band. After hours of contemplation, I (obviously)
decided to include them because they are what a boy band
should be: light on glitz and kitsch, heavy on quality and talent. They
easily have the most staying power of any other modern boy band, and their tight
harmonies are the envy of a capella groups worldwide. Having sold over 60
million copies of their 11 albums over more than 25 years, they are the
standard for vocal R&B everywhere. Quite simply, these guys deserve every
bit of praise they get because their ability speaks for itself.