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Backstreet Boys. ‘N Sync. 98 Degrees. What do these
bands have in
common, besides a bunch of out of control teenagers hanging on their
every
move?
Their breakthrough albums are all identical. Don’t believe me?
Take a
listen to all three yourself ... “Backstreet Boys” (the US version),
“’N
Sync”, and “98 Degrees and Rising.” They all follow the same
formula --
the only difference is, they succeed and fail at different parts of
the formula.
Okay, you listened, and you still don’t believe me. Fine, read
on ... I’ll give
you the formulas, as well as a ranking of how well I think each band
did
with it.
Flames and praise should be directed to the guestbook or to me
-- I don’t
guarantee to read flames, though.
That having been said ... we have:
Category #1 : The Mid-Tempo Breakthrough Single
1) BSB - As Long As You Love Me. Catchy chorus, makes you
tap your
toes, exactly the right tempo and mood for both Top 40 and Adult
Contemporary radio.
2) ‘N Sync - Tearin’ Up My Heart. Another toe-tapper. Could
be
exchanged for any one of about three songs on the album, though.
3) 98 Degrees - Because of You. I’ve never been all that fond
of this song
-- kind of forgettable.
Category #2 : The “It Makes No Sense, But It’s a Good Excuse For
a Major
Dance Number in Concert” Song
1) ‘N Sync - Here We Go. For some reason, this one always
makes me get
up and dance.
2) BSB - Get Down. Not quite as driving as “Here We Go”,
but still a
major dancer.
3) 98 Degrees - Heat It Up. A sexier dance number, rather than
a peppy
one.
Category #3: The Mushy Lovey-Dovey Ballad
1) BSB - All I Have to Give. A real R&B groove ... very smooth.
1 (tie) 98 Degrees - I Do (Cherish You). I liked this song
when it was a
country song, and I still like it here.
3) ‘N Sync - God Must Have Spent a Little More Time On You.
Okay, I
thought it was corny the first time I heard it, but it grew on me.
Category #4: The Cover Song
1) 98 Degrees - She’s Out of My Life. Ultra impressive harmonies.
2) ‘N Sync - Sailing. Nice harmonies, very mellow song.
3) BSB - Set Adrift on Memory Bliss. Don’t mind admitting
-- I hate this
song!
Category #5 : The Broken Hearted Song
1) BSB - I’ll Never Break Your Heart. Call me a sap, but
this song gets me
every time.
2) 98 Degrees - The Hardest Thing. Almost a tie for #1 ...
3) ‘N Sync - I Drive Myself Crazy. It was cool the first
500 times I saw the
video on TRL ...
Category #6 : The Overly Sexual Song
1) 98 Degrees - Do You Wanna Dance. The only one of the
three that
doesn’t make me snicker.
2) BSB - If You Want It To Be Good Girl (Get Yourself a Bad Boy).
Sorry,
if they wanted this song to be sexual, they shouldn’t have given it
to 16 year
old Nick.
3) ‘N Sync - Giddy Up. Snort.
Overall impressions: I almost hate to admit it, but if
I’d been given all three
albums at the same time, without ever having heard any of the songs,
and
asked to pick the best one, I’d probably have picked 98 Degrees.
I won’t
say that they exhibit the most talent -- I will say that they were
given the
best initial outlet to showcase their talents. BSB and ‘N Sync
were
marketed completely to the 13 year olds ... I think 98 Degrees were
marketed to a slightly older audience.
Once again, if you feel like flaming me, go back to the guestbook or email me. ;-)
