Boy Bands
By
User:cmelgarejo @timeAndDate(1274733968)
It's 1998. You are sitting in your biology class and having that vehement argument; Nsync or Backstreet Boys? You are clearly the 'N Sync fan here. Clearly their catchy dance beats are unmatchable compared to the Backstreet Boys' slow, boring ballads. And Justin is waaaaay cuter than Nick, hands down. But your friend is not budging. She thinks Everybody (Backstreet's Back) is clearly the party song of the decade, NOT Tearin' Up My Heart. You keep going back and forth until that other girl that you don't really talk to much unless you need the homework chimes in... she's a 98 Degrees fan. Whatever.
Boy bands may have slowly faded out, but it doesn't mean you can't still enjoy them. I mean, even New Kids on the Block made a come back. Don't give up on that O-Town reunion.
The Beginning of Boy Bands
When we think of boy bands today, we think of a group of guys with slick dance moves and catchy pop songs. But back in the day, some groups consider boy bands were, well, actually bands. With instruments. What a revelation!
* The Beatles is argued to be the first "boy band". Not in the modern definition, but they definitely made the girls go crazy and set a precedent with the amount of Beatles merchandise that appeared, from lunch boxes to bobble heads.
* The Monkees set the idea of boy band members each having distinct personalities and roles. They did after all, start off as fictional characters on T.V and soon became those personas on stage.
* Keeping it in the family,The Jackson 5 set the standard for harmonies and smooth moves that boy bands would follow years later.
* New Kids on the Block and New Edition, which both popped up in the 80s, were the first boy bands as far as the definition we have today (although the term wasn't coined until the 90s).
'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, and Those Other Groups
In the 90s, pop music took the world by storm. Both boy bands and girl groups, as well as solo pop artists were all over the place and the ongoing feuds between fans just helped in promotion. This was the golden age of boy bands, but where to start?
* The Backstreet Boys are the epitome of boy bands. A great choice if you like more ballad-oriented pop (though they did have a few good dance songs here and there). If you are looking for the real popular hits by them, their albums Backstreet's Back and Millennium should be on your ipod asap. The band still exists today, but minus one member.
* N' Sync came soon after and took the world by storm. If you are into heavy choreography and some of the catchiest pop songs you'll ever hear, N' Sync will get you dancing. Their strongest album is No Strings Attached. Celebrity is also worth checking out as it exhibits more of their own creative control of the music.
* Other less popular, but still well known boy bands are 98 Degrees, O-Town, Westlife, Boyzone, and LFO.
Where To Start
Related Guides
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Michael Jackson
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Girl Groups
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Teen Musicians
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Britney Spears
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Grammy Nominees
