Backstreet Boys: 10 Years Of Greatness

Contributed by elgato:

The Backstreet Boys, to 10 years of greatness. I remember the first time I saw BSB. It was on MTV. I saw 5 guys rubbing themselves with their shirts open, standing on some bleachers in the rain. My girlfriend was like “They’re so hot.” “Who’s hot?” I said. She goes “the Backstreet Boys.” Even then they were taking girls away from me. That was the ‘Quit Playing Games’ video. I truly became a fan when I went to see their ‘Millennium’ tour in D.C. Now, I came their to get a bunch of girls phone numbers. But I left, not only with the numbers, but a new appreciation for pop music. That night I became a fan. And BSB has provided me and millions of people around the world with great memories. I remember the Millennium special on MTV. Nobody else came close. Thousand of fans outside. Over a million albums sold in the 1st week. A new world record. It was the 90’s Beatle Mania. Everybody knew their names, their songs, their favorite colors, and all that stuff. But the music was what was irreplaceable. And the best was yet to come.

BSB, to 10 years of greatness. I remember the first time I saw BSB. It was on MTV. I saw 5 guys rubbing themselves with their shirts open, standing on some bleachers in the rain. My girlfriend was like “They’re so hot.” “Who’s hot?” I said. She goes “the Backstreet Boys.” Even then they were taking girls away from me. That was the ‘Quit Playing Games’ video. I truly became a fan when I went to see their ‘Millennium’ tour in D.C. Now, I came their to get a bunch of girls phone numbers. But I left, not only with the numbers, but a new appreciation for pop music. That night I became a fan. And BSB has provided me and millions of people around the world with great memories. I remember the Millennium special on MTV. Nobody else came close. Thousand of fans outside. Over a million albums sold in the 1st week. A new world record. It was the 90’s Beatle Mania. Everybody knew their names, their songs, their favorite colors, and all that stuff. But the music was what was irreplaceable. The ‘Millennium’ album solidified them as one of the best pop groups in history. I remember it going platinum and gold in over 45 countries. ‘I Want It That Way’ became a pop classic. That was followed by a bunch of Grammy nominations and huge tours. I remember Chris Rock at the VMAs asking “I wonder who’s gonna be the bad Backstreet Boy. Which Backstreet Boy’s gonna get Britney Spears pregnant?” Then they cut to Brian and he pleaded to the camera, “Not me. Not me.” I remember TRL making an announcement that Brian was getting heart surgery. I remember a scene replicating that surgery in the ‘Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely’ video. I remember trying to pick out exactly which extra was Nick in the movie ‘Edward Scissorhands.’ I remember Brian’s specific words to Nsync: “find your own identity.” Damn straight. I remember the Foo Fighters playing the chord to ‘Larger Than Life’ on TRL. I remember how Kevin became a tree-hugger. I remember the first time I heard Howie tell the story of how his sister died and Lou Pearlman wouldn’t let him have that much time off to mourn. I remember BSB winning the World Music Award for Best Group 3 years in a row. I remember Shaggy and Elton John proclaiming BSB to be a great group of musicians and friends. I remember BSB performing ‘Shape of My Heart’ at the MTV Europe Awards. I remember Howie looking like a vampire when he let his hair grow out. I remember AJ’s corn rows in the video for ‘The Call.’ I remember Kevin calling President George W. Bush a ‘clown.’ Damn straight. I remember tens of thousands of Brazilian fans stunning BSB on their ‘Around the World’ trip. From that same trip, I remember AJ calling the jet plane’s toilet a huge recliner. I remember BSB’s crew member Daniel Lee who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. I remember BSB dedicating a song to him at the Concert for New York City. I remember them putting on firemen hats and police hats. I remember BSB getting the honor of singing the national anthem at the ‘United We Stand’ concert. I remember the guys announcing on TRL that AJ was going into rehab. The next day, I remember John Norris telling MTV viewers that MTV had received over 20,000 emails sending condolences to AJ, something that was unprecedented. Months later, I remember AJ at the VMAs saying that he was sober and that he did it, anybody can do it. Everyone applauded. I remember BSB’s tight harmonies on the ‘What’s Goin’ On’ All Star Tribute charity song. I remember Howie still looking like a vampire when he appeared on MTV’s ‘Cribs.’ I remember Kevin’s April Fool’s joke on TRL when he had the mohawk, saying that BSB had broken up and he was joining a punk band. I remember Nick going buckwild and hitting the TRL window when he performed songs off of his solo album ‘Now or Never.’ I remember John Norris getting tongue-twisted when he tried to announce the name of Brian and Leighanne’s son: Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell. I remember Kevin cussing every 5 seconds on MTV’s ‘Punk’d.’ I remember KIIS-FM’s JoJo telling his listeners how he heard some of the new BSB material AJ wrote and how it’s incredible. I remember how BSB has sold nearly 80 million albums all over the world. More importantly, I remember the great music BSB has made throughout their career. And much more is to come. BSB, to 10 years of greatness: Thank you.