Boys, boys, boys

  "Step by step (do a cool dance move), ooooooo babaaaay (pout, pout, pout), gonna get to you gurrrrrrl."

  "Quit playing games with my heart... (pout into camera), with my heart (gaze sexily with bedroom eyes please!)"

  I'm not sure how boy bands are created but most of them have standard requirements: Take a handful of handsome men (All right, maybe above-average, the make up and camera will do the rest), have one strong vocal in there somewhere, the others are for effect anyhow, great lips help (for all future pouting photo-op moments), a great bod (take off that shirt, man!). And yes, if they can sing, it would be a bonus! ;)

In my short life I've seen a fair share. It started with New Kids On The Block (remember them?) Jordan, Jonathan, Danny, Donnie and Joey. The boys from the late 80s, had a bunch of hits and had women (Well, the "women" were "girls" back then) drooling. They were a phenomenon back then. Shows, merchandise (they had special limited edition NKOTB dolls a la Barbie and Ken), a cartoon show too. Phew! They even had celebrity siblings. Mark Wahlberg's brother was a part of this band. Could they sing? Hmm! Jordan Knight decided to go the solo route as did Joey McIntyre. And yes, they're planning a reunion.

Then we had Take That. Gary, Mark, Jason, Howard and Robbie. I have to admit I had my favourite: Robbie. Sigh. They had the whole of England crooning along. Hordes and hordes of screaming adolescent women. They were everywhere. On the telly, chat shows, posters, magazines. There was no escape so you either gave in or got smothered anyway! They won a bagful of awards and always thanked their "Mums" for everything. Gary, Mark and Robbie all tried solo careers with the latter being the most successful. Reunion alert!

Backstreet Boys. The ones who made pouting a national sport. All worthy competitors within this group. Nick Carter with his flyaway blond hair and flailing arms. Brian, AJ (the man with tattoos), Kevin, Howie. It's funny when you think about it but every boy band worked on a stereotype: A serious intense guy, the fun guy, the joker, the sex-is-me guy, the tough guy. And this band personified these roles rather well! I loved the spoof on their video by a rock band and I don't think I'll ever be able to get over "Quit playing Games with my heart" replete with water, dripping bodies and boxer waistbands under low low jeans! Whoever said only women are objectified, please take a look at this vid. And yes, reunited. Albeit Kevin took a bow from his boy band days. The rest march on bravely.

They were the last big boy band to emerge out of the US. Justin,  Lance, JC, Joey, Chris. N 'Snyc - The Princes of Pop. And then you had Timberlake who dated Princess Britney in her Disney mode. Reels and reels of newsprint were dedicated to the love affair of this duo. Then they broke up and Justin Timberlake decided to go solo. As did JC. Joey turned to acting ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), Lance decided to go into space (seriously!). No reunion for this lot but they continue to "remain good friends."

I also remember boy band Boy Zone and West Life. Both of Irish origin. Boy Zone are probably remembered for Words. Both bands had a fair share of teeny bopper hits and some members set out to chart a road for themselves, the most successful being Ronan Keating.

Then there was EYC ("Put you in my Black boooooook") Code Red (probably the only Caucasian Brit group that can claim they worked with Asha Bhonsle. Just to jog your memory, the song was called "We can make it." Watch it below!)

If you think South Asians are far behind, think again. There are a bunch of Pakistani and Indian bands that are trying very hard to create ripples with their music. Now if only their music was as pretty as their collective faces, success would be theirs! :)

Comments

[amreen]

thanks for the flashback - i used to love the backstreet boys!