Monday, February 28, 2005

The Backstreet Boys Are Back!

Just when you began to get nostalgic for cheesy 90's boy bands, The Backstreet Boys return. The Boys new single is to be released in March, followed by an album due in June.

Their last album, 2000's "Black And Blue", sold 5.4 million copies. But the original prepubescent fans that grew up listening to them in the 90's have moved on. Most are no longer teenagers. They have started college, careers and families.

The Backstreet Boys challenge to create enough interest among old fans and/or recruit new ones, is an uphill one to say the least. It's doubtful that many self respecting, twenty-something coeds are going to be rushing out to buy the new album. Especially when even admitting to being a former fan carries with it such guilty pleasure.

Unless someone can convince a new generation of teenagers that Boy Band music is still cool, Backstreet may be out of luck. Your average 14 year old has scarce memories of them and would be reluctant to hang up a poster of a pop group who's members are mostly over 30.

Very few Bubblegum Pop Stars survive once their fan base matures. Notable exceptions are Michael Jackson and George Michael. Britney Spears seems able to hold on to her fame, though it may be due more to "car wreck" interest than anything else. You know a crash is eminent so you can't stop watching.

The Pop Highway is littered with the remains of teen music idols. They come and go so quickly it's difficult to remember their names. Like many others, Boyz 2 Men, New Kids On The Block and Tiffany were once the hottest acts around. Their notoriety now comes only as answers to music trivia questions.

We'll find out soon if The Backstreet Boys prove to be the exception to the rule.

- DJ Craig

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