The story of the Backstreet Boys is, at heart, the story of our childhood. And it all comes rushing back this week, when the erstwhile teen idols release their newest album, Unbreakable. In their honor, Street takes a nostalgic trip down middle school memory lane.
Pamela Takefman, C'09:
It's the summer of 1997. Camp B'nai B'rith is coming to the close of its first session, and a lot of eleven year olds are packed into the dining hall for "banquet night." The song of the summer has undoubtedly been "I Want it That Way." So at banquet, it isn't a surprise when the boombox is switched on and on it comes. What is strange, however, is that suddenly, the boys' side are excitedly singing on their chairs. And when the chorus comes in, the boys prepubescent singing voices grew even louder: "'Cause I.want it.SIDEWAYS!" To this day, I don't get it. What do you mean, sideways? How does one get it sideways? Is this something other than frontways and backways that these 11-year-olds knew about that I didn't? And still don't?
The Backstreet Boys. Stealing my innocence since 1997.
Ashley Bradley, C'11:
At my nerdy reading camp talent show, two other girls and I decided that we would lip-sync and dance to "Larger Than Life." For a reason yet to be determined, one person thought that we should take our dance moves from the music video. I agreed to use the robotic choreography under the condition that I would be able to enter the stage through a series of cartwheels. As our song began, I took off cartwheeling across the stage. But mid-air my foot hit something hard, and as my feet met the ground, I realized that "something hard" was my friend's face. She ran off the stage bleeding and crying, and I don't remember the rest of our performance.
Kerry Golds, C'09:
When I recall my middle school boy band days, I think loyalty: you were either obsessed with the Backstreet Boys or obsessed with N*Sync - never both. Of course, I was part of the Backstreet Boys camp. And every group of girls "possessed" a member. Mine was Nick Carter. Be jealous.
Chloé Hurley, C'09:
The little guy, Brian, had some sort of heart condition. It was really symbolic, I think, like his heart was too big for him. That never endeared him to me. You don't really want to run off with the first old man with angina who you meet. Then there was the very tall French one, Kevin. He probably was not French, but he had a goatee and wore a trench coat. Nick Carter was the only good-looking one, though he did get pretty fat. Next you have AJ. Since I was a rebellious kid I probably would have said that I liked him best when pressed at a sleepover. Then he developed a huge drug addiction and had some split personality named Johnny Danger or something. I'm sure he's recovered and performing in Rent right now. So who was the fifth guy? I have no idea. He's the lucky one. He's probably married and has kids and a happy life.
Monisha Chakraverthy, C'10:
Are you sexual, Mr. Nick Carter? After some in-depth analysis of the lyrics of "Everybody," my 5th grade English class concluded that it was probably the dumbest question to put in a song. I mean, DUH, he's like 90s sexuality incarnate.
Grace Ambrose, C'11:
I'm an N*SYNC girl, I wouldn't deign to listen to the Backstreet Boys.
