Awesomest Concert: The No Strings Attached Tour is showing a lot of promise as a top-rating concert series. For one, when you have the Baha Men opening with “Who Let the Dogs Out,” it’s so difficult to not get totally excited. And, obviously, hearing “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and “Just Got Paid” performed live is a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, the 1998 Backstreets Back Tour was definitely the best concert I’ve seen in recent years. Leading up to the encore performance with a recreation of the haunted house music video for “Backstreet’s Back,” the entire concert was a scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs, dance-your-pants-off party. Winner: Backstreet Boys
Best Love Song: “Drive Myself Crazy” is *N SYNC’s attempt at the quintessential love song. In it, they sing about feelings of hopeless love, leading to insanity. So deep. Though most girls, myself included, would simply melt at the idea of any of the *N SYNC members hopelessly falling in love with them, the image of having to calm JT down from a psychotic episode is slightly creepy. “As Long as You Love Me” on the other hand is a song in which BSB croons that they will love me no matter what as long as I love them back. It’s a song that makes us feel secure and empowered and cared for, as if the Boys were hugging me each time I hear it. Winner: Backstreet Boys
Best Dressed: Though both groups are usually well dressed in a wide range of baggy cargo pants, V-neck sweaters, pleather jackets and unbuttoned Oxford shirts, when AJ started wearing skirts and dresses, he effectively lost the contest for his crew. Sorry boys. Winner: *N SYNC
Cutest Frontman: Nick Carter’s luscious, long blonde locks look smoldering hot when he’s dancing and sweating onstage, but Justin’s frosted and/or bleached curly nonjew-fro makes me want to run my fingers through his hair and trade product advice. As an added bonus, JT can hit high notes that most prepubescent girls could never dream of and if that’s not a turn-on, I don’t know what is. Winner: *N SYNC
Hottest Girlfriend: Britney and Justin are just the cutest, most talented couple of all time. Their pledge to remain virgins is really inspirational to young men and women who don’t want to be rushing to have sex and make bad decisions. These two are going to live a long, successful, top-to-toe-denim life together as the picture of teen role models. Winner: *N SYNC — no contest.
Best Music Video: This category comes highly contested, for it depends on what you prefer: your favorite Orlando natives posing as puppets as they sing your favorite new hit, or seeing real nightlife courtesy of the Backstreet Boys. Though both videos have the boys in some sticky situations, “The Call” has the boys finding more trouble than fun. Meanwhile “Bye Bye Bye” offers car chases, anti-gravity rooms and puppets simulation. Though it’s a tough call, one band must win. Winner: *N SYNC
TOTAL SCORE: Backstreet Boys: 2 *N SYNC: 4 *N SYNC WINS!!!
