The boy band lives on. The members of New Kids on the Block make their way to Assembly Hall this Sunday, and somehow they are still managing to sell out arenas worldwide. Not only is the group performing old favorites, but they even have enough brand new material to grab up new audiences, including younger generations. This revival, 14 years in the making, among others, makes one speculate that boy bands still have a place in the hearts of today's society.
"Boy band" has always seemed to be such a dirty term, belittling groups as nothing more than a marketable face and brand, who can occasionally sing well. The fact that many of them have never been taken seriously shows how these groups were set up to bring in quick and large amounts of revenue and, eventually, would end up fizzling out into nonexistence.
People like American Idol judge Simon Cowell have constantly said that the job of pop-music record producers is to create a group that is original, relevant, and has the potential to bring in profit in the long-term. While doing this, groups such as New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and Westlife were also able to creep their way into the hearts of many - mostly pre-teen girls - and make themselves a household name.
The stigma surrounding these groups in the music industry is understandable, considering that adopting a clean-cut Abercrombie model appearance - keeping up with fashion - and learning choreographed dance moves have not earned them respect from other artists, groups and bands working just as hard only on the musical aspect of their careers. So why and how are some of these groups reviving themselves and creating new success?
It's because Americans still love giving into commerciality. You can sound sub-par, but if you look like a model, then there's no doubt that you can go far in the world of pop music. I'll admit that there are boy band members that do have talent as far as singing goes, but then the question to ask is: why do many groups lip-synch their live performances? If they're as good as they're made out to be, then, logically, there should be nothing to hide.
Many of their mostly female fans still hold on to the images of these "perfectly-sculpted idols" and truly believe that their favorite groups are directing those sweet messages of love in their direction.
If only these fans could meet the well-paid and extremely-talented lyric writers that only get credited by having their name written small in a CD insert that nobody bothers looking at in this digital age.
Even with these negative attitudes that have surrounded them for so long, it seems that, like President Obama, there is change that they believe in this time around.
Boy bands are definitely doing a lot more this time around to fit into the changing spectrum of music. The Backstreet Boys, for example, have released two CDs since reuniting and have brought a more instrumental rock feel to their music, with some of the members actually playing the guitar or drums during production. Also, by co-writing songs and having more creative control over their lyrics, the most successful boy band in history is showing us that they can indeed think for themselves.
Boy bands are now collaborating with more artists from different genres and appealing to wider audiences than just the screaming girls who are about to hit puberty.
The concept of the boy band has now made a strong return, with the musical transformation from boys to men clearly evident. As long as they continue putting a focus back on the music - what really matters - then there's no telling how long this pop train ride might last.
Credit/Source: www.dailyillini.com
