Your Opinion

*The Battle is Over*

"In 1997, the Backstreet Boys came out with their single "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)." This hit single shot up the charts, all the way to number 2. Back then, the Backstreet Boys weren't referred to as a "boy band." They were referred to as the Backstreet Boys.

Flash forward to 1998. A new band had hit the music scene. They called themselves "N Sync." Not only did they have 5 guys, as did the Backstreet Boys, but they also had similar looks, similar dance moves, and wouldn't you say that their first single "I Want You Back" sounded an awful lot like the Backstreet Boys' latest single "Everybody(Backstreet's Back)?" But, these two groups also had one more similarity, however. They were both slapped with the infamous label "boy band." The Battle of the Boy Bands had begun.

For starters, there wasn't really much of a battle to begin with. The Backstreet Boys had been here first, so naturally, they had seniority over those who followed.

First of all, when it came down to the music industry and the media, the Backstreet Boys knew how to behave. They delivered a solid debut album that virtually turned them into role models overnight, and they conducted interviews with dignity and respect. They never swore during interviews, bad-mouthed the competition, or sang a song about having sex under a Christmas tree with Santa as a witness, all of which N Sync pleads guilty to. But then again, can you blame N Sync for bad-mouthing the Backstreet Boys? I mean, what would you say to a rivaling group that not only ranked third in '98 record sales behind the Titanic soundtrack and Celine Dion, but then went on to outsell country legend Garth Brooks, and take home the title of "Best First Week Sales" for their sophomore album, Millennium? There's only one word to describe N Sync: jealous. And that's just immature.

When you get down to it, what really matters behind a group is how well their voices can carry a tune, not only as a lead, but also as a group. The makings of a good, solid vocal group would be one where every single member has a strong enough voice to take the lead. The Backstreet Boys have it. "I Want It That Way" is just one of many songs that proves that Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson each has a voice that is pure gold. N Sync, on the other hand, has only two lead singers, while the rest bring up the chorus. In any music group, it is important for each member to have solid role, not just one or two with the rest in tow. In short, the Backstreet Boys have been vocal powerhouses from the start. Any group should be smart enough not to mess with that.

Now, I could go on and on, and list every single award and honor that the Backstreet Boys have ever won, as compared to N Sync, but I decided not to. That would be just plain mean. Why? Well, to put it simply, N Sync fell short. And it would be just downright embarrassing not only to N Sync's fans, but to the members themselves.

The final thought I have on this blows down to media coverage in itself. After the Backstreet Boys' '98 summer tour, the boys were magically vanished off the cover of all the teen magazines, and in came none other than N Sync. At first, I was mad. I thought to myself, why isn't the BSB on the cover of these magazines anymore? But, then I realized that the Backstreet Boys are still making the covers of magazines. While N Sync is making the cover of Tiger Beat, the Backstreet Boys are making the cover of Rolling Stone. That's when it hit me: the Backstreet Boys are no longer the teenybopper "flavor of the month." Unlike N Sync, the BSB has moved onto bigger and better things.

As I wrap this up, there's really nothing left for me to do but apologize. Sorry, to all of you loyal Battle of the Boy Bands spectators. It's been fun. But, unfortunately, like all things, it must come to an end. The Battle of the Boy Bands is over. Sorry N Sync. In this battle, like in all battles they have fought along the way, the Backstreet Boys have once again, kicked your butt."

-Amy Neuenfeldt-