Note:Even though it's not the latest article of the Backstreet Boys, but anywayz, we miss it out as we have to copw w/ the Exam at that time. you know, we even didn't know BsB held this event.... 'til this moment...... LOL
Who says the Backstreet Boys have forgotten their Asian following? Hogwash! Though they've been absent from these parts for the longest time, they still remember how it's you lot who gave them their first taste of success way back in 1996! LIME flies to Cleveland, Ohio, to sit in on a private fan conference organised *specially* for an excitable Asian contingent! And so what if pushy press-types (that would be LIME!) couldn't ask a *single* question? Hey, you know us! We got through to Nick, Kev & Co.... somehow!
How can you *not* love those Backstreet champs? They know they haven't been to Asia since, well, forever! And it'll be a while before they make it back to our region - what with a packed schedule of US tour dates and recording commitments to fulfil first. So what do the sweeties do instead? Fly an army of Asian fans (from countries like Japan, Hongkong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore) to America for a cosy fan conference! Suu-per! But erm... what's a fan conference, you ask? Okay, unlike the usual press conference, where only members of the media get chat-time with the band, a fan conference is where you, the hard-core follower, get your chance to pop the question!
So here we are, a mixed bag of fans (mostly contest winners) and press-types (including LIME!) from various Asian territories, gathered in a large-ish room at Cleveland's Gund Arena (where the boys will perform tonight) waiting for the Backstreet members to appear. It's 3.45 pm. We've been resting our bums for the last half-hour, squirming in our seats, eyes fixed on the door.
3.55pm. No sign of the band, but the mood is buoyant. Fans take pictures of each other to while away the seconds. The Hongkong contingent gets noisier by the minute as they fall into a boisterous discussion about... Christina Aguilera! The Japanese giggle musteriously among themselves. Heavy-lidded Singapore fans look ready to fall asleep.
4.03pm. Action at last! A laydee official bustles into the room and briefs us on the afternoon's proceedings. "Stay in your seats, don't rush up. You can't touch the boys or kiss them or ask for autographs. But you can ask them anything you want," she parps. Hey, we like the sound of that! Too bad the media can't ask any questions! (Or can we? Hmm....)
4.15 pm. Where are the fellas? The anticipation is wearing us down. LIME persuades Singapore fan Allison to ask a question on our behalf. She agrees. Hurrah!
4.30 pm. Someone lets out a surprised squeal! AJ's just popped his head into the room! Oh boy! Everyone gets into a flap. The doors swing open finally, and in swaggers.... The Backstreet Boys!
"Hello! Good afternoon everybody! Thanks for coming." chirp (from left) Kev, AJ, Howie, Brian and Nick as they ease into their chairs. A queue of eager fans are lined up in the centre of the room, waiting for their turn to fire away at their pop heroes.
"What's your fave Backstreet Boy song? Which is your fave video?" someone wants to know. "Do you all have tattoos?" squeaks another. (For the record, AJ has 12!) "What do you think about your Hongkong fans?" persists a besotted miss. "I'm very fascinated about your culture," professes Kev, marvelling aloud at the wonders of feng shui and martial arts.
A Taiwanese fan holds up a drawing she's slaved over. "That's awesome," assures Kev approvingly. "That's good," pipes Nick sincerely. "Thank you, thank you," she says, bopping her head madly. Then: "This....question... is .... for... Neek. When.... will .... you... held... concert....in.... Taiwan?" she ventures in halting English.
Nick isn't quite sure himself and it's Kev to the rescue. "As soon as this tour is finished, we're gonna be recording our new album, and we're definitely gonna come over to Asia to promote it. We're gonna start off our next world tour with you guys. We realise we haven't been there in a long time."
"Kev and Brian, tell us about your fiancees," pleads an inquisitive 16-year-old. Drawls Kev: "My fiancee is someone I've been dating on and off now for about eight years. I met her at Walt Disney World when I was a ninja turtle. She was a dancer there, we met in the cafeteria. When she walked into the room she swept me off my feet, so I asked her out on a date. She stuck through all this crazy roller-coaster ride that was going on, and I decided it was time to make her my wife."
Explains Brian: "I met my fiancee at a video shoot for 'As Long As You Love Me'. (Jokingly) It's been two years and 10 months and 13 days and about six hours...... (Gurgles happily) No, it's been almost three years now. Just decided to get on with my life and do the things that make me happy.
Another bold Taiwanese fan inquires (through an interpreter) if Brian and Kev would have her if they weren't engaged? "That might be possible," says Brian kindly. Adds Kev helpfully: "Howie's single......" To which Sweet D good-naturedly replies: "I'm single and always looking!"
At this point, LIME motions Singapore-fan, Allison, to sneak in a question for us. She does so reluctantly: "AJ, which is more painful, getting one of your many tattoos or losing at the Grammys?" Ouch! But cool cat that he is, AJ is unperturbed.
"I would have to say getting a tattoo 'cos even though we didn't win, we proved a point o anyone who had any doubt about us. We performed in front of all our peers, did a duet with Elton John , and showed that we're not just a boyband. We're a true vocal group and we're growing up and maturing and we are for real. You don't always need something physical to walk away with to realise you did a good job and that people like you. But it would be nice to have a Grammy... maybe next year," he offers in a husky cadence.
Back at her seat, Allison frets that she's offended the band. "I feel awful!" she quivers. LIME swears she did a top job and points out that even if BSB were miffed, at least their chortling bodyguards seemed amused at her bravado. (Although we don't tell her we caught Kev throwing a glare in our direction. Yikes!)
Back at the Q&A and we're on to the topic of privacy. "Do you miss leading a normal life?" voices a concerned party.
Brian: "Sometimes. (Quietly) When I see people driving down the road, I think, 'Wow! They can go into any restaurant, order anything, they don't have to be asked, 'Are you er.......'. Sometimes you feel like you're being focused on, which is kinda hard. But I don't think we would give it all up either, because our success had allowed us some opportunities of a lifetime."
A little later, he reveals his dream: "To some day be a dad and start a family; doing the finer things in life like chasing the kids and changing diapers." Awww....
Another poignant moment is reached when a Japanese doll wonders what AJ's most exciting dream is.
"When I'm sleeping kinda dream?" asks the confused fella. Nick almost falls off his chair laughing.
"Woah, AJ! That was a really good question!"
"Make sure it's presentable," warns Kev, eyeing him intently.
AJ doesn't disclose details of his most exciting dream, but describes instead, a recurring nightmare. "We're performing at a major award show and Brian completely forgets the words and everyone in the audience starts laughing and walks out! We're left on the stage by ourselves, and we don't win an award and everyone thinks we're a joke and then Brian finally thinks of the right words. I've had that dream like six or seven times and I was wondering if it's for a reason. Although Brian's never messed up -- yet!"
You warm up to this crazily tattooed attention-getter for sharing his deepest anxieties with you. But before we can hang on to the feeling, it's time for the last question! Already?
"Do you have the confidence to stay together as a group and not break up?" squeaks a worried fan.
"I think we have taken care of a lot of things that have happened to us as a group," booms Nick. "We are very secure and happy. I'm not a brat anymore. We're tighter than we've ever been. We have a lot of control over the things we do now. There was a point in our existence as a group when we were overworked, but now, we're very happy. We have control of our destinies."
