So you curl up in your bed every night listening to sizzling hit songs like « I’ll never break your heart » and « As long as you love me » from the smokin’ hot 1997 Backstreet Boys album and dream of one day making a name for yourself they way Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and Aj McLean have. The hard part is how to take your aspirations from fantasyland and make them come true in the real world. Right?
Rest assured that this is the same dilemma the five fine guys of the Backstreet Boys had not so long ago. And while there are no quick and fast answers when it comes to finking to road to greatness (sorry, darlings!), there is on thing these « We’ve got it goin’on » guys all had in common before they hit the big time : inspiration. Whatever your motivation, coupled with integrity and a commitment to your goals, it can lead to great things.
As most successful people will tell you, having someone to look up to and checking out what they do is one of the most important steps to making a splash in whatever profession you choose to pursue. You better believe that this famous Florida quintet kept their eye on top entertainers before they were in the spotlight themselves. Just ask smooth-movin’ Aj, who learned how to be light on his feet and a master of the beat by watching old-school hep cat Sammy Davis Jr. Perform when fame was just a faraway fantasy for himself. « He was one of my idols growing up », 20 years old Aj explains. « With his whole tap dancing act and the whole pack with him, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and all those guys. »
Now that Aj has his own cool pack to dance and sing with, he has to give it up to Sammy and company for inspiring him. « They were just really cool, » he raves. Like Aj once you’ve been inspired, all the work that you have to do to perfect your skills won’t seem so tedious – and before you know it, you’ll have taken your first baby steps to fulfilling you destiny to be whatever you want to be!
Oldest Backstreet Boy Kevin, who had a voice for music and a head for business, says there’s nothing like seeking advice from those who have already accomplished what you want to do. They teach you by example to try harder and roll with the punches.
One person that Kevin, who turned 27 on October 3, wishes he could have a pow-wow session with is late, great rock ‘n’ roller Elvis Presley. « I would like to talk to him, » the blue-eyed babewonder shaeres matter-of-fafactly. « You know, talk to him about his popularity, his career and the intensity of his career for that many yours. »
Kevin adds that he would also like to have some serious guy talk with « The king » about dealing with the pressures of fame. « Just to get his feedback on what he went through and, you know, talk about music, » Kevin explains of their would-be gabfest.
Huggable Howie agrees with Kevin that learning from others is they way to go. That’s why you’ll never catch the Backstreet Boys saying a nasty word about other all-buy singing groups – the Backstreet Boys are not into knocking other musicians in order to feel good about themselves. In fact, they are very open with their public praise of others. That’s why the five sweeties never hesitate to rave about fellow music groups that they admire, one of which is Boyz II Men, whom they are quick to give it up for whenever they are asked about their musical influences.
Howie says that ripping apart the competition is a waste of time and he prefers to stay positive and focused on how well his career is doing. « I sometimes have to take a step back and look at all our accomplishments, » marvels 25 years old Howie, « and thank God every day for the opportunity. »
Given that Howie, whose silkysmooth voice matches his silkysmooth locks, alwasy finds time to give God some love on a daily basis, whom do you think he would like to sit down and have a chat with? « I’d like to meet the Pope, » Howie reveals to BOP.
Babely Brian, 23, also hasn’t had a problem staying humble with Backstreet Boys success (or gettin’ his groove on during BSB’s summer concert tour since his elective heart surgery earlier this year). Brian, who is a self-proclaimed fan of the classic sounds and smooth moves of the 60s band The Temptations, says that people who are full of themselves – whether they are successful or not – bug him. « People who get just straight-up serious and can’t break down and laugh all the time or enjoy themselves, that just bothers me, » B-Rok states.
Baby Backstreet Boys Nick seconds Brian’s motion of being annoyed by negative vibes, adding that he looks up to people who are upfront and positive. Being the sincere babe that he is, it’s not surprising that nice-guy Nick expresses interest in conversing with the United States’ 16th president Honest Abe-Abraham Lincoln, that is. « That would be cool to talk to him, » acknowledges the 18 years old blond.
Okey, now that the Backstreet Boys have proven that inspiration and integrity can be the keys that open many doors, how did they manage to stay true to those qualities and not get discouraged when mean people tried to bring them down? According to Aj, they didn’t to anything different in the lean days than they do now.
The goateed girl-magnet says that they simply keep their minds on the music and don’t let other people’s jealousies or ill will make them doubt themselves. « We’ve just taking it day by day, » Aj says straightforwardly. « It’s like we’ve got tunnel vision and we have a lot of goals that we’re trying to achieve, so we just focus on those things. »
Now that you’ve learned all about what it takes to make your dreams come true from five guys who have done it, you can play your Backstreet Boys albums, watch them on MTV and check out their live performances with the knowledge that what they’ve accomplished is entirely possible for you, too. And who knows, you might even surpass your own expectations, Backstreet Girl!