BSB & N Sync Comparisons

Firstly, I want to put out there that I am a Backstreet fan WAY BEFORE I'm any kind of 'N Sync fan. But I also realize that almost half the songs by both bands are written, produced, and mixed by the same people (i.e., Max Martin, Full Force, Herbert Crichlow, the late Denniz PoP, Veit Renn, etc.) Although most of the songs on Millenium will probably be very different from the songs on 'N Sync's No Strings Attached, they will still (most likely) have some things in common.

But I think they have a lot more differences than similarities. Here's why:

The majority of all the songs by the Boys have a distinct pop flavor. But pop has different categories within it. There's M. Carey pop, which is like r&b harmony mixed up with some dance, and some songs that are big on vocals, and then there's C. Dion pop, which is mostly long, drawn-out love songs with beautiful lyrics (and a pretty nice-sounding voice). And more. But while the Boys and 'N Sync ARE titans in the pop industry, Backstreet definitely seems to have more of a pop flavor.

Look at Britney Spears and 'N Sync. Examples of songs that are considered to be in the pop genre today (but not a few years ago): Crazy, ...baby one more time, Tearin' Up My Heart, I Want You Back, Bye,Bye,Bye, You Got It, Crazy For You...these songs are dance songs. And I know the BSB have some songs like that (Get Down, That's The Way I Like It, It's Gotta Be You), but the sound of the songs are distincly different from one another. Most of Backstreet's songs, whether a slow ballad or a mid-tempo song, all have that soft-pop kind of sound. Quit Playin' Games & ALAYLM both have the same drum beat in the background, so kind of the same feel to them. While the two bands have a few dance songs in common (It's Gotta Be You is the first that comes to mind...maybe I Wanna Be With You and WGIGO as well), most of the songs have a different sound all together (forget their voices for a second).

On most of 'N Sync's songs on their US debut album you can clearly hear a guitar of some sort on almost every track. (I don't know much about music, so I might get the next part wrong) It sounds like Backstreet used more keyboard and synthesizers, and some bass (All I Have To Give as an example).

Do you guys kinda understand me? Or have I confused us all? (LOL) Assuming u do follow me, here's the next part:

But WAIT! I know, y'all are thinking, ok, I'll give you that both bands have a slightly different sound (Backstreet is usually pop, and 'N Sync is kind of rock/r&b/pop), but.....their slow songs are all the same. NO WAY!!! That's where their difference really shine, in my mind.

For example, think of Don't Wanna Lose You Now, Spanish Eyes, Show Me The Meaning, I Need You Tonight, IWITW, Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, I'll Never Break Your Heart, All I Have To Give, 10,000 Promises, If I Don't Have You, The Perfect Fan...ok, you're bored, I get it =)

Now, think of I Drive Myself Crazy, God Must Have Spent, Everything I Own, This I Promise You, etc. I don't know what to call it, but the slow songs from Backstreet & 'N Sync have a definite difference, can u feel it? Now, I'm done w/their MUSIC. Now their lyrics.

Yes, I can think of about 10 or so songs offhand from Backstreet that have the same kind of lyrics as some 'N Sync songs, but let's look at the songs on Miellenium, and few from the previous albums. Once again, give me a line from 'N Sync that is as mind-blowing/amazingly touching as any of the following:

I never thought that I would lose my mind/That I could control this/Never thought that I'd be left behind/That I was strong than you (That verse could pefectly describe the feelings of a married couple on the brink of divorce. At least, in all the cases I know of. How many 'N Sync lines can accomplish that kind of feeling?)

And what about No One Else Comes Close? Sheesh, when I first heard that ballad I thought the Boys were old fellas declaring their still undying love for their old wives (meaning, 65+). Of course, it could also go for younger married couples, lol. But you get what I mean Life goes on as it never ends/Eyes of stone observe the trends/They never say/Forever gazed fully (That line is so beautiful! For me, and sometimes for ppl close to me, there comes times when you just can cry anymore, b/c there's too much suffering around you. Or, say that you can't stop crying, but haven't you wished you had eyes of stone sometimes? But still, no matter what, you can't tear yourself away from whatever horrible thing is happening. A mediocre ex. is a car accident. You just can't not watch, it's second nature. Imagine that when the accident is right next to home base). Show Me The Meaning is a song that really pierces your soul. The only song 'N Sync has that comes close is God Must Have Spent (A little more time on you). But there's one thing that I just don't understand about that song. 'N Sync dedicated it to their parents, why? The lyrics were lines that a parent would say to their child, not the other way around. That just didn't make any sense. What I think would've been cooler is if they had dedicated it to their younger sibs. God Must Have Spent was one of the first songs I taught my kid sister (she's two year-old, who loves Backstreet, lol). But that song really describes my feelings towards her, exactly. But a child to sing that song to their parent? Try The Perfect Fan, folks.

Tell me/The words to say/The road to take/To find a way/Back to your heart/What can I do/To get to you/And find a way/Back to your heart IN CONTRAST TO: I lie awake/I drive myself crazy/drive myself crazy/ thinking of you/Made a mistake/When I let you go baby/I drive myself crazy/Wanting you the way that I do

Let's take this chance to get to know each other better/Maybe we will discover/We can be more than lovers IN CONTRAST TO: Baby I can't understand/Just why we can't be lovers

Now, I'm not dissing 'N Sync's lyrics. I'm trying to draw a distinction. Backstreet's lyrics can definitely (c'mon, u have to admit this) pass for adults' feelings towards one another than 'N Sync's songs can. What I'm saying is, Backstreet's lyrics are just....to be point-blank...more MATURE. If you are an 'N Syncer, or think I'm dissing them, please go back up to the lyrics section of this post, and take a good look(There are about a dozen other verses that I could have put down there that would prove my point further, but my fingers are starting to hurt a bit). Alright, thank you for looking back up there again. If you're still not convinced, listen to the lyrics of I Want It That Way (either version). God, that song could be a motto for couples everywhere! The foreign version is when you've been together for years, and have been through everything together. The other one is where you both have given it 200%, but it really is over. I am being completely truthful when I say, that in my mind, it is one of the greatest love songs in history.

ALMOST DONE, ppl! This next part is much shorter:

One of the main reasons I am a Backstreet fan much more than an 'N Sync fan is b/c of their voices. Honestly, to my ears, NO ONE from 'N Sync can sing. Not Justin, definitely not Chris, and no, sorry, not JC. I think I heard Joey heard sing once, but that didn't impress me either. It's just that I get tingles when I hear any of the Boys' voices, and I get shudders when I hear 'N Syncs (maybe not THAT bad). But I've heard both bands live, and without the programming 'N Sync sounds even worse! This is my honest opinion here. I'm not anit-nsync. I'm sick and tired of the he said this, he said that. Let's just be happy that Backstreet's Back, shall we? I mean, c'mon, let's rise above the whole teenybopper craze and be mature fans. That just doesn't mean not dissing their girlfriends. It means respecting them as artists. To show respect for Backstreeet, we don't need to degrade 'N Sync and their fans. Or vice-versa.

Alrighty then, I'm done! Now go to your stereo, put in your Larger Than Life cd, and crank up the sound!

Whoops! You didn't tell me your grandma was visiting! So sorry!

Always and Forever Backstreet,
Tenzin (aka T_freestyle)

Please e-mail me about what you think at tenzinfreestyle@hotmail.com