From left, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and AJ McLean, perform on the 2018 Backstreet Boys cruise. // Karah
Can you believe this past month? May 2018 has by far been one of the best months ever to be a Backstreet Boys fan.
I’ve seen fans after fans say, “It feels like it’s 1999 all over again.” And you know what? It DOES feel like that.
The boys are kicking-ass on the charts with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” They are being played on the radio again and not only has DGBMH hit the top of the iTunes charts in so many countries, other songs such as “Everybody,” “As Long As You Love Me” and “I Want It That Way” are charting again on iTunes. Plus, albums such as “Never Gone,” “Chapter One,” “Backstreet Boys” and “Millennium” have been charting on iTunes also.
Not the mention that “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” has been one of the most added songs on radio this past week.
Is it 2018 or is it 1999?
Just like the Backstreet Boys, the Backstreet Army have been through a lot over the years. We’ve put up with the ridicule from other people. Whether it’s family members or co-workers, we’ve heard it all:
- Didn’t they break up?
- ‘N Sync was better.
- When are you going get over this fascination?
- Backstreet was NEVER back.
- Shouldn’t they be Backstreet Men now?
Seriously, you could probably add 500 more things to that list. I’ve heard it countless times from everybody. Family members think I’m crazy, but they don’t get it. That’s why being on the cruise is so fulfilling. It’s not being on the boat with the boys really, it’s about being with your people.
Backstreet Boys fans are my people. They get it.
So you, yes you, reading this right now, you understand what I mean when I say that it feels like the good ole days again. It’s “cool” to be a Backstreet Boys fan again. Not that we all ever hid the fact that we are, but we aren’t laughed at anymore.
“That video is SO good and that song is stuck in my head!”
One of my co-workers said that to me the other day. Someone who was not a Backstreet Boys fan in the heyday.
The music video for “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is getting close to 13 million views in just over a week. The “In A World Like This” music video has had 25 million views in 5 years. That alone should show you that the boys are doing SO GOOD right now with not just fans, but the average music lover and listener.
This is our time, guys. This is the time that we can work to help the guys and show the world that they are back. Find your local radio stations (US and Canada – Thanks to The Darkside for those links!) and call in and request to hear “Don’t Go Breaking Your Heart.” Listen to the song on Spotify in a playlist, because then each listen will count instead of putting the song on repeat.
So as Prince sings, let’s party like it’s 1999. Let’s help promote the boys even more than they are doing themselves. Let’s celebrate this time in our fandom lives.
LET’S. GET. IT.
