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Listen to Backstreet Boys at Backstreet's Official Site
Backstreet Boys, after doubt, taunting, and anticipation, are back. They are more mature, married, and ready to take on the world, fans and critics alike. The album's title is Black and Blue (possibly representing the past woes and triumphs of this once "boy" band). The album is anything but sad and glum. Rather it is a great source of 
many love ballads and hits that will show the world Backstreet's Back All Right!
It is clear that Backstreet has moved beyond the boy band image. They are world renowned for their ballads. And despite the merchandising that aims on trapping Backstreet, into the "boy band" persona, their music continues to progress into adult pop/R&B Contemporary music.
Take the two singles that were released from Black and Blue, It's True (Backstreet's Burger King promotion) and Shape of My Heart. Two very contemporary adult tunes. It is assumed just because many young girls are fans that Backstreet's music is bad or corny. Maybe these little girls and many women realize their something missing from many relationships today, romance!
This album has a similar sound to the Millennium album. There is that acoustic guitar, with Spanish influence in several of the songs. There is also a definite rhythm and blues influence in this album, arguably more than pop. Black and Blue also features more songs written by Backstreet themselves. Also, featured on the album, like on Millennium is a song for the fans, entitled aptly Everyone.
There are fourteen songs on this album, several that I can see being big hits, and most likely, classic wedding songs, including I Promise You (With Everything I Am), and Yes I Will.
Time was written by Backstreet; it was produced and featured the music talents of the legendary Babyface. I like this song a lot; it is about the times and tribulations of being a member of Backstreet. It is just so a pretty song, so mellow, and accepting of the pain and joy of life.
Time, look where we are and what we've been throughThe Call will probably be the biggest single from this album. It is a fast paced, rhythm and blues-pop type song that is about the exploits of a man who gets BUSTED cheating on his girl. By the time this article is posted the video should be wrapping up production, and being aired on MTV's Making the Video. Rumor has it that Outkast will be featured in the remix of this song, which will be released sometime in early 2001.
Of course no album is perfect. There were a few corny songs on the album that screamed, in my opinion BOY BAND! Get Another Boyfriend had potential, but I don't know, something was not there to make the songs whole. The same goes for Shining Star, produced by Rodney Jerkins of Darkchild Entertainment, whose work I like a lot. In this case though I could not stand by this tune. Not For Me, it was just eh. Honestly I could have done without them, but out of thirteen songs three so-so songs are excusable.
I was glad to hear all of the guy's voices being used more effectively. And I am really glad that Backstreet dedicated a song on their album to the fans once again. It is nice when people get up on stages and say interviews how much their fans have made them who they were. But it is another thing, to take a slot on an album and actually say it. It may not be personal, but it is personal as one can get for millions of fans.
Overall I liked the album. If you are a fan you will be pleased. If you are not a fan you will be even more pleased. And though people would like to point out that Backstreet did not outsell their label mates, N'SYNC, nationally, it should be noted that ninety-seven percent of the world thought Backstreet's album was grand, breaking records in several countries, and setting world wide record sales.
But record sales and good looks are not what keep fans coming back. It is the talent, the art, and the dedication to music, and principles that keep fans coming back. So while all are hating on Backstreet anxiously awaiting their break up, you are going to have to just wait, because for the next year or so you are going to know Backstreet's Back All right!
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