Late 90s Pop (Battle of The Boy Bands)

Battle of The Boy Bands

(Backstreet Boys vs NSYNC)

Yesterday, my friends and I were listening to music and we got into a fun debate. We started listening to the late 90s pop which included Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, 98 Degrees, etc. But two groups still out in the era of teen pop the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. These two group together owned this era. So obviously, we get to the question who was the better group.  One thing about my friends we like music we don't talk about how many records were sold, it was more who made better music. Even though, both groups were gimmicks but they made good songs for "teeny pop" era. 

If you didn't know about this two groups I will give you a little bit of history. The Backstreet Boys is a group that was formed in Florida in 1993 by Lou Pearlman. With hits like "All I Have to Give", "I Want It That Way", and "Larger Than Life", they have sold more than 130 million worldwide.  NSYNC was a group that was formed in Florida in 1995, with the same formula as the Backstreet Boys, but with hits like "I Want You Back", "Bye, Bye, Bye", and Gone, they have sold more than 80 million records worldwide. 

To everyone knowledge, where these groups were first introduced to the American public, they were not noticed so in order to build a fan base these group went overseas where they were a huge. Finally when they build a fanbase in Europe they were introduced to the US again and they exploded.

Backstreet Boy's first US single after "We Got It Goin On" flopped in 1995 - 

Quit Playing Game (With My Heart)

NSYNC first US single 

I Want You Back

First Question: WHO HAD THE BETTER FIRST SINGLE???

My Opinion: For me I think NSYNC had the best first single. The reason why I say that is because NSYNC first single makes you want to move, and many people that know me knows I like to dance. But Backstreet Boys first single was definitely better talent-wise. "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" showed that the boys had talent. It was a mid-tempo song that showed that this group's vocal ability. Meanwhile, NSYNC's "I Want You Back" was just a dance song that made you want to dance, even though the harmonies on this song was okay, but it didn't display their talents. However, I feel their first single was much better than Backstreet Boys.

Now that there first single was released, now we go into their first albums. I am giving you my three best songs from their first albums.

Backstreet Boys (1997)

"All I Have To Give"

"As Long As You Love Me"

"I'll Never Break Your Heart"

*NSYNC (1998)

"Tearing Up My Heart" 

"Thinking of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)"

"I Want Back"

Second Question: WHO HAD THE BETTER FIRST ALBUM???


My Opinion: Now my opinion, I liked NSNYC's first single but to me Backstreet boys gave me that talent on their first album. NSNYC had me moving but when they gave me nothing but dance songs. I wanted to hear them blow and I only got that on "I Drive Myself Crazy". I feel Backstreet Boys first album was better in my opinion.




After both groups first album, their second albums move into places in history. Backstreet Boys 99's "Millennium" sold 1.1 million copies in the first week, which singles like "I Want It That Way" & "Larger Than Life" that album was the biggest album of 1999. NSYNC 2000's "No Strings Attached" sold 2.42 million copies in the first week. No album has sold that in the first week since then. 

Backstreet Boys's  Millennium

"I Want It That Way"

"Larger Than Life"

NSYNC No Strings Attached 

"Bye, Bye, Bye"

"It's Gonna Be Me"

Third Question: From these two singles which group had the best 2nd album???

My Opinion: When Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" hit the radio everybody was singing that song. But when NSYNC came with "Bye Bye Bye" everybody was moving their to "Aint No Lie Bye Bye Bye", like they were doing in the video. I got so used to Backstreet Boys making the ballads, when they released songs like "The Call" & "Larger Than Life", I wasn't really impressed. Even though they were okay songs, but they are better at ballads in my opinions. Like "Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely" was an awesome song. But when NSYNC released, "It's Gonna Be Me", I was going crazy. Then the video came out, I wanted to learn the dance moves. Then they came out with "This I Promise You", on "No Strings Attached", you got more vocals than just dancing, which I like. After this "No Strings Attached" NSYNC had more of an edge than Backstreet Boys.

After both groups released their third albums "Black & Blue" & "Celebrity". Each album for the groups were blockbusters on the billboard charts. But after "Celebrity" NSYNC broke up and Backstreet Boys is still together. I always thought that Backstreet Boys had more talent than NSYNC, which in the end talent conquers all.

Last Question: Who was the best group???

My Opinion: Backstreet Boys was always more talented as a group in my opinion, but I think NSYNC had better music. Even though, they are sold to the world in the same way, NSYNC just has better stage presence and that "thing", not taking anything from the Backstreet Boys, but NSYNC was better in my opinion.

Here's some more Backstreet Boys & NSYNC songs!!

"Shape of My Heart"

 

"Gone"

"The One"

"Pop"

"More Than That"

"This I Promise You"

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENT BOX

(Don't act like you didn't listen to the Backstreet Boys & NSYNC)