September 3, 1999: The Battle is Over
By News Team Member Amy Neuenfeldt

In 1997, the Backstreet Boys came out with their single “Quit Playing Games
(With My Heart).” This hit single shot up the charts, all the way to number
2. Back then, the Backstreet Boys weren’t referred to as a “boy band.” They
were referred to as the Backstreet Boys.

Flash forward to 1998. A new band had hit the music scene. They called
themselves “NSync.” Not only did they have 5 guys, as did the Backstreet
Boys, but they also had similar looks, similar dance moves, and wouldn’t you
say that their first single “I Want You
Back” sounded an awful lot like the Backstreet Boys’ latest single “Everybody
(Backstreet’s Back)?” But, these two groups also had one more similarity,
however. They were both slapped with the infamous label “boy band.” The
Battle of the Boy Bands had
begun.

For starters, there wasn’t really much of a battle to begin with. The
Backstreet Boys had been here first, so naturally, they had seniority over
those who followed.

First of all, when it came down to the music industry and the media, the
Backstreet Boys knew how to behave. They delivered a solid debut album that
virtually turned them into role models overnight, and they conducted
interviews with dignity and respect. They never swore during interviews,
bad-mouthed the competition, or sang a song about having sex under a
Christmas tree with Santa as a witness, all of which N Sync pleads guilty
too. But then again, can you blame N Sync for bad-mouthing the Backstreet
Boys? I mean, what would you say to a rivaling group that not only ranked
third in ‘98 record sales behind the Titanic soundtrack and Celine Dion, but
then went on to outsell country legend Garth Brooks, and take home the title
of “Best First Week Sales” for their sophomore album, Millennium? There’s
only one word to describe N Sync: jealous.

And that’s just immature.

When you get down to it, what really matters behind a group is how well their
voices can carry a tune, not only as a lead, but also as a group. The makings
of a good, solid vocal group would be one where every single member has a
strong enough voice to take the
lead. The Backstreet Boys have it. “I Want It That Way” is just one of many
songs that proves that Brian Littrell, A.J. McLean, Nick Carter, Howie
Dorough, and Kevin Richardson each has a voice that is pure gold. N Sync, on
the other hand, has only two lead singers, while the rest bring up the
chorus. In any music group, it is important for each member to
have solid role, not just one or two with the rest in tow. In short, the
Backstreet Boys have been vocal powerhouses from the start. Any group should
be smart enough not to mess with that.

Now, I could go on and on, and list every single award and honor that the
Backstreet Boys have ever won, as compared to N Sync, but I decided not to.
That would be just plain mean. Why? Well, to put it simply, NSync fell short.
And it would be just downright
embarrassing not only to N Sync’s fans, but to the members themselves.

The final thought I have on this blows down to media coverage in itself.
After the Backstreet Boys’ ‘98 summer tour, the boys were magically vanished
off the cover of all the teen magazines, and in came none other than N Sync.
At first, I was mad. I thought to myself, why isn’t the BSB on the cover of
these magazines anymore? But, then I realized that the Backstreet Boys are
still making the covers of magazines. While N Sync is making the cover of
Tiger Beat, the Backstreet Boys are making the cover of Rolling Stone. That’s
when it hit me: the Backstreet Boys are no longer the teenybopper “flavor of
the month.” Unlike N Sync, the BSB has moved onto bigger and better things.

As I wrap this up, there’s really nothing left for me to do but apologize.
Sorry, to all of you loyal Battle of the Boy Bands spectators. It’s been fun.
But, unfortunately, like all things, it must come to an end. The Battle of
the Boy Bands is over. Sorry NSync. In this battle, like in all battles they
have fought along the way, the Backstreet Boys have once again, kicked your
ass.