Larger Than Life
This is the type of song that, when you first buy the album, you think "WOW- what a good way to start off"; it's the type of song that, at the end of it's duration of 3 minutes 42 seconds, leaves you eager for the rest of the album. Bt then when they release it? Oh no, that's when you realise just how much of a "boy-band" (sorry, AJ) song it really is. Yes, yes, the live performance has the audience theirs for the taking, and the music video has some excellent graphics. But shouldn't the song be more important than how much it cost to make the video? Don't get me wrong, Larger Than Life is a really good song, but perhaps they should have thought more about the song, and not on the whole image-thing going on when they decided release it.
I Want It That Way
On the other hand, I want it that way is the song you've heard on the Net for the past year and can't get out of your head. You're in a cold sweat thinking, " Why record such a crap song? Oh no, this new album is going to be rubbish and BSB are gonna flop". But then they make a nice simple video that helps people to concentrate more on the song, and not how much money they like everyone to think they've got (although the Jet is a bit worrying!?) And when you DO actually listen to the song properly? Well, what a good song it is! Yes, baring the lyrics, it has a catchy melody, simple yet effective harmonies and Kevin and Howie sing!!!!!! Oh yes, oh yes...
Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
Man, this is one of my favourites. When I first heard it, I couldn't believe how much of a more mature sound it was for them. Immediatley following I Want It That Way (being a good pop song), this one is a pure perfect ballad. All the guys sing exceptionly and with so much emotion that it's easy for you to become captivated in the pure meaning of the song (writen by Max Martin and Herbert Crichlow after the death of Denniz PoP). Some songs that try to base the effectiveness of the song on emotion (as so many new "singers" seem to do nowadays- mentioning none *Westlife*) always end up becoming over the top and unbeleivable. This one? This one is the rare exception.
It's Gotta Be You This song is typicaly Backstreet Boys. It's not got elements that either make it out to be a rock song (Electric guitar- Larger Than Life) or just something else that Backstreet Boys CLEARLY are not. No, it is pure BSB to a tea and satisfies you immensely (especailly performed live! Wow!) It's the kind of 'dance aroung your bedroom with a hair brush' type of song. The vocal arangement is done by B-Rok and AJ, and the whole thing just sounds terribley professional, and very Backstreet Boys. Did I say that already?
I Need You Tonight For those of you who have been bouncing around to BSB for years, and live in Europe, you may remember this from song early BSB concerts. Well, a few years, a name-change, and a broken voice later: here we are. With a few sparkles and a drum beat in the back ground this is Mr. Nick Carter making the most of his solo time and, boy, doesn't he do well? No, seriously, this is the best Nick has ever sounded and, believe me, it's good. Although, the bit where they all come in (at the end) still gives me goosebumps.
Don't Want You Back Yep, this is both my favourite on the album and my favourite preformed live. Man, Aj and that ladder? That's better than him humping the stage during Lay Down Beside ME last time! However, back to the song. What can I say? I love the reference to Backstreet's back, the talking voice at the beginning of every chorus, the harmonies at the end, and the fact that Aj's voice SO suits this song. If these are the type of songs he sings when BSB inevitabley split, you better order me a copy of his album now!
Don't Wanna Lose You Now This is the part of the album where I begin to go to sleep. Don't get me wrong, this is a good song, but how can you follow Don't Want You Back? You just can't! Nick's voice is excellent on this song, which makes me realise just how good his voice is on this album. Perhaps critics will stop referrring to him as the 'cute, blonde one'. So, if you're reading this Nick, love your voice on this song. Mind you, Nick did do the Vocal Arrangements, so he should know how good he sounds! Really, this song is a nice, tuneful ballad, but Don't Want You back is too much of a hard act to follow.
The One Someone, please, make them listen to this song! Do they not realise just how tacky it sounds? Admitedly, it is a LOT better live in concert, but definelty not a song for the faint-hearted!
Back To Your Heart Now I am fully awake, if not for any other reason that for the first line. With a combination of Kev's words and Aj's voice, the line: "It's not that I can't live without you, it's just that I don't even want to try" suddenly becomes the best line on the entire album. You feel your knees go weak and your head go dizzy and you know that you've got the listen to the rest of the song or you'll die. And what a good decision that is. This song is so good that it makes you wonder why Kev has been hiding away his song-writing skills for 6 years. Kev, if you're reading this:beautiful, baby, beautiful.
Spanish Eyes yes, I know that the mere fact that Nick and Howie say that this is their favourite song on this album, that thousands of girls listen to it every night so that they can ahve something in common. However, I personally think this is the worst song they have ever done. Saying that, it's not a bad song. Come on, BSB have such a high standard that even their worse song is not a song that you actually bother to skip when you're listening to their album.
No One Else Comes Close Again, Nick's voice wraps me up and carries me away into the sunset. Although a cover version of Joe's original version, it's very good and very crowd-pleasing. One little thing that would improve it would be to have more of a crescendo, although the guys certainly earn their props already with the version they've recorded.
The Perfect Fan I am not going to be as superficial as to assume that it's good just for the mere fact that Brian wrote it. At the same time, I am not going to diss it simply becasue a backstreet Boy put pen to paper. After all, they are singers/ entertainers/ performers; they get paid to do it. I will, however, say that the lyrics are beautiful, the voices are wonderful (go Howie!) and by the end of it you just can't help but sing along with the choir.
So there you have it, people: my honest opinions of the Millennium CD. if you don't agree then that's your right, but I don't want any mail telling me I'm wrong. Because, after all, they are my personal opinios, and NO personal opinions are EVER wrong.
