Backstreet Boys - The Greatest Of All Time
Whether you are a fan of or not, everyone is bound to recognize the lyrics, beat and rhythm to the iconic songs, “I Want It That Way," “Larger Than Life” and “As Long as You Love Me." That is just three of the numerous songs from the American vocal group the Backstreet Boys.
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Formed back in 1993 in Orlando, Florida, the band comprises of Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Howie D. In 2006, Kevin Richardson left the band to chase other interests however, he officially re-joined the group in 2012.
With over 100 million records sold globally, the Backstreet Boys reign as the best-selling boy-band of all time and one of the world’s best-selling music artistes. In addition, they are the only boy-band and the first group since Sade, an English soul band, to have their first nine albums to reach the top 10 on the billboard 200.
The Backstreet Boys released a total of nine studio albums globally, 28 singles, one live album, three compilation albums, and 25 music videos. Their debut single “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” which was released in 1995 reached number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1996, the group released their debut self-titled album ‘Backstreet Boys’ worldwide and was certified three times platinum in Europe and certified diamond in Canada. They released their second international album ‘Backstreet’s Back’ in 1997 with the exclusion of the United States. Simultaneously releasing their second self-titled album in the United States. It became the tenth best-selling album of the 1990s and peaked at number four.
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‘Millennium,' their third and most victorious album to yet was released in May 1999 became the best-selling album of the year and was sold over 30 million copies globally. The album was nominated for five Grammy Awards and entered the Billboard 200 at number one with its first-week sales. The album has since turned out to be one of the best-selling albums of all time with over 30 million copies sold internationally. The group’s fourth album ‘Black & Blue’ entered the Billboard 200 at number one with its first week of sales. Following their hiatus in 2001, their fifth studio album ‘Never Gone’ was released in 2005. Sold almost 300,000 copies in its first week of release, it peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. Subsequently, ‘Unbreakable’ was released in 2007. ‘This Is Us’ which was released in 2009 was their seventh back-to-back album to reach top 10 on the Billboard 200. The group’s latest album ‘In A World Like This’ which was released in 2013 debuted at number five on the Billboard 200.
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It was also in 2013 that they celebrated their 20th anniversary with the In a World Like This Tour. It was their 10th concert tour which comprises of over 140 shows in North America, Europe and Asia. The tour was the 44th highest grossing global tour in 2014 with total gross of $32.8 million and ticket sales of $607,407.
Their first single in five years “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” which was released on May 17th this year surged to No. 1 on the real-time iTunes chart. Moreover, the band hit off their Las Vegas Residency on March 1, 2017 and will run through November this year.
With the group’s milestone and ever-growing success in music, awards, global sales and possibly growing fan-base for over two decades, there is no doubt that the Backstreet Boys is the most successful band in music history. Even though they have matured in the art of making music and as a band as a whole, they have also stayed true to who they are while modernizing simultaneously. Making their sound invigorating while staying pertinent. Not to be forgotten their humbleness such as their gratitude towards fans, old and new. Ergo, I think it is safe to say that these legends are the greatest band of all time.
