Sunday, September 06, 2009

Episode 349: Who Brought The '90s Back?

I just had a listen to the new Backstreet Boys single, 'Straight Through My Heart'. This single is trying to tick so many culturally relevant boxes, it's almost painful. Sprinkling of electronic beats, courtesy of RedOne's production genius? Check. Video cashing in on the current vampire craze (and ripping off the Blade franchise in the process)? Check. Boyband from the era of manufactured pop trying to make a comeback in the new millennium? Check. To be fair, I actually like this new single much better than the stuff they were putting out when they were angling for the adult contemporary market. The video, however, is still completely stupid. Personally, I think the whole spate of pop acts reuniting or relaunching their careers is getting just a little ridiculous, although the fact that many of them have chosen to ape the 'it' sound of the moment (i.e. channel the likes of Lady Gaga) helps immensely. It might even guarantee them commercial success! At least we seem to have passed through that phase during which hip hop seemed to dominate the airwaves to the exclusion of unashamedly radio-friendly pop. That's one of the big reasons why I stopped listening to the radio from the mid-'00s onwards.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Comeback? I know all the media is using that term, but really. How is a band "trying" for a comeback when they've been touring the world over a year in support of their last album until just a few months ago? And their previous album dropped in 2004? They don't pretend to be in their teens, they look their age. I quite like the song, and really don't mind the video at all. It at least shows SOME effort compared to the last five videos they've made--standing around someplace pretty emoting the hell out of a song! Gotta love the Energizer Bunny philosophy they have too.....

Ian said...

I'm still waiting for them to produce an album that'll reach #1 on the US charts again. The past few single releases haven't done too well either. I never said they were pretending to be in their teens, and by the way, only ONE of them was a teenager when they first appeared on the music scene. If you think the video shows some effort, you're probably the reason why the industry can afford to churn out mediocrity and still stay in business.

PS: You're entitled to your opinion, but at least have the guts to leave your name.