Yes, I have already admitted I have a soft spot for the Backstreet Boys, so it should come as no surprise I have to do a little post about the new video. This is the official preview from the BSB Youtube site. You can see the complete video here.
Backstreet - Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough & AJ McLean
The big announcement today was the new song from the Backstreet Boys. Straight Thru My Heart was released on the official website as a snippet, but of course it has already been leaked on the internet. I have also said Backstreet was my favorite boyband of the 90s, so we shall see if they can still pull it off now. When they started off, they were five, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, A. J. McLean and Kevin Richardson. Three years ago, Kevin left the group to have more time at home to start his family. Kevin was my favorite. Anyway, so then there were four.
The many looks of Kevin Richardson
The new CD, This Is Us, is to be released sometime this fall. Odd title, not sure what it means, except the obvious 'the four are us people, get over it. No new members, and Kevin is gone.'
The song is good, but certainly nothing outstanding. I think of it sounding a bit like an adult-contemporary version of an old song. But it is poppy and perky, and certainly not the worse song that might be on the air these days. This is a the music video.
We can just hope it makes enough money we never have to see another season of House of Carters, with the screwed up and dysfunctional Carter family yelling, screaming and backstabbing one another. And be glad whiny Aaron Carter did not join the Boys. You can find out other sites to find out about the current boys at their website and hear the song replayed incessantly.
It is only too funny that not long ago, I posted about Boyzone and their video Better, with out member Stephen Gately videoed in a romantic situation with another man. Needless to say, a bit late to the party and with a bit less grace, an American boyband have stepped up to the plate with a gay of their own. The band is V Factory, and the gay is Nathaniel Flatt. The band has released their first song, a hip-hop/pop song with a bit more teeth than either N SYNC or Backstreet Boys could muster, but not that much more.
It is really just a pop tune worthy of a club diva, with a thin veneer of hoodies and Beat It dance moves to add more of a street feel. However, like much boyband material, it is a great dance tune, and should do well in the clubs.
Speaking of thin covers, unlike the Brit boybands, the video shows Nathaniel dancing with chicks, not so much other guys. But unlike previous American incarnations, they are giving this gay boy the ability to be out and talk to plenty of outlets about his sexuality and not wait until after the band has broken up.
Mark Feehily and boyfriend Kevin McDaid
Don't get me wrong, boybands are a guilty pleasure for me. I love Backstreet Boys - Squeee! A new CD is coming in the fall - and Westlife - who had me seriously considering flying to Ireland to see them in concert last year, and I have CDs and DVDs of the Irish lads performing. To the best of my knowledge, Backstreet doesn't have the prerequisite gay on payroll, but Westlife has Mark Feehily, an out gay man who doesn't mind chatting about his boyfriend while on stage.
Hey, any step forward is good, and Nathaniel says his bandmates have no problem with his sexuality, and neither do the executives handling the band. It is a non-issue, at least at this point. I haven't heard any of their music other than this video, so time will tell if V Factory has the talent and charisma to make a go of it. You can check them out at their website.
