From The Vault: Backstreet Boys – ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’

Published: Sunday 22nd Mar 2015 by Joe

This week, From The Vault salutes another phenomenal boyband. Get ready to dance like it’s 1997; today’s pick is ‘Everybody’ by the Backstreet Boys.

At the helm of many of the group’s previous hits was Pop god Max Martin. Hence it was little surprise that he was called on once again  after the release of the group’s US debut to cook up this multi-format jam, which went on to become one of the Backstreet Boys’ biggest records to date.
A worldwide Top 10, it placed at #4 in the US and #2 in Canada; it went #2 on the European Singles Chart and #3 in the UK.

Without a spec of doubt, ‘Everybody”s impact on Pop culture comes courtesy of its cinematic video.

Directed by Joseph Kahn, the theatrical clip – in all its whimsicality – was heavily influenced by Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’ Indeed, it paid homage to the iconic short film with its haunted house theme and MTV era dance-break.  

From its camp and wacky elements to the “qualitative” choreography, the video achieves the perfect balance between cheese and credible, making for a classic moment in Pop. The boys gave a rousing performance of the song at 1998’s MTV Video Music Awards to further cement its status.

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Echoing earlier sentiments, oh how we miss the days when the male arena was this exciting. Creative visuals, solid vocals, and showmanship in earnest. It sadly seems like the requirements for men in this day and age aren’t what they used to be.

The business of music operates in trends and today seems to skew more towards “cool, minimalism.” However, we can’t but feel there is a certain air of “must-see” present here that is missing in much of the output from today’s top talent. Viewed this way, some of modern day’s chart-toppers would be well advised to take a page from Backstreet’s book if really looking to serve up compelling product that lasts the test of time.

Your thoughts?

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  1. AnnaMaeKeatingsNewWig March 22, 2015

    This is secretly still an old skool bop. I ain’t gon front tho, this music video used to scare tf outta me when I was kid. *plays the Moesha Dear Diary music*

  2. BeyRihLiyah March 22, 2015

    nsync was always better than them

    • TheElusiveLamb March 22, 2015

      I AGREE sis! I think it’s funny how we ALL as little pre-t*** girls used to go CRAZY over these boy bands about who was better.

    • DD1G March 23, 2015

      Nsync was created as a carbon copy of Backstreet Boys by the same people to further saturate the marketplace. What do you know anyway? How old are you, 13? Were you even alive when either Backstreet Boys or Nsync were around? Hush.

  3. TheElusiveLamb March 22, 2015

    It makes me feel way older my age (22) to watch this and think about all of the artists like Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, Nsync, Aaron Carter (my first crush), Aaliyah, Brandy, Monica, Hilary Duff, Britney Spears, Xtina, and etc all coming out around the same time and causing mayhem to our little brains lol.

  4. Stephy March 22, 2015

    Terrible.

  5. SipTheTruth March 22, 2015

    I’m sorry but this wasn’t credible and will only be remembered cos it was from the 90s and everything is perceived as iconic in the 90s.

  6. RihAmerican (hives scared of R8) March 22, 2015

    I dont like this one.My favorite was “I want it that way”.That song is a fu king classic and the video blows me away.Definitely one of their best songs

    https://youtu.be/4fndeDfaWCg

  7. #JACKIE March 22, 2015

    BSB used to slay and Stephy is pissed!!! Kii

  8. LB March 23, 2015

    LMAO STOP IT

  9. Al March 23, 2015

    I thought it was a urban sight what’s all this crap next you’ll be posting Jessica Simpson Top 5 Songs get a grip

  10. Truth March 23, 2015

    This song may be silly and cheesy and at the time I thought it was lame, but I’d take it over 95% of what’s out and considered “hot” right now. See how much and entertainment has devolved? I’d even take effin’ boyband era Backstreet Boys over Miley, Katy Perry, 1D and Rihanna.

    • Truth March 23, 2015

      See how much *music* and entertainment has devolved?

      And sadly Sam is right. In the 90s, music and visuals were much more expensive, high brow and “grand”. Even the more talentless acts had better budgets and production value. Everything today seems basic and “cheap” by comparison. Why? Because you fools would rather download for and stream from your phones or watch YouTube videos that play on dinky computer speakers than get off your asses and buy a CD, which has killed revenue for things to be “grand” like they were. Every current generation gets criticized for their music/entertainment and way being crap compared to the last one, but in this case it’s actually true.

    • MsThing485 March 23, 2015

      Word. I was graduating high school when this was out and considered BSB a joke. They were targeted for 12 year old white girls who didn’t know any better, and this song was easily their cheesiest. Now fast forward 17 years later and I’d sooner listen to this over virtually everything that passes as a hit song today. It’s depressing that a crap song from almost 20 years ago becomes a lesser evil when compared to what’s on the menu now.

  11. blue March 23, 2015

    westlife > backstreet > blue > nsync

  12. eric March 23, 2015

    I saw them in concert twice in the last 3 years and they are more amazing than they get credit for.

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