News Critic 11/12/99

TLC is a sassy trio of young African-American women who offer a distinctly female point of view on relationships. The Backstreet Boys are teen idols: cute, clean-cut and funky in their own vanilla way.

The difference between these two groups is more than black and white. For teen-agers, they represent a cultural dividing line on matters of sex, love and life. Both groups are coming to Marine Midland Arena this week, the Backstreet Boys on Sunday night and TLC on Thursday.

The Backstreet Boys typically create idyllic romances with beautiful women and handsome men who cavort with each other in a dream-like world, as in "No One Else Comes Close": No one comes close to you/No one makes me feel the way you do/You're so special girl to me/And you'll always be eternally."

In contrast, TLC presents a more streetwise attitude. The video "No Scrubs," details the plight of a woman who has to put up with a deadbeat dude known as a "scrub." "A scrub is a guy that thinks he's fly/I don't want no scrub/A scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me."

"The Backstreet Boys go back to old style songs, about puppy love and innocence," said Steven Allen, 16, a student at Buffalo Performing Arts Academy. "TLC is more grown up and realistic; the Backstreet Boys are about living out a fantasy."

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, 28, of TLC agrees.

"I think our music is different, edgier; and I think more people can relate to it," Lopes said in a recent telephone interview. "A lot of our songs have to do with our own experiences and the things people go through in their lives."

Lopes, along with Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, 29, and Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas, 29, have been making albums since 1992 and have been highly successful. The group's 1994 CD, "CrazySexyCool," sold more than 10 million copies. This year, TLC released "FanMail," the group's first album in nearly four years, and it has sold more than seven million CDs.

Lopes said three major themes are the cornerstone of TLC's philosophy: independence, safe sex and looking for strength within. In an era of sexist music, especially in rap and hip-hop, TLC presents a departure.

The album produced two of the year's biggest singles, "No Scrubs" and "Unpretty." The latter is about a young, overweight teen, who finds her boyfriend reading porn magazines. She tries to please him by making an appointment for breast implant surgery, but decides against it at the last minute. Near the end of the video, the girl rushes in her boyfriend's room and rips up a porn magazine from his hands.

Some found it hard to relate that song to the sexy, provocatively-dressed TLC.

"In a way, TLC is hypocritical, because of the way they dress and look," Allen said. "For them to sing about being unpretty is like Bill Gates singing about being poor."

In contrast, the philosophy of the Backstreet Boys seems to be to have a good time and please their fans. And it's working: Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter and A.J. McLean, all in their early 20s, made their self-titled debut album in 1997 and it has sold nearly 30 million copies. Their current top-selling album, "Millennium," has sold 8 milliion copies and counting.

The group's sound and style can best be summed up in the video and ballad, "I Want It That Way," off "Millennium." It features the Backstreet Boys in all their video glory, talking to fans, flying in and out of airports, singing on stage and looking cool.

They're approachable, non-threatening and accommodating for parents and teens alike. While such bands such as Limp Bizkit and Korn represent to many the dark side of teen life, the Backstreet Boys provide the sweet side.

But to their fans, the Boys have more than sugary sentiment and good looks. Their harmony is tight and the stage show is highlighted by choreography reminiscent of such acts as the New Edition and Boyz II Men.

"Don't underestimate their appeal, it's not just kids when you sell that many records," said David Universal of WKSE-FM, a Top 40 station in Buffalo. "Women from 15 to 35 love the Backstreet Boys. They have a huge adult following."

Universal says the main difference between TLC and the Backstreet Boys is that TLC is women speaking to women, while the Boys are males speaking to women.

"TLC has more tempo, it's an urban sound. The Backstreet Boys are more of a pop sound," Universal said.

Teen fans also know the differences between the two groups.

"Most of TLC's songs have a message; the Backstreet Boys are about the beat and attitude," said Victor Johnson, 18.

"I think TLC tells girls to look out for themselves," said Christina Cruz, 16. "Girls just like to scream at the Backstreet Boys."

Says Ginna Wilson, 17: "I like the Backstreet Boys. You hear them on the radio, and it's a good sound. And they look good, too."

What do you expect? After all, these boys are no scrubs.