Negative feedback is something that the bsb must be used to hearing by now. The boys seems to have a love-hate relationship with the press depending which magazine you read or show you watch. Time magazines for instance named in there best and worse list for 1998; worse, boy groups, like the Backstreet Boys, Nsync, and 98 Degrees. But Entertainment Weekly named The Backstreet Boys as number six for their top 12 entertainers of 1998.
Even a former Beatle George Harrison, someones who's group created the mold for teen idols, and pop bands has mocked and ridiculed these groups. In 30 years, he predicts, nobody will remember the Grammy-winning Irish rockers U2 or the MTV-friendly bubble gum pop stars. In fact, the way this ex-Beatle sees it, the only not-so-bad thing about,them is the music videos, "you can look at them and cut off the sound." (Ryan "Quiet") Those are harsh words to say and awkward. Even more odd he included U2 in the conversation. We usually don't associate U2 in the teen pop genre.
One reason he might feel like this, is becasue in general, adults feel they have no access to this music. People feel odd to be singing and enjoying, kids singing. Since the music is marketed to a younger audience and the band members themselves are young and made out to be teen idols. Everyone that would not be of the "teeny bopper" category usually mocks and ridicules, the music and the groups. Also many times people do not like that image that is so much a part of the music. The boys are cute, clean cut, and nice, and many get repelled that they are made out to be perfect, becasue we usually don't hear anything negative about them. People also don't like the effects they have on their listeners.
"I hate what they do to there fans, they make them into drulling zombies." ( VH1 hard candy) said one Hanson hater. I can defentily see why he would say that, having been to severalNsync concerts it is obvious the efects these bands have on girls. Ironically though people say quickly that they don't like the music but they really don't state an actual reason why. With some exceptions. When I showed a 19 and 15 year old male the Backstreet boys video "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" and asked them to comment on it, they just sat there with there mouths open in shock and said nothing there facial expressions were enough to show that they did not like or approve of this music or video. Finally the fifteen year old said. "I just don't like them, they are so gay." When I asked how they can become acceptable for him he said that "if they change everything about themselves then they can have potential." The same image that has made them so popular has also repulsed many others. I guess we don't even really listen to the music when the image is so distinct. We are so affected and made to pay attention to there look, that even if they did have a good song, we might not notice or give them a chance becasue they are always doing something like taking of their shirts. A 19 year old male would not usually admit to liking the Backstreet Boys becasue of this.
A group of Elvis Impersinators also gave their opinions on a video. They were asked to watch the video Tearin Up My Heart (Click to see it too) by Nsync. They commented "nsink and down the drain." They said it is not about the music it is how they look and dance. This comment was ironic considering they make a living, performing in someone elses image and pretending to be someone they are not, and of all people Elvis, one of the biggest teen idols ever. Also it is hard to know that they are really all about image by just looking at the video. Even so I can't really think of any teen idol more involved with image than Elvis. I think it is wrong to ridicule Nsync, because it does not make much sence. They also added "I can dance like that too if they taught me"(rock of ages).
Similarily when a group of grandparents were watching a Backstreet Boy video they said that they feel sorry that kids and there grandchildren think this is music.
The grandchildren commented by saying "they have nice singing and you have to listen to a couple of songs to know what this is about. This is what kids in the 90's listen too." This brings an interesting issue of listening becasue everyone else is, and this eventually brings the backlash too. If enough people say they don't like to listen to this music anymore, eventually the domino effect will happen and the fans will move to a new band or just stop listening and start hating "that type" of music. Peer pressure in that sence exists. Everyone wants to fit in and if liking bsb is "cool" then you will like them too.
The grandparents also said let's see if in a year if anyone will remember them. It's true in a year they might not be popular, with Nsync and BSB I think they can stand the test of time, if they are together. Especially since they have been together for at least five years already. It is a fact that teen pop acts popularity is fleating, but noone will forget there first crush or teen idol which is what these bands are, there song songs might be forgotten though. Although they have notorious short self life pre fab group longevity no problem pave heave to some own musical idols grow and adjust to music like Madonna."We want to become like the Eagles" says Nick .(year in rock) Maybe they will, only time will really tell.
One thing is for sure though and that is that David Letterman is not in the least bit fond of boy groups. As a parody he went as far as to create his own boy band, to comment on the craze. He fooled a lot of people into beleiveing that they were a legitimate group. They even went on tv as an actually band. They were on Dave's show twice and they were even on MTV's Total Request Live. MTV's popular show where the viewer pics the ten best videos.
I remember watching them appear all three times. Needless to say I was very confussed. But I suspected they were a scam because they dressed too extravagent (too many accessories) and there lyrics were too difficult to believe as true "Talk to the Hand". My sister was also confussed but thought it was just another legitimate band clone trying to cash in the boy band craze. It was so convincing and believable that I had to ask a friend to make sure it was fake and only very recently did the news did break that it was a scam. Oddly they even have a website fresh-step.com.
It is odd how far someone would go to sabotage performers who do not seem to be creating harm to anyone and David Letterman has recieved a lot of criticm for this. It is also disrespectfull that MTV would book them to perform on TRL considering the show thrives on Britney Spears, 98 degrees, Nsync and the Backstreet Boys.
