One of the main reasons boy and girl bands are not taken seriously is becasue, they are considered manufactured. A formula even seems to exist in the new boyband craze. "The formula is simple probably eternal take 4 or 5 young youth preforably singers but that's not always a necesity. There should be at least one teen dreamy type (Rich, Justin, Nick,) one sasy rebel (J, Chris, AJ) one lovely shy violet (Sean, Lance, Brian) one tender eye dewy youth (Sean, Justin, Nick) and one reasuring older brother (J, Chris, Kevin). (Revenge). Although it does seem like a formula if you take five friends you most likely will be able to seperate them into these categories too. As with the New Kids on The Block every guy fits into a stereotypical formula, every girl would find at least one guy who fit her liking.
Since at the outset none know about showbiz the teany archetypes have to be taught to sing and dance and require older manager/producer who can mold them into not a band of course not usually but and attractive marketable group."(revenge). There is no doubt in anyones mind that the new craze can not be contributed to one thing. It's a mixture of talent, timing and image.
Smash Hits music editor Diane Godley is blunt when it comes to the criteria for pop bands. "they have to look good," says Godley. "The songs don't really matter a great deal. Of course, it helps if something sounds a bit different and fresh, but the image is crucial." Helen Hatzi, label manager at Liberation Records (home of Steps, Backstreet Boys and new girl band Solid Harmonie) agrees. "Adams.
The bands are definetly aware of how they are pervieved in the media and are not always happy about that. Especially in the case of the Backstreet Boys. BSB seem to be the most attention getting in terms of there image. They defenitly are not afraid to show there bodies. They have gotten to the point were you just don't want to see it amymore becasue it is so flagrant.
The BSB's video "Quit Playing Games With My Heart" in particular is obvious about selling an image. In one part of the video it begins to rain a perfect excuse for them to take off there shirt. In several parts of the video the only thing you see is a members chest and abs dancing seductivly, you can't even tell who it is becasue the face is not shown. I have heard that bsb was not happy with the whole video but after all this is the correct "formula" to please little girls.
Many think they can duplicate the formula quickly and make a success over night. According to Randi Reisfeld and Danny Fields, authors of a new book about the history of 16 Magazine, "Who's Your Fave Rave?" the notion that a successful teen idol can be fabricated and marketed like a breakfast cereal. (Doughterty) That is obviously incorrect because it does take more than following a simple formula. Upside Down, were styled before they had singing lessons, but their single stalled in the UK charts, with Stolberg losing a fortune. (Adams).
It seems it is easy to make a hit band, just cute boys and a great marketing but is not always that simple. "You can have good-looking band that sounds crappy, it just depends on how it's marketed. You can make it a sucess, but it's an uphill battle. (Adams).
This way of making a pop group overnight idea leads to the standard critisism that these groups get that they don't write or play there own music. Which is false becasue The Spice Girls, 98 Degrees, Five, and Hanson write all there songs, and soon BSB, will, Nsync has some, That is more we can say about a lot of other major performers.
Even the bands that auditioned the manufactured groups like Five and The Spice Girls did audition but were performers before they entered the group. "People say you additioned so your manufactured so not proper band" says J of Five. (battle).
The members of Five heard about the auditions advertisied through tabloids, or radio. In Abs case, he was told to try out by his teacher. The reason they won the spot was becasue they performed to camera. Before the guys auditioned they spent there time song writting, and looking for record deal. "Many see as completely manufature we tell it like it is and it helps us in our success" J (disney)
Another misconception is that they don't play there own instruments which is also false. All of guys in Nsync play an instrument as well as all of the BSB and Hanson. People also have to realize that there music is more dance oriented to begin with. How can they play there own instruments while dancing.
These bands also go through media training in order to learn how to sing correctly, when to breath, so they don't strain their voices, hold there microphones, how to act during interviews etc. C-Note was featured during a session on the MTV show ultrasound revenge of the boy bands.
It is evident that most of the bands today are not completly oringinal in all ways. Every band tries to fit into categories, and display a certain image. There the glam rock of Manson and Hole, and the rugged look of heavy metal bands like Sepultura and Metallica. Whether they are aware of it or not image in music is not a new thing, it is just being payed more attention too. If you think about it everything we see in the media is about image, and in the case of these bands not many seem to care "manufactured" or not as long as they have talent. see poll on first page
