Photo: People
The Backstreet Boys (BSB) just released a new single and it’s the bomb dot com. Like, for real.
The new single, titled, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” is an OG song despite sharing a title with the Elton John and Kiki Dee hit from 1976. When the new single was announced, most people expected a juicy cover, but the BSB surprised us all when they dropped this poppin’ number that brings in the nostalgia factor but totally works in the 2018 music world. The instrumental intro to the song is mildly reminiscent of Ke$ha’s 2017 song, “Praying,” and then leads into the classic BSB slow and melancholy sound that somehow manages to remain upbeat. So. Good. Let’s be real, no one does a ballad quite like The Backstreet Boys. Dreamy sigh. Â
The Backstreet Boys formed in Florida in 1993 (the year I was born), thereby shaping the musical history of myself and a generation of ’90s kids. The iconic boy band took several hiatuses since the early 2000s, and Kevin left the band from 2006 to 2012, but they always seem to find their way back to each other.
They came back from a hiatus in 2005 with the album, “Never Gone” and then again in 2007 with “Unbreakable,” followed by “This is Us” in 2009, and finally launched “In a World Like This” in 2013, along with a 20th anniversary tour. Following the success of Britney Spears’ Vegas residency, the BSB followed her lead with their own residency beginning in 2016. The residency was extended several times and they’re set to perform in Vegas again beginning this July and running until October. AGH.
You might expect a boy band to look ridiculous on stage when they age out of their boyish looks, but this unstoppable quintet still manages to charm audiences with full beards and totally bangin’ dance moves. The fact that they still love each other and their fans enough to not only continue to perform into their 40s but to also keep releasing new music, is a testament to how well they work together. It’s been more than 20 years and they’re still at it. BOO-YA!
The best part? Their new single is just the first song released from the band’s upcoming ninth studio album. Be still my ’90s heart.
