Thursday, January 01, 2009

An Early New Year's Clue to the New Direction

Happy New Year, all.

Assuming you're all recovered from the previous evening's festivities, may I present, from 1999, The Backstreet Boys and their legitimately gorgeous piece of contemporary doo-wop "I Want It That Way."



Say what you will about those kids, but they could, in fact, sing harmony. And I think the song itself is brilliantly arranged.

In any case, and with the hope that it hasn't aggravated a hangover, let me simply add that a coveted PowerPop No-Prize will be awarded the first reader who gleans its relationship to tomorrow's Listomania.

15 comments:

Sal Nunziato said...

First off, Happy New Year.

My guess...the one amazing song by an otherwise mediocre artist.

Finally, I am thrilled that you feel this way about this song. It's always my example for when I want music snobs to feel like assholes. You hit the nail on the head and anyone who doesn't recognize why this song is a classic can go to hell.

And that's my god, new attitude for 2009. :)

xo

steve simels said...

The one amazing song by a mediocre group is a great idea, and I'm definitely stealing it for down the road.

But noooooooooooooo....
:-)

MBowen said...

"I Want" songs?

Titles of songs without concrete nouns?

Libby Spencer said...

I'm guessing boy bands put together by promoters for their appearance, and dance moves more so than their musical ability.

Libby Spencer said...

Oh. Happy New Year to you and yours Power Pops.

steve simels said...

No, and no.

Gosh, this is fun...
:-)

NYMary said...

Damn, Libby, that was my guess too.

David Rasmussen said...

April Fools Day in January?

Say what you will about those kids, but I remain skeptical that you truly like this song.

steve simels said...

No, I actually love it, and have since the first time I saw them do it on SNL. Gives me goose bumps.

In any case, here's a little hint.

It has nothing to do with the song itself. Nor the song's title.

MBowen said...

Groups with a (secretly) gay member?

Dave said...

"Amazing song by a mediocre artist" is a game I like to play with my friends. The greater discrepancy between the "amazing" and "mediocre," the better. For obvious reasons, teen idols are particularly strong:

"I Want It That Way" probably wouldn't make my pantheon because they were always more talented than they were credited for, although this song towers over any of their others. I never liked a single other song by either of the two below, but I love:

"Love Me for a Reason" (Osmonds)
"Foolish Heart" (Steve Perry)

steve simels said...

Okay, a final hint.

It has to do with something about their name.

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

The Positively 4th St. list of songs with a street, road, alley, avenue, highway or thorougfare in the title or lyrics or general instrumental vibe?

steve simels said...


Who Am Us Anyway? said...
The Positively 4th St. list of songs with a street, road, alley, avenue, highway or thorougfare in the title or lyrics or general instrumental vibe?


Close enough (with a caveat that you'll see in the actual entry, although I'm willing to bet nobody takes the slightest notice).

Your coveted No-Prize (how many is this now?) is on its way to you via planaria express, my friend.

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Ah the old pioneer Planaria Express route heading west. According to Wikipedia these Planaria guys exhibit an extraordinary ability to regenerate lost body parts, and I can definitely see how that could come in handy on a long journey. On the other hand since they "move by beating cilia on the ventral dermis, allowing them to glide along on a film of mucus," I'll probably have to start keeping my sidewalk shoveled, but it's worth it, don't get me wrong.