If you were a teenager in the 90s, maybe you had the folder lined with photos from NSYNC. But if you were a teenager in the 90s, you would probably say you hated youth pop groups. And you probably listened to them in your house and even had a poster. And, although we want to deny it, we have all had our fan stage with youth groups with boy bands or girl bands of the moment.
The so-called boy bands or girl bands are groups made up of young boys or girls who usually sing pop. Many times they are created by a producer or a record company through auditions, and are designed to please a very specific audience: teenagers.
The great boom of the boy band phenomenon is in the 90s. But to understand it you have to go further back. Many consider the Beatles and, above all, the Jackson 5 ancestors. However, the real pioneers in the world of boy bands were New Kids on the Block .
They were born as a band in 1986, although success did not come immediately. It was with their second album, Hangin ‘Tough, that they entered Billboard’s Top Ten. From here they only went for the best, selling more than 85 million albums in the United States alone until their separation in 1995. They reunited in 2008 to release a complete new NKOTB album.
Contents
- Boy Bands and girl bands in the 90s
- Backstreet boys
- NSYNC
- Spice Girls (1997-2001)
- Destiny’s Child
- Boy Bands in Spanish
Boy Bands and girl bands in the 90s
Everyone who was a teenager in the 90s sang the songs of the Backstreet Boys or the Spice Girls at some point. The formula of handsome young men with catchy songs and heart-stopping choreography caught a good chunk of the audience.
Backstreet boys
They got together in 1993, after auditions organized by Lou Pearlman (producer who would end up ripping off several of the groups he created). I was looking for guys who could sing and dance, and those selected were Nick, Howard, AJ, Kevin and Brian. For years they triumphed with songs like I Want it that way or Everybody (Backstreet’s back), which led them to populate the folders of countless high school girls and become one of the most legendary groups in history. Last year they released a new album, DNA, which they will take on a world tour during this 2019.
NSYNC
Many considered them the direct competition of the Backstreet boys. NSYNC was created in 1995, also by Lou Pearlman, and its name comes from the last letter of the names of its members: Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Lansten (Lance Bass, who replaced the original member Jason) and JC Chasez .
Although they separated and in 2009 confirmed that there would be no reunion, we have seen them together again, for example, at the 2013 MTV Music Video Awards. This year, the group (except Justin Timberlake) has also appeared at the Ariana Grande concert. at the Coachella festival.
Spice Girls (1997-2001)
The infantile Spice ( Baby Spice ), the Wild Spice ( Scary Spice ), the redhead ( Ginger Spice ), the Spice pija ( Posh Spice ) and the sportswoman ( Sporty Spice ) are part of world pop culture. Wannabe, their debut single and the quintessential karaoke song, entered the charts of almost every country, and became the best-selling debut single by a girl group.
Such was their success that they got to record a movie: Spice World the Movie , which swept theaters around the world. The group disbanded in 2001, although they have met on several occasions, and have announced a new tour for this year.
Destiny’s Child
Destiny’s Child group was created by producer Matthew Knowles. Originally it was formed by Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett, although the last two were replaced by Michelle Williams. With songs like Say my name or Survivor they reached the top of Billboard’s R&B charts. They disbanded in 2001, and each pursued his solo career.
After the split, the Destiny’s Child reunited in 2004 to release a new album, and at the end of the tour they disintegrated permanently. Even so, in 2018 they participated in the Beyonce concert in Coachella.
Boy Bands in Spanish
If in the United States the predecessors of the adolescent groups were the Jackson 5, in Spain it was Parcheesi . It was a children’s group made up of Tino, Yolanda, Gema, David and Óscar. Each one represented a tile from the board game and was dressed in its color. They triumphed during the 80s with songs like “En la armada”, and they recorded several films that were also very successful in the Spanish-speaking world.
After the success of the American bands, an attempt was made to imitate the formula, although it did not work. Some groups, like Providence, managed to have fans and appear in the magazines, although they did not succeed much more. We also had D’Nash (originally called just Nash), made up of 4 boys. In 2007 they went to the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “I love you mi vida”, although Spanglish did not work either, and they were ranked 20th out of 24. Not long after, one of their members decided to leave the group, and they soon break away.
Although in 2009 the boy bands returned to the Spanish scene with Auryn , this time with success. It was a group made up of Álvaro, Blas, Carlos, Dani and David, who had everything to succeed among teenagers. They were young, had a more international sound, and were close with their fans.
Perhaps the success was due to the new rise of the boy bands worldwide. The jump was made by the British group One Direction , which already succeeded in 2010 when they joined as a group in The X Factor . Their first single What makes you beautiful revolutionized the music scene, and for several years they garnered hits and fans wherever they went. Any teenager knew Harry, Liam, Niall, Zayn, and Louis, either out of love or hate.
Also the girl bands are back. Now groups like Little mix , formed by Perry, Jade, Jesy and Leigh-Anne, are triumphing . They also got together on The X Factor, and since their debut they’ve been at the top of the teen music scene. Her catchy songs with colorful videos have made fans around the world fall in love, and her feminist and self-improvement messages have turned some of her songs into hymns.
Like everything, the history of teen gangs has its best and worst moments. But the music, in the end, is for all ages to enjoy. Were you or are you a fan of any of these groups? Tell us in the comments , we’ll be happy to read it!
