I just read that the Backstreet Boys are going to set a new world record for first week sales. ::sigh:: I have to say congratulations but to me we’ll see what happens to this CD in the months to come. It’s great to have a number #1 CD but it’s longevity that is going to make the record.

These past few weeks the media have gotten down on their collective knees and kissed the BSB’s feet because the media knows that the BSB are the band of the moment. Even the teenies who are drooling for N’Sync still have a soft spot in their heart for the BSB. I guess the thing that bothers me most is that of late the media has been so busy kissing up to BSB that they are trashing other bands in the process. Hanson has been mentioned in more than one article about the new "Millennium" CD. The writer said that Hanson "cashed in" by releasing not only "3 Car Garage" but also "Snowed In;" now this is where the evil streak in me starts coming out. The Backstreet Boys have put out everything from temporary tattoos to pillowcases and yet this writer has the gall to accuse Hanson of cashing in? I’m sorry but that just is just plain wrong. The day that I see Hanson bed sheets is the day I turn the liner notes to my Middle of Nowhere CD into confetti that will be thrown from the tallest building I can find. It irks me no end that the media has such a short attention span. How many times have you heard the expression ’15 minutes of fame’? What about the media’s fifteen minutes of fame? Yet the same magazine who had praised Hanson for bringing life into back to pop music, for writing their own material and playing their own instruments is now saying that Hanson cashed in and that BSB is the be all and end all of pop music. Now, I know we have heard that old song and dance about how boybands don’t write or play instruments but it is true. Does that mean that people shouldn’t buy the CD? No. Does that mean that people should feel guilty about buying the CD? Not at all; I own both N’Sync, the original Backstreet Boys CD and a promo copy of 98 Degrees. Does that mean that Hanson is better than the BSB? Not necessarily but in my opinion, yes. I know I am going to get many many negative emails about this but I just felt like ranting and raving. I just don’t see how the country can hate a band and call it a cheap knockoff one minute and then praise it and give them the cover the next. It just does not seem right to me. From what I have heard the Millenium CD is not that great anyway. It seems to be the same music that they put out on the first one. I will admit that I owned the original BSB CD. I promptly gave it away to my friend when I read the Spin article from last summer where they insulted a fan for being overweight. And we wonder why teenage girls are anorexic these days? Though that is a whole other can of worms that should not be opened. I was chastised for using that article because writers have a way of twisting words around and taking them out of context but frankly when a member of a group insults a fan for their weight that is going over the edge. Even if it were taken out of context I still think it was a horrible thing to say. They are so busy trying to claw their way out of the ‘boyband’ persona that they do not care who they hurt. They have insulted N’Sync a few times that I have seen. I have never heard N’Sync say a bad word about the BSB.

Now I’ll move onto the look of the BSB. I sat down to watch the new video and I must admit I like the candid scenes where they are with their fans. I thought that was a very good idea. The rest of the video is just boring to me, it looks like everyone else’s video. A.J. is starting to look more and more like a pimp with every interview I see. Now, I know I am going to get attacked for appearance. Yes, I was a bit surprised that Taylor got a cartilage piercing but it actually looks good. When Taylor starts wearing tank tops to show off his numerous tattoos and wearing his hair every color in a kaleidoscopic, enough to make Boy George envious we can talk. Yes, I am all for originality but I just think he has gone over the edge a bit. Nick just looks like a total lush-Boston slang for alcoholic. His voice has gone nasal now too. I enjoyed his voice during the first CD but now it’s gotten to where he sounds like he’s singing through his nose. While watching the Star Wars premiere on MTV, Nick was acting like a total jerk, trying to steal the spotlight while the rest of the group was trying to discuss the movie. I am not only picking on Nick, I find it extremely rude when Zac goes off on interviews also. During the MTV special Brian, whom I thought was the cutest thing since sliced bread, was attaching little sticker things to a girl’s chest. She was about 16 and the words ‘jail bait’ spring to mind. Kevin is just looking old and I don’t consider him a ‘boy’ anymore. I don’t really think much of Howie, I guess he’s just there.

I am not slamming the Backstreet Boys to the point where people should burn them at the stake but I just do not understand how they can have the cover of Rolling Stone when Rolling Stone wanted nothing to do with them a year and a half ago. I like the BSB, in fact I am trying to hunt down the single "I Want it That Way" because I think it’s a great song. I was informed that it is not being released anywhere as a single and it is only available on the CD. From what I am hearing from friends, it’s probably better to just tape it off the radio.]

Someone brought up the comment about the BSB only wanting respect, just like everyone else. That’s fine. I can understand that but I don’t see how they can be respectful, they have sued everyone who was associated with them during their early years. They apparently only got a very low amount of money while their manager was being made a millionaire. From the interviews I saw it only made them look greedy and money hungry. Plus the Spin article I mentioned earlier; I can’t respect anyone who doesn’t respect me. Not that any band should get down on their hands and knees and praise the fans for their generosity in buying their CD but I just think it’s not a good thing to insult the fans. My mother has a saying, "Don’t bite the hand that feeds you." I think it applies.

I heard someone say the other day that "When the new (Hanson) CD hits, it is all over..." I certainly hope so.

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