Concert Review: Backstreet Boys In A World Like This Tour concert in Singapore

Backstreet’s back, alright

SINGAPORE — As 1990s boy bands go, the Backstreet Boys are the grandfathers of ’90s cheese pop. And the best-selling boy band in history was in town ready to give its fans exactly what they wanted.

“Singapore, are you ready to party like its 1999?” To say the answer to Kevin Richardson’s question was met with a resounding yes during the band’s In A World Like This Tour concert at the Star Performing Arts Centre stage last night last night would be a total understatement. The screaming, which started as soon as the house lights went down and the boys emerged singing The Call, never once let up.

It was a night of 90s nostalgia for this reviewer and the sold-out auditorium, which was an unsurprising gaggle of women aged between 25 and 40, all ready to become teenagers again. Seeing the Backstreet Boys “live” really is about reliving a forgotten era — a time of frenzied fandom and first teen crushes. This was the concert equivalent of a high school reunion, replete with magical memories and truly cringe-worthy moments.

The band’s current tour, which is named after its eighth album, marks a comeback of sorts: It’s the band’s first world tour and album with Richardson since 2006, when he left the outfit. It also celebrates the band’s 22nd anniversary — a lifetime in the boy band business — which was a point they were unashamed to bring up many times during the concert.

Seated in a fan-girl’s dream position, smack in the middle of the second row from the stage, where every sweat, tear and wrinkle was witnessed up-close, it was obvious Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell and the returning Richardson have traded their boyish good looks for a more grow-up appeal. But age really didn’t seem to have tempered the Backstreet Boys’ energy on stage. Decked out in matching suits, the band was busting out all the synchronized dance moves, augmented by fedora hats on All I Have To Give and the classic mic-stand choreography on As Long As You Love Me. They cheekily promised all the hits (“It says so on your concert ticket,” quipped McLean. “All, except for “I Want It That Way”!), and delivered all their groove-worthy hits and chart-topping ballads. From Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely, I’ll Never Break Your Heart and I’ll Be The One, to Drowning, Incomplete and Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), the crowd lapped it all up and sang (or screamed) along, even during the acoustic set.

Special mention also go to every individual BSB member for playing every known wink-point-smile card and saying all the right “Singapore” things while reminiscing the past. McLean and Littrell even came down into the crowd and posed for selfies with fans while singing.

Sure, some might grumble about how the show’s momentum was intermittently interrupted by announcements such as “This is a song from the latest album written by us”, but even man-bands have new material and albums they are proud of and need to flog. And promote their In A World Like This album and docu-movie Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of they did, to encouraging cheers from die-hard fans.

Still, it’s obvious the boys are at their best performing their hits. And there’s really no stopping them, especially with deliciously OTT encores of the Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) and Larger Than Life anthems. And, of course, the celebratory I Want It That Way nearly blows the roof off.

The real highlight for me though was witnessing their self-awareness and self-deprecating sense of humour about where they’ve been and where they hope to be. In fact, I found the Backstreet Boys more endearing than ever. And in the end, this walk down memory lane was less an attempt to hold onto the past and more a celebration of it. For two hours, we partied like it was 1999 and I was, once again, a screaming teenage girl with a crush. Some things never change. Oh my god, they’re back again! Backstreet’s back, alright!