“Black and Blue,” released last Tuesday, is the much anticipated third and best album so far by the Backstreet Boys. It is destined to sell by the millions, not just because so many fans have to have it, but because along with entirely original melodies and hooks, it is truly a showcase of the musical talent and special abilities the Backstreet Boys are contributing to the music world.
The first single, “Shape of My Heart,” was a perfect preview of the emotion and rare talent of the entire album.
The opening track and second single, “The Call”, is an interesting story about a guy who cheats on his girlfriend. While many artists’ attempts at incorporating a Latin flare to their songs fall short, this song contains a creative use of a guitar and castanets with the raspy lead vocals of AJ McLean and Nick Carter, adding to the bad boy image of the character in the song.
As doubtful critics gear up for another round of “they didn’t write the songs” invectives, BSB proves them wrong with seven self-contained works, all of which, are flawlessly written and sung.
One of the uplifting and perhaps one of the best songs they’ve ever done is “The Answer to Our Lives,” which was entirely written and produced by the Boys. The lyrics are inspirationallives (“it’s up to you and me/ to face our destiny”) and the sound is entirely original.
Howie Dorough wrote the last track “How Did I Fall In Love With You,” a warm, heartfelt ballad about a guy falling in love with his best girl friend. Anything but a mushy-gushy love song, it is accompanied by a piano and string orchestra playing softly in the background.
If you listen closely, you can hear every Boy’s voice in the perfected harmonies, in addition to Howie’s sweetly promising and Brian Littrell’s velvety pure voices. This song is sure to win over any rock or anti-pop supporters.
Showcasing their originality further, the Backstreet Boys do something no other artist has ever done: they give thanks to their fans in the form of the song “Everyone.” A concert in itself, it describes every exhilarating second of a Backstreet Boys performance and reminds the fans that they will never forget everything the fans have contributed to their success. This song is sure to please all of the old fans and gain tons of new ones.
Perhaps one of the most moving parts of “Black and Blue” is in the booklet, where Brian, in a prayer, asks God to “…bless our fans and may they be touched in a special way.” Little things like these tell music fans everywhere that not all entertainers are in it for fame and money and that their part is always important to the artist.
At the end of the day, the charm and charisma of “Black and Blue” is reflected in one thing: how dramatically different it is from the rest of the mold. Sure, any five people can join together and call themselves singers, but it takes every bit of the dedication, effort, individuality and extraordinary abilities each of the Backstreet Boys contributes to the group.
The special range and texture in each groupmate’s voice coming together with the rest creates a never-before-heard sound that’s sure to inspire and amaze anyone. “Black and Blue” is meant to change people everywhere; it has the potential to make the shyest dancers jump on the dance floor and the coldest hearts melt down to the drop.
So listen to it and see if you’re not ditching the troubled relationship (“Not For Me”) or proposing with a song (“Yes, I Will”).
Source: http://my.hsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/articleid/342106/newspaperid/2726/Same_heart_different_shape_the_Backstreet_Boys_shine_again.aspx
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