We know it’s been over a month since we disembarked (that’s a real cruise word) the 2018 Backstreet Boys cruise and while we have written about it here and here, shared photos via Facebook, and posted a few videos to YouTube, we finally have a complete video cruise “diary” or vlog, for lack of better term.
We got on the boat equipped with a GoPro, a camera, two cameras, five Backstreet Boys, and a lot of friends. Our intention was to capture everything we could from a fan POV on the four day cruise and to be honest, we were a little scared — what if things weren’t great?
But, as we’ve posted since we’ve been back, IT WAS SO GREAT! This cruise was my first and Kristie’s third and honestly, for the most part, it couldn’t have been better. That’s also, of course, a matter of opinion.
So, if you want an inside look at our BSB Cruise 2018 experience, watch it below!
Here’s a few things you might want to know about our personal experience:
The first few minutes of the video are from Nick’s pre-cruise “Sail Away With Nick Carter” event (The perfect way to start our trip!)
The hotel is Loews Miami
Our room on the cruise was a basic inside cabin. If you’re hesitant about being in a room with no windows, it’s really not bad!
As you can see, being close to the stage was not our priority other than for the Sail Away Party. We figured out what time the Boys usually arrived for deck parties and didn’t head up until around then. Most of the time, we waited until we heard the Boys heading up (We were on the same deck). A lot of people waited 6+ hours just to be at the front of the stage.
Our experience was a great one, but it is just that – our experience. You might have had a totally different experience, but we wanted to give a pretty accurate representation of all of the things.
Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of “Am I the only one that…” and “I feel so embarrassed but..” from fans thinking they’re alone in a certain situation and then feeling relief when hundreds of fans respond with, essentially, “SAME!”.
That is where this post came from. Messages we’ve received and posts we’ve seen all asking the same sort of questions. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, if you have ever thought any of the following, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
1. Feeling Like You’ve Made A Fool Of Yourself During A Meet And Greet.
That time you forgot your name when you met a Backstreet Boy?
The time you opened your mouth but only weird sounds came out?
The time you stepped on Brian’s foot?
It’s happened to the best of us. In fact, most of you reading this probably immediately had a moment in your mind when you read it. Just remember that every one of the Backstreet Boys has made a fool of themselves in front of us too at some point. Somehow that makes things a little more even.
2. Forgetting Everything You’re Going To Say In Front Of A Backstreet Boy.
Similar to #1, we’ve all done it. You’ve bought the meet and greet, you’ve planned exactly what you’re going to say for months, you’ve bought the perfect outfit and your make up is just right….
….And thank God you look good because as soon as they’re in front of you, all you can think about is nothing.
3. Crying.
It’s uncontrollable and you probably won’t even know why you’re doing it. Maybe it’s all of the wild emotions. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep since you traveled 12 hours for just one more show. Maybe you thought about that one thing that Nick said to Brian 5 years ago that you thought was so sweet. Maybe you squeezed yourself in a dress that was too tight or maybe you’re just overwhelmed. Whatever it is – you aren’t the only one that has cried in your fan life!
4. Going Back To 10 Years Old When A Backstreet Boy Says Your Name.
You’re chill for a selfie. You’re chill for an instagram like. You’re chill for everything regarding the Backstreet Boys…but one of them says (or types) our name and we’re all done for!
5. Feeling Like You Can’t Breathe When The Lights Go Down At A Concert.
There is NOTHING like those first few seconds after the lights go down at a Backstreet Boys concert. You could be mid-convo then – you better have breath mints – because you and your friend are screaming into each other’s faces like animals. It’s unexplainable but it’s the BEST feeling. Totally worth not breathing.
6. Still Screaming For Your Favorite As If You’ve Lost Control.
After all these years….No one will make you scream like your choice Backstreet Boy. No one.
7. Refreshing Like A Lunatic Waiting For Your Meet And Greet Photo.
We’ve all done it. There’s only a few hours between your VIP meet and greet and the next day that you allow Justin to upload photos before your tweeting / posting / refreshing like a psycho (but also terrified that you blinked, so maybe you don’t want to see it?)
8. Working Some Things In Your Life AROUND A Backstreet Boys Event.
Can’t get married during tour season and can’t get pregnant where it might interfere with the next cruise. Oh, and we definitely have to add up vacation hours to make sure we have enough for any potential pop up event!
9. Having Several Time Zones On Your Phone Because You Have Friends Worldwide.
The Backstreet Boys worldwide fame + social media has allowed us to be friends with SO MANY people across the land and we need to know what time it is where they are! The best part? There’s always SOMEONE that’s awake to analyze a video you found at 3am.
10. Getting Just As Defensive About Them As You Did In The 90s.
“THE BACKSTREET BOYS NEVER BROKE UP, DAMMIT!”
The Boys are like family members – we can talk about them, but NO. ONE. ELSE. BETTER. SPEAK. We’re not naive to think they can do no wrong, but we’re sure not going to tell anyone else about it! They’re legends and they deserve to be treated as such… right?
The Backstreet Boys have been a vocal group / boyband since 1993.
Yes, they went on a short hiatus in 2002ish.
Yes, Kevin left in 2006 because he was uninspired and wanted.
But they’ve always continued to make music. Kevin returned to the group. Their music has been the soundtrack to many lives and now, their music is crossing generations, with fans from 2 to 102 showing up at concerts, meet and greets, and more. With all of the Backstreet Boys themselves now married with children, fans have slid right into growing up with them. We bring our significant others, our children, our parents, our best friends on BSB adventures with us. Our good times have changed from waiting outside hotels for Kevin, Howie, Brian, AJ and Nick to appear to spending 4-day long vacations with them on sold out cruises. So, we get it. We’ve been here from the beginning and we’ve seen the highs and the lows and all of the hard work in between.
However, since the Boys released their new single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, having a #1 song on country radio with Florida Georgia Line, winning a CMT Music Award, performing at Wango Tango, and a number of other recent career highs, people seem confused as to why the Backstreet Boys continue to find success 25 years later. It actually seems to irritate some people that they are doing so well – that they continue to hit dance moves, that they have fans that adore them around the world, that other artists clamor to work with them, and the Boys themselves don’t let the world get to them.
As Brian Littrell recently stated, “”Even on the highest of highs, that’s when we have to stick together, because that’s when the world wants to tear you apart.”
Here’s just a few of the reasons the Backstreet Boys have found continued success together.
1. Their Talent Is Real.
They know what works for them and while they try to keep their music current, they keep the Backstreet Boys “formula”. Each one of the Backstreet Boys can hold it down on their own vocally, but when they come together, a magic is created that has sold millions of albums and taken them to some of the biggest stages in the world.
These guys weren’t built on autotune and they can still sing a capella at the drop of a dime, which you can normally find them doing during interviews and on red carpets. Their live performances are just that — live — and they know just how to play off of each other.
Oh, and did we mention that they can still nail choreography? Even though, they’ve admitted it might take them a little longer to remember it now. Tell us this isn’t impressive.
This talent is what has garnered the attention of producers, songwriters and other artists who want to work with the Backstreet Boys now. Talent alone has won them awards, given them a sold out Vegas residency, allowed them to continue to tour worldwide, and be asked to collaborate with other artists on different projects.
2. It’s Taken A Lot Of Hard Work.
You can never say the Backstreet Boys have had it easy.
Kevin, Howie, Brian, AJ and Nick formed the Backstreet Boys in 1993 and didn’t achieve success in the U.S. until 1997ish. They performed in high schools, they performed at malls and they were willing to work as hard as they had to to get where they are today, even if it meant spending most of their time overseas, where they gained fame first. For most of them, this meant giving up normal teenage years. For all of them, this meant having to prove themselves over and over, regardless of obvious talent.
These Boys started at the bottom. Together, they worked their way up and together, they continue to put those efforts that got them where they are today into everything they do currently. Nothing was handed to the Backstreet Boys and every one of them has stated repeatedly how grateful they are for what they have now… because they earned it.
3. They Care About What They Do.
The reason the Backstreet Boys don’t churn out project after project in rapid succession? Details. Every one of the Backstreet Boys cares about the quality of the work they’re giving to the public. So, while it may not be at the pace of other artists or quickly enough to satisfy fleeting fans, it’s work they’re proud of. In an age where artists are so quick to take the easy way out and become manufactured, letting others control their work, their image, etc., caring is commendable.
They’re involved in every step of their creative process. They’re taking fans into consideration. They’re taking the time into consideration and they’ve always been open and honest about their plans going forward (whether it happens or not).
4. They’re Genuinely Nice Guys.
We can not stress this enough. There is not one person that has worked with the Backstreet Boys at any point that has something negative to say about them. At the CMT Awards this past week, they were approached as soon as they took a seat by other artists and were genuinely humbled and appreciative of their win that night.
This site is filled with posts of fans sharing stories about what the Backstreet Boys have done for them – how their music has changed lives, how the guys individually have reached out in acts of kindness when they didn’t have to, and endless accounts of how they’ve really stood behind the idea of putting out positive energy into the world.
They’re the epitome of remembering where you came from and not forgetting “the little people”. They’re continuously thanking those around them and you couldn’t meet a group of kinder, more down-to-earth gentlemen. As fans, not only are we proud of their talents, but we’re proud to stand behind such wonderful human beings.
5. They’ve Never Claimed To Be Something They’re Not.
Here’s where we get to the point — the Backstreet Boys have never claimed to be anything they’re not. In fact, they have come out and said so much in multiple interviews and, still, media wants to put a label on them and the public wants to crucify them for something that they never said.
In the past week, unkind comments have been hurled at the Boys for performing at the CMT Awards when they “aren’t country” as well as having won an award for their performance of “Everybody” with Florida Georgia Line. Let’s get a few things straight here:
The Boys + FGL have a #1 song on country radio (“God, Your Mama, and Me”), which FGL invited them to collaborate on.
The Backstreet Boys flew across the country to be present for the award show because they were nominated and were visibly grateful to have won.
The Backstreet Boys were invited to perform their new single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by CMT.
When they weren’t backstage, they were cheering on other performers from the audience.
They continue to mention Florida Georgia Line in every interview during CMA Fest and how grateful they are for the opportunity to collaborate.
They received incredibly loud cheers anytime in the arena anytime they were mentioned (I was there – I know).
THEY NEVER SAID THEY WERE CROSSING OVER TO COUNTRY. They were invited. They showed up. They were there for music and a good time.
MUSIC IS MUSIC and the music has always been the foundation and the #1 priority for the Backstreet Boys. That is why they have stood the test of time. That is why they are successful. That is why people have so many good memories associate with them, but it is also why people want to tear them down.
In a world like this, thank God for artists like the Backstreet Boys, who carry on, who inspire others, and who make a world like this a better place.
So, if you ever come across someone wondering “what the Backstreet Boys are doing here”, share this post… because what Kevin, Howie, Brian, AJ and Nick are doing here is what a lot of people couldn’t – creating an unrivaled sound and changing lives one song at a time.
It’s been a while since we’ve picked apart a Backstreet Boys music video, thought by thought, but we knew once we saw the video for “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” that we HAD to do it again. There’s just so many elements! (I mean, there’s a reason this video has garnered 15+ million views in two weeks)
So… here we go.
Howie? Is that you making the sign of the cross? Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.
Hold up! Are we actually INDOORS? ARE THE BACKSTREET BOYS IN THE BUILDING? All our biggest dreams have come true.
Does anyone picture them doing this in front of a big Vegas sign or is that just us?
Did anyone think for a minute that Beyonce was going to be in this video??
Who is this woman? Does she control the Backstreet Boys?
Are we the only ones that kind of wish it was Jenn on the screen?
They just lifted their heads in perfect synchronization. Is there anything the Backstreet Boys can’t do together?
Right into hand choreography! Yes. This is what we live for.
Seriously… WHO IS THIS GIRL?
The river arm motion. So good.
The Boys could have a second career as mimes.
Oh damn, we weren’t ready to be this close to Nick’s face.
We know it’s the sign language for broken, but we can’t help but imagine them snapping glowsticks.
Howie and the white jacket — he looks like a snazzy Gap commercial!
How do we get a stripe light wall in our houses?
How can you not watch this over and over just for the sharp moves? If the Boys’ hands were knives, they could behead people with these motions.
We wish we could snap as well as Nick Carter. That stretch and snap is…snappy.
Oh wait. Kevin does. He has a swing and snap.
The way the Backstreet Boys snap says a lot about who they are as people.
AJ is the only person we know that can pull off a bandanna around his neck.
GOD THE CHOREOGRAPHY IS FIRE.
Kevin and Nick snap – Brian shakes the stripe light room!
That slow motion clap thing is gold.
And the talk-to-the-hand motion at 1:08.
Oh my God, we’re only at 1:08
THESE SUDDEN SHAKES! It’s kind of like when someone gets in your face to make you flinch.
Kevin’s black and white ensemble matching the black and white wall with the pop of red pants proves that he’s a man after my own heart.
Nick’s hand motion at 1:12 is the same one he did in AIHTG or QPG… maybe both. His love is all he has to give. And his heart apparently. Unless you’re going to be someone that hurts somebody just for fun.
We have never appreciated the Boys’ different heights more than in this video. It gives everything such definition and angle.
Um, that’s a different girl. Clearly not the only one YOU got, guys.
Can someone explain to me why, when AJ is center stage, that it inexplicably starts snowing (??) and why Nick is standing in the background facing away from him?
Now we know AJ’s flirt move — a shoulder dance.
So is this girl real or no? Literally so confused.
AJ didn’t even try to grab the girl until after she disappeared. Weird. TRY SOME MORE SHOULDER DANCING!
Kevin’s swag in this video is OUT of control.
Ohhhh damn, Brian’s stripping down! Just kidding – it’s just his jacket.
Bless Howie’s finger shake.
Again with the close ups we’re not ready for!
Again with the clean choreo and Gap Howie!
Honestly, we just spent the next 10 seconds thinking what a visual INDOOR CHOREOGRAPHED masterpiece this is.
Is the room shaking or is it just us?
Oh it’s definitely shaking.
We love the hand puppet move. Don’t know what we’re talking about? 2:34.
HOLY SHIT ARE WE HIGH? WHY ARE THE BACKSTREET BOYS DISINTEGRATING?
They spend one year in Vegas and now they’re David Copperfield(s).
Why is Nick the only one that left behind glitter when he cremated himself?
THEY ARE MOVING THE ROOM. This is a visual representations of our organs at a Backstreet Boys concert.
P.S. In the Gap Howie scenes, does anyone besides Howie button jackets all the way up?
Tarzan Brian.
You know the store Express and how they always had the brightly lit glass panels behind the register? Imagine the Backstreet Boys dancing in Express. That’s what we’re thinking about around 3:29.
It’s all so good. SO GOOD.
Wait…why did it end?! Thank God for the replay button.
Three Weeks. (Did you hear that to tune of “Three words…”, Group B?)
That’s how long it takes to recover / process everything from the 2018 Backstreet Boys cruise. Why? BECAUSE IT. WAS. EPIC. (And also because the Boys released a new single mid-cruise-recovery so we had to switch gears for a minute and that is why this is JUST now getting posted.)
We know you’ve seen the pics, watched the videos, and read the reviews, so we hoped to talk in a little more detail about the little things you might have missed that you should DEFINITELY look forward to on the next cruise (assuming there is one).
FULL DISCLOSURE: This was actually my first time on the Backstreet Boys cruise, while it was Kristie’s 3rd. We went boarded with the promise to tell the whole truth about the cruise and nothing but the truth to give everyone the most realistic idea of what you’re getting into when you book a BSB cruise. Let me tell you — it exceeded ALL of my expectations! Yes, there are things that could be worked on (and we’re going to address them at the bottom of this post), but I can 100% say that I will be on board for future cruises and, if you can, you should be too.
So, with that being said, let’s move on to the good stuff…
1. The Costumes.
Holy cow! Tierney Burchett, who is the main person in charge of the Boys’ wardrobe, went above and beyond to nail the costumes for each theme night this year. We obviously never expected to see all five of the Backstreet Boys dressed as the Spice Girls, but they were… down to the details. The fake nails, the wigs, the platform shoes, the boobs – wow!
We were also super impressed by the pirate themed costumes, but we maybe could have done without the wigs. We also want to know who put a grill in Brian’s mouth for Con night?! Epic.
2. Brian Filling A Fan’s Cup At The Sail Away Party.
Less than 15 minutes into the Sail Away Party, a girl behind us held up a cup, motioning for Brian to pour his champagne into it. He took the cup but mouthed to her that the drink was warm, so he took her cup over to the Boys’ personal area and filled it with ice first before pouring the drink and reaching over to give it back to her. We’re not sure how many people saw this interaction, but it’s the little stories like this that we love the most.
3. AJ, Brian, and Nick headed out into the crowd during the Sail Away Party.
AJ was barely onstage before he was elsewhere. We didn’t even see him leave, but his voice boomed from far away like the voice of God as the ship began to sail away. Instead of staying on stage for the few lucky folks to be at the front of the stage, he and Brian both made their ways out into the crowd for the majority of the party. Nick followed soon after, walking over pool benches, stopping for selfies with fans before perching onto the bar to chat with even more fans.
It was clear from the beginning that these Boys were determined to make this cruise everything fans had always wanted and a really good vibe to kick everything off with.
4. The Backstreet Shadows.
Who knew the Backstreet Boys would have so much fun with a projector behind a screen before the Double Trouble game show? There was weird dancing, a three headed Backstreet Boy, and …kissing? The shadow entertainment was only a precursor to all of the fun game show shenanigans with the Boys split into teams with fans on both teams and quick games that no one was quite sure how to play. The main take away was that Backstreet choreography CAN be done while wearing a sumo suit.
5. The Sneak Peeks!
Obviously we can’t say much about what we heard during the sneak peeks of AJ’s new country-inspired solo album and potential songs on the upcoming Backstreet release, but we can say that Kevin was the PERFECT person to preview the music. He gave us the backstories we wanted to hear, kept it real (“you may or may not EVER hear this again”), and, as always, was a true perfectionist, wanting us to hear the songs in the best version possible.
What we can say is that after hearing songs that both AJ and the group have recorded, we are more excited than ever for the future. REALLY. GREAT. STUFF.
6. Howie Was The Star Of “We Got It Goin’ Con” Night.
Howie Z. …you heard of him? Well, everyone who was present for Con-themed night on the cruise does! Our regular Sweet D. transformed into Zorro for the night and really OWNED the stage for the whole night. Honestly, he owned a lot of things for the whole cruise and it was pretty amazing. Howie really does flourish on the cruise and we never want to cruise without him.
7. The Storytellers Concert Was A Fan’s DREAM.
Any concert that opens with “I Wanna Be With You” from the very first Backstreet Boys’ album and omits “I Want It That Way” is a concert that is tailored for fans and we can not tell you how much we loved it. There are no words. From beginning to end, Kevin, Howie, Brian, AJ and Nick sang a lot of the songs that aren’t normally a part of their setlists (even though they had lyrics on a screen to remind them) and told us all of the best stories behind a few of them (and going off on tangents, as the Backstreet Boys do). We learned about Kevin actually meeting up with the rest of the guys while they shot the “Bigger” music video (and what a hassle the video was to make), how “Quit Playing Games” was originally just Kevin and Brian, that Nick feels like “If I Knew Then” was the closest track to a club song the Boys recorded and SO much more.
We could go on forever honestly and would LOVE for them to do a small tour of concerts like this at some point.
8. Ummm, They Sang The ENTIRE Millennium Album.
We know it’s been all over the internet since the cruise (and during the cruise), but it’s worth mentioning again that 19 years after the release of Millennium, the Boys came out in all white to recreate the iconic album cover and SANG. THROUGH. THE. WHOLE. ALBUM.
That includes “I Need You Tonight”, “Don’t Wanna Lose You Now”, “Spanish Eyes”, “No Once Else Comes Close”, and “It’s Gotta Be You”. REGJIRJHOHRWJG)GWJB. It’s overwhelming to even think about again.
Oh, and should we even mention that sweet Kevin Richardson couldn’t make it through his verse in “The Perfect Fan” without crying? Bless him.
9. The Return of Nick And Knight?
Personal Note: No one was happier than Kristie and I when Nick started playing “If You Want It” on the cruise. We never attended any of the Nick & Knight concerts together, but we’re HUGE fans… so this is as close as we got to going together. Thanks, Nick!
Another moment you might have missed? Brian filling in momentarily for Jordan by doing the classic “Right Stuff” NKOTB dance move and lifting his shirt to show off his abs ala Mr. Knight. Very appreciated.
#BringBackNickAndKnight
10. The Backstreet Boys Were TROOPERS During Meet and Greet.
Picture it, the middle of the ocean, 5am… and the BOAT. IS. ROCKING.
Rocking is not an exaggeration. It was like a scene from Titanic. (Ok, maybe that was an exaggeration, but still…)
This is also the morning Group B has their meet and greet photos. EVERYONE IS THROWING UP, SITTING DOWN, HOLDING ONTO WALLS, LAYING ON THE FLOOR, PRAYING THEY DON’T PUKE ON A BACKSTREET BOY…
Then there were the Backstreet Boys. They were being human and a few of them were nauseated and also fighting the sea sickness, but they made it! All five made it through roughly 900+ fans without vomiting on any of them. In fact, they went beyond that, dressed as pirates in a fairly stuffy room, staying playful, and not making it look like we’re all actually holding on to each other so we don’t fall in our photo.
11. We Only Heard “I Want It That Way” Once!
A true fan’s paradise. (We know there are fans that love it, but the majority of us could live without it. If you’re one of those people, don’t get offended. We still love you.)
12. Brian Tried To Get As Many People Involved As He Could.
Let’s be real here – every year, someone has SOMETHING to say about Brian’s solo cruise events. We’re taking up for him on this one. As he explained, he wanted an event that was “family and friend friendly” and there is something to be respected about him taking ownership of his event and doing what he wants.
The highlight of the “game night” is that he wanted the most fans possible to get a chance to play with them on stage and that’s exactly what happened. It really was like taking a peek into game night at his home (a cool aspect), with winners winning gambling chips and selfies with the Littrells. It was a chill and great way to end the solo events.
We’d also like to add that during Group A’s event with the Littrells, an announcement went out over the intercom asking the emergency team to come to the hot tub area (where fans had been waiting for hours to get a spot for the deck party that night). We’re told that Brian bolted toward the door to find out if everything was okay. While this story isn’t related to the event, we love any chance to talk about the hearts the Boys possess.
13. Kevin Came Over The Announcement Speaker On The Last Night.
Just as the reality of that the cruise was ending was setting in on most of us, a familiar God-like voice came over the intercom. That’s right – it was Kevin Richardson, announcing that the deck party would be starting a little later, but also thanking us for cruising (“wherever we may be… in your room, by the pool, in your shower, walking around”). In fact, as always, any chance Kevin got, he was thanking us for showing up and we always hope that he knows we are just as thankful in return.
We should also mention that before he made the announcement, Kevin was roaming the guest hallways, signing doors with decor on them and even knocking to visit a few lucky fans!
14. Nick Stopped To Chat With Fans In The Cafe… Then Spent Hours Taking Selfies.
On Saturday, fans looking for pizza or ice cream happened upon on a pleasant surprise when they found Nick yet again with a selfie line in the middle of the cafeteria, where he remained for at least 4 hours, only stopping for restroom breaks and only ending because the concert was about to happen. Every single Backstreet Boy tried their hardest to give fans everything they wanted on this cruise and this was an example of just that.
(Sidenote: The next day was Nick’s HQ Trivia and we swear that he must have been a game show host in his past life.)
15. Howie Tried To Invite Everyone Onstage.
If you weren’t at the Cinco De Howie event, you missed out. Again, Howie was in rare form and we were LOVING it! From giving a play-by-play of what Jenn was telling him to do to putting his own twists on the games that were played, every person involved in Howie’s event has a story to tell.
And that is…a lot of people. Toward the end of the event, when told to bring 10 or so girls onstage, Howie decided to throw caution to wind and proclaim “Everyone just come on up here!” Quickly, he was reprimanded as the stage could only hold so many people, but he was a gem about taking a photo with those who made it up.
Did we mention what a good time it was?! Whether you were involved or watching, it made for a great Saturday afternoon pre-deck party event.
16. AJ and Brian Performed “Mr. A” and Kevin Brought Back “Nobody But You”!
“Let me introduce you to the coolest guy I know…”
Again, a song only the most hardcore of fans seemed to know, but plenty were singing along to toward the middle of Millennium night. There’s no real word to describe the rest of the night after that other than surreal. It was truly a Backstreet Boys + Fans party and it’s one we can’t tell you about. You had to be there. (Seriously…BE ON THE NEXT CRUISE!)
Oh! And then Kevin took the stage to perform “Nobody But You” complete with original dance moves. Was this even real?
17. Speaking of AJ, His Selfie Line On The Last Night Lasted Until 5am.
At the Sail Away Party, AJ made the announcement that he would be in the same spot for a selfie line on the last night of the cruise and, making good on his promise, there he was….for hours. Long past the time that the deck party was actually over, AJ was committed to taking selfies with every fan that stood in line and we heard that it didn’t stop until close to 5am (2 hours before the ship started letting people off).
There was also the time that he stood in the hallway, chatting and taking selfies with fans the night before, like the great guy that he is.
18. Kevin Was Bartending.
WHO GETS A DRINK MADE BY A BACKSTREET BOY? More than a few fans on the 2018 cruise. We’re not talking shot into your mouth. We’re talking a real glass with a real drink. We vote Kevin to be the next James Bond.
19. AJ and Nick Jumped Into The Pool…With Fans.
You’ve all seen the videos, the photos, and read the stories. It was another had-to-be-there indescribable moment.
Picture it — Kevin and Brian onstage singing / rapping along to Kriss Kross’ “Jump, Jump”, AJ jumps into the pool with fans, then Nick, then more fans, while Howie sits on a speaker watching it all happen… just as it begins to rain. Sound like a weird dream? We’re pretty positive that it might have been.
Ok, are we the only ones who didn’t know AJ played the drums so well?? But right there, before our very eyes, there he was. Is there anything he can’t do musically?
22. The Boys Did EVERYTHING They Could To Make This The BEST Cruise Yet!
If you didn’t catch our drift from the rest of this post, there was 100% effort from Kevin, Howie, Brian, AJ and Nick on this cruise. They tried their best to be present, to reach out to who they could, to entertain, to appreciate, to stay, and to be human. For each of them, doing their best looked different, but it was each of their own personal bests and honestly, the cruise left us feeling excited about the future. It was a refresh and the re-connection that we needed. We can’t WAIT for what comes next.
A Few Truths
There were SO many fans helping other fans onboard – moving to give everyone around them an opportunity, taking candid photos of other fans in a moment they might want to remember, and so much more. There were so many online friends meeting for the first time or excited for a reunion with each other. It is so nice to have 2000 people in the same place that love the same thing, sing the same songs, and have all the stories to share.
In the same vein, a lot of the complaints that fans have are because of other fans. It has nothing to do with the Backstreet Boys themselves and a lot to do with ourselves and perceptions that are skewed by a multitude of factors. We can do better, friends. Stop pushing. Stop shoving. Stop being jealous in an aggressive way. Most of all, stop blaming the Boys. Imagine 50 people pushing toward you while screaming. Would you stop to chat? We have to stop sabotaging ourselves and it really does seem to be a feasible goal. We’re almost there!
Backstreet Time is still real (of course). The solo events / concert ran on time, but if you’re thinking the group is going to show up to a party at the time, you’re kidding yourself. It’s important to prioritize what means most to you. If you are someone who HAS to be up front for the deck parties, BE PREPARED! It gets hot on the deck and you’re going to be there for HOURS. The closer it gets to time for the party to start, the more crowded you’re going to get. We don’t recommend it, but we know there are people that do. STAY HYDRATED! Honestly though, we showed up around the same time as the Boys every night and still had a really good time and the ability to move around.
STOP. STEALING. DECORATIONS. I know, I know — “well if I don’t do it, someone will” — but no one likes a thief. You didn’t pay for the decor so it doesn’t matter what they’re going to do with it by the end of the cruise. It’s not yours. If you must steal it, please wait until closer to the last day so it can look nice for most of the cruise. Do you think people didn’t work hard getting it just right for us? It’s rude, if nothing else.
If you can cruise, DO IT. There really is something special (and maybe addicting?) about this fan experience that is unlike any other and if you can swing it, you should definitely try it at least once. All of the positives far supersede the negative. We won’t be missing it again, for sure.
To those of you who introduced yourselves, WE LOVED MEETING YOU GUYS!!
After 5 years of waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting, the Backstreet Boys finally released a single and IT. IS. A. BANGER. If we didn’t think so, we wouldn’t be posting about it, fans or not.
Because everything has been rolling in so quickly (and we weren’t even over the cruise), we haven’t had a chance to make formal posts. Also because everything is happening so quickly, we wanted to make a post with the “essentials” that people have been asking, that you might have missed on our social media, and a few interviews that have been our particular favorites this cycle (so far).
The Lyrics
Some of you asked for these and these are the 100% correct lyrics. Enjoy your sing-a-long!
The Music Video
We have NO words for how much we love this video! We’re out of the grass, guys!!! We are moving forward, little by little. In less than 12 hours, the “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” had one million views on YouTube and, at the time of this post, is creeping up on 7 million. Do yourself a favor and give it a watch (or 30).
The Mural
The Backstreet Boys represented in a wall mural? Just what our little hearts have always desired! Well, since instagram has become a thing at least — this is the perfect backdrop for our fangirl loving hearts.
If you are going to be on the west coast in the Los Angeles area in the next TWO WEEKS (until around June 1st), stop by and snap a photo! If you do, send it our way. We definitely want to see your beautiful faces. Don’t forget to hashtag #DontGoBreakingMyHeart with your post and tag your location, which will be Ogden and Melrose.
Need the exact address? 7765 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA — Tell your friends!
Oh, and the Backstreet Boys have upped the ante. Anyone who posts a picture at the mural is now entered for a pair of BSB Vegas VIP Meet and Greets for a show of your choice. The winner will be randomly chosen on May 31st.
Who’s checking out the mural this weekend? Head on down to 7765 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles and post a pic at the wall with #DONTGOBREAKINGMYHEART for a chance to win a pair of tix and meet & greets to a #BSBVegas show of your choice! Winner will be randomly chosen May 31! pic.twitter.com/85KLqa2onD
The link in this post will direct you to wherever it is available in your country. Please force it on your share it with all of your coolest friends (and even the uncool ones that you because they need happiness too).
The Interviews
Obviously, there have been more than a few interviews since Thursday and per usual, there’s a lot of repetitive answers. In an effort to get the best directly in front of your face, here are a few of our favorites.
In an effort to cut down on flooding timelines, we’re only tweeting out the @backstreetboys interviews with “different” things in them.
Let’s take a break from talking about the new Backstreet single, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (even though you better be listening to it while reading this post), to take a step back to the epic 2018 Backstreet Boys cruise.
While we’re still going to post a small review at some point (if you guys want to read it), it was apparent shortly after we returned home that some of the best parts of the cruise were the hilarious photos taken on board. Obviously, we wanted to memorialize them in a post.
When we asked you guys to send in your funny photos, most of them were selfie fails and those are our FAVORITES! If you haven’t seen our last selfie fail post, you can check it out here.
So, here they are. A new batch of the good stuff. If you have any more hilarious photos (or stories — we love funny stories) that you’d like to share, inbox us! Email, Twitter DM, or Facebook message and we’ll add to this post.
(P.S. The Howie stories / selfies we’ve seen from this cruise are life changing.)
“My roommates and I got a grand suite, and we were lucky enough to have front and center seats in the Fantasia Lounge. On the last night, 2 of my roommates were picked for one of the events in Mr. and Mrs. Littrell’s gameshow, so I had an open seat on either side. During the lip sync game, Brian suddenly jumped down and pretended to be a fan. Leighanne played the part and pushed him away, so he sat down RIGHT NEXT TO ME. The whole time, I had been recording with my smart phone.
Without warning – and I don’t think he exactly asked, he just gracefully took my phone out of my hands – Brian reached over and took my phone. He ran back to the edge of the stage and pretended to reach for “AJ” as s/he sang. Leighanne came out and pushed Brian away, so he sat back down.
Meanwhile, I’d been watching this in disbelief. Did Brian really just grab my phone while I was recording? He’s holding the phone up towards the stage, then he turns it around towards us. My first thought was, “why is he showing them what he’s recording?”. Then it hit me: he’s recording us together!
And the rest is history. And a wonderful memory!” – @lauramariefu
“This was from the sail away party. He ran around the top deck and he wasn’t stopping for selfies. I literally threw myself in his path, clicked the button and prayed it wasn’t blurry. I’m very proud of this picture. He looked like how we all ended up feeling by the end of the cruise.” – Lisa Chan
“Ran into Howie on the way to supper. You’ll have to take my word for it unfortunately as my flash didn’t go off, and in a flash, he was gone haha OO well, there is always next time!!” – Candace Porter
“Howie was a little over-served and invited everyone around me into my selfie with him lol. But first he accidentally turned it to the AR emoji screen and said what’s this shit?!” – Ashley Bigham
“My favorite selfie of me with Nick. This was right before Millennium night. It would have been a great picture but my flash was delayed and he was too fast.” – Monica
“Here’s my failed selfie. It was Howie as Geri. I tried the light for the selfie on my phone but it took to long and Howie moved away. I said “no wait!!” And thats when the picture was taken ahahha.” – Joannie T
“Any Howie selfie I get is always blurry…. I think that’s how his eyes see.” – Sarah Addison
“Selfie Fail.” – Vanessa
“We asked Howie to take my phone and take a group pic of us.” – Marissa
“This fail was my fault since I left my camera on timer. Lesson learned.” – Kane
Ok. Only 5ish years since we’ve gotten a new Backstreet Boys single, but it feels like 84.
But THURSDAY, MAY 17TH, that changes. On Thursday of THIS WEEK, we will have a new Backstreet Boys single (and music video if Kevin is to be believed). On Thursday, we will have a recharged fan feeling – the one we thrive off of, the feeling we’re addicted to, fuel in our tanks, if you will!
We could not be more excited to be fans in 2018 because DAMN, it’s a good time. What’s so great about it? There are thousands of us all over the world feeling the exact same things at this very moment. Don’t believe us? Well..let us prove you wrong.
1. We’re Freaking Out!
Like we said, we’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting a while for this single. The only new music we’ve gotten from the Backstreet Boys since IAWLT has been with Florida Georgia Line and while it was a good time, nothing can replace the smooth vocals of our fave five. They are, of course, what has kept us sticking around (while they’re acting like clowns….Bigger, anyone).
In all seriousness, every social media post in the past few weeks has sent us into an absolute tailspin and we can only imagine what the actual music (or the music video uiheiuhftwoiwo) will do to us. We’re basically 14 again…but also over 21 because we need a drink to calm ourselves.
2. Gathering All The Details.
Ever since Kevin started the countdown to the new single release, we’ve been targeting a date, we’ve been gathering together anything we can do, and we’ve been telling ALL of our friends.
If you haven’t gathered the details, here’s what we know:
The name of the single is “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
It will be available at 12AM EST on May 17th. This means 11PM CST / 9PM PST on May 16th.
We are not sure of every outlet it will be available on, but it will be available on iTunes and Spotify.
According to Kevin, the music video will also be dropping on Thursday (Time Unknown). It is a 90s throwback.
The single WILL be hitting airwaves and played on radio. While a tweet to your LOCAL stations are cool to hype the single, we don’t encourage bombarding ANY radio station. If a station isn’t playing the single, don’t get mad — we can push for spins on Spotify, plays on YouTube, downloads on iTunes, etc. Let things happen naturally. We have high hopes that the song will be SO good that people can’t ignore it. The Boys know what they’re doing.
We will be trending the hashtag #DontGoBreakingMyHeart ALL day on Thursday. Help us out!
3. Sharing Opinions Before Anything Even Drops.
We’ve analyzed every bit of information we’ve been given. We’re THRILLED the Boys are dancing in the music video. We’re curious what tempo the song is and we’re praying it’s something we can all dance to. We all have our opinions of who we want singing and what we hope they accomplish, but mostly…we’re just proud. 25 years after the Backstreet Boys became the Backstreet Boys, they’re releasing a new single. How many artists can say that?? (But we’ll have more opinions after the drop. Opinions are a BSB fan’s favorite thing to share.)
4. We’re A Little Scared?
We are absolutely THRILLED to hear new music from Kevin, Howie, Brian, AJ and Nick, but there’s always a little fear with a new release about who we’re going to have to take out. We can have our opinions but how DARE anyone else say something! We will blast the new single in your ear until you have something nice to say.
Let’s be real too, we’re always a little scared of not liking a new song, but in the end, it always grows on us. What a rollercoaster of emotions though, am I right??
5. BUT WE’RE LOSING OUR MINDS!
Everything aside, it is worth mentioning again…. OMGWECANTHANDLEIT. IS THIS EVEN REAL? IS IT REALLY HAPPENING?
6. As We Do, We’re Trying To Figure Everything Out Before The Release.
“Ummm, is this a cover of the Elton John song?”
“Brian’s shoes are white so obvvvviiiiiously he’s the lead singer on it.”
“They’re dancing so it must be up tempo.”
“It has the word heart in it so it’ll be like everything else probs.”
We know the producers, directors, choreographers, photographers, stylists, caterers, dog sitters, janitors, etc. that worked on the music video and we’ve been vigorously stalking since the shoot for more clues.
For some reason, we have no patience with anything ever. But it’s all out of love, of course!
7. We’re Ready.
OUR BLOOD IS PUMPING.
OUR EARS ARE CLEANED OUT AND READY FOR EARGASMS.
OUR FINGERS ARE READY TO POST EVERYWHERE.
OUR FRIENDS ARE READY TO HEAR NOTHING BUT THIS SONG FOR THE NEXT WEEK TO A YEAR.
Let’s do this, Backstreet. We can’t wait to have your (Backstreet’s) back!
Stay tuned to our social media for immediate updates, new posts, and more as things roll out! We can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks and more.
That’s the phrase we heard over and over again in many places on the Carnival Sensation during the Backstreet Boys 2018 cruise and online in the week since we’ve returned. (It’s already been a week?!)
As the cruise came to a close, we’ve spent a week thinking about how to sum up everything that happened. So. much. HAPPENED! How do you put all of the greatest moments into words when you haven’t even had time to process it yourself? We don’t even have time to be over the cruise before we get a new single (and music video) from the Boys next week!
So, we’re starting where we’ve started before — by thanking each of the Boys for the little things… because it seems like the best place to start and something that we can all agree upon.
Kevin…
As always, he gets it. From his commitment to theme costumes to his calm nature that permeates to anyone around him, his sincerity, humility, and zest made every encounter a fun one. He really took the time to make every interaction a good one – never rushed and genuinely concerned about the time you were having and thanking everyone in the meet and greet for being there.
There was honestly no one better to preview the songs we may or may not hear on the upcoming Backstreet Boys album (and Group B really appreciated “3 words…” five times). One of our favorite things about Kevin has always been his storytelling and his attention to detail and he did not disappoint on this cruise.
Did we mention that he went down hallways signing door decorations and knocking on some lucky fans’ doors in his free time? Did we also mention that spent time behind the bar on Millennium night making drinks for fans for hours and that everyone who met Kevin on the cruise left with a little extra love?
It’s not just the other Boys who are so grateful for Kevin’s return.
Howie…
Was there anyone more FUN than Howard Dorough on this year’s BSB Cruise? Not quite.
While selfie lines weren’t really his thing (and that’s okay!), he was more than willing to take a photo if you caught him and 100% down for a good time the WHOLE time. We can’t imagine someone not being entertained by his Cinco De Howie antics or his smooth moves as Howie Z., dressed as Zorro, dancing the night away during We Got It Goin’ Con night. Even Nick admitted that Howie was the star that night!
Entertainment aside, it was clear that Howie wanted everyone in on the party and that he was going to be the one to keep it going, even stopping to do a selfie line on his way out on Saturday night. This cruise wouldn’t have been half as great without Sweet D!
Brian…
This man went hard.
Prior to this cruise, there were many people who said that Brian is the hardest to nail down and he’s the first to retire for the night. Let us be the first to tell you… that was not the case this year. On the first night deck party, Brian came in in his basketball uniform, removed his jacket, and immediately laid down on the stage to take selfies with fans. Every night after would be a similar story because every night, he was reaching out to fans on every side of the stage, whether it be to sign something, take pics, or just shake a hand. We think many people probably missed the fact that he did a selfie line in the hall near his cabin too.
Can we also talk about his vocals?? He. Sounded. So. Good. Again, tears were brought to our eyes with every note he killed during the Storytellers concert.
Like the other guys, Brian was present and wanting fans involved. His Game Night event with family and friends was definitely the most inclusive for all fans present and as he stated, he wanted to give as many fans as possible a chance to play. That was definitely a theme for him throughout the cruise and for sure something to be admired about him.
Oh, and Sporty Spice never looked so good.
AJ…
AJ is a constant entertainer and such a kind soul. Much like Kevin, his gift of conversation puts everyone at ease and the cruise was no exception. The minute he came on stage at the Sail Away party, he was in the middle of the crowd, giving fans further back an opportunity to get in on the action and made the announcement that he would be in the same spot on the last night to do a selfie line.
…And take selfies he did. This man stood outside until 5am to take selfies with any fan who wanted one. If that isn’t commitment and follow through, we don’t know what is. It is SO appreciated by so many of us. We also love that he was all over the place! In the pool, in the halls taking photos, at the DJ table, on the stage… AJ is, as always, where the people are. He even had an extra event – playing in a Black Jack tournament with a few lucky fans.
We’re also so excited for more of his solo album, simply based on what we heard at his event. Fingers crossed he’s finally moving toward a solo release!
Nick…
You know what the most striking thing about Nick was on this cruise? The fact that he was everyone’s biggest cheerleader. While his performances were stellar as usual and his Baby Spice impersonation was on point, the thing we loved most was the fact that he was such a fan of the other Boys. From cheering Brian on for nailing a note to getting sentimental about how much the Boys missed Kevin to encouraging Howie to take on his Zorro dance moves, he seemed genuinely refreshed and happy to be onstage with the other four.
It wasn’t just for the other Boys either though. From the moment he walked on the ship, Nick was ready and willing to hang with fans. While everyone’s wifi was still working, he played a game of hide and seek with everyone via Twitter (in which everyone found him because Backstreet fans can sniff out a BSB from miles away – even if he is wearing a Rose Tours staff shirt with a mustache). Then, in the middle of Saturday evening, Nick stood in the cafeteria for hours taking selfies with any fan that lined up for the opportunity, only taking quick bathroom breaks. What a gem, right?
There was also that pool situation on Into The Millennium night. Fans jumped into the pool after Nick and he just played along with them, relishing in the good times with, truly, not a care in the world. We loved the time spent with him on this cruise as we’re pretty sure everyone else did too.
Thank you, Backstreet Boys (and their team) for making the 2018 cruise a wonderful, unforgettable one. Each of you had such a huge contribution to it’s success and we can’t imagine it without any single one of you. It was absolutely the perfect kick off to what is sure to be an incredible year for you guys and for us! Thank you doesn’t even begin to cover it. See you soon?
(We will be doing a post with specific cruise moments, photos, and videos, but for now, you can find them on our YouTube channel and all photos are uploaded into albums on our Facebook page. You can also check out some sweet professional photos from the cruise here.
We’re also interested in seeing your funny cruise pics and your selfie fails! DM us on Twitter or email us at whothebackstreet@gmail.com)
“As long as there’ll be music, we’ll be coming back again.”
The line from an extended version of the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” has evolved from a lyric in a song to make fans scream as teenagers to something that, as adults, we’ve come to believe as more of a promise.
Today, April 20, 2018, the Backstreet Boys are celebrating their 25th anniversary together. You can see 25 as a quarter of a century or as only the beginning of a long road ahead, but one thing is for sure – it’s a remarkable accomplishment for any band, especially in recent years.
And here they are. Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Nick Carter keep coming back for more, keep giving us more to look forward to, keep making music together and stay the family they always told us they were. These five men have spent more than half of each of their lives together – through the highest highs and the lowest lows, weddings, babies, triumph and tragedy – and they’ve done it all in the public eye.
And through it all, they’ve never turned their back on us, the fans.
They’ve made music… for us.
They’ve toured endlessly… for us.
They’ve spent days on cruise ships… for us.
They’ve reached out to ask our opinions so that they could keep it fresh… for us.
They’ve missed birthdays, anniversaries, and family moments… for us.
They’ve been open and honest every step of the way… for us.
They’ve remained a family so that we could all stay together as fans, making these memories, traveling the earth, making our own families in more ways than one…
And on this 25th anniversary of the Backstreet Boys being together, we wanted to do something… for them.
Hundreds of fans came together from ALL OVER THE WORLD to donate enough money to take out an ad in Billboard magazine to celebrate our Boys’ anniversary together.
From $1 to $100 to sharing posts to donating merch pieces to auction off, we came together in a big way and exceeded the goal within a few months! No one can say that the love for the Backstreet Boys is any less than it was in the 90s. In fact, it has only grown.
So, in the April 21st issue of Billboard Magazine, there is a full page color ad (designed by fellow fan, Michelle) congratulating Kevin, Howie, Brian, AJ and Nick on 25 years together and thanking them for everything they’ve done for us and everything they continue to do.
It’s the very least we could do.
With the extra $800 donated to the campaign, we donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, who specialize in treating children with cancer, so that they may have a chance to live a long life and love a band + make as many memories as we have with the Backstreet Boys.
— What Happens On The Backstreet (@WHOTheBckstreet) April 20, 2018
Congratulations on 25 years, Backstreet Boys. Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything that you’ve done and will do in the future. You’ve changed our lives, you’ve given us life, and you have meant more to us than you will ever know. It has been an absolute honor and privilege to be a BSB fan because of you five gentlemen.
