Backstreet Boys disappoint
AS much as it pains me to say it – the Backstreet Boys really need to put away their dancing shoes.
Having been a great fan of the boys in their hey-day, I was eagerly anticipating their new tour at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena last night, but I was left with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment.
From the opening chords it felt like the boys hearts weren’t really in it, there was some dubious dance moves (as well as the odd fantastic move, I will give them that) and some out-of-tune singing, which all made for a very lacklustre concert.
I would have thought that kicking off the first day of their six-date UK tour in Newcastle would be an amazing rush for the boys, but they just looked tired and weary, and, well, old.
Playing to a half empty arena probably didn’t help matters, and most of the people where I was sat looked bored for the majority of the show, and only perked up for big numbers like Larger Than Life and Show Me The Meaning (Of Being Lonely).
Then there were the strange video clips where each of the lads took a role in a film – from Enchanted, Fight Club, Fast and the Furious and the Matrix – which were just very strange and seemed more of a way to fill the time while the boys got their breath back than anything else.
Having seen the amazing comebacks of similar boy bands like Take That and Boyzone, I had wished the Backstreet Boys concert to be so much more than it was.
Bursting onto the stage with Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), made me think it was going to be a fantastic gig with song after song of classic hits, but it was a forumlaic concert which left me disappointed – and actually saw a great deal of people leave before the end.
It was such a shame that as other boy bands have grown up and moved on with their music, it seems that the Backstreet Boys have got stuck in a rut and are unable to do the same.
The whole show felt as though we were back in the 90s – and not in a good way.
November 04, 2009
By Tegan Chapman
News Guardian