[Cherry Noir]

Yes you may..

[supaspaz]

"The Call" (2001)
Black & Blue
Hot 100: #52



Overall score: 8.35
High score: 10 (Konichiwa, V3$$3L., Evun)
Low score: 5 (borntodie)

The lowdown: Also known as the track that spawned premature relationship hang-ups among a whole generation of preteen girls. This story song about an impulsive affair that ruined the Backstreet Boys' destiny was the second single from Black & Blue, and it became their first outright flop since "We've Got It Goin' On," failing to reach the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping out at #19 on pop radio. Adding to its accolades, the video shoot is where A.J. McLean first tried cocaine, the start of his downward spiral.

The vote: Though "The Call" didn't earn many 10's, an additional ten scores of 8 or higher pushed it into the upper tier of our countdown. It's also the first song not to receive anything below a 5.

Best bit: Elevating morality tale into existential crisis, the middle eight features some chanting straight out of a 15th-century Catholic monastery.

[madonnas]

That one was decent but nothing amazing iirc

[supaspaz]

"Bye Bye Bye" (2000)
No Strings Attached
Hot 100: #4



Overall score: 8.42
High score: 10 (supaspaz, Flashing Lights, Konichiwa, V3$$3L., Carlton, Changes, conseeded, MP2K, Right Direction)
Low score: 1 (heckinglovato)

The lowdown: Addressing 'N Sync's breakup from longtime manager Lou Perlman (the group was pissed when it discovered he was in relationships with all five of them at once!), this lead single from No Strings Attached was a massive phenomenon. Among its impressive achievements: the most first-week adds ever on pop radio, a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year, 25 straights days at #1 on TRL (a streak second only to "I Drive Myself Crazy"), and the illustrious honor of being named the 17th-most annoying song of all time by Rolling Stone in 2007.

The vote: "Bye Bye Bye" was beloved by most voters, receiving only three scores below 8. Unfortunately, those were a 1 and two 4's—enough to keep the song out of the top five.

Best bit: That synth string intro, which still thrills every time I hear it.

[madonnas]

Demi fans

[Flashing Lights]

The Call is about fifteen positions too high and BBB is a few too low.

[Changes]

Bye Bye Bye at 9?! What the actual ****.

[supaspaz]

Originally posted by Flashing Lights

The Call is about fifteen positions too high and BBB is a few too low.

[Flashing Lights]

Originally posted by supaspaz

Madge concurs with that fact.

[Ace Reject]

Originally posted by supaspaz

Are you for really real with that? Because it does change things.

On your original ballot, you gave "Bye Bye Bye" a 4 and didn't list "It's Gonna Be Me" at all. I assumed that's what the 2 for "LMAO" meant.

Oh no! That was for one of the very lesser songs. I'm so sorry I didn't list IGBM, but it's a ten in my eyes. My favorite of theirs by a LONG SHOT.

Sorry The Call! And sorry supa.

[Patrick]

Originally posted by Ace Reject

Sorry The Call! And sorry supa.

The call that changed the destiny of this countdown.

[Ace Reject]

Speaking of - how have we never done a Tiffany/Debbie runoff????! How has that not happened yet??!?!?

[andresg770]

"The Call" has been always so underappreciated That Spanish guitar >>>>>>>>>> careers

Plus, they were all such douchebags in both the song and video, yet girls were still throwing themselves at them. BSB their power

[Patrick]

Originally posted by Ace Reject

Speaking of - how have we never done a Tiffany/Debbie runoff????! How has that not happened yet??!?!?

Cause we like Tiffany too much to let her get scalped like that.

[supaspaz]

Originally posted by Ace Reject

Oh no! That was for one of the very lesser songs. I'm so sorry I didn't list IGBM, but it's a ten in my eyes. My favorite of theirs by a LONG SHOT.

Sorry The Call! And sorry supa.

Oops! Sorry, Ace. I shouldn't have assumed you held "It's Gonna Be Me" with the same disregard as "Music of My Heart." That's on may.

With your 10, IGBM would have jumped to seventh. So let's call it #13 with an asterix.

[supaspaz]

Originally posted by andresg770

"The Call" has been always so underappreciated That Spanish guitar >>>>>>>>>> careers

Have you all noticed how many of these songs have Spanish guitar in them? And it always works!

[andresg770]

Originally posted by supaspaz

Have you all noticed how many of these songs have Spanish guitar in them? And it always works!

Can't speak for any appearances it makes on older Boyz II Men (ABC, BBD -- I really can't control myself with that...) or NKOTB songs, but for anything post 1998/1999, I blame Enrique.

It's such an awesome instrument, though -- its sound should be enough of an explanation

[V3$$3L.]

Yes Bi Bi Bi getting the shaft early!

[supaspaz]

Originally posted by V3$$3L.

Yes Bi Bi Bi getting the shaft early!

Just like Lance got the shaft early from Lou P.

[KLatz]

Would've liked The Call to surpass expectations and sneak into the top 5, but the BSB songs that are left are slightly better than it so I guess it's place is well deserved

As for Bye Bye Bye, I believe it should've been higher. But since I do like the other two *NSYNC songs more, like The Call, it's place is good enough.

But & at Tearin' Up My Heart and I Want You Back slaying! Wouldn't have expected them to out-rank songs like Bye Bye Bye or It's Gonna Be Me.

I just hope they're not the next two out...