BACKSTREET BOYS
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
As Long As You Love Me
I Want It That Way
Larger Than Life
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
Shape of My Heart
The Call
'N SYNC
I Want You Back
Tearin' Up My Heart
Bye Bye Bye
98 DEGREES
The Backstreet Boys-'N Sync showdown is only to be expected, but there are still a couple of surprises in the bunch. (I certainly wouldn't have predicted 'N Sync's early singles to do best or Millennium to slay this hard.)
So make your predictions and your wishes now! The finale will be happening later this week.
10. The Call
9. I Want It That Way
8. Larger Than Life
7. As Long As You Love Me
6. Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)
5. Bye Bye Bye
4. Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
3. Tearin' Up My Heart
2. I Want You Back
1. Shape of My Heart
OMG! I totally should have hosted this entire rate in IM speak. It would have made great sense with boy band culture—and elevated this countdown to a piece of high-concept art. A blown opportunity on my part, TBH.
I'm baffled by these 4 songs being here:
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
As Long As You Love Me
Shape of My Heart
I Want You Back
like... people liked them? Over ALL BIIM songs? Over Pop and Backstreet's Back?
I mean, "As Long as You Love Me" is a godly CLASSIC, but I agree overall: Boyz II Men (ABC, BBD) should be on the top 10 over many of the songs that ranked above them. And "Pop" probably could've been higher.
The lowdown: 'N Sync's sole #1 hit on the Hot 100 is probably not what you would expect. This second single from No Strings Attached isn't their most famous or beloved song, but it managed to ride the tidal wave of mania surrounding "Bye Bye Bye" and the group's record-breaking sales all the way to a two-week reign at the top of the charts. Arguably, however, it's more remembered for the Wayne Isham-directed video, in which 'N Sync was turned into action figures and Justin Timberlake's hair was at its all-time Afro-iest.
The vote: "It's Gonna Be Me" received an impressive eight 10's (as well as three 9's and two 8's) and would have surely finished in the top ten if not for heckinglovato and Ace Reject.
Best bit: When Justin is all, "It's gonna be May!" at the end of the song, because what?
This was clearly a mistake on my part, as I meant to give Bye X3 a 2 and this masterpiece a ten. Can that be fixed?
