The lowdown: For the Backstreet Boys' second attempt at breaking into the American market, Jive initially had all sorts of terrible ideas ("If You Want It To Be Good Girl [Get Yourself a Bad Boy]," "Anywhere For You"). But BSB pushed for this yearning Max Martin-produced plea and—with a new recording that gave Nick Carter a solo verse—earned the biggest hit of their career. During its unfortunate run on the Hot 100, the song stalled at #3 for seven weeks, making two separate climbs to the runner-up position behind "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Honey." It also peaked at #2 on pop radio (behind "Semi-Charmed Life") and the adult contemporary chart (behind "How Do I Live"). Appropriately, the single sold two million copies. That's a lot of twos!
The vote: At the halfway point of voting, "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" held a comfortable lead at the top of the countdown, having received nothing lower than a 9. Suddenly, out of nowhere, conseeded gave the song a 6. Then, in rapid succession, superben and madonnas both awarded it a 4, ultimately dropping its average a full point and costing it the crown.
Best bit:The music video. Obviously, the song is absolute perfection, but holy ****, that scene of the Boys dancing around in the rain is a work of art. The closeup of Nick Carter slowly pushing his hair out of his eyes should play on loop in the MoMA forever.
I knew Shape of My Heart would be one of the ones out.. Surprised about the other. Totally thought it was Larger Than Life. I completely forgot about the tragic European video for I Want You Back
Quote:
Originally posted by supaspaz
Best bit: This bon mot from Max Martin and co-writers: "Sadness is beautiful/Loneliness is tragical." And lyrics are nonsensical.
This always got me! I would always stop singing and think, "Is tragical even a word? " A damn mess on Max Martin's part
The lowdown: Originally intended as the lead single for Millennium, this bouncy fan appreciation anthem was pushed to second release after BSB heard the completed version of "I Want It That Way." The roaring, rock-edged arrangement—which is just begging for a stadium scream-along—has a futuristic vibe that holds up remarkably well. In 2005, Blender named it the 292nd-best song since you were born.
The vote: "Larger Than Life" is the last entry on the countdown to average less than a 9, but don't be deceived. If superben had given the song even a 6 (its second-lowest score, courtesy of Ace Reject), it would have jumped to #2, one-hundredth of a point behind the winner.
Best bit: The weird bubbling synth that opens the song (and A.J. McLean's subsequent maniacal laughter) make for a pretty brilliant hook.
Fun fact: I was grounded when both the Bye Bye Bye and LTL videos were released. I gave my aunt a blank VHS tape to record the TRL premiere of this while I was made Stevie-to-TV for two weeks.
Fun fact: I was grounded when both the Bye Bye Bye and LTL videos were released. I gave my aunt a blank VHS tape to record the TRL premiere of this while I was made Stevie-to-TV for two weeks.
I still have this very vivid memory of the first time I ever saw the "Larger Than Life" video, watching with confusion and awe as that space station sloooooowly passed over the screen.
" A damn mess on Max Martin's part 
...Especially over Larger Than Life.
