Times Union Review: 2/14/00, Albany, NY

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Feb 15, 2000 Source: The Albany Times Union Submitted By: Y By GREG HAYMES , Staff writer ghaymes@timesunion.com First published: Tuesday, February 15, 2000 Backstreet Boys' performance perfect Valentine's Day fantasy Review The Backstreet Boys on Valentine's Day. Can Albany get any luckier than that? On Monday night, the Pepsi Arena was throbbing with the anticipation of 16,000 teenage girls (give or take a couple of parent-chaperones). Hand-lettered placards were everywhere, along with giant heart-shaped valentines designated for the favored Boy. "I love you, Nick.'' "Kevin, will you marry me?'' "Howie rules.'' "You're a stud, AJ.'' "Brian, I want it your way.'' Let's face it, regardless of their musical talent -- and once they took the stage, their vocals were drowned out by the screams of their fans -- what the Boys deliver isn't all that bad. Sure, it's not art, but they offer a 13-year-old girl a place to incubate her junior-high school fantasies. It's a place where your boyfriend will never be unfaithful. A place where promises will never be broken. A place where love will never die. In other words, it was a perfect Valentine's Day concert. Sporting more hand-lettered placards than a presidential convention, the jam-packed crowd hung on every wordfrom the apt opener, "Larger Than Life,'' to the final encore, "I Want It That Way.'' The quintessential quintet of new millennial boy-pop did it all -- singing, dancing and looking cute. What more can you ask from a boy-toy band? Of course, they had plenty of help -- a six-piece band and a tireless nine-member dance troupe -- but nobody was really looking at anybody but the Boys, who went through at least as many costume changes as Cher during the course of their two hour extravaganza. The music? Well, really, who cares? In fact, it was nearly impossible to tell if the five cuties were actually singing at all during the show, but that's not really the point. We've become so accustomed to lip-synching and "audio-enhanced live performances'' that it really isn't a determining factor anymore, is it? What we're talking about is the show, and the Backstreet Boys dished up a spectacle worthy of three or four Super Bowl half-time shows. Favorite moment? Well, how about "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),'' during which the Boys flew out over the audience on Peter Pan-like wire apparatuses, tossing teddy bears to the faithful fans? Although they changed from motocross blues to black leathers, the high point of the costume parade was undoubtedly the delicious white, gray and salmon colored zoot-suits that they sported for the show-closers, beginning with "No One Else Comes Close.'' Then, of course, there was the big entrance as the guys boogie-boarded over the heads of the crowd as they made their way to the pentagram-shaped stage in the middle of the arena. And when they settled into "The Perfect Fan'' (Brian's ode to his mom), they paraded five mother-and-daughter teams around the stage as though it were the Miss America pageant. And you can bet that those kids won't ever forget that experience -- at least until the sixth grade. By the end of the night, most of the moms were singing along with their daughters on the final encore of "I Want It That Way.'' And if they weren't, you can bet that they were silently -- and very joyously -- giving praise that their daughters' bedrooms were shrines to the Backstreet Boys instead of Marilyn Manson. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: crorkzz 7HbxBL I was suggested this blog by way of my cousin. I'm no longer sure whether or not this post is written via him as no one else understand such certain about my difficulty. You're amazing! Thank you! Submitted by: Cabbage Salad I was looking for the report in Yandex and suddenly came across this page. I found a little information on my topic of my report. I would like more, and thanks for that..! Submitted by: Cabbage Salad Left on my site a link to this post. I think many people will be interested in it..! Submitted by: Market To Cell Phone Users Uh, well, explain me a please, I am not quite in the subject, how can it be?!... Submitted by: Wedding Invitation Store I am getting married on the 15th of November. Congratulate me! Then will be here rarely!... Submitted by: Hook And Tackle I must admit, the webmaster is a cool guy..! Submitted by: Above Ground Pool Prices Totally agree with you, about a week ago wrote about the same in my blog..! Submitted by: cheap oem software 6OaMfu The text is promising, will place the site to my favorites..! Submitted by: utilizera Submitted by: lodo4ka Click here to see more comments. Comment on this item. Next Item: Centre Daily Times Review: 2/11/00, University Park, PA Prev Item: Daily Collegian Review: 2/12/00, University Park, PA