26 years into their career, Backstreet Boys are doing much more than serving up nostalgia with their many hits. In fact, their latest DNA Tour showcases their best live performances yet – a fact that the 10,000 in attendance at their recent Singapore show will attest to.
Making their grand entrance on stage in an all-black get-up, the pop outfit, comprising AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Brian Litrell, opened the show with “Everyone”. This was met with resounding cheers from the audience, who clearly have been awaiting the group’s return here since their 2017 concert.
From the get-go, they kept the energy high, with upbeat classics like “I Wanna Be With You” and “Don’t Want You Back”. As they delivered one hit after another effortlessly, it was as if no time has passed since the 2000s. With their voices in perfect unison and moves in tandem with one another, they still seemed like the dreamy, teenage heartthrobs we once swooned over endlessly.
But if time has changed anything for the Backstreet Boys, it’s only made them even more outstanding. Sprinkled and well-placed throughout the setlist were songs from their latest album, DNA, which cleverly marries the classic Backstreet Boys sound with a wide variety of genres, from country to R&B and EDM.
These newer offerings were led in by stunning solo performances by the members – Brian on “Nobody Else”, Howie on “Chateau”, and Nick on “The Way it Was” – giving space for their individual vocals and styles to shine through on stage. The more modern, sultry sounds of DNA, complete with sexy dance sequences, drove the crowd wild. They’ve made a smooth transition from Backstreet Boys to Men, inspiring renewed frenzy with their new sound and choreographies.
Those who went to the gig for nostalgia’s sake were also in for an absolute treat. Delivering a string of classics, from “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” to “Incomplete” and “Shape of My Heart” against the perfect old-school, scenic-landscape backdrop, they took us on the ultimate trip down memory lane. They even worked their mic stands while donning hats on “Undone”, in typical boyband fashion.
With their unparalleled vocal harmony and adorably cheesy, synchronised moves, it doesn’t get more ‘boyband’ than this. But what makes them so fun to watch is that even though they’ve grown incredibly seasoned as performers, they’re proud of their boyband roots – and aren’t afraid to show it in their performances.
It came to AJ’s and Kevin’s turn to address the crowd. (Fun fact: AJ went on the Luge in Sentosa and found it thrilling.) The duo drew the most laughter from the audience in their hilarious segment. Speaking of how fans used to throw their undergarments up on stage as proclamations of their undying love, AJ and Kevin enthused about returning the “favour” that night. The audience screamed when they did as promised – they cheekily did a partial change of clothes on stage, behind two structures – and tossed their clothes to the audience.
Breaking into the rock-funk “Passionate”, another new song off DNA, AJ belted out effortlessly while Kevin air-guitared – giving us our very own Backstreet rock duo.
The five members reunited on stage to perform “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” and “No Place”, the latter of which is inspired by their families. As they spoke about their families, one can’t help but feel proud of how far they have come, both in their careers and personal lives. But some things remain the same; as they reminisced about their younger years, they began mimicking and poking fun at each other, reminding us of the boys they once were – and always will be to us.
One of the most memorable moments of the night stemmed from their breathtaking, acapella rendition of “Breathe”. Their five voices melded together beautifully and filled every corner of the arena. It was an aural experience that would be best described as pure magic, serving as a testament to their diverse showmanship.
In the final segment of the concert, they took everyone right back in time as they reappeared on stage in their iconic all-white Millennium era outfits. Transforming the arena into a dance floor with energetic numbers like “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”, “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” and “It’s Gotta Be You”, they gave the audience a great time – in true BSB style – right till the very end.
Following a two-song encore consisting of the rousing “Don’t Go Breaking Your Heart” and “Larger Than Life”, the quintet took their leave from the stage, ending the Asian leg of their tour on a high note.
The DNA album and tour succeeded in showcasing the very essence of the Backstreet Boys – their unique, evolving, diverse musicality. We’re so impressed, we’re convinced our adoration for the Backstreet Boys could very well be – you guessed it – in our DNA.
Photos Courtesy of Live Nation/ Photo Credit:Marcus Lin
Listen to Backstreet Boys on KKBOX