I should take offense to the title of this book. I am-somewhat unashamedly-a New Kids on the Block fan. I am also a guy. A black guy, to boot. Of course, my deficit in the heterosexuality department might explain some of my NKOTB fandom, but I’ll further confuse you by noting that I currently don’t, and never did, find Donnie, Danny, Jordan, Jonathan or even Joey dreamy, or even attractive. So, yeah, it’s weird. I’m a dude, there were no […]
Posts tagged "New Kids on the Block"
The Jukebox From Hell 01: “Wildside”
You know you’re hot when you can take your little brother and turn him into a star-and there were very few people hotter in the early Nineties than Donnie Wahlberg. His group, New Kids on the Block, was a pop phenomenon, starting with their first Top 10 hit, “Please Don’t Go Girl”, in the fall of 1988 and peaking with the simultaneous number one success of the “Step by Step” single and album in 1990. Donnie’s younger brother, Mark, was […]
Spin Cycle: Jordan Knight’s “Unfinished”
I desperately want to be a champion for Jordan Knight. A lot of folks think “Hangin’ Tough” at the mention of his name and conjure up memories of the era when you couldn’t escape Jordan’s metal-filled mug on coffee cups, posters, notebooks, etc. But the fact remains that the guy has talent. Hell, YOU try to sing “I’ll Be Lovin’ You (Forever)”. The guy’s got vocal skills and good taste in influences- The Stylistics’ Russell Thompkins Jr. and Luther Vandross […]
“NKOTBSB”: We’ll Be Loving Them (Forever)
Here’s a bit of frightening pop-culture math for you: the first record by the New Kids on the Block came out 25 years ago. The first LP by the Backstreet Boys bowed 15 years ago. Alright, quit screaming in agony. That may not be a terribly long time in human years, but in pop-cultural terms it’s an eternity. And how are those milestones being celebrated? How else? Both boy-turned-men bands are hitting the road this summer, playing surprisingly large venues […]
New Release Report 5/23/11: A Day Early for Gaga
It’s here, ladies and gentlemen. The anticipation has been building up since the beginning of the year, and now Lady Gaga’s Born This Way is available for you to take home. The music industry has been so hot to get this album out that they’ve pushed all releases for the week (which would normally be on Tuesday May 24th) to Monday the 23rd. Yup, folks, you can begin your work week with Stefani Germanotta and all of her dance-pop anthemry […]
Award Show Sundays: No More Games Edition
The bootylicious Jennifer Lopez was on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” earlier this week promoting her new album, Love?, as well as her judgeship on “American Idol” when Leno asked her about her first big-deal dancing gig. Lopez revealed that it was on a 1991 American Music Awards performance with pop darlings New Kids on the Block. Of course, Leno then pulled out a clip of the performance and showed it to the audience, appearing to mortify J. Lo. […]
Hear Here!: “Don’t Turn Off the Lights” by NKOTBSB
Let’s face facts here: this New Kids/Backstreet Boys tour is a nostalgia-related cash grab. The guys can talk all they want about giving back to their fans, but that’s at least partially bull. In the former group’s case, it’s a way to keep the momentum of their surprisingly successful 2008 tour going. In the case of the latter group (who have never stopped performing and touring), it’s a way to latch onto a brighter flame and see if their flagging […]
Hear Here!: Jordan Knight’s “Let’s Go Higher”
If this was 2001 instead of 2011, I would have much higher expectations for a Jordan Knight album. After all, we would have only been two years removed from his debut solo record, in which the former New Kid paired with a future superstar by the name of Robin Thicke and, joined by the production prowess of the legendary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, made what might still be the best album ever recorded by an ’80s/’90s boy-bander (excluding New […]
Blerd Briefs: Kanye, NKOTB & “Glee”
Y’all know how much I love Kanye West, but I fear he might be burning the candle at both ends and trying to put out too much product at once. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has barely been out for two months, and there’s the Watch the Throne project with Jay-Z coming out. Now, reports are saying that Kanye’s got yet another album almost in the can that he plans to have out in the summer? Maybe it’s just because […]
Albums That Time Forgot: NKOTB’s “Face the Music”
Judging from what I remember from drunkenly Tweeting on New Year’s Eve (and into New Year’s morning), one of the main topics of discussion was the New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys performance on Dick Clark/Ryan Seacrest’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”. It’s pretty safe to say that’s a ticket I’ll stay away from. I have no real inclination towards the Backstreet Boys’ music-it’s well-crafted but mostly forgettable, anonymous pop. When it comes to NKOTB, however, I love them despite my […]
Hump Day Flashback: More Christmas Fun!
This week, Hump Day Flashback brings you a more upbeat selection of holiday jams than last week, with help from New Edition, New Kids on the Block, the Ohio Players and Dave Matthews.