(please hear me out entirely, I am not trying to be a hater)
So please help me understand why The New Kids on the Block are back?! I know I may touch some nerves here and my opinion is not going to be the popular one, but I keep hearing their new single Summertime and I just have to laugh.
These men (not kids) are nearing 40 years old, no? And I think one may even be 40 years old. And though this isn't old when I listen to their new single I can’t help to think of the song coming from a bunch of frat boys who are just trying to get laid and decide to sing to a bunch of young drunk college girls. Just seeing them singing and knowing how old they are and then actually hearing this song, it seems to be a bit of a contradiction in my mind and totally creeps me out. I mean 20 years ago when they were 20 years younger – sure…but now, not so much. And when I saw them on Youtube on the Today Show I totally laughed. First, they kinda of sucked (but it is early and they haven’t been together for awhile so I will look past that, sort of) but I lost it at the “dancing” …LOST IT! Come on guys, really, really!
Now I guess I am ok if they just did a one time reunion tour with their old stuff – could be fun, possibly, maybe, not at all. But they are putting out a new album and I if I have to hear it come accross my radio I would just like to hear more mature songs coming from them and not so overly young pop stuff. I don’t want to pre-judge, maybe the rest of their CD will be fun but a bit more mature and I would be MORE THAN HAPPY at that point to say I was wrong. But if this single is any notion of what is to come then I have to admit it creeps me out a bit. And you know what, I am sure their tour is going to be a success. And I am sure they could attract a new generation of tweens and teens to listen to their music, while people my age are also at the concert screaming and yelling. But this is just not my cup of tea.
Maybe it was because when I thought I wanted to be with the in crowd and be a NKOTB fan I only got to listen to a copy of a cassette from the library (yeah, cool huh) and at the same time I was listening to music like Was Not Was, Little Feat, The Beatles, John Hiatt, Eric Clapton…etc Yeah, I was like the only person in my class to know who these people were and actually LIKED them! Feel free to insert *DORK* right now.
Overall, I just never got into the NKOTB and maybe that is why I am unable to fully understand and appreciate them and their style of music. Sometimes I do think though that some things from our childhood (especially pop type music) may have seemed much more cooler then it really was and that things like that sometimes should just stay in the past and in our memory.
So I just have to ask, do you like their new single? Why do you like seeing them back? Is it nostalgia? Aren’t you afraid that seeing them now may ruin how much you like them b/c that was so long ago and we were all young? Aren’t some things just better left in the past?
I am not making fun if you like them, to each there own. Just curious.
I agree that it would be one thing to go on a reunion tour, like the Spice Girls did. But to put out a new album and try their hand in music again... they're in their 40s, it's time to grow up.
ReplyDeleteIt's all nostalgia for me. I haven't heard their new single, but watching the Today video brought back a lot of happy, happy memories. My friend Sara copied all her NKOTB tapes for me in junior high, so their return has made me think about her a lot. (I think she's in Dayton ...) When a NKOTB song comes on XM, I always listen to it. They just bring back a lot of memories for me. Yep, nostalgia. I love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to explain to a non-fan why this reunion means so much to us. I can't speak for everyone but for me, NKOTB came into my life at a time when I really needed guidance. It was their music that I turned to when I felt outcasted as a new student in a new city. It was their image that kept me in school, off the streets, and away from drugs. It is their love for the fans that keep me coming back for more.
ReplyDeleteAs for the song Summertime, the song really isn't about them thinking about girls. Donnie explains this in an interview. The subtext of this song is that it is them reminiscing about their experience with their fans 20 years ago, hence the shout out in the beginning "Jones Beach, 1988!" It is a homage to the fans, so it makes perfect sense, at least to me.
NKOTB are now genuinely handsome men and I love that they have come back to us for one last journey. Danny mentioned that having a farewell tour was one thing he regret not doing because they just left the fans without saying goodbye. This is their chance & the fans' chance to take this journey together and finish it out.
They did this new album because nostalgia is not the reason they wanted to reunite. They wanted to give the fans something to look forward to. If nostalgia were the ony reason, then they would have agreed to do the reunion when VH1 Bands United tried to get them together. Luckily, a few of them made a pact not to reunite, if approached, for anyone but themselves.
I could go on and on (and I did) but I don't think you would ever know what I'm talking about unless you truly understood the special relationship NKOTB has with their fans. It's not just about the music, the image, or the money. It's about their ability to make their fans feel special, important, and loved. When was the last time you went to meet your favorite band for the 2nd time and they actually remembered you? When have you ever heard stories of bands who would give you the bracelets off their hands, the water bottles out of their mouths, or hugs/kisses just because you asked for it? Or coming to visit the fans in line at 3 AM in the morning to make sure they're not rained on? I don't know of any other band in the world that cares this much about their fans and that's what makes me keep them close to my heart. I actually feel sorry for the generation of today who didn't have NKOTB to look up to. They weren't perfect angels, but they were ours. Beatles was my mom's music, Miley Cyrus is my niece's music, but New Kids On The Block's music belongs to my generation and no one else. :)
Wow. Do you know Miss Ava?
ReplyDeletePS I thought you would have way more hate mail on this post already :)
No, I do not know Miss Ava, I guess just a hard core NKOTB fan. Fair enough :)
ReplyDeleteIris, I TOTALLY thought I would have more hate mail as well!
It's not nostalgia for me. I was a kid at the time and while I loved them and remembered them fondly, I'm in no way trying to relive my 6 yr old past. That said, their music was fun. They were the personification of pure pop. I respect that. Skeptics and critics can snark all they want, but they DID define an entire generation. If you were a kid or teen in the late 80's or early 90's, you can hum to their songs and instantly recognize "the New Kids dance". It was part of the culture.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the new single is fresh enough for the fans who crave more than nostalgia, but reminiscent enough for fans who don't. It's a feel good song, exactly what their known for. And there's nothing wrong with that. With everything going on in the world, what's wrong with a little pop music?
As for 'needing to grow up', why all the ageism? I'm about 15 years younger than them and it doesn't bother me. And no, I don't think it'll ruin the past. To me and many others, we're finally old enough to enjoy it.
Here, here, Miss Ava and anonymous! Well said! I can't do any better but I will direct you to nkotb.com where you can hear a snippet of another song - "Click, Click, Click." It may be the sound you were hoping to hear. It is most definitely more mature - very, very sexy.... Just look in the upper right corner of the page for the player....
ReplyDeletei never really liked them when i was in 5th and 6th grade and feel the same way now - indifferent. you know, if you can capitalize on something - go for it.
ReplyDeleteWe don't know each other, Wrestling Kitties. But whenever someone writes something about the New Kids, one of the fans always finds it. NKOTB fans are known to be great sleuths. Scary, huh? ;) Not really. I just wanted to answer your question. It isn't often that people would really give them a fair chance by being objective because of the outdated backlash that a lot of the critics can't seem to let go of. We fans are on the edge of our seats and it feels great to have them with us. Please understand that I wasn't trying to convert you or anything. There are just two sides to every story and I'm glad you were mature & open-minded enough to hear it. Have a great day! :)
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