#totally nineties

Lecture 21: “I Want It That Way” (1999) by Backstreet Boys (BSB): Along with grunge, alternative rock, and the many female acts from various sub-genres, Boy Bands helped to dominate the ‘90s music scene. Although not new, Boy Bands, inspired by pioneers such as the Jackson Five, Menudo and The New Kids on the Block, flourished during the decade. Groups such as NSYNC, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees and the most successful of the ‘90s Boy Bands, the Backstreet Boys out of Orlando, Florida (founded in 1993). They have sold well over 100 million albums and had a number of huge hits such as “Quit Playin’ Games (with My Heart),” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” and “I Want It That Way” from 1999.

Lecture 21: “Spice Up Your Life” (1997) by The Spice Girls: If I’m going to give The Backstreet Boys a spot on the old History 105 Blog, I have to carve a space for The Spice Girls, the British pop sensation from the second half of the 1990s. A wildly successful all-female group formed in London in 1994, The Spice Girls epitomized the glitz and glamor of pop music and celebrity culture during their heyday, which lasted roughly from about ‘96 to ‘98. Their 1996 album, Spice, went on to become the top-selling album by a female group of all time, with sales around 31 million globally. The band received a big boost with the release of their box-office blockbuster Spice World at the end of 1997. Their enormous burst of success had faded by the early 2000s, yet their remarkable run is still vividly remembered by many of those who witnessed it some 20 years ago. 

Go ninja, go ninja, go Go ninja, go ninja, go Go ninja, go ninja, go GO, GO, GO, GO