September 4, 1998
Features
Guilty Pleasures

So Shoot me...
I Can't Help Being A Backstreet Boys Fan.

PLUS EW's second-annual roll call of loathe-to-admit-it pop-culture passions.

by Dave Karger

Page 2 of 2

"We freaked out," says Nick.

"We were like, 'We didn't approve that,'" seconds Brian.

Grousing about respect from the top of the charts isn't going to earn much sympathy. But since the Boys are so inclined, why do they think the mas macho audience has eluded them? "'Cause we're not talking about sex and drugs," says Kevin. "We're talking about love, partying, having a good time--maybe that's too soft for them."

"They wanna hear Onyx or something," AJ pipes in.

"Maybe it's the fact that we're five white guys," Howie offers. "If we were five black guys, we wouldn't have this scrutiny," Kevin repeats. "It's the truth."

Backing away from a touchy thesis, Nick shrugs: "People have their own taste. I mean, I wouldn't listen to the Spice Girls."

Hey, Nick--at least the Spice Girls have songwriting credits. But soon, so will the Boys. The next step in their teenyboppers-be-gone image makeover will be the frightening task of picking up instruments and penning tunes for their next American CD.

Maybe that record will be "dope" enough to draw us silent BSB fans out of the closet. Maybe, too, it'll disenfranchise those pigeonholing fans who have made the Backstreet Boys...stars. In any case, the Boys are determined to give it their chest-flashing all. "When we were in L.A. last week, I got a chance to talk to some older friends I play basketball with," Brian says. "And they were like, 'I don't listen to that kind of music.' But I got 'em a ticket to the show just to open their eyes. Afterward, they said, 'I still wouldn't listen to the music, but you guys are really talented.'" He sits back and smiles. It's a review worth a million screams.

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Source: Entertainment Weekly