Do you know what day is this? Its OMFG I LOVE BACKSTREET BOYS day!! (okay, it’s may have been something I just made up).
You maybe wondering what’s with this excitement for BSB all of the sudden (oh, you don’t? ok, whatevs), it’s all because I went to see their live performance at the FEQ, y’all!!
You see, I am a product of the mid-80s and started my awkward pre-teen age in the 90s, which means, I literally grew up listening to nothing but boybands; from Boyzone, BSB to Westlife, to Britpop like Oasis, Blur, Suede, and whatnot for the rest of my teen-hood. To be honest, I considered myself lucky. I might have a questionable sense of music when I was a pre-teen, but my pre-teen was unquestionably fun (and full of shenanigans, buffooneries, and zits).
Long story short; BSB songs were literally the OST of my pre-teen-hood, sadly, I have never seen their life performance before. Not because they have never toured in my country, but because mein Vater never let me go to events like that. He thought and still thinks that crowd-gathering for listening to music is a sort of useless shenanigans that leads nothing but a possibility of unemployment.
He didn’t like the idea that her beautiful daughter being in a crowded group full of strangers and that she might lead them to riots for no apparent reason. For him, every time that is spent other than for studying and developing a marketable skill lead to a higher possibility of a bad future and encourage the latent danger for unemployment. He would never pay for any concert ticket, or any other extra expenses if it wasn’t for academic purpose. I remembered he actually bought me THREE different textbooks on Basic Electronic Elements for Dummies from different publishers for my Electronic subject in Year 7, yet he refused to get me a neon green slap bracelet. For him, it’s more important for his daughter to be able to differentiate capacitors and resistors than looking like a normal teen in her age in the 90s. His daughter didn’t share the same idea.
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Anyway, last night, 20 years after BSB’s debut album, I was finally able to watch them performing live. In time, things will fall in the right place. It was a serious nostalgia trip and it was exhilarating. I was surprised that after all these years, I still remember every lyrics of their songs by heart. If only I could retain any academic stuff that good..
From July 6 to July 16, 2017, is the Summer Festival of Quebec City (FEQ). A music festival that lasts for 11 consecutive days, hosting more than 300 performances. P!nk, BSB, Metallica, Muse, and Gorilla were among the big names. I bought the all-in pass just for BSB, I honestly don’t care for the other shows.
The show started at 9:30 PM, yet I was already in line to get in since 5 PM, an hour before the gate even opened. I thought I was early, but dear Lard, I barely got a place. The show was full of MILF (plus me). Those who spent their youth listening to BSB are definitely on their early 30s, minimum. However, the BSB personnels didn’t change much although they are entering their mid-age (well, apart from their mature look and dad bods). They dressed properly, with suits and all. However, I think their youth pheromones are long gone. I no longer drool over them, it seems it just a thing of the past (although I still had a gleeful fit screaming for AJ McLean). The show felt more like a reunion with old friends after a very long time and nothing has changed.
They sang almost all of their big hits, including the famous As Long As You Love Me, they even did the dance with the chair thingy. I must say, a group of mid-age men trying to pull off a synchronized group dance was kind of tacky. Their dance wasn’t as energetic either, maybe it’s their new style. Or maybe it’s because of age. Either way, they still got it; cheesy ballads, catchy tunes, and awkward choreography. BSB, 20 years later, they are still larger than life.
PS: I hope you appreciate the amount of BSB collage and posters in this post, I spent a whole afternoon to make it.
PPS: Don’t judge how I spend my time.