Summary

The article discusses lesser-known boy band ballads that have deeply resonated with the author, highlighting Dream Street, B5, B2K, and BROCKHAMPTON.

Abstract

The piece delves into the author's personal connection with boy band ballads, emphasizing the emotional impact of songs from groups that haven't received widespread recognition. It features Dream Street's "With All My Heart," B5's cover of "All I Do," B2K's "Gots Ta Be," and BROCKHAMPTON's "SUGAR," while reflecting on the members' careers and the bands' influence on the author's life. The author also touches on the industry's darker side, mentioning the exploitation of young talent and the financial struggles faced by these groups. The article concludes with a call to action for readers to share their own favorite boy band songs and underrated groups.

Opinions

The author has a deep emotional attachment to boy band ballads, considering them a "not-so-guilty pleasure."
Dream Street's music, particularly "With All My Heart," evokes nostalgia and comfort for the author, with a special mention of Jesse McCartney's successful career.
The recent passing of Dream Street member Chris Trousdale due to COVID-19 deeply affected the author.
B5's "All I Do" is remembered fondly for its role in the author's early writing journey and for sparking a discussion about the 'Bad Boy Curse' and unfair music contracts.
B2K's "Gots Ta Be" is associated with the group's dedicated fanbase and the author's personal disappointment at missing their reunion tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BROCKHAMPTON is praised for their authenticity and unique origin story, standing out in the contemporary boy band landscape.
The author expresses a desire for readers to engage with the content by sharing their own boy band preferences and highlighting underappreciated groups.

The Best Boy Band Ballads You’ve Never Heard Of

So many frosted tips, so many feelings.

Boy bands are my not-so-guilty pleasure. Boy band ballads, in particular, always make me tear up. Only a few other things make me cry so consistently: This Is Us, Pixar movies, and the Blazin’ wings at Buffalo Wild Wings.

The mere mention of the phrase “boy band” brings up familiar faces: NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake and his frosted tips, everyone’s favorite One Direction member Zayn Malik.

Songs like Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way” and Boys II Men’s “On Bended Knee” play in my head. Those uber-popular boy bands are great, but there are so many more that deserve their flowers. Below are some of my favorites along with ballads that bring the feels.

1. With All My Heart — Dream Street

Do you have a nostalgic pop culture moment you remember vividly, but no one else does? Dream Street is that for me. The boy band formed in 1999 and disbanded in 2002, releasing two albums during their three-year run.

I find comfort within their choir-boy harmonies and all-or-nothing lyrics. I return to their music often, at least once a year.

One of the many reasons I keep them within arm’s reach is the member who has had the most successful post-Dream Street career, Jesse McCartney.

He has been famous for almost as long as I have been alive. I’ve always had a soft spot for him, whether he’s singing “Beautiful Soul” or voicing Kingdom Hearts’ Roxas and Ventus. Seeing his energetic performance as a kid warms my heart.

The recent passing of Dream Street member Chris Trousdale to COVID-19 shocked me. I was sad about it for a while. The four remaining bandmates reunited in Summer 2020 to perform their most popular song, “It Happens Every Time.”

I returned to their music catalog with a mixture of sadness and gratitude. I was thankful their music brought me so much joy for so long.

“With All My Heart” is my favorite song from their album, The Biggest Fan. As a kid, “With All My Heart” left me starry-eyed. I always hoped that one day some boy would talk to me using the words “forever” and “always.”

2. All I Do — B5

B5 came out at exactly the right time, 2005, for me to be obsessed over them. I spent countless hours on a B5-themed forum. I saw them in concert. I bought a DVD from a questionable website documenting their life story.

They will always mean so much to me, because they signal an important part of my writing journey. Writing fanfiction about them was the first time I had ever posted my writing online. Over a decade later, I am still in these internet streets doing the same thing: telling stories.

“All I Do” is a cover of The Jackson 5’s classic 1975 track “All I Do Is Think of You.”

I used to watch B5’s “All I Do” video all the time on 106 and Park, losing my mind off of their cute faces and baggy jeans. They have always been in the back of my mind since then, as they sporadically released new music.

As the 15th anniversary of their debut album passed in Summer 2020, B5 became a trending topic. Member Bryan Breeding revealed on Instagram that the group hadn’t received any money from their commercial albums.

There’s a lot of discussion surrounding the ‘Bad Boy Curse’. It seemed like B5 fell victim to it, getting roped into a terrible contract as kids. It hurts my heart to see how they were manipulated throughout their career. I hope they’re able to heal from whatever they experienced, one day.

3. Gots Ta Be — B2K

Watching Zeus Network’s The Millennium Tour Live! reminded me how much love I had for B2K. It featured B2K’s 1st live performance in 15 years, along with a solo performance from their lead singer Omarion.

The concert film showcased the dedication of B2K’s fans. They wore vintage B2K merch and knew every single word to their songs. This concert is on the list of shows I’m sad to have missed. I doubt it’ll happen again, but I’m crossing my fingers that someday it will.

Fun fact: The week that the CDC declared COVID-19 a pandemic, I was supposed to go to 2020’s Millennium Tour, featuring Bow Wow and Omarion.

I was devastated I had to cancel the trip. My inner child is still hurting from that. I’m hoping we’ll all be able to safely experience live music again someday soon, but concert films will help tie me over.

4. SUGAR — BROCKHAMPTON

I love everything about BROCKHAMPTON. From the fact that they call themselves a boy band, to their origin story (meeting on a Kanye-themed forum), to their electric live performances, it’s magical. Ain’t nobody doing it like BROCKHAMPTON right now.

“SUGAR” is such a fantastic song too. The video is gorgeous with its white background and flipping mirror, cascading light throughout the room.

With every video I see, the members of BROCKHAMPTON just seem to love and appreciate each other. Their authenticity shines through when most boy bands seem manufactured. Those good vibes are infectious and make me want to keep listening until eternity.

What’s your favorite song from a boy band? Which boy band doesn’t get enough recognition? Leave me your thoughts in the comments section.

Nia Simone McLeod is a writer, content creator, and pop culture enthusiast from Richmond, Virginia. She’s the creator and editor of the Medium publications oh, write and coiled. In her newsletter, she shares a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process.