In the mid-1980s, the New Kids On The Block, New Edition, and other boy band groups were big sellers. Several of these groups had been active in the 1980s, such as New Edition and New Kids On The Block.
Boy bands are also called male pop groups or teen idols. They’re made up of young men who provide a musical background for their songs. The group members usually sing and dance, and they may also play instruments. Some boy bands have their own dancers and choreographers.
Boy bands often play their own instruments on stage to show off their talent as well as to provide a musical background for their songs. Most of them sing in four-part harmonies with little or no instrumentation or backup singers to support them on stage. Many boy bands write the words to their songs themselves, which gives them more control over what they’re singing about.
The history of boy bands
Many groups that started out in the mid-1980s have continued on into the 21st century with new members replacing older ones as they have grown older or left the group for another reason. For instance, a group such as N’Sync dissolved when its members grew older and went on to pursue solo careers.
The early history of the boy band goes back to the late 1960s, when the Bee Gees and others became popular for their music. The early 1970s saw the rise of groups such as the Jackson Five. The Jackson Five had a great deal of success in the 1970s with songs such as “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “The Love You Save.”
Boy bands were popular in Europe by the middle of the 1980s. The American boy bands that came along during this time included New Edition, New Kids On The Block, and Menudo. They often performed in concert with teen idols such as Tiffany, who was in her teens when she became famous.
The 1990s saw a decline in boy bands due to changes in music tastes and trends among young people. However, many groups are still active today, including New Kids On The Block and N’Sync (or *N Sync). Boy band members have come from many different backgrounds: Asian American (e.g., David Choi), African American (e.g., Aaliyah), Puerto Rican (e.g., Ricky Martin), or Caucasian (e.g., Justin Timberlake).
The members of a boy band
There are many current and former boy bands. Depending on the group, there may be five, six, or seven members in the group. Some boy bands may have only three or four members.
A typical boy band will consist of two lead singers, a guitarist, a keyboard player, a bassist (who plays the upright bass), and a drummer. The drummer usually plays with brushes instead of sticks to play softer rhythms during slower songs. The bassist and guitarist usually trade off on solos when they perform live on stage.
The lead singers in some groups have been replaced with newer ones as they grew older or left the group for another reason. For instance, Justin Timberlake was one of the lead singers in *N Sync before he went solo after 2001. After that time *N Sync’s popularity declined until it was no longer active by 2003.
READ MORE: How to Showcase Your Favorite Musicians
Today, music is one of the most important activities that bring people together. Music festivals or concerts are usually gatherings of people who share the same interest in live music or a specific artist. Lapel pins or custom lanyards are now a popular way to celebrate bands and artists. Custom lanyards cheap from GS-JJ.com are a great way to represent your favorite musicians at events. They make great keepsakes to commemorate a concert or festival based on a particular musician or event. Wearers can also share stories of their past adventures with others as they replay old memories.
Here are some of the most popular boy bands in the 1980’s
1. New Edition (1986-90)
The first group to be marketed as a boy band, New Edition was led by the heartthrob Bobby Brown. The group’s popularity peaked in 1986, when its biggest hits included “Candy Girl” and “Is This The End.” However, the group’s popularity began to wane after Brown broke away from the group with his 1988 solo album, Don’t Be Cruel. New Edition went on hiatus in the late ’80s.
The group reunited in 2002 and released a new album, One Love, in 2008. But Brown has left the band again and is working on his own solo career.
2. New Kids on the Block (1984-94)
New Kids on the Block brought boy bands into their full glory with their high-profile members and catchy songs like “Hangin’ Tough,” “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” and “Step By Step.” In fact, NKOTB was such a pop phenomenon that it inspired E! Entertainment Television to create a reality show called The Surreal Life: Fame Games featuring other teen idols from different eras living together. The series has aired for six seasons since 2003.
3. A-ha (1985-2001)
The Norwegian pop group A-ha broke onto the scene in 1985, when its hit “Take on Me” was featured in several TV commercials. The song reached #1 on the Billboard charts and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. A-ha’s other hit singles include “The Sun Always Shines on TV,” “Stay on These Roads” and “Manhattan Skyline.” The band broke up in 2001 after releasing eight albums.
4. Bros (1988-94)
Bros was started by siblings Matt and Luke Goss, both of whom were members of the 1980s pop band, Dead or Alive. The duo decided to create a new group after Dead or Alive went on hiatus in 1989. Bros’ hit singles included “When Will I Be Famous?” and “I Owe You Nothing.” However, the group disbanded after releasing four albums.
5. New Edition (1989-96)
New Edition’s first incarnation was as a quintet formed by producer Maurice Starr in 1982, but it wasn’t until 1989 that the group became known as New Edition, featuring Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie Devoe, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant. The group’s biggest hits include “Candy Girl,” “Mr. Telephone Man” and “Boys to Men.” New Edition went on hiatus in the mid-1990s.
