Review of Millennium by CDnow

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: May 20, 2099 Source: CDNow Submitted By: AbeFitch98@aol.com May 17, 1999, 4:15 pm PT On the eve of the release of their second U.S. album, Millennium, the biggest pop group in the world, the Backstreet Boys, announced plans for their upcoming world tour at a press conference Monday (May 17) at New York City's famed Studio 54. After the band completes the remaining engagements of their current two-week press junket, which includes a special, MTV-assisted record release party to be broadcast live via the Sony Jumbotron in Times Square on Tuesday (May 18) and the Rosie O' Donnell Show on May 20, they'll head to Belgium June 2 to kick off the world tour. (They've already played Saturday Night Live and hosted two hours of Backstreet Boys Live on MTV over the weekend.) Forty-two European shows in 13 countries follow, before the group embarks on the tour's North American leg, beginning Sept. 9 in Miami. The domestic dates, incidentally, are sponsored by Sears -- perfect for the boys to feel the softer side of the department store just in time for the back-to-school shopping rush. Stay tuned for possible commercials, BSB brands, Sears-sold tour merchandise, and anything else teams of marketing execs can come up with. But despite the million-dollar sponsorship deal, to the group's Kevin Richardson, it's the music that matters. "Merchandise is not our primary goal or focus," he said at the conference. "Our focus is the music. Merchandise is just something that comes along with our tours and stuff." Immediately following his bandmate's sentiment, Brian Littrell was quick to offer a prepared smile toward the retail giant. "But we have seen the softer side of Sears. They've been very nice to us, and we're happy to have them aboard. We're looking forward to a long relationship with them." As is the case with most albums released after a band has reached superstar status, Millennium is described by the group as "their most personal record to date." A sinking feeling of loss and heartache, a commonly cited inspirational angst, was the foundation for many of the album's tracks, but don't be fooled into thinking the adolescent band members' pain was the result of some puppy-love spat. 1998 saw tragedy plague the Boys' lives as if they were child stars on Diff'rent Strokes. Cousins Richardson and Littrell's grandfather died of cancer, as did the band's longtime producer Denniz Pop ("He was like a second father to us all," said Howie Dorough). The band changed management companies mid-year and were faced with a series of legal battles as a result. Dorough also lost his sister to Lupus, and Littrell endured major heart surgery. But what didn't kill the Backstreet Boys, apparently, only made them stronger. "Even though we had a lot of success last year, it was one of our most trying times," Nick Carter explained. "But I think, at the same time, it's helped us grow stronger as a group. I feel like we're stronger now than ever. We all have each other's backs, and sometimes you have to take a couple of steps back in order to go forward. "That's one of the reasons we called this album Millennium," he continued, "besides it being the millennium. Millennium is a rebirth, it's another hundred centuries [Editor's note: it's only 10], so we feel now, that with the Backstreet Boys' new album, it's like a rebirth for us. Hopefully everybody will see the change... It's all for the good." Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: Greg Guepy Submitted by: Shawn Submitted by: Kelly Submitted by: Lemat Submitted by: Shawn Submitted by: Paulo Comment on this item. Next Item: Backstreet.Net reader Jenni Reviews Millennium Prev Item: Millennium Review: GapGirl727