If you’re in your mid-to-late 20s or 30s, there’s no way you weren’t at least a little bit in love with the Backstreet Boys way back when (even if you say you were more of an ‘N Sync or Boyzone fan). After all, this was the age of MTV, and seeing these five guys gaze longingly into the camera, out your TV, and right into your eyes was the kind of thing that set teenage hearts aflutter the world over. Don’t worry. We’re not judging you—because we totally share your BSB love!
Whether or not you’re going to their concert tonight, you probably have at least a few of their songs on your playlist today, or maybe you wish you had. So we’ve compiled our own top 10 list of Backstreet Boys hits, so you can enjoy your BSB fix right here. Scroll down and get ready to “get down, get down, and move it all around!”
10. “Larger Than Life”
Written as a token of gratitude for Backstreet’s fans, this song was the second single from the 1999 album Millennium. Although it peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard charts, it hit top 10 charts in over a dozen countries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEb2CecR11I
Lyrics You Probably Know: “All you people, can’t you see, can’t you see / How your love’s affecting our reality / Every time we’re down / You can make it right / And that makes you larger than life”
9. “I’ll Never Break Your Heart”
This was one of the boys’ songs that debuted outside the US years before it made it stateside. Also from their internationally released self-titled debut album, “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” was released initially in late 1995 and then in 1996, but hit the US in mid-1998, where it peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDcCSiakaU4
Lyrics You Probably Know: “I’ll never break your heart / I’ll never make you cry / I’d rather die than live without you / I’ll give you all of me / Honey, that’s no lie”
8. “Get Down (You’re the One for Me)”
We’re going old school with this 1996 hit, which was the third single from the Backstreet Boys’ internationally released self-titled album. If you were an early fan of the boys, this is probably one of the first songs you grooved to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIM3h6cVdao
Lyrics You Probably Know: “You’re the one for me / You’re my ecstasy / You’re the one I need… / Get down / Get down / And move it all around”
7. “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely”
While the Backstreet Boys may best be known for their upbeat tunes, girls drooled over sadder songs like this one too. The single was taken from the 1999 Millennium album, and it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. It garnered a nomination for the boys at the 43rd Grammy Awards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBt8fN7mJNg
Lyrics You Probably Know: “Show me the meaning, of being lonely / Is this the feeling I need to walk with? / Tell me why I can’t be there where you are / There’s something missing in my heart”
6. “Shape of My Heart”
The lead single from the boys’ 2000 album Black & Blue, “Shape of My Heart” debuted as #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, hit the top spot on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart, and earned the group a Grammy nomination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT5msu-dap8
Lyrics You Probably Know: “Looking back on the things I’ve done / I was trying to be someone / I played my part, kept you in the dark / Now let me show you the shape of my heart”
5. “All I Have to Give”
Admit it: when the boys sang that love was all they had to give, you figured that was a pretty sweet deal. This song was written and produced by Full Force, which also worked with Britney Spears, ‘N Sync, Selena, and later Rihanna, The Black Eyed Peas, and more. This song debuted at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Its video won Video of the Year at the 1999 Teen Choice Awards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj6FCKm8dhM
Lyrics You Probably Know: “But my love is all I have to give / Without you I don’t think I could live / I wish I could give the world to you / But love is all I have to give”
4. “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”
Remember the BSB drought that ended with the release of this single? It was featured on the boys’ second international album, Backstreet’s Back, in 1997 and and on the re-release of their debut US album in 1998. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the charts 22 weeks, making platinum with 2.1 million sales.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M6samPEMpM
Lyrics You Probably Know: “Am I original? (Yeah) / Am I the only one? (Yeah) / Am I sexual? (Yeah) / Am I everything you need? / You better rock your body now / Everybody (Yeah) / Rock your body (Yeah) / Everybody / Rock your body right / Backstreet’s back, alright / Alright!”
3. “As Long as You Love Me”
One of BSB’s signature hits, this song is from the band’s second international album, Backstreet’s Back, and included in their US debut album. Although it was never released as a commercial single, the song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay charts, and it charted for a total of 56 weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gl2QnHNpkA
Lyrics You Probably Know: “I don’t care who you are / Where you’re from / What you did / As long as you love me”
2. “I Want It That Way”
To be honest, this is my all-time favorite BSB song. It was the lead single from their Millennium album, and it earned the boys three nominations at the 42nd Grammy Awards. It peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but topped the Adult and Top 40 Mainstream charts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg
Lyrics You Probably Know: “Tell me why / Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache / Tell me why / Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake / Tell me why / I never wanna hear you say / I want it that way”
1. “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)”
The fourth single from the Backstreet Boys’ international debut, “Quit Playing Games” is another one of the boys’ signature tunes. It was also included in the boy band’s US debut album, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and going on to sell 2 million copies in the US.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug88HO2mg44
Lyrics You Probably Know: “Quit playin’ games with my heart / Before you tear us apart (my heart) / Quit playin’ games with my heart / I should’ve known from the start / You know you got to stop (from my heart) / You’re tearing us apart (my heart) / Quit playin’ games with my heart”
What’s your absolute favorite BSB song? Did we miss any top picks? Leave a comment to share!