LINDA PUGA
campus editor
2021: the year of a continued global pandemic and the return of boy bands.
After a year like 2020, the unthinkable is possible. And if boy bands want to come back, I will welcome them with open arms.
The term itself can evoke a negative response due to the stigma of headset mics and synchronized dancing that bands like NSYNC and New Kids On The Block popularized, but even bands as classic as The Beatles can be considered boy bands. The tradition of marketing a group of young musicians on equal parts music, looks and personality is as old as popular music itself. Boy bands have been a staple in the music industry for decades, regardless of whether they were classified as good.
And boy bands are being put together in more unique ways than ever.
Singing reality TV shows like The X Factor creates hit bands. Talent scouts find nobodies and turn them into somebody through viral singing covers on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Why Don’t We formed after five social media singers who knew of each other from the internet, got together in Los Angeles to collaborate. Fast forward four years, and they’ve done multiple tours, celebrated a certified gold single and just recently hit the Billboard charts for the first time in their career.
The Vamps became the first band to headline the 02 Arena in London for five years in a row. 5 Seconds of Summer has made their mark on pop music with multiple hit singles and albums. Not to mention BTS racking up over 20 million album sales and selling out world tours.
Boy bands influence our culture and lifestyle and that’ll never change. Bands to come can continue the legacy of hit music making while also breaking out of the image of what a boy band should look and sound like.
Not only that, but the younger generation of teenage girls will need a new set of boys to put on a pedestal and worship with fan pages and concert tickets.
I know that one all too well.
