DISCOGRAPHY AND AWARDS

In 1995, Backstreet Boys released their first single, "We’ve Got It Goin’ On", an urban pop song by writer/producer Denniz PoP. The song took off in Europe, UK and across the world - BSB’s brand of R&B/pop was gaining a foothold outside of America. The group decided not to release their first album in America and develop their music abroad to start. In Europe, Backstreet Boys entered a market which was familiar with ‘boy bands’, but unlike a lot of those other groups, Backstreet Boys were more than just a bunch of pretty guys - they could not only dance and perform, they could sing! Their live shows proved it with sweet acapella harmonies driving audiences wild. Meanwhile, their second single, "I’ll Never Break Your Heart" climbed the charts in Europe and other territories setting the stage for their second album.

Backstreet Boys kicked off 1996 by being voted No.1 International Group by TV viewers in Germany - "I’ll Never Break Your Heart" went gold there and hit No.1 in Austria. By February, the Boys had hit the heights in Canada and BSB sold out show after show - some within 20 minutes of tickets going on sale. Hordes of screaming fans soon became the stuff of legend across Europe and Canada. If BSB could accomplish that with only two singles, imagine the reaction when their second album hit the shelves! The groups second album was called Backstreet's Back. It was released in 1996 in all the countries around the world where the first album had been released. In America, the group released a version of the album called Backstreet Boys (which was made up of songs from the first and second international albums). "As Long As You Love Me" was a worldwide smash and both the US and international versions of this album went on to be huge hits across the globe including America and the rest is history...

The Backstreet Boys' eponymous debut album BACKSTREET BOYS was released in America in 1997, nearly a full year after its original European release. The album includes catchy, uptempo tracks like "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) and "As Long As You Love Me" plus great ballads like "All I Have To Give" and "I'll Never Break Your Heart." All of these songs went on to be huge hits in America as they had in the rest of the world. The potent combination of incredible hooks and the Boys personal charm made BACKSTREET BOYS a thoroughly enjoyable affair and set the stage for what was to come next.

AWARDS Diamond Award (March 1999) signifying sales of 10 million. Total U.S. sales are more than 13 million. "All I Have To Give" - Platinum single (March 1999) "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" - Platinum Single (May 1998) "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" - Platinum Single (September 1997) 1998 Grammy Awards: Best New Artist (nomination) 1998 MTV Europe Music Awards: Best Pop Group (nomination) 1998 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Group Video 1998 Billboard Music Awards: Best Group Best Adult Contemporary Group Album of the Year (nomination) 1998 American Music Awards: Best Group (nomination) Best Adult Contemporary Artist (nomination) 1998 Prix Gemini Awards (Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television): Best Performance in a Variety Program or Series 1998 Entertainment Weekly "Best of '98":#6 1997 Key To The City Of Orlando 1997 Echo Award: Best Group International 1997 MTV European Music Awards: Best Pop Act 1997 MTV Select Award (Viewer's Choice): Best Group 1997 Popcorn, Bravo and Pop/Rocky Reader's Choice Award (magazines): Best Group 1997 Viva Awards (music channel-Germany): Best Group R.I.A.A.

Released in May of 1999, MILLENNIUM sold nearly 500,000 copies alone on its first day out in the U.S. and entered the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at #1, after selling 1,134,000 copies in its first week of release and shattering the previous SoundScan record held by Garth Brooks for single-week record sales. The record dominated the worldwide charts, landing at the #1 spot in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand. "I Want It That Way" lead the way and was a smash. Other smash singles followed including: "Larger Than Life" "Show Me The Meaning of Being lonely" amd "The One" MILLENNIUM is certified twelve times platinum in the U.S. and spent more than 77 weeks on Billboard's "Top 200 albums" chart. In addition to receiving gold and platinum awards in 45 countries, MILLENNIUM was honored with five 1999 Grammy nominations including "Album of the Year."

AWARDS 1999 Grammy Awards Album of the Year (nomination) Best Pop Album (nomination) Record of the Year for "I Want It That Way" (nomination) Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group w/Vocal for "I Want It That Way" (nomination) Song of the Year (a songwriter's award) for "I Want It That Way" (nomination) 1999 Billboard Music Awards Album of the Year Artist of the Year Albums Artist of the Year Albums Artist Duo/Group of the Year 1999 People's Choice Awards Favorite Musical Group or Band 1999 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards: Favorite Song ("Everybody (Backstreet's Back)") 1999 World Music Awards: World's Best Selling Pop Group World's Best Selling R&B Group World's Best Selling Dance Group 1999 MTV Music Video Award Viewer's Choice Award ("I Want It That Way") 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards Best Group Award

The Boys' third album BLACK & BLUE, features five songs co-written by members of BACKSTREET BOYS as well as two songs ("The Answer To Our Life," and "Time") solely written by all five BACKSTREET BOY S. It was released November 21, 2000. Featuring production from the Cherion team (Max Martin, Rami, Kristian Lundin, Jake, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger), as well as Babyface, Rodney Jerkins, Timmy Allen, Franciz & LePont, and Larry "Rock" Campbell, it was their most diverse record to date. In the first week of release, BLACK & BLUE's first single "Shape of My Heart" was played on 170 out of 171 of the Top 40 stations in the U.S. Meanwhile overseas, the song immediately jumped into the Top Five in Sweden (#1), Norway (#1), Canada (#1), Germany (#2), Switzerland (#4), Austria (#5) and Holland (#5). This was followed by the hits "The Call" and "More Than That." The album is certified 8 times platinum in the U.S.

AWARDS 2001 American Music Awards (winners announced 1/2001) Favorite Band, Duo or Group (Pop/Rock) nomination 2000 Radio Music Awards Radio Slow Dance Song of the Year for "Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely" 2000 World Music Awards (Monaco) Best Selling Pop Group Best Selling R&B Group Best Selling Dance Group Best American Group 2000 American Music Awards Favorite Band, Duo or Group (Pop/Rock)

Backstreet Boys The Hits - Chapter One The Backstreet Boys greatest hits collection is out now on CD, VHS and DVD. The set (shown above), includes a brand new single, "Drowning."

© Taiska 2001