I understand I’m risking putting my indie cred on the line, but I have to say it: I love me a good Backstreet Boys sing-a-long. And really, let’s be honest: when it comes to things like karaoke, nobody wants to be singing some weird Animal Collective B-side. They want potent pop power that sends the entire room back to 2001. If you want to showcase good taste in music, then yeah, the pretentious side of me that lives in Brooklyn expects you to have a stack of Velvet Underground vinyls. But, if you want to be a karaoke hero, you have to go with boy bands.
And, because I’m sure you’re worried about the upcoming post-work karaoke night this Friday, I have eight surefire tunes that will be a hit amongst close friends and colleagues alike. From perennial classics by the two monoliths of boy bandom, to dashes by the forgotten bands of the era, I have ’em all.
(Of course, these are merely suggestions to get you started, and I invite you to dig through pop solo acts for some true musical gems, too. Aaron Carter, anyone?)
So, enjoy these eight retro classics, and remember, kids: One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer just don’t have that throwback edge.
4. Hanson – “MMMBop”
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love Hanson’s “MMMBop,” and those who hate fun. Hanson isn’t a typical boy band in the sense that they, like, played instruments and all — but this track is upbeat pop perfection.