It was a battle of epic proportions. Take That, JLS and Westlife head-to-head in the UK album charts. There was always going to be blood on the dance floor.
They may have seemed all friendly when they performed their new singles live on the The X Factor earlier this year, but read between the lines and battle lines had been drawn.
While securing the top spot on the charts last week was a doddle for Take That, many believed that with albums from both JLS and Westlife the following week, it would be hard to hang on to.
Not so. On Sunday night, Take That proved its album, Progress, has staying power, putting JLS' Outta This World at number two and Irish boy band Westlife's Gravity in third place. Also in the UK, The X Factor TV talent show looks set to be won by a teenaged, all-male band called One Direction, managed by none other than Simon Cowell.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic last week, Backstreet Boys and New Kids On The Block performed together at the American Music Awards, launched a tour together and promptly crashed websites with the demand for tickets.
What all does this tell us?
Hold on to your cornflakes. Ladies and gentlemen, the era of the boy band is back.
The teen-focused boy band is based on a formula as rigid as that of any rom-com or action flick.
Male. Group of. Thrown together by an all-powerful Svengali. A cheeky-fuelled energy and catchy tune propel them to the top. Bitterness sets in for various reasons ranging from girlfriend-stealing to lead-singer jealousy. They break-up. Cash runs out... and finally a heart-warming reunion.
The boy band often appears the most despised of genres, yet in stark contrast is one of the most successful.
Critics, websites and general music grumps slate the concept; the thought of having them re-form is a sin of Biblical proportions.
Yet whether young things with too much attitude or ageing popsters relying on hair gel to cover up the cracks of their love songs in the rain, there is just no doubt about it: the boy band works — even when the members' status as "boys" is questionable.
Here's tabloid!'s guide to the whole new world of boy bands, from Nineties nostalgia relived, to the noughties' usurpers.
It's not always sobbing on stage and million-dollar tour reunions. Sometimes, the reunion just doesn't pay off. Case in point: The Boyz II Men Love Cruise.In honour of their 20th anniversary and in observance of Valentine's Day, the cruise takes place February 11-14 2011 and will travel from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas. Cruise passengers receive a Boyz II Men welcome cocktail party, a concert performance by Boyz II Men, and a photo session with the boys... er, men. Couples will also be able to renew their wedding vows in a special ceremony with the group.
The boys from Westlife are aiming to secure a different spectrum in the market, but are convinced they'd be perfect for a royal wedding next year. This week they said they are eying up an opportunity to sing at Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 wedding, saying their hard partying days are over.
Be comforted by the fact George Michael swears he is choosing life over reforming Wham!, telling a magazine earlier this year that, "Wham! was about being young and exuberant, and you can't recreate that feeling at a certain age." Thank you, thank you, thank you, George.
New beginnings
The X Factor's One Direction looked set to fail. Five lads who were booted from boot camp were given one last chance by the most powerful man in music. How dumb were we for ever questioning whether they'd make it.
However, while some will say their inevitable UK-domination was purely because of Cowell's involvement, I beg to differ. Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik thrive because there are always hordes of new teenage girls arriving, needing to transfer their chaotic internal affections from cuddly toys to something a little more real. Or maybe because however old we are, we cling to the idea we're all young at heart, with our fingers on the pulse when it comes to all things pop, fashion and fame.
They've played the pranks, dressed in silly all-in-one suits and have even adopted the Justin Bieber fringe sweep.
Let's just hope the arguments aren't on the way before the pay cheques have been delivered. This week, it was reported Payne moved out of the bedroom he used to share with the rest of One Direction. The 17-year-old was said to be fed up with the mess created by the other boys and took advantage of all the recent eliminations from the show to claim a new bedroom of his own. He was soon followed by bandmate Malik.
The Break-Up
We've seen boy bands come and go over the decades. Take That, East 17, Spandau Ballet, New Kids On The Block, N'Sync, Busted — they all did it.
They went their separate ways, with "it's just that time" and "we've come to the end of the road" as the reasons. Teenagers cry (a lot) as the boys give up sitting grave and clean-shaven on stools singing silken ballads.
The break-up is often precipitated by the departure of the most popular or talented member (hello, Robbie Williams!). The break-up allows the fans to grow up, have kids and acquire some of their own disposable income, leading to... Rebirth!
Rebirh
Just when we think it's over, they pop back up, stronger and more resilient than ever.
The Take That story is already boy band legend, the articles on their regrouping now the handbook for any aspiring boy band.
The latest lesson: Two bands are better than one. Meet NKOTBBSB, otherwise known as New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. After a triumphant mash-up duet at this year's American Music Awards, the groups announced dates for a co-headlined tour.
This first-of-its-kind outing uniting the dominating male vocal group of the late 1980s, NKOTB, with their musical progeny from the 1990s, BSB, crashed both bands' websites when the initial limited slate of dates was announced last month. In a joint statement, the boys said: "We are truly blessed and are so appreciative to have you all along with us for the ride."
The AMA hook-up included runs through Backstreet's I Want It That Way and NKOTB's Hangin' Tough, getting the crowd on their feet as Joey McIntyre, AJ McLean, Jordan Knight, Howie Dorough, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Littrell, Danny Wood and Nick Carter proved they still have the moves.
Face-off
You'd think being in a boy band is all about being well-groomed, dancing, crooning and of course selling the records. Wrong: these days, it's all about getting those pretty boy faces onto products — the weirder, the better.
This week was a great example of just how far current bands have to push it: JLS (pictured) released their own range of contraceptives, to the derision of their older competitors Westlife. "We had chocolate bars back in our day," smirked Nicky Byrne, in a clear attempt at some pre-charts trash talk — even though Westlife, who went head to head with JLS after releasing their albums on the same day, had already admitted defeat.
The Irish veterans' Gravity went head-to-head with JLS' Outta This World, with the manband saying that they no longer had what it takes to compete with their young rivals. They were right on the money: JLS entered the charts at number two and Westlife took the third-place podium spot. Before the announcement on Sunday night, Byrne said: "We expect JLS to win. Definitely. Twelve years in, it's very different.
"When we were at JLS' age, we had a very young fan base that rushed out and bought everything.
"We're learning that the older you get, the more of a challenge it is. Fans are now older and don't buy every last thing you put on the shelf."
The group admitted they were forced to freshen up their act after Take That's comeback as a four piece (and now with Robbie Williams in 2010) revitalised the boy band industry.
"Take That came back better than they were before. They've revitalised the pop world," said Westlifer Shane Filan. Take That are "absolutely brilliant at the minute", added Byrne.
That was kid's stuff, grow up, get over it
The boys from The Wanted showed a mature side this week saying there is no competition between them and The X Factor boy band, One Direction.Jay McGuinness said: "We welcome them into the fold of boy bands — this is the boy band year and we're glad we're not the newbies any more. We've now got a little bit more experience compared to them."Bandmate Tom Parker added: "We've been discussing it over the last few weeks. They're getting better and better as the show goes on, and when we first started this band, we wanted other bands to support us. JLS and Take That said good things about us so it's only right for us to do the same."
