It seems like the 90s have made a resurrection from our childhoods! And I’m so happy. The comeback of boy bands like The Wanted and One Direction could be a result of the overall unhappiness in our current social state and overall nostalgia for simpler, less seemingly apocalyptic times. But honestly, that’s not what this article is about. It’s about the fact I listened to “Glad You Came” continuously on repeat for the entirety of my spring break. Speaking of “Glad You Came,” let’s start with the British self-proclaimed bad boys of pop, The Wanted.
Firstly, that song is addictive and I’ve been suffering from withdrawal since coming back to campus. Secondly, let’s delve into the name of the group. The name of a group is very important. For the most part, boy bands are amongst the most constructed and contrived of performers. The name of a boy band gives a sense of who the members are, what you should feel about them, what they want to present to the public. N’Sync wanted you to know that this is a real group effort. We are in sync, if that wasn’t obvious. The boy band 98° wanted you to think they were really hot… The Wanted was chosen as the name because this group (or who ever is really in control) wants to establish a sense of intrinsic appeal. If they are already wanted, I want them too? It is the idea that girls want what they can’t have. I really don’t know why, but this stuff actually works.
Thirdly, let us get to know the guys. As the boy band handbook states, there are five members to The Wanted ranging from ages 18 to 23. Let’s start with the youngest, shall we? For all of those who aren’t totally obsessed and don’t know their names already, Nathan is the baby of the group. He actually looks 12 and is the best singer. Yes I said it…because it’s true. Next is Jay. He’s the awkward one with curly blonde locks. If you watch the video for Glad You Came, he’s the own awkwardly dancing (literally swinging from side to side) with a girl whilst wearing a Hawaiian shirt (really?). They sometimes let him sing the chorus. Next is Siva. He’s the gorgeous half Sri Lankan, half Irish one. There’s nothing to say about him besides the fact that he’s absolutely beautiful. Max is the bald one, who people confuse as the hot one (no, that’s Siva). He’s an okay singer and opens most of the songs. And lastly, there’s Tom, the fifth one. You know what I mean by fifth. You know when you take five classes, and there’s that one class you don’t really care about and probably going to PDF, he’s like that fifth class. The sad thing is even though he doesn’t leave much of an impression; he’s one of the better singers of the group.
Now although it may sound like I am not a fan of The Wanted, I am (I promise). But the above paragraph is exactly it. Individually these guys are not that special, but together they are topping the UK and US charts and currently being taped to the walls of the bedrooms of thousands of teen girls at this very moment.
The members of One Direction are like the innocent little brothers of the members of The Wanted. They got their start as individual acts on the show the X-factor. As individuals they didn’t make the cut. But after judge Nicole Scherzinger, of the Pussy Cat Dolls, with her infinite knowledge of failed individual acts and success in a form of a group suggested they form a band, the world has become a different place for tween girls every where. I will not go into too much detail about One Direction because they are way too young for me, but their music is great and has a positive message. I hear they might even be getting their own show on TeenNick.
In conclusion, boy bands are back baby! And if you really want a laugh, check out The Wanted’s interview on Chelsea Lately. It’s hilarious!