Boy bands have had an important impact on pop culture for decades. Almost every generation has a boy band they fawned over: The Beach Boys, The Jacksons, New Edition, *NSYNC and now BTS. I grew up obsessing over every boy band that Tumblr raved about. There were always some that I loved more than others, so here I’ll rank six of my favorite boy bands from when I was a kid, from least to most favorite. To note, I’ve grown out of a lot of these bands, or vice versa. My rankings will be based solely on how much I loved them from the early 2000s to 2016.
- The Wanted
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I wasn’t a hardcore fan of The Wanted, which is why they’re ranked as the lowest. There were bands I listened to more than them. That aside, I can’t ignore the grip “Glad You Came” and “Chasing The Sun” had on 11-year-old me. To this day, the chain verse in the “Glad You Came” pre-chorus replays in my head on nonstop.
- 5 Seconds of Summer
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5 Seconds of Summer, or “5SOS” would be way higher on the list if I hadn’t gotten into their music years later than most. My friends constantly mentioned their names, but I never put effort to get to know them as much as I wish I did. It wasn’t until 2016, a year after the release of their Sounds Good Feels Good album, that I listened to “She Looks So Perfect” and fell in love. Despite that, there were other boy bands that I loved far more, so I had to put them at number five.
- exo
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K-pop has boomed since the debut of EXO and there are now plenty of groups getting love in the States. But, I remember a time when EXO was the face of K-pop. The group, whose lineup has since changed from 12 members to nine, was a big name since their debut. When I first got into K-pop, it was impossible for me not to hear about them. By the time I was 13, I had their entire discography downloaded on my iPod Touch. They brought something new to the table with every song and still do.
- Big Time Rush
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Any late ‘90s to early 2000’s baby with access to Nickelodeon knew about Big Time Rush. I remember waiting every week for the newest episode of their TV show, Big Time Rush to premiere. I used to think I was genuinely seeing the real-life events of the band and it only helped that their music was amazing, too. The way the quartet blended R&B and pop fit perfectly and with every album, they continued to release hits on hits on hits.
- Jonas Brothers
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‘Obsessed’ isn’t even the right word to describe how in love I was with the Jonas Brothers. We would ramble on about the trio in elementary school, ranting about our favorite song or which ‘Jo Bro’ we would end up marrying (mine was Nick). From 2006 to 2009, the band never stopped releasing albums that I’d listen to on repeat. I can’t forget about the songs they released with their Camp Rock movies and the Jonas TV show. I haven’t listened to their recent music that much, but they will always have a special place in my heart. They would’ve easily made the number one spot if it wasn’t for my favorite five boys from the U.K.
- One Direction
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Picture this: you’re 10-years-old, watching Smosh and Michelle Phan videos on YouTube. A video pops up on your suggested bar and it’s the music video for One Direction’s debut song, “What Makes You Beautiful.” You click it and from that moment, you’re hooked. One Direction took over my entire life. As they grew, so did I. I was barely into my 6th-grade year when I found their Up All Night album, my world fell apart when Zayn left the band and the five went their separate ways when I entered high school. Listening to their music is like taking a time machine to a time when the world seemed way smaller. I’ll be spending the rest of my life waiting for their reunion.
I feel a warmth in my stomach when I see my younger cousins squeal over the new boy bands that are gracing the music industry. It transports me back to my childhood, and I’m overjoyed knowing that kids can still use music as an escape like I did. While I do have some favorites on this list, all six bands will forever remain icons of my youth.