Boy Band: Difference between revisions

Lately, Korea has been getting on the action too with bands like [[Dong Bang Shin Ki|DBSK]], 2PM, [[SHINee]], [[B2ST]], U-KISS, [[Super Junior]], etc. The [[Korean Pop Music|K-pop]] method usually consists of groups with [[Loads and Loads of Characters|a larger number of members]] than western equivalents and then subdividing them in smaller subgroups/"units" for expanded appeal and easier promotional efforts. Also, while borrowing the above archetypes for the members, K-pop bands tend to divide the members for position:

 

* '''[[The Leader]]''': [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]], the one who leads the group, heads the interviews, talks on stage, herds the rest of the members, and serves as an intermediary between the group and the agency. Usually the member that was a trainee the longest. If he isn't the actual [[Face of the Band]], he'll act as such on offstage matters. Generally acting under the Older Brother or the [[Sempai-Kohai|Sunbae]] archetypes.

* ''' The Center''': A less set position, he's the member on whom the current promotion is based on (if said position isn't an alternate name for being [[Face of the Band]]). Usually the lead vocalist or the most rounded-up member, tends to be the one who gets the most lines in songs.

* '''The ''Maknae''''': the youngest member of the group, on top of any other position he may already have. Usually directed to be [[Keet|the cutest and more childish]] member, but subversions do exist.

 

* Boyz II Men: Took NKOTB's place in the early-to-mid 90's, but had a more traditional R&B sound. Directly influenced many of the bands listed below.

* Color Me Badd: Similar to the aforementioned Take That/East 17 example, this group was more or less the "edgier" alternative to Boyz II Men. While they were less successful, they performed a similar-sounding New Jack Swing stlye and incorporating some rapped interludes.

* *N SYNC: Stood in the shadow of [[Backstreet Boys]] during the former's height of popularity, although they had one #1 Billboard single with "It's Gonna Be Me". Ironically, [[Justin Timberlake]]'s solo career has been more popular and critically loved than anything BSB or *N SYNC ever did.

* Boyzone: Irish boy band who took over from [[Take That (band)|Take That]] after their split and were hugely successful in the UK. Stephen Gately of the group was the first member of a really successful boy band to come out as gay.

* British group The Wanted have been around for the few years; after initial success in their native UK, they're starting to enjoy Stateside success as well, thanks in part to them being managed by [[Justin Bieber|Scooter Braun]].

* JLS, from England; like One Direction, they rose to popularity after their season of [[The X Factor]]. Much like 98 Degrees, though, they formed independently and initially auditioned for X Factor together.

 

== Boy Band Parodies ==

* The ''[[Josie and the Pussycats (film)|Josie and The Pussycats]]'' [[The Movie|movie]] featured a boy band called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ica0S13BTh4&feature=related Dujour.] To make fun of the effeminate nature of many boy bands, their hit single was called "[[Does This Remind You of Anything?|Backdoor Lover]]". When they find out that their record label is putting [[Subliminal Advertising]] into their music, their manager (who isn't a big burly dude, but is instead an evil Alan Cumming) tries to have them killed by causing their plane to crash. {{spoiler|They survive, having managed to safely land the plane on their own... only to find that they had landed in the parking lot of an arena hosting a [[Metallica]] concert.}}

* ''[[Sons of Provo]]'', which takes the Boy Band idea (using just three, instead) and mixes it with the most humorously ironic thing possible: the Latter-Day Saint lifestyle. "Evercleen", as they called themselves, managed to lampoon several things in both worlds. Well worth seeing, if only for the strange fascination of the idea of an LDS "''boy band''"—or any other religious-pop act.

 

=== Live-Action TV ===