Latest news with #BackstreetBoys'
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kevin Richardson spills secrets behind Backstreet Boys' stunning Sphere concerts
Kevin Richardson knew one of the most difficult moments of the Backstreet Boys' Sphere show in Las Vegas had nothing to do with dance moves or high notes or a flying apparatus. Emotion would be his nemesis. 'I wasn't able to get through it in rehearsals, and I told the fellas, 'I'm going to look at you and if I lose it, you're going to come in and help me out,'' he said. The 'it' Richardson refers to is 'The Perfect Fan,' the tender ode to the quintet's mothers that closes their landmark 1999 'Millennium' album and is performed during an intimate segment of their glitzy Sphere production. Richardson, who talked to USA TODAY before the Backstreet Boys kicked off their 21-date residency at the revolutionary Las Vegas venue July 11, knows himself well. On opening night, as family photos blanketed the 160,000-square-foot interior screen, Richardson indeed choked up during the first lyrics, while group mate and cousin Brian Littrell, who cowrote the ballad, squeezed his eyes shut to suppress tears. The song is part of the 'minimalistic Millennium medley' as Richardson calls it, when he, Littrell and comrades Nick Carter, AJ McLean and Howie Dorough revisit swoony less-remembered tracks from the album. The segment allows the group to take a breather between the effervescent bounce of 'The One' and the home stretch that includes 'Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),' 'Shape of My Heart' and the extraordinary moment when they take flight (more on that later). But it also signifies how the Sphere can be molded to meet the moment. More: Backstreet Boys deliver stunning concert to devoted fans at Sphere in Las Vegas: Review Backstreet Boys looked to the Eagles for Sphere inspiration When the Backstreet Boys were initially in talks to ink a residency as the inaugural pop act to play the Sphere, they made a pilgrimage to Las Vegas (except for Carter, who lives there) to attend an Eagles concert at the venue. 'We watched the show and I was in awe,' Richardson recalls as he receives a vitamin IV for hydration during our interview. 'I'm a huge Eagles fan and this was like watching all of your favorite songs as a film but with your favorite artist performing them live. This is the venue of the future. You can take your audience anywhere you want to take them.' Richardson, the elder statesman of the group at 53, returned for two more Eagles shows and also witnessed the EDM spectacle Anyma 'The End Of Genesys' in January and Kenny Chesney's country maiden voyage this spring. All acts that have played the Sphere, from U2's jaw-dropping opener in September 2023 to Dead & Company's show-shifting setlist, have had to reconcile sharing equal billing with the venue itself. Richardson says he learned quickly through observation that 'there are two shows going on – the one on the screen and the one with the people on the floor.' Unlike their predecessors, Backstreet Boys outfitted their set with two ramps stretching into the crowd, allowing for more interaction with fans. Richardson exceeded the homework assignment and walked the nine levels of Sphere to 'see what the vibe was' and recognized that each level had its own ambiance. 'We were always self-scouting,' he says. 'What we're trying to do is like a film. Each song leads into the other in a through line, so you're going on a voyage, a journey.' More: Las Vegas Sphere concerts: All the bands that are playing and how to get tickets Fear of heights doesn't keep the Backstreet Boys from flying Tens of thousands of millennial fans have packed the venue since the Boys' July 11 debut – shows run through Aug. 24 – and experienced heaving bouts of nostalgia hearing 'TRL'-era hits including 'Larger Than Life,' 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" and their 1995 debut single, 'We've Got It Goin' On.' But the undeniable highlight of the concert marks another Sphere first: a moving platform. Backstreet Boys buffs likely recall 'Get Down (You're the One for Me)' from the group's debut album, a worldwide smash that only rippled on the U.S. charts. The music video featured the fivesome floating on what Richardson described as 'a disco ball cut in half with fans dancing around us as we're on this big globe.' Cut to nearly 30 years later and the Backstreet Boys are airborne once again in a recreation of the video. Their rising platform, seemingly hovering in midair, reaches about 75 feet, parallel to the 200-level of the venue. Weeks before the residency kickoff, Richardson, McLean and Littrell, who is nervous about heights, tested the moving piece to ensure everyone's comfort. Onstage, the guys are strapped in for safety while Littrell also (wisely) holds onto a bar staked into the platform as they sing 'I Want it That Way' and 'Get Down' while surrounded by head-spinning video of hundreds of video squares, a massive mirror ball and hyperactive lasers. It's a fitting near-finale that embraces the cosmic theme of the show, which itself is a tribute to the Backstreet Boys' momentous 'Millennium' album. It was a period in their career when mania was a standard response to even the slightest movement. 'We couldn't go anywhere. We were basically the biggest thing on the planet at the time, kind of like how Taylor (Swift) is now, which is crazy,' Richardson says. 'That was the pinnacle of our careers. What a blessing. What a special thing. It was so surreal that you have bouts of imposter syndrome afterward.' Millions of Backstreet Boys devotees would surely disagree.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Netflix's 'Building the Band' has Liam Payne's last major appearance before his death
The show features Payne as a guest judge, offering pointed but witty advice to young bands chasing success not unlike what he achieved as part of the culture-shifting boy band, One Direction read more Netflix's new reality show, 'Building the Band,' unexpectedly became Liam Payne's last major appearance — moments the show's hosts say they, along with contestants and viewers, are lucky to have. The show features Payne as a guest judge, offering pointed but witty advice to young bands chasing success not unlike what he achieved as part of the culture-shifting boy band, One Direction. Payne died in October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, not long after the show's production wrapped. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Getting to see the real, true him that the world gets to remember him for, which you'll see on this show, is just a beautiful thing,' says the Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean, the show's host. 'Building the Band' flips traditional music competitions on their head, bringing together 50 up-and-coming artists who are tasked with singing for each other and forming groups based on those performances. The catch? They can't see how anyone looks. The first batch of episodes premiered in early July and the last few episodes, including the finale, will drop Wednesday. The show ultimately follows six bands working to develop their group sound and performances — until only one band is left standing, winning the $500,000 prize. The show is hosted by McLean, with Pussycat Dolls frontwoman — and newly minted Tony winner — Nicole Scherzinger mentoring the bands and Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland serving as a guest judge alongside Payne. The series opened with a dedication to Payne and his family, in which McLean said they 'never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend' while filming the show. Payne first appears in the seventh episode for the showcase, where each band performs in front of a live audience and the judges, only about a week after they form. 'We were amazing dancers, obviously, in One Direction,' Payne joked in the episode while offering critiques to boy band Midnight 'til Morning, whose members expressed hesitations with dancing onstage. Band member Mason Watts then revealed his family had won tickets to sit front row at a One Direction concert when he was 11, stoking applause from the crowd and a heartfelt response from Payne. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Ever since that moment, I wanted to be in a group,' Watts, originally from Australia, said in the episode. 'It's kind of a full-circle moment to be here with a group and performing in front of you. So, thank you, man.' Landon Boyce, a member of the show's other boy band, Soulidified, told The Associated Press that Payne left a lasting impact and was a leading example of how he hopes to carry himself as a performer. 'I remember Liam just said, 'Have fun,'' Boyce says. 'He just told us, 'I wish One Direction kind of, like, did what you guys were doing.' And I kind of just took that as like, let's just have fun and dance.' Payne is seen nodding along with excitement during the band's showcase performance, when they sang 'Sure Thing' by Miguel. Bradley Rittmann, another Soulidified member, told the AP they were 'on Cloud 9' after Payne said he would join their band. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Payne applauded their ability to own the stage and acknowledged the unconventionality of their band due to the members' varying musical and fashion styles, saying he 'wouldn't put you guys together, but the result was amazing.' This show mashes together the likes of 'Love is Blind' with music competition shows like 'The Voice,' secluding contestants in pods, where they can only hear each other. Contestants can express interest by hitting a button during the performance, and then speak through voice chats to test their chemistry. The initial 50 contestants dwindled to just 22, comprising two boy bands, three girl bands and one mixed-gender group. Contestants chose their bandmates without input from the host or judges. 'It formed in the most real, raw, authentic way,' says Aaliyah Rose Larsen, a member of the mixed-gender band SZN4. 'I think we would have re-found each other in a million other lifetimes, in a billion other shows, because we were always meant to find each other.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The result of this process, judges say, are bands that labels traditionally wouldn't form, given members' differences in style and appearance — an important pillar of the show, McLean and Rowland say, given the current state of the music industry. 'Back in the beginning of our careers, your sophomore album was the one that would make or break you. Now you get one shot,' McLean says. 'To be able to give the power back to these individuals, to let them put each other together based on just raw talent and chemistry, never seeing each other, is a testament to truly what it is to be in a band.' An audience vote determines which bands continue on after each live performance. The last episode of the first batch left viewers on a cliffhanger, as Midnight 'til Morning and girl group Siren Society were voted in the bottom two. The next batch will reveal who was eliminated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rowland says Payne was fully invested in the process and checked in regarding the bands' progress after filming. Payne had also expressed interest in mentoring the bands after the show ended, Boyce remembers. 'He was just honest. He called everything out, you know what I mean? Before they saw it, before we saw it,' Rowland says, adding that Payne had 'many shining moments' during his storied and decorated career, 'but this was a really incredible one.' Nori Moore, a member of 3Quency, 'had a lot of firsts' in the show as a young performer and says Payne's advice to contestants that they claim the moment every time they walk onstage was pivotal to her development as an artist. Larsen says viewers can watch the show and 'see his heart.' 'We know how much he loves the show,' says Katie Roeder, another SZN4 member. 'I know he's very proud of us and looking down on us.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Liam Payne shines amid criticism of Netflix's Building The Band reality show
Critics have savaged new Netflix series Building The Band, describing it as 'spectacularly misjudged,' 'painfully unfunny,' and 'a chaotic mess,' but many agreed on one thing: Liam Payne is 'the best thing' about it. The reality series, which landed on the streaming platform today (July 9), was filmed before Payne's shock death last October aged 31, when he fell from the third floor of a hotel balcony in Argentina. It features the former One Direction star in a key mentoring role. His contribution - kept in with the support of his family - has been widely praised for its warmth and authenticity, offering one of the few standout moments in a show many reviewers have otherwise called derivative. Hosted by Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean, with Nicole Scherzinger as lead judge and joined by Kelly Rowland and Payne, the 10-part competition sees aspiring singers attempt to build bands from scratch without input from music executives or producers. Most damning was The i Paper, which questioned the show's very existence in the wake of Payne's death. It raised concerns about how such talent formats affect young performers' mental health and whether enough protections are in place. 'Obviously, the flashy trailer displays no awareness of the grim irony that were it not for programmes just like this that promise desperate, hopeful singers a future of success and stardom, Payne might still be alive,' it writes. The Telegraph was also not won over, declaring the show 'an insincere singing contest' and criticising its format as a mashup of The X Factor, The Circle and Love Is Blind. Still, it highlighted Payne's appearance in episode seven as the emotional high point. 'He judges the acts with kindness and constructive criticism,' the review by the publication read, adding that an Australian contestant's heartfelt story about seeing One Direction as a child visibly moves him. 'It's right that the producers, backed by the family, decided to keep his contribution in. But it's also pretty sad.' The Guardian, meanwhile, offered a more reserved three-star verdict. While calling the series 'fine, watchable, well-crafted,' the paper criticised early episodes for feeling 'drawn out and repetitive.' It also questioned the concept's relevance in today's music scene. 'I did wonder why Building the Band would focus on groups in an era dominated by solo artists, but perhaps it's less about music and more about creating spectacle,' the reviewer wrote. The Standard's own Saskia Kemsley was the kindest, awarding the show four stars. Kemsley praised Building the Band for tapping into the legacy of early 2000s TV juggernauts like The X Factor, the show that helped launch Payne's career. 'For lifelong One Direction fans, Payne's presence is bittersweet – but he's a grounded, respectful presence here, and the series handles his legacy with care,' the review reads. She continued: 'Like clockwork, tensions flare. Those who falter often lash out, giving the show its requisite dose of drama. But Building the Band isn't just about meltdowns. It's also a showcase for powerful mentorship, and few moments are more affecting than Payne's.'
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Liam Payne is ‘amazing' in Building The Band, says Netflix exec as they share update on tragic 1D star's final project
TRAGIC pop star Liam Payne is 'amazing' on Netflix talent show Building The Band, according to a series exec. The late One Direction star's final project sees Liam as a judge alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland with Backstreet Boys' AJ McClean as host. 2 Liam Payne is 'amazing' on Netflix talent show Building The Band, says a show insider 2 Liam is a judge on Netflix's new talent contest, his last project before his passing in October last year Credit: Getty The first four episodes drop today. Showrunner Cat Lawson said: 'The show is dedicated to Liam. We all loved him and he was amazing in the show.' She added that Liam's death in October deeply affected the team, adding: 'You get to know people really quickly [on these shows] and he was a glorious person.' The show is a blend of The Voice and Love Is Blind, with singers auditioning in closed containers so they're selected on talent alone. Last month, The Sun revealed that the show kicked off with a special dedication to the memory of Liam and his family. Before the competition started, host AJ appeared on screen to pay tribute to the star. AJ says: 'When we came together to film Building The Band, we never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend, Liam Payne. 'Liam is a guest judge in later episodes and through his presence we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. 'It is through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.' It was a bittersweet moment for fans of Liam and One Direction last week when Netflix dropped the trailer for the show, and featured him extensively throughout.
The Irish Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Liam Payne is ‘amazing' in Building The Band, says Netflix exec as they share update on tragic 1D star's final project
TRAGIC pop star Liam Payne is 'amazing' on Netflix talent show Building The Band, according to a series exec. The late One Direction star's final project sees Liam as a judge alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland with Backstreet Boys' AJ McClean as host. Advertisement 2 Liam Payne is 'amazing' on Netflix talent show Building The Band, says a show insider 2 Liam is a judge on Netflix's new talent contest, his last project before his passing in October last year Credit: Getty The first four episodes drop today. Showrunner Cat Lawson said: 'The show is dedicated to Liam. We all loved him and he was amazing in the show.' She added that The show is a blend of The Voice and Love Is Blind, with singers auditioning in closed containers so they're selected on talent alone. Advertisement READ MORE ON LIAM PAYNE Before the competition started, host AJ appeared on screen to pay tribute to the star. AJ says: 'When we came together to film 'Liam is a guest judge in later episodes and through his presence we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. Advertisement Most read in News TV 'It is through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.' It was a bittersweet moment for fans of Liam and One Direction last week when Building the Band: First Look, Netflix
