New Kids on the Block

It's like, so cool, ya know?

I just watched the first performance in 15 years of NKOTB on the Today show. It was a nice trip down memory lane. I was trying to remember all the stuff I had (which wasn't a whole lot) and how I felt about them back then. Like most girls, I loved Joey. He had a great voice, but I think most liked him b/c of those blue, blue eyes and the fact that he was the closest in age to most of the "tween" fans. Amazingly, though, he wasn't who I went ga-ga over. I LOVED Jordan. I don't know why. Maybe because he was probably the next cutest and a little older (I always like older guys).
As I watched this time, with a few more years behind me and a few more years behind them, I was amazed at a couple of things. Now, granted, this was a live performance in the rain, but their vocals aren't that great! They sang a medley of the good ol' stuff (Hangin' Tough, The Right Stuff, Please Don't Go Girl, etc.) and then sang the first single from their new album, Summertime. I was hoping for a little more harmony...they are 15 years older and should be more mature vocally...and a different sound from them. I wasn't impressed.
I'm sure, though, that with all the fans that have been waiting for this, their album will be a big seller, they'll try another one, and then slowly fizzle out again. That's just the cycle of groups in the music business these days.

On a side note, Jonathan Knight looked quite uncomfortable and awkward, like always. I chalked that one up to him being the oldest, which wasn't bad in the early '90s, but just looks weird now.