Boy bands were all the rage from the late ‘80s through the early ’00s, stealing the hearts of young girls all over the world. But as its members dispersed and moved on to other projects—be it solo careers, acting gigs, or in some cases, outer space—the era of joint harmonies, matching jumpsuits, and synchronized dances slowly came to a halt. But all hope isn’t lost: British-Irish import One Direction has recently come on the scene attempting to revive the infamous all-male music act. The band consists of five members: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles (yes, that’s his real name), and Louis Tomlinson—all aged 18-20 years old—who met on The X Factor in 2010 as separate talents. The group’s first album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, so perhaps these boys really do have what it takes to bring the boy band back in vogue. Either way, One Direction is giving us some serious nostalgia for boy bands past, so we thought now would be a better time than ever to revisit our favorite acts. Click through for some super embarrassing photos.
The Backstreet Boys
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The Backstreet Boys are pretty much the reigning kings of boy bands. The quintet started the music industry trend back in 1996, only to be quickly followed by similar acts like ‘N Sync and 98 Degrees. Even though these guys are over 30, we’ll always have a special place in our hearts for their smash-hits, including (but definitely not limited to) “I Want It That Way.”
‘N Sync
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When ‘N Sync formed in 1996, they already had the recipe for musical success: five young guys who can sing and dance (two of whom starred alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on The Mickey Mouse Club). Even though the group disbanded in 2002—only seven years after they came together—its star member, Justin Timberlake, has achieved a ton of success in music, film, and fashion.
New Kids on the Block
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As LFO once sung, “New Kids on the Block had a bunch of hits”—and they really did: seven certified singles between 1988 and 1990. The boys eventually went on hiatus, reuniting in 2008 with the album The Block. In 2011, the band came together again, partnering with The Backstreet Boys for the compilation album NKOTBSB.
Boyz II Men
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Boyz II Men brought R&B to the fore when they joined together in the late ‘80s. Known for their emotional, heartfelt ballads like the hit single “End of the Road” (about a man who really doesn’t want his woman to leave him), this quartet tugged on the heart strings of girls nationwide (and won four Grammys in the process).
98 Degrees
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98 Degrees is comprised of Ohio-born brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group had a strong run of hits from 1998 to 2000, including “The Hardest Thing,” “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” and “My Everything.” Although the group dissolved in 2002, when Nick starred on Newlyweds with then-wife Jessica Simpson, there are talks of a reunion show this summer.
Hanson
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Everyone remembers when these three brothers from the Midwest came out singing “Mmm bop, ba duba dop.” Even though the lyrics sounded like complete nonsense, the hit song was nominated for a Grammy award—one of three noms the band has earned so far in their career. Most recently, “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen opened for them on their Shout It Out World Tour (can you think of two more infectious pop songs? Us either.)
The Jonas Brothers
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Following in the Hanson’s footsteps, three more brothers gained popularity in the mid-2000s for their work on the Disney Channel. The Jonas Brothers showed the world that more can come out of the state of New Jersey than tan lines and fist pumps: They’ve sold over eight million albums worldwide, and even though they’re on hiatus, with Nick on Broadway and Kevin living the married life, we’re sure we haven’t seen the last of this handsome trio.
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