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I Want it That Way
"I Want It That Way" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys, released as the lead single from their third studio album, Millennium (1999). It was written by Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson, while Martin and Kristian Lundin produced it. The pop ballad talks about a relationship that’s troubled by matters of emotional or physical distance.
Critically, the song was met with positive reception, with most critics commending its catchiness and loveliness, also calling it the pop ballad of the year. The song was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year, and has been included in lists by Blender, MTV, Rolling Stone and VH1.
"I Want It That Way" is considered one of their signature songs, and commercially it reached the number-one spot in more than 25 countries, including Austria, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight non-consecutive weeks, while it topped the Adult and Top 40 Mainstream charts.
The song has been widely covered and parodied for a range of artists, including other boy bands such as JLS and One Direction, while its music video, directed by Wayne Isham, received famous parodies, including Blink 182 on their music video for "All the Small Things" and The Wanted on their video for "Walks Like Rihanna". The original music video received four VMA nominations, winning Viewer's Choice.
Background and history
After the success of their first two albums, Backstreet Boys (1996) and Backstreet's Back (1997), the band recorded their third studio album, during 1998 and 1999. When the members of the Backstreet Boys came to Stockholm in November 1998 for a two week recording engagement, they were eventually presented the demo of "I Want It That Way", which at the time only consisted of the main chorus. Upon leaving Sweden on November 16, vocals for the song had been completed in two days.
Originally, "Larger Than Life" was intented to be the lead single, following the similar formula of their first two albums, having an upbeat lead single. However, after hearing the final version of "I Want It That Way", the group wanted to move in a more mature direction, by utilizing a mid-tempo track as the lead single. Zomba Recording executives had to be convinced to approve of the song as the first single, due to them citing that the group could "alienate fans" with a mid-tempo song that had vague lyrical meaning. In the end, press information in the form of snippets were authorized for release to radio stations in March 1999, to precede the song's release to radio in April.
Censorship
On August 19, 2011, China's Ministry of Culture released a list of 100 songs including the then 12-year-old "I Want it That Way" that were required to be removed from the Internet. This purge came about because the Ministry claimed that these songs had been released without first being subjected to a mandatory screening process conducted by Ministry officials as per official government policy. Media sites were given until the 15th of September to delete the named songs or face unspecified penalties. The Chinese government claims that such measures are necessary for national security purposes.
Writing and inspiration
"I Want It That Way" was written by Andreas Carlsson and Max Martin, while Martin and Kristian Lundin produced the track. The midtempo ballad finds the guys gushing expressions of romantic affection. The acoustic-guitar arpeggio riff, which forms the song's intro and reiterates throughout the verses, was written at the very end of the recording sessions and was, according to Carlsson, inspired by Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica. The song is written in the key of A major, and their vocals span from E4 to B5. An alternate version of the song, with different lyrics were written and recorded by the band in January 1999. The version was included in some early demo presses of the album. In the alternate version, the song has the opposite message ("I love it when I hear you say, I want it that way"). The alternative lyrics were written by Martin and Carlsson in collaboration with Mutt Lange.
The alternate version was leaked on the internet via Napster and other methods in the early 2000s, and was also played infrequently on some radio stations. According to then-member of the Boys' backing band, Tommy Smith, the album version is the "original version"; the alternate version was recorded because the chorus of the album version did not make sense. In an interview with HitQuarters, Andreas Carlsson confessed that the song was a play with words. According to him, "When Max came up with the original idea for the song, it already had the line 'you are my fire, the one desire'. We tried a million different variations on the second verse, and finally we had to go back to what was sounding so great, 'you are my fire, the one desire'. And then we changed it to 'am I your fire, your one desire', which made absolutely no sense in combination with the chorus - but everybody loved it!."
Lyrical interpretation
Many critics over the years have questioned the song's lyrical meaning, mainly the line, "I want It That Way". Ben Westhoff of LA Weekly dissected the song, writing that its lyrical content "makes zero sense." For Westhoff, "Mainly, the meaning of 'that' is at issue." While analyzing the lyrics, Westhoff perceived that, "None of the sentiments in the chorus seem to go with any of the other ones. Even worse, no further explanation is given for what 'that' is." The critic assumed that in the song "someone simply don't like it when its lover express preferences, never wanting to hear when his girlfriend says she wants things in particular ways." Andrew Unterberger of PopDust also questioned its lyrics, writing that "the song doesn’t make a whole lot of sense — more on that in a minute — and in the odd phrasing of the title and certain other key lyrics." Unterberger also noted that "The phrase 'I want it that way' is similarly devoid of inherent meaning, but it’s used recurringly as a kind of conclusive phrase, always calling back to those first two lines, as the song gets gradually more despairing in nature." Unterberger also found out that "The chorus would appear to be in direct opposition to the rest of the song."
Unterberger concluded that the song "is about a relationship that’s troubled by matters of emotional and/or physical distance, but that the singer feels strongly enough about to keep it going just the same…until the chorus, at which point he decides that it’s not worth the trouble. No, it doesn’t make sense, but it’s still stirring, beautiful in its own weird way, and undeniably unforgettable. And frankly, we wouldn’t want it any other way." Kevin Richardson, member of the band, explained in an interview that, "Ultimately the song really doesn't make much sense." Richardson also wrote that Max Martin, who co-wrote and co-produced the song, barely spoke English. "His English has gotten much better, but at the time...," said Richardson. "There are a lot of songs out there like that don't make sense," he continues, "but make you feel good when you sing along to them, and that's one of them."
Critical reception
"I Want It That Way" was met with positive reception from most music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic picked the song as a highlight on Millenium, calling it an "infectious song that will be enough to satisfy anyone craving more, more, more." While reviewing their compilation, The Hits: Chapter One (2001), Erlewine reassured that the song " transcend their era", calling it a "lovely pop tune." Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly wrote the track "ranks as the bubblegum ballad of the year. It's so likable, it doesn't matter that the group's voices are the sonic equivalent of warm milk."
Recognition
"I Want It That Way" became one of the Backstreet Boys signature songs and one of the most praised songs by the group. Rolling Stone listed Backstreet Boys at number 1 on their 'Readers' Poll: The Best Boy Bands of All Time, writing that "the five-piece scored several huge hits, but their 1999 smash 'I Want It That Way' is a genre-transcending classic." While listing the 10 biggest boy bands from 1987 until 2012, Billboard placed the band at number 2, writing that, "They tallied up six Hot 100 top 10 hits including well-loved tunes like 'I Want It That Way' and Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)'. "I Want It That Way" was also placed at number 2 on Complex list of The 30 Best Boy Band Songs. Kathy Iandoli wrote that, "It's a song by the Backstreet Boys where Brian Littrell and Nick Carter weren't the only voices heard. The group had many hits, most of them carried by just a few members of the band. On 'I Want It That Way,' each member got a chance to strut their stuff. While the quintet traded verses about heartache and mistakes, they were really just telling you that you were never allowed to break up with any of them. Ever. Shout out to the tax-writeoff of a verse from Kevin Richardson and the video that took place in the middle of an airport. However did they make it through security?.
The song was also listed at the top of many lists that included their best songs. Bill Lamb of About.com ranked the song at the top of the list, writing that "Even Backstreet Boys detractors sometimes admit this single is a gorgeous pop ballad. The quintet's pure singing skills often set them apart from pretenders to the boy band throne." Emily Exton of VH1 chose the song, among twenty, as the best Backstreet Boys song, writing that, "It doesn’t take weeks of phoning Carson Daly to know that this the 1999 monster smash is the quintessential modern pop ballad, propelling the genre and the state of the boy band into the 21st century. There’s call and response, human emotion, and allusions to fire even Charli XCX can’t resist." Danielle Sweeney of The Celebrity Cafe also listed "I Want It That Way" at number 1, calling it "Quite possibly the greatest pop song of all time. If not, it’s at least BSB’s greatest song of all time." The song was ranked number ten on MTV/Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Pop Songs Of All Time" in 2000. VH1 listed the song at number 3 on "The 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s", and number sixty-one on 100 Greatest Songs Of The Past 25 Years in June 2003. Blender ranked at number sixteen on their 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born list.
Awards and accolades
"I Want It That Way" was also nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 42nd edition. It was nominated for "Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, losing to "Maria Maria", by Carlos Santana featuring The Product G&B, "Record of the Year and Song of the Year, both losing to "Smooth", also by Santana, featuring Rob Thomas. The song was also voted the best boyband single of the past 15 years (until 2013) by Amazepop, topping the poll above the likes of 5ive's 'Keep On Movin and Westlife's 'Flying Without Wings'.
| Year | Ceremony | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | ALMA Awards | The Ten Outstanding Music Video Performers | Won |
| BMI Pop Awards | 50 Most Performed Songs | Won | |
| 1st Mnet Korean Music Festival | Best International Artist | Nominated | |
| 1999 MTV Video Music Awards | Video of the Year | Nominated | |
| Best Pop Video | Nominated | ||
| Best Group Video | Nominated | ||
| Viewer's Choice | Won | ||
| MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Song | Nominated | |
| MuchMusic Video Awards | People's Choice Favorite International Group | Won | |
| 2000 | Grammy Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Record of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Amazepop | Best Boy-Band Single | Won |
Commercial performance
"I Want It That Way" became one of the most successful singles by the band in most countries where it has charted. In Australia, the song debuted at number 6 on the ARIA Charts week of May 16, 1999, dropping to number 7 the next week. Later, it climbed to number 3, before peaking at number 2, becoming their highest-charting single, alongside "As Long As You Love Me" (which also peaked at number 2), until "Incomplete" surpassed them, in 2005, reaching number-one. It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association, for selling over 70,000 copies. In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 2, peaking at number-one for two consecutive weeks. It became their second number-one single, after "As Long As You Love Me" (1997). The song was also a number-one hit in Austria, where it debuted at the top, before falling to number 3 and regaining the number-one position again. It was also their second number-one single, after "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (1996). The song also topped the charts of Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland.
In the United States, "I Want It That Way" was one of Backstreet Boys's most successful singles, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, for eight non-consecutive weeks, also breaking the record for most radio station adds in its first week with 165. It also reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts, where it stayed for ten non consecutive weeks. On the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart, it set a record for most weeks at number one. In the United Kingdom, "I Want It That Way" became the band's first and only number-one single, reaching its peak position on May 15, 1999. The song was also the 15th biggest selling boyband single of the 1990s in the UK selling 423,300 copies.
Music video
=Regular
The music video is set mainly at LAX|Los Angeles International Airport on April 1, 1999 (date filmed), and features prominent special effects scene transitions between shots. Notably, a high-speed zoom effect which makes it appear that the foreground subject has not changed to a new shot while the background has, fades in and out of white, and shifting between different film speeds during shots. Another special effects sequence using chroma key|greenscreen, in which the band, dressed in white, would perform a dance sequence while being manipulated over the backdrop of an airport lobby was mostly cut from the video, as it was felt that a dance sequence did not fit with the song, though elements of the dance remain in the second chorus, as do non-dance elements that sequence. As the band prepares to board their plane, they are greeted by a crowd of screaming fans bearing signs and flowers.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal is featured when the band sings the chorus. The video reached #35 on "Muchmusic's 100 Best Videos." The song's music video has been parodied by Blink-182 in their music video for the song "All the Small Things". The video itself ranked as number three on the top 10 list of the most iconic videos of all time at the Total Request Live|TRL finale.
The video achieved over 100 million views on YouTube.
Alternate
Muffy was watching a music video inside the TV room while Francine is reading, she sees the Backstreet Boys and disappeared. They reappear inside an airport and Nick Carter gave her a swing and Francine's foot pushed her nose.
Notable covers, parodies and usage in media
Since its release, "I Want It That Way" has been covered on numerous occasions. American musician Ryan Adams performed the song live several times starting in 1999, although his performance featured a bit of sarcasm. Selena Gomez & the Scene cover the song on their House of Blue Tour. British boyband JLS performed the song and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)", along with two N Sync songs, in a medley on their tour "JLS Tour", in support of their second album Outta This World. Psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge covered it on their album The Return. In 2010, Steel Panther covered the song on a few live shows and released the single as a download in the UK, supposedly as a result of a bet. In 2013, the Glee Cast covered the song on the episode "Feud" as a mashup with 'N Sync's "Bye Bye Bye". In 2013, Charli XCX performed a cover live at the Borderline Music in Chicago. The singer-songwriter also performed a version of the song in August 2013 for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series. Also in 2013, British boy-band One Direction performed a cover of the song during their Take Me Home Tour, live at a Stockholm, Sweden concert. Backstreet Boys member Howie D approved the cover, saying, "It’s nice to see groups like that pay homage to us. We definitely paid homage to groups in the earlier days that we admired[..] So it’s cool. I think they did a great job. It seemed like it went over really well."
The song and the video received a lot of parodies. American radio personality Howard Stern did a parody with the song on his show called "If I Went The Gay Way", which was sung by his band The Losers. "Weird Al" Yankovic made a hugely popular parody called "eBay" on his 2003 album Poodle Hat. The song peaked at #115 on the Billboard charts. A parody called "Which Backstreet Boy is Gay" became an internet phenomenon and also became misattributed to "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was actually performed by the morning crew at Portland, Oregon radio station KKRZ-FM, known locally as Z100. One of the most famous parodies came from the American pop punk band Blink-182, who parody the music video for "I Want It That Way", as well as Britney Spears's "Sometimes" and Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" videos, in their video for the song "All the Small Things". In 2013, British-Irish boyband The Wanted parodied the video for their music video for the song "Walks Like Rihanna"
The remix version of the song, entitled The Jack D. Elliot Remix, was featured on the soundtrack of the 1999 American romantic comedy "Drive Me Crazy", starring Melissa Joan Hart and Adrian Grenier. Main characters Shawn and Gus from USA Network's Psych, played by James Roday and Dulé Hill respectively, sing a rendition of the song while trying to block Juliet (Maggie Lawson) from the spotlight during the end credits of the episode "Forget Me Not." An animated version of the music video was shown on the beginning of the Arthur television special, Arthur, It's Only Rock 'n' Roll. The five members were also featured as guest stars.
Track listing
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|
- Indonesian
- CD1
- "I Want It That Way" (Radio Version) - 3:34
- "Don't Wanna Lose You Now" - 3:55
- "Back To Your Heart" - 4:21
- "No One Else Comes Close" - 3:43
Credits and personnel
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"I Want It That Way"
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"I'll Be There For You
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Lyrics
BACKSTREET BOYS LYRICS "I Want It That Way"
Yeah
[Brian:] You are my fire The one desire Believe when I say I want it that way
[Nick:] But we are two worlds apart Can't reach to your heart When you say That I want it that way
[Chorus:] Tell me why Ain't nothin' but a heartache Tell me why Ain't nothin' but a mistake Tell me why I never wanna hear you say I want it that way
[AJ:] Am I your fire Your one desire Yes I know it's too late But I want it that way
[Chorus:] Tell me why Ain't nothin' but a heartache Tell me why Ain't nothin' but a mistake Tell me why I never wanna hear you say I want it that way
[Kevin:] Now I can see that we're falling apart From the way that it used to be, yeah No matter the distance I want you to know That deep down inside of me...
[Howie:] You are my fire The one desire You are You are, you are, you are
Don't wanna hear you say Ain't nothin' but a heartache Ain't nothin' but a mistake (don't wanna hear you say) I never wanna hear you say (oh, yeah) I want it that way
Tell me why Ain't nothin' but a heartache Tell me why Ain't nothin but a mistake Tell me why I never wanna hear you say (don't wanna hear you say) I want it that way
Tell me why Ain't nothin' but a heartache Ain't nothin' but a mistake Tell me why I never wanna hear you say (don't wanna hear you say it) I want it that way
'Cause I want it that way
Charts
Peak positions
End of year charts
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|width="30%" align="center" rowspan="1"|Preceded by
"Look at Me" by Geri Halliwell
|width="40%" style="text-align: center;" rowspan="1"|New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
6 June 1999 (2 weeks)
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See also
References
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