New Kids on the Block
Oct 13 2008
The formula to make a boy band is simple. You need young men who can sing and dance and who are both cool and wholesome. It’s a familiar formula to us now through bands like Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, but it was invented by New Kids on the Block.
In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, NKOTB was incredibly popular with songs like “The Right Stuff” and “Step by Step.” But as boys grew to men, the group split in 1994. Now, 24 years after they first got together, NKOTB is touring again and just released a new album called The Block.
Has enough time passed for their songs to sound retro and cool again? Or did the members of the group just want to give their fans another chance to see them? Listen to Amanda and Devan talk about the reunion.
English, baby! English lesson audio.
Devan: The first two tapes I ever owned were Debbie Gibson and New Kids on the Block.
Amanda: Nice. NKOTB in the house.
Devan: Yeah. And I saw the other day that they’re back together!
Amanda: They have reunited! They were on the Good Morning America show and Joey McIntyre out there…
Devan: Oh, Joey.
Amanda: I know! The heartthrob, right? The baby? But they don’t have that much new material, so c’mon.
Devan: So it’s mostly, like, a reunion tour, not like a new, we’re back tour.
Amanda: I think so. How old are they now? Mid-thirties? And they’re all married. They have children. I think maybe they should have left it. Gone out like a legend.
Devan: Maybe. I kind of want to go. See I was too young to see them back when…the first time around. I really like them…
Amanda: I was in high school.
Devan: Oh…I’m sorry.
Amanda: That’s alright. I think the interesting thing about them is I always felt bad for Marky Mark or Mark Wahlberg because I thought Donnie’s little brother…
Devan: Marky Mark? Although you’re not supposed to call him that anymore…
Amanda: Right. I thought, “That sucks for him because he’s in the shadow of his brother Donnie and he must be very jealous.” But today?
Devan: Who’s the hotshot now?
Amanda: Exactly. Right?
Devan: Yeah, don’t feel so bad for anymore. Now I just feel bad for the older brother because he’s just doing sad reunion tours. Although not that sad because I’d be willing to go.
Amanda: I’ll go with you.
Back when people bought cassette tapes instead of CDs, Devan was a young girl and a big fan of New Kids on the Block. Amanda liked them too even though she was a little older. Everyone thought that the youngest one, Joey, was attractive.
Since NKOTB broke up, one member’s little brother, Mark Wahlberg, who at the time was known as Marky Mark, has become a very successful actor. At the time it looked like his brother Donnie would be the more famous one!
Now all New Kids are in their 30s and Amanda isn’t sure if it was such a good idea for them to get back together. It might be hard for them to live up to their legend. But Devan is excited because she never got to see them, so she and Amanda decide to go.
What was the first band you liked as a child? Do you think now is a good time for NKOTB to get back together or do you think they should have done it at a different time, or not at all ?