In 1996, the universe blessed us with its greatest gift: the Backstreet Boys. The boy band’s five members — AJ McLean, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough, and Brian Littrell — all hailed from Orlando and first came together under the wing of band manager (and eventual con artist) Louis Perlman, who spent $3 million to see their careers take off. After playing gigs at SeaWorld, restaurants, and shopping malls, the boys conquered America with their mega-hit, “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).”
From there, the Backstreet Boys took the world of teen pop by synchronized storm. They were charming, sexual, and irresistible, and they absolutely knew it. Their albums quickly became the soundtrack to an entire generation’s angst, heartbreak, and nights spent taking over the dance floor.
Arguably one of the biggest and most successful boy bands in history (although NSYNC fans may disagree), the Backstreet Boys redefined what it meant to release an earworm pop track. With a long, long, long list of hits that have made their way into everybody’s playlist — “I Want It That Way,” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” and “As Long As You Love Me,” just to name a few — there is no denying that the boys have left a permanent mark on pop culture.
With that said, and in no particular order, Rolling Stone Philippines has rounded up twenty-five Backstreet Boys hits that reinvented the wheel on what it means to be a sensation.
‘I Want It That Way’ (1999)
Let’s get this out of the way. This is the blueprint. Without this Max Martin-produced masterpiece, modern pop wouldn’t sound the same: no velvet harmonies stacked like cathedral walls, no lyrics that turn romantic yearning into stadium chants. That opening couplet (“You are my fire / The one desire”) distilled boyband magic into 10 words. Even parody couldn’t dull its brilliance; Blink 182’s goofy cover only proved how indelible the original was. Remove this song from history, and entire eras of clean-cut vocals and defiantly earnest pop vanish with it. —Elijah Pareño
‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’ (1997)
This ultimate party anthem redefined the late ‘90s dance scene, kicking off with an infectious beat, a crunchy synth, and a booming bassline that immediately pulls you onto the dance floor. As one of the Backstreet Boys’ defining hits, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” quickly became a global cultural phenomenon — the song everyone still knows by heart. From the iconic chant of “Everybody, yeah / Rock your body” to Nick’s cheeky, “Am I sexual?”, the track became a pop culture staple. Coupled with a campy, Halloween-themed music video that oozed fun and PG-13 sexiness, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” catapulted the boys into worldwide superstardom, setting the stage for their reign over the pop charts. —Mel Wang
‘Drowning’ (2001)
A subdued ballad that’s laced by a sunset-hued aura, “Drowning” led the release of a perhaps premature greatest hits album in 2001. The album collects just five years’ worth of tracks — with The Hits coming in hot at the heels of the blockbuster Black and Blue (2000) — but “Drowning” succinctly bottles the band’s past four albums into a four-minute track. The track’s strength is its structure: a plaintive piano intro (reminiscent of O-Town’s “All or Nothing”) sweeps listeners into a swelling chorus that proclaims everlasting devotion. Even the weak metaphors couldn’t muddle such strong emotions.
Co-produced by Rami Yacoub, “Drowning” hinted at the work the Swedish producer would be making with other pop groups, such as One Direction — the prime example of which is the heartwrenching track “Change Your Mind.” —Don Jaucian
‘Shape of My Heart’ (2000)
A music video revealing the Boys mid-transformation: suited up in a theater’s shadows, trading teen-pop sparkle for grown-up introspection. Max’s production still glitters, but the lyrics grapple with vulnerability. The single is a slick pivot that showed boy bands could mature without losing their essence. Those vocal structures became gospel for groups navigating the leap from boys to men. —Elijah Pareño
‘I Wanna Be With You’ (1997)
New jack swing at its fizziest: synth horns, that iconic snare crack, and a chant-along bridge (“Everybody sing!”) engineered for crowd euphoria. Before the synchronized dances and coordinated outfits, this was proof that their sonic identity came first. It’s a debut-era gem that crackles with the hunger of stars on the rise. —Elijah Pareño
‘Quit Playing Games With My Heart’ (1996)
Ah, teen popstars being sensual. Recorded as one of the slower singles on the group’s 1997 self-titled debut album, “Quit Playing Games With My Heart” quickly became a standout track, highlighting the band’s ability to pair youthful longing with vulnerable, introspective lyrics. Ranked 26th on Rolling Stone’s 75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time, the song became the Backstreet Boys’ first significant hit in the U.S., resonating with fans through its emotional depth and infectious melody. The song’s success sparked a massive following, helping to establish the group’s dominance in the late ‘90s pop scene and laying the groundwork for their 1999 mega-hit, “I Want It That Way.” —Mel Wang
‘Incomplete’ (2005)
Grown-up Backstreet arrives. No more green fields and sunsets; here, rugged vocals and guitar riffs underscore lyrics about fractured love. The piano-and-strings grandeur signals their shift from teen dreams to adult contemporary. But those harmonies? Still untouchable. —Elijah Pareño
‘I Still…’ (2005)
“I Still…” finds Max and Rami employing a more modern sound in this 2005 single, the fourth release from BSB’s post-hiatus album, Never Gone. A more standard percussion-based background — compared to the more heavily engineered singles of the past — lets the band’s hard-edged vocals soar (we hear you, AJ and Nick). Traces of Max and Rami’s future work, noticeably with One Direction and Jonas Brothers, can be gleaned from this banger. Blueprint indeed. —Don Jaucian
‘Siberia’ (2005)
The Never Gone era saw them shed boy band skin entirely. “Siberia” leans into live-band rawness: pounding drums, moody acoustics, and a vocal performance that swaps polish for aching grit. A reminder that reinvention doesn’t require abandoning what made you great. —Elijah Pareño
‘Straight Through My Heart’ (2009)
At a time when the boys were navigating how to regain some of their late 90s to early aughts glory, “Straight Through My Heart” marked a bold, albeit familiar, return to form. Starting with a sexy, synth-heavy arpeggio, the track blends into a slick, electro-pop sound that recalls the dance-driven rhythms of their earlier hits. “Straight Through My Heart” is catchy, upbeat, and a definitely persistent earworm for anyone who hears it at the club. — Mel Wang
‘As Long as You Love Me’ (1997)
“As Long as You Love Me” follows the upbeat “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” from their overall second studio album, Backstreet’s Back, once again showcasing the boys’ vocal prowess but this time with a peppy beat that plows throughout the track. The song would become the template for many many songs to come, thanks to the duo of Max and Kristian Lundin, who would go on to produce many of pop music’s recognizable hits. But when it comes to their work for the band, “As Long As You Love Me” served as the initial salvo to the formula that they would use for the Backstreet Boys’ biggest hit: “I Want It That Way.” With TikTok’s resuscitating powers, the 1997 hit is still recognizable to generations of listeners. —Don Jaucian
‘We’ve Got It Goin’ On’ (1995)
As their first-ever debut single, “We’ve Got It Goin On’” introduced the world to the Backstreet Boys with a bang. The song’s infectious blend of a funky bassline, smooth harmonies, and catchy lyrics made it stand out in an otherwise crowded ‘90s pop scene. A precursor to future hits like “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and “Larger Than Life,” “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” proved that the boys had a firm grip on the pulse of the era’s dance music scene, setting the stage for the global pop domination that would follow. —Mel Wang
‘Larger Than Life’ (1999)
Defining parasocial relationships even before social media existed, “Larger Than Life” is the band’s thank you to their fans, highlighting the give-and-take nature of this industry (spot the faint crowd cheers that go in and out of the song). The song followed the massive single “I Want It That Way” from their best-selling album, Millennium (24 million sold worldwide), and was co-written by Brian with Martin and Lundin. Balancing funky effects, thudding percussions, and the signature harmonizing and BSB key-change, “Larger Than Life” was the perfect follow-up to a mammoth single that changed pop music forever. —Don Jaucian
‘All I Have to Give’ (1997)
Another strong hit from their debut album was “All I Have to Give,” a heartfelt (if somewhat cheesy) ballad where all five of the boys showcased their vocal range, delivering emotional, tender performances. The track’s simple yet effective production emphasizes the sincerity behind the lyrics, while the boys’ earnest vocal delivery gives it that unmistakable, infectious swoon-worthy quality. —Mel Wang
‘Missing You’ (1997)
Overshadowed by Backstreet’s Back’s megahits, this deep cut is their secret weapon. A soaring, sentimental standout, the harmonies hit harder here precisely because they’re not showboating. It is proof that even in their flashiest era, subtlety could devastate. —Elijah Pareño
‘That’s The Way I Like It’ (1997)
While slightly overshadowed by the mega-hits on the Backstreet’s Back album — “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and “As Long As You Love Me,” to name a few — “That’s The Way I Like It” could definitely have been a standout single on its own. Kicking off with AJ’s stretched out “Heyyy,” the track switches into a heavy bassline, punchy drum beat, and a flirtatious chorus that sees all five boys chanting, “That’s the way I like it.” This track is playful, carefree, and sees the boys blending funk with pop sensibilities. —Mel Wang
‘The Call’ (2000)
From the first ring of a cellphone to the seamless fusion of Latin guitar strings, there’s definitely a story being told in “The Call.” Opening with a harsh beat and a dramatic tone that carries throughout the track, “The Call” sees the boys’ harmonies infused with a sense of urgency as they weave the story of a man cheating on his girlfriend (yeah, unfortunately, the lyrics haven’t aged well with this one). Despite the questionable narrative, “The Call” stands out as a bold experiment in the band’s sound, capturing a moment of pop evolution with its edgy, genre-blending approach. —Mel Wang
‘Shattered’ (2009)
Arriving amid a new boyband boom (One Direction, SHINee, The Wanted), this This Is Us track served notice, with: Tthe OGs still outclassinged the rookies. Strings swell, vocals pitch upward like a rollercoaster climb; it’s a masterclass in vocal harmonies courtesy of the Backstreet Boys. —Elijah Pareño
‘More than That’ (2000)
Another one of Backstreet Boys’ lovesick anthems: a hefty chorus that swells and swells until it tides into more vocal gymnastics in the bridge and outro (okay, divas!). Not that it’s a bad thing. The band has always excelled in these types of songs. AJ and Nick give their parts a little more grit than usual, signaling that the boys have fine-tuned the way that they use their vocals even more. —Don Jaucian
‘Let It Be Me’ (ft. Steve Aoki) (2019)
Who expected 2010s EDM drops to mesh with BSB’s harmonies? Yet here, they ride Aoki’s bass swells like naturals. The real flex isn’t just adapting to trends; it’s how effortlessly they elevate it. A thought experiment: Imagine prime Backstreet Boys dominating the EDM boom. This track is the answer. —Elijah Pareño
‘The One’ (1999)
From the first twinkling piano notes to the slick, driving beat, “The One” is a classic masterclass in combining teenage heartache with a catchy, upbeat sound. The track blends lush production with a syncopated percussion, allowing the boys’ harmonies to shine through effortlessly. The song’s lyrics express deep devotion and certainty, as each member sings about finding “the one” who feels like fate. —Mel Wang
‘The Answer to Our Life’ (2000)
“The Answer to Our Life” finds the boys pumping the breaks on balladry for a little introspection. The song is co-written by Nick, Howie, AJ, Brian, and Kevin, with Per Magnusson co-producing, the Swedish producer behind many UK hits such as Westlife’s “If I Let You Go” and “Fool Again.” Though its save-the-world sentiment can be a little cheesy, the expansive production buoys the song enough to mark it as one of the most memorable tracks of Black and Blue. —Don Jaucian
‘Hey Mr. DJ (Keep Playin’ This Song)’ (1997)
“Hey Mr. DJ (Keep Playin’ This Song)” blends funky basslines with an irresistible groove, creating a perfect backdrop for the boys’ sensual vocals. Despite the melody being relatively minimalistic — a twangy, reggae-esque sound bite steadily plays throughout the track — it’s still a fun, futuristic song that has the boys singing to the DJ to keep the party going. —Mel Wan
‘Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely’ (1999)
A striking departure from the fun, pop sound the boys were known for, “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” embraces a more melancholic, R&B-heavy tone. The track opens with a melancholic wistful riff, setting the stage for the boys’ raw, emotive delivery as they sing with palpable vulnerability. Their voices ache with sincerity as they lament, “Tell me why I can’t be there where you are!” Rolling Stone’s Arion Berger described the ballad as digging “its melodic claws into your skull on the first listen… the swooniest blending of the five vocalists’ timbres to date.” —Mel Wang
‘Breathe’ (2019)
DNA’s minimalist stunner strips everything back to their core superpower: those harmonies. Kevin, Brian, and AJ trade verses like the experts they are, veterans who know for certain that less is more. After 26 years, they didn’t need fireworks — just their voices, a dark alley mood, and the command to “come back.” —Elijah Pareño
