Backstreet Boys at The O2 by Kieran Frost

Backstreet Boys at The o2, Dublin on 1st April 2014

Nostalgia was in overdrive as two of the biggest names in ’90s pop paid a visit to an almost sold-out O2 this week. Headliners Backstreet Boys were joined by the UK’s credible (well at the time anyway…sorta…) girlband All Saints.

It could have been fantastic, it should have been an opportunity to relive youth, but unfortunately for All Saints it just ends up looking like a group of middle aged women who used to be friends in school but had a falling out reuniting for a hen night. The hatred between the four women just resonated around the arena, as they performed some of their biggest hits including Never Ever, Pure Shores and Black Coffee. While never exactly known for their dancing, their half-hearted attempts tonight just further add to the awkwardness of the whole thing. They could have at least made an effort rather than clearly give the impression of “We’re doing this for the money”.

In stark contrast, Backstreet Boys burst onto the stage as bustling balls of energy to a brief intro of Backstreet’s Back, before moving into the criminally underrated The Call with slick dance moves aplenty.

Seasoned performers by now, they know what the majority of the crowd wants – nostalgia by the bucket load. Yet somehow they manage to blend in new material from their latest album seamlessly with old favourites. The only slow point of the evening was a brief acoustic set – yes, they played their own instruments – consisting of new material but ended on a high note with Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).

You do forget how many singalong hits Backsteet Boys had; My Love Is All I Have To Give, As Long As You Love Me, Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely, I’ll Be The One, Shape Of My Heart…the list goes on. However it is not until final song before the encore, I Want It That Way, that the entire O2 rises to their feet.

As for the encore itself? Well has there ever been a more fitting song for such a time as Backstreets Back? Ending with Larger Than Life, it would be very hard to complain about their performance. It’s clear that unlike All Saints, Backstreet Boys aren’t reuniting merely for money, they clearly still actually like each other and love to perform. They can still dance, even throwing in the occasional backflip, and somehow manage not to look like drunken uncles at a wedding.

They are definitely at the higher end of the spectrum of reformed pop groups and worth a visit next time they visit out shores. All Saints on the other hand can keep to their own pure shores.

Backstreet Boys Photo Gallery

Photos: Kieran Frost

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All Saints Photo Gallery

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