The 10 Greatest Boy-Band Songs Of All Time

By Sarah Curran. 24 Jul 2020 2:15 PM

Rolling Stone has shared its list of the greatest boy-band songs ever.

“As music has evolved, so have boy bands,” says the outlet. “Sometimes they sing words they’ve written themselves, sometimes they sing other people’s. Sometimes they are literally boys, sometimes they’re twentysomethings with boyish charm. But like any other form of art, you know a boy band when you see one. The main defining factor? The venues full of screaming fans.”

Here are the top 10 most “scream-worthy” boy band songs, from the Jackson 5 to One Direction.

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8: New Kids on the Block 'You Got It (The Right Stuff)' (1988)

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6: One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful' (2011)

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4: Backstreet Boys 'I Want It That Way' (1999)

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1: The Jackson 5 'I Want You Back' (1969)

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10: LFO 'Summer Girls' (1999)
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Rolling Stone calls the song "one of the quirkiest flukes" in the genre’s history.

“‘Summer Girls’ was all about a summer on the cape,” said band member Rich Cronin of the song’s origins.

The single led the group's debut album to double-platinum status.
9: Hanson 'MMMBop' (1997)
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The anthem launched the band's career and "ushered in a new era of pop," according to Rolling Stone.

“I still relate to the song and I’m very proud of it," said Isaac Hanson in 2018.

"It’s given us a long career doing what we love doing. We get to stay kids for life.”
8: New Kids on the Block 'You Got It (The Right Stuff)' (1988)
Photo by Michel Linssen/Redferns
Despite the fact that
Rolling Stone dubs it "a bit of an improbable hit," "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" is commonly regarded as one of the singers' signature songs
7: Aventura 'Obsesión' (2002)
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Featured on the group's 2002 album 'We Broke the Rules', “Obsesión” topped multiple international charts.

"Aventura’s single 'Obsesión' helped ignite generation next — as their debut album was titled — for Latin music," notes Rolling Stone.
6: One Direction "What Makes You Beautiful' (2011)
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After first coming together on 'X Factor' U.K. in 2010, "What Makes You Beautiful" was the song that really catapulted One Direction to worldwide fame.

After celebrating their 10 year anniversary this summer, many fans now believe that a reunion might soon be on the cards.
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4: Backstreet Boys 'I Want It That Way' (1999)
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Written by Swedish song-writers Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson, "I Want it That Way" is the Backstreet Boys track that most readily comes to mind.

The catchy single was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year.
3: New Edition 'Candy Girl' (1983)
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Rolling Stone describes "Candy Girl" as an "extra-sugary update of the Jacksons’ 'ABC' that gave New Edition their first taste of fame."

The hit song topped the R&B chart in the U.S.
2: ‘N Sync 'Bye, Bye, Bye' (2000)
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Released as the lead single from their third studio album, No Strings Attached, "Bye Bye Bye" was within the top 10 in almost every country in which it charted.

According to Rolling Stone, the song "remains their defining track, a four-minute blast of big hooks, tight harmonies and intriguingly meta subtext."
1: The Jackson 5 'I Want You Back' (1969)
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"The real hero of 'I Want You Back' is Michael Jackson," says Rolling Stone.

"Jackson’s octave-leaping tour de force established him as a star almost as soon as the song’s first 45 was pressed," adds the outlet.

"I Want You Back" became the first No. 1 hit for the band on January 31, 1970.

The 10 Greatest Boy-Band Songs Of All Time

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