Backstreet Boys in Lisbon: Mature Without Feeling Old
By Ana Raquel Martins
November 14, 2005
Radio Comercial

When we thought the popularity of the Backstreet Boys was running low, the amount of fans that impatiently waited for the group at the Atlantic Pavilion proved the opposite. The older fans had aged - Backstreet, being stars, only matured - but their public also got younger in the skin of the many teenagers and children attending. The idea the stadium would be too pretentious for a concert of the North American boyband revealed soon to be false when we came across various welcome posters and banners. The message was clear: 'Portugal Is Still Here 4 U'.

The five Backstreet Boys went on stage followed by a band and a blinding game of lights and fireworks. 'The Call' marked the begining of a two hour spectacle, where they played the group's biggest hits, with choreographies on a two story stage and luminous staircases. The energy of the rehearsed dance steps kept the audience singing on their feet for most part of the show - ignoring the bad sound quality in the Atlantic that barely let us hear the Boys' voices.

While the five guys changed wardrobes (and they did it a couple of times), the giant screen showed short movies remembering the 10 year career of the boyband. Besides these medleys, music videos of the band, including 'I Just Want You To Know' where the Boys appear (forgive me, ridiculously) dressed as rock/metal stars. The song made Nick Carter split the audience in two, so that one side screamed "rock" and the other "roll".

Nick Carter was the one who caused the most commotion during the concert: he missed choreography steps, played guitar lying on the floor, shook his butt to the public, poured water over himself while pretending to lick it off and, finally, kissed a fan on the lips: "I want to kiss you all". The other members, although more discreet, also got close to the public, especially when performing ballads such as 'Drowning', 'Show Me The Meaning', 'I'll Never Break Your Heart', 'Incomplete' and 'Siberia' (the last one with artificial snow falling on stage).

The last concert of the Backstreet Boys European tour, in Lisbon, ended with much light, color and dance, thanks to 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)', as the encore. The scarfs and Portugal flags held by the singers marked the farewell of those who retuned to the land where they debuted in 1998. The fans waiting for taxis outside the Pavillion praised the Backstreet Boys as "awsome".

Translated by NLY