Venue: Mata Elang International Stadium (MEIS) @ Pantai Carnaval, Ancol, Indonesia
Date: 1st June 2012
Promoters: Berlian Entertainment & Asia Sports Development
Review by: Octa P., edited by MTGH
Special Thanks: Rizka, and the Image Dynamics & Berlian Entertainment teams
There really wasn’t a better way to kick off the weekend on a Friday night than to share it with two of the largest boybands from the ‘90s – New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys. With Indonesia being one of the only two Southeast Asian dates on the tour schedule, this was a definite treat.
Dubbed “One Night – One Stage, Once In A Lifetime”, the tagline couldn’t be a more accurate description of the concert.
With a quick glance around at the people starting to fill the stadium at Ancol, you could say that this was definitely more than just a show. Fans over the age of 35 were easily spotted in the crowd, making this a very different type of setting from the recent boyband concerts in Jakarta, and it appears to be a spectacular reunion of sorts.
McIntyre, McLean, Knight, Dorough, Knight, Wahlberg, Littrell, Wood, and Carter delivered a two-hour show packed with their hits that took you back straight to the 80s and 90s.
Both groups certainly had the masses on their feet, dancing to tunes such as “Get Down (You’re The One For Me)” by Backstreet Boys and “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” by New Kids From The Block. The signature chant of “N.K.O.T.B.S.B.” – an excerpt taken from BSB’s “Larger Than Life” – from those nine boys got the audience even wilder during their set.
Aside form the beats and the boys’ energetic performances, it was evident that fans undoubtedly fell in love with their romantic side. The crowd’s voices were echoing throughout the stadium as they sang along to NKOTB’s nonstop string of ballads “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind)”, “Valentine Girl”, “If You Go Away”, and “Please Don’t Go Girl”.
BSB also had their own share of the limelight of the night when they came back on stage with “Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely”, and “10,000 Promises”. “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” came with a twist when the boys invited four lucky fans from the crowd up on stage as they serenaded them.
Joey McIntyre commented that the night was felt like 1989, while for others it was 1999, and that there really was no reason for them to stop. It was apparent that the boys were just as excited as the fans were during the concert, proven by the number of times they came down from the stage and went into the crowd to interact with them. The stage was carefully designed for a full production one would expect from a tour like this, with pyrotechnics, smoke, and confetti in place.
After being served with more of their hits which include “Step By Step”, “Tonight”, “Quit Playing Games With My Heart”, “I’ll Be Loving You”, “We’ve Got It Goin’ On”, and “I Want It That Way”, the NKOTBSB single “Don’t Turn Out The Lights” was finally performed towards the end. The performance was well choreographed as expected, and didn’t fail to hype the fans once more.
It was a pleasant surprise from the boys of NKOTB who performed their 1989 single “Hangin’ Tough” while donned in Batik shirts (traditional Indonesian patterned cloth). They were subsequently followed by BSB – also sporting Batik shirts – for a short duel of “Hanging’ Tough/Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” to close the show.
There is no denying that the bands’ songs are still as catchy today as they were back then, and can still garner such massive sing-alongs. Everyone still has great enthusiasm for these bands even after 15 to 20 years, and that itself was a testament of their dedicated fanbase. For many, it was a walk down memory lane as they relived memories associated with these songs, and the sheer feeling of nostalgia each one of them conjures. Both bands have successfully brought fans together from the different eras of their career; it didn’t matter if they have been following the bands from back in the day, or in the more recent years. That night, they were there simply for the music.