They look a lil' pissed, hmm?

So yeah, they're back! Alright! *Struggles to think of a more appropriate introduction, then gives up*

I have not gotten Black and Blue yet, though I very much plan and want to. It has nothing to do with me not wanting the Boys to beat The Record(So sick of hearing about The Record...you'll notice that I have not mentioned it even one time in the site...part of that may be due to the fact that I don't know what the record actually is, but the point remains:)), it's just me, my lazy bum, and my empty wallet(I'm a spoiled little rich boy, but broke is broke:P). But because the Boys have changed noticeably, grown noticeably, my "older" BSB page is of course no longer totally valid(Most of my opinions haven't changed, though). Instead, here are my updated and hopefully not as rant-ish opinions on the BSB.

My conscious mind tells me that it's all just the freaking media whores who keep stirring and stirring and stirring the kettle or the fans of both groups who wouldn't know maturity if it gave them a wedgie, but it's like: It's just hard to ignore that you know, not everything is okay between them. Maybe they don't dislike each other, but there's definitely tension. And I get put off by that, because that tension affects me.

"Hold on a minute, I thought you said that you like them even more now." I do, I've always known that they could be good musicians, but recently I just realized how hard-working they are and how much respect they deserve. But at the same, I could name about a dozen(or less)articles in which the Tension is clearly apparent on the Boys' side, and I struggle to find one for *NSYNC. And one of them in particular, I admit, pissed me off. Towards Brian. My God, I didn't even think it was possible for me to find fault with Brian. But I cannot just sit here in my happy little world of innocent Backstreet adoration while he talks about plans to split from a record label because of *NSYNC again. I can't do that. I keep thinking, if the situation were reversed, would *NSYNC be saying these things? I honestly, honestly do not think so.

As I've said, I can accept the fact that they are not totally okay with *NSYNC. I know and accept that. But you know what, I'm just tired of the tension. Call me up and tell me when it's over.

And you know what? I still consider myself a fan. After all that, I still consider myself a fan. Of course. I would still buy the album in a second if I were given the chance. Deep down, I still believe that the Boys are truly good people who deserve all the praise they receive. But until someone comes to me and says "HERE! Here is proof that there is no rivalry at all!" I'm just gonna sit here and sulk, mmkay:)?

Though I'm not sure what crack AJ let Lance borrow when he said that the track was very ballady...Well a lot of the songs are ballads, but ballady? Dang, Poofu, I was prepared for a whole CD of really slow and sad songs which I usually can not stand. Well anyway, it's not really ballady, but I can see Lance's point, not as fun as people might expect it to be.

Which doesn't mean that it's not good...My favorite off the album is "Get Another Boyfriend," I love it whenever Brian opens his mouth in this song, and it reminds me of what an RPG final dungeon theme would sound like or something(Nevermind that...I like it, that's all you need to know:))...Others include "Not For Me," "The Answer To Our Life," and "How Did I Fall In Love With You." I'm also getting into the funkier tracks like "Shining Star" lately.

What did surprise me was that the album wasn't especially Black or Blue, ie the songs aren't really too melancholic or whatnot, which might be for the better, but wasn't what I expected. I mean, I guess when you have a title like Black and Blue people will expect it to be Black and Blue, you know? But then again I read in an interview that Black and Blue(I just typed Bleu again...)is supposed to symbolize the beatings they took from people this past year, Lou etc., maybe even talking about *NSYNC, though it's probably my mind on overload(again...).

So anyway I like the album, and I'm kinda looking forward to seeing what they will come up with next. To me they've already made a very big mark on the music industry, and that's not easy to do.

It has come to my attention recently that BSB and JIVE Records may not have the best of relationships. It has come to my attention that for a long time now, Jive has refused BSB collaborations with other artists(Bee Gees, etc.). Jive does not give BSB enough promotion. Jive doesn't release commercial singles for them. In comparison, Jive loves *NSYNC and Britney and whatnot.

I'm deeply interested in this. I had always known that BSB are very uncomfortable with their record deal. It has been confronted at least once, more times I may not know about. At this point the fans are beginning to notice things. After all, not having any singles released from the previous two albums? I myself almost never pay attention to singles sales, but I know this really isn't smart.

Which begs the question. Why? Neither side profits. I'm studying economics right now, and this is unintelligent economics. The Boys don't do any promotion, they don't get noticed. They don't get noticed, they don't get sales. That's not smart business no matter from what angle you look at this.

So here are my hypotheses as to why this level of artistic friction is happening.

Hypothesis number 1: It is Jive's decision.
But as said above this really doesn't make any sense. The Boys are potential moneybags. Jive must know this. Heck they certainly know this with *NSYNC!
This also brings into attention the amount of control Jive has over BSB. I know that the Boys have a five album deal...beyond that I know nothing except what every BSB fan has been told, which is nothing:). Could Jive really just tell the BSB to not promote, and it would work? Maybe, but why would they want to? A neverending paradox.

Hypothesis number 2: It is the Boys' own decision.
Perhaps they do not want to market as much. Perhaps they wish to stay out of the spotlight. Perhaps they want the pop thing to die down just a bit before seriously bursting back(What better chance than the past few months though?). This is somewhat likely...the Boys are really not like other artists in terms of their decision making. They might not care about the sales that much. But it's still a week argument. I mean if you can get it, why not? Perhaps they don't want the same phenomenon as *NSYNC. Who knows. They have spoken out against "selling out" before and are more anti-pop than the other pop groups, so this particular theory has more credence than the above.
This particular theory also assumes that BSB have more control over their situation than Jive does. In which case if they don't want to promote, it's their choice and they have to be responsible for it.

Hypothesis number 3: Lack of time.
Two of them are married. Really, really married. Just last year. No matter how much you believe that getting married wouldn't affect your career, obviously it still does! If you were married, would you want to be doing other stuff too? What do you hold to be more important? What do you want to spend your time on? While these are relatively random questions for us, for BSB they must hold a very strong meaning.

Hypothesis number 4: Loss of group commitment.
I wouldn't go there. I wouldn't. This is so far fetched it shouldn't even really be a hypothesis(Those have to be based at least somewhat on actual facts). But I wouldn't totally disregard this.

Hypothesis number 5 and what I consider to be the most likely(Considering the others): That there really is some uncool feelings between BSB Jive.
Compare, if you will, some factors between *NSYNC and BSB(Oh yeah, that one's new). I've heard *NSYNC sing nothing but great praises of Jive and of their success together, and Jive has been nothing but supportive of *NSYNC's choices. But as for the BSB, I can't remember the last time I heard them compliment each other in...well, anything. It almost seems like we're dealing with two sides of the same coin. One's got the cool looking eagle and the other's got the ugly looking man with a wig. This leads me to believe that the people *NSYNC works with in Jive are not on the same par as those who work for BSB. After all...a record company isn't put together by a couple of people. There are levels and levels of symbiosis(Symbiosis: When two factors, usually lifeforms, merge and both gain advantages from said merging)going on. I believe it's safe to say that while *NSYNC has a very functioning symbiosis with the right people at Jive, and BSB have an unfunctioning symbiosis with the wrong people. That, at the moment, is the best I can explain this situation.

So what, is it really Jive's fault? You know what, I've always believed that the goals of the artists should be met before the presiding company meets theirs, so I'd say yes. But you also know what? If they're hurting so much, the BSB have to take responsibility too. The fact that the haven't shows that they don't believe this hurt is worth the hurting it will take to stop the former hurting(Yeah, just try and understand my lingo:)), so I don't worry myselves with their hurt too much. But it does interest me. I wonder how much hurting it will take before it is noticeable by all parties concerned or how much hurting it will take to reach the limit. I hope neither happens.