The term "boy" is usually not a derisive term. The concept of a "band" is oft times flattering. But combine the two together into the term "boyband," and suddenly it becomes all the less appealing.

You wanna hear my thoughts of a "boyband?" I think the concept of a boyband can be described as, uncoincidentially, puppets or marionettes. They're just tools. Toys. They get played around with by some larger factor, trained to please their audience and how to act, given treats when good, slapped with a newspaper when naughty. What say do they have, really, in what or how well they do? They have no control of themselves. You see now why I have so much respect for the independent-minded young men of *NSYNC and try not to refer to them as boybands:)?

Take some examples: Menudo. Obviously a craze from sometime around the time I was born, so I don't really recall them. But apparently the members are just picked out of some young guys and trained and when they get too old they are replaced. !?!?!?!? Actually, the concept itself isn't too bad, as can be compared to the Mickey Mouse Club(...or not), and it gives young talents valuable experience; Look where it got Ricky Martin. But those guys would be the epitome of what is losing control over yourselves, your talent.

What about the New Kids on the Block? I minutely remember them, I think they were put together by outside forces...and see what happens? Of course, they were all very not old and probably had a very different idea of where they wanted to be in life; Several of them are trying to reinvent themselves right now.

Click here for my thoughts on "Making the Band." *I feel that I must give you a warning before you go to that link. Oh, don't worry, I don't bash them or anything, and I really hope you all do try and read it, O-Town fan or not, but know that I'm not being particularly merciful.

What exactly do I think about all the boybands in the world? It's a craze, basically. It might well go away as quickly as it began, although I sure hope not and will do everything in my power it keep that from happening>:). Despite everycrap I say about them, the individual members do have their own musical worth and deserve to be recognized. But it's a BSB-eat-*NSYNC world out there, and I actually wouldn't blame anyone for falling into the boyband hype.

One thing I have noticed is that most people do not consider those who perform in a men's vocal proup to be true musicians. The only substantial reason they have given? The guys don't write their own songs. First of all, they have...Look at Brian and Howie and JC and Justin and him and him and him. Second of all, no one complained or accused Charlotte Church of being fake when she performed "Silent Night" for the Pope on Christmas, and I doubt she wrote that:) Why? Because musically speaking she stands out all her own and is a professional. Well, some of us think that of *NSYNC, too:)

Do I like any other "boybands" other than *NSYNC and the BSB? I was into a trio called 911 for a while, especially after they did that hot@$$ duet with Fann Wong(Not available in US, sorry:)), but I think they broke up now. I haven't really been able to get into 5ive or anything like that purely because they haven't made themselves as prominent in the states. They act a little to cool for me anyway. BBMak has been starting to catch my interest after the disney concert.

And 98 Degrees...they frighten me. Oh sure, they're very good, but they're not even a boyband, they're like a manband. The members are all very tall and big and tall, which scares the bejesus out of me. Still, I think they're good friends of *NSYNC and also did some kind of a Christmas album thingie, which are good things. I'll probably get their upcoming album, but we'll see.

Now A*Teens(Is that right?)is an interesting concept: A boy-and-girl-band. Well, actually, it's not as if they're just super-duper-ultra-immensely-amazing-you-just-wanna-chant-their-name-in-mantra, in fact they're gonna have to work at it a bit if they want to be able to step up in the market. They look pretty young though, and they need to expose themselves a little more(I was thinking publicity. What were you thinking of, you pedophile!?:)). Still, I hope this hype catches on in the US. Not that I think a mix of male and female voices necessarily sound better, in fact usually I prefer it one way or another, but it just breaks the boyband ice a bit.

Let's talk about Hanson. I was gonna make a whole other page for these guys, but then I realized that if we were to classify *NSYNC as a boyband, these guys would pretty much fit, too. From the jack on my pages, you might think that I really have something against them, but actually I don't. Look at them, they're basically around the same age that I am, and they put this band thing together almost totally by themselves. It's refreshing to see that. They're not bad, either, it's just that they don't have the techno-pop I love. I like the messages their music sends, but the beat's not beaty enough for me. And honestly, seriously, I did think that the middle one was a girl when I first saw him in "Mmmbop." I didn't think he sounded like a girl, which he didn't really, he's just very...rosy. And then my mom told me that they were all brothers(Don't ask me how she knew about the Hansons...), and then she asked me why I didn't write songs like them. I told her that I wasn't rosy enough. Still, that new video..."Only?"...sounded pretty okay. I'd say that are Hansons are also moving up and forward a step in their music-making...but I'm not really in the position to comment 'cause I ain't sure what step they were on in the first place:P

My 2Gether opinions has been temporarily removed out of respect for Michael Cuccione.

*This page will probably be updated later, when I have other things to say.