I found out about the Backstreet Boys in the Spring of 1997 when I was 8 years old. It was one of my first vivid memories. During this time I had been gifted my very first boombox with a state of the art tape player. Needless to say I was feeling larger than life. Each day I would come home and put on Radio Disney to jam out. Then, amongst all the Barbie Girl’s, Mambo No. 5’s, and Mmmbops, emerged this magical ditty. The song had a pure heavenly sound with the power to single handedly transform me from a little girl to a pre-pubescent tween in a matter of 3 minutes 52 seconds. The vocals so smooth and unified. I remember being so wrapped up in the song I completely missed who the artist was or the title of the song. Hoping to hear the song again I decided i had to figure out who sang my new favorite song. Now this was a time far before being able to Google or Shazam so this required quite a bit of work with the little resources I had. The game plan I put into action was to keep Radio Disney on 24/7 in hopes they would play the song again. What felt like months (but was probably more like a weekend) Radio Disney finally played the song. I scrambled to grab a tape to record what I could of the song on my boombox (which turned out to be Quit Playing Games With My Heart which I still have the tape to this day) and was able to also record the DJ saying the artist was a group called the Backstreet Boys. From then on the boombox never left my shoulder as I played what I was able to record of the song over and over again. I carried the boombox through the house (driving both of my brothers crazy), in the backyard, and even in the car as my mom ran errands (somehow she was ok with this).
I can’t recall how long after but I imagine it was a matter of a few days I had the courage to ask my dad to help me log on to the internet with his assistance (for the first time ever I might add) to see if there was any information on this mystery artist called the “Backstreet Boys”. My dad was able to find their website and a picture. They all had on color coordinating outfits, some smiling, some reaching out and pointing towards the camera, one in shades which I remember thinking was intriguing but strange because it looked like there were indoors and couldn’t figure out why he needed shades. It was love at first sight.
As fate would have it my birthday was a few days after all of this occurred and my parents gave me their import album “Backstreet Boys”, and VHS tape of their concert in Frankfurt Germany. That summer I sang and danced to the VHS tape daily. Im still not sure if my parents regret making that decision or not after all the repeated times over the years they have heard and were drowning in Backstreet Boys songs.
Fast forward to today where this past June on my birthday I had the opportunity to finally meet my childhood idols. As I stood in line my family had a group text chat because even though I was the only one meeting them, it felt like we were all meeting them due to my joy emanating through the phone. My mom joked that this felt like it was a bigger day then my wedding is going to be…and I have to agree, it was more than that.

My first memory of Backstreet Boys was the first time I saw them on TV and heard their music.. It was love at first sight!!! I was 10 or 11 years and on vacation in Connecticut by my cousins house. They had access to a Canadian music station called Much Music and we had it on one day while getting ready to leave.. That was the moment the “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” music video came on and my cousin and eye were literally mesmerized!! These 5 young, super cute guys with some amazing vocals hypnotized us and from that moment I became a lifelong fan. I can still remember where I was sitting, and how I felt sitting there with my eyes glued on the tv as these guys played basketball and sang and danced in their hip denim and leather outfit! In the 90’s the internet wasn’t easily accessible as it was today and there was no way of me getting more information bob them.. for days, weeks and months I searched for anything I can find on Backstreet Boys.. went to the library and used the public computers as well.. but information was limited. It wasn’t until Quit Playin Games was released in the US that they became a household name, but my that time they were already well known in my home and among my circles because everything to me then was BSB!!

#thatmomentwhen you realize that you didn’t sign up for the contest, but answered the contest question. good thing i came back to check the FC...lol

My first memory of BSB was when I was 10 years old in 1996 a classmate was talking about music groups she liked listening to and then she talked about a group called the Backstreet Boys. I thought it was a silly name to be honest, like maybe they were trying too hard to have some sort of tough guy image. That's also what I thought of when I first learned about Nick and AJ.. and now when I hear the "Bad Boy" song I laugh because I know my first impression was so wrong and I also know the boys don't like that song. Anyway, "Quit Playing Games" was the song that made me into a BSB fan for life. Their voices are simply amazing and they can sing about anything, I would buy it and sing along with them. Proud to be a fan of these wonderful men. <3

My favorite memory of BSB has to be the 1st time I ever saw them. I was at high school and actually a very dedicated Boyzone fan.. It was a cold winters evening in London and I accepted a ticked to see Backstreet Boys as a girl at school couldn't go. My Grandad dropped me off at Earle's Court in London and I walked up thinking urghh this wont be anything like a Boyzone concert...hahaha how wrong was I!! ..
We took our seats (Last row at the back) and awaited what I was convinced would be a painful 90 minutes...
Lights went low..... Suddenly Starwars type music started beaming out of the speakers... Everyone was screaming, the atmosphere was electric... Out of nowhere FLEW these GORGEOUS 5 men (and Boy..Nick).. My heart stopped and instantly I was captivated...Couldn't believe what was before my young eyes.. What an incredible show...I was sold..Went home and removed all traces of Ronan Keating and turned my bedroom in to a shrine to these 5 guys from Florida.. Instantly I was OBSESSED...
Well that little girl is now 33.. She has a son named "Nicholas".... I have since moved to Australia and have never missed a Brisbane show. During the NKOTBSB meet and greet I had the opportunity to tell them I was PREGNANT. Rochelle was pregnant with Ava also. My pregnancy was rife with dramas and I managed to tell AJ about them via Instagram.. When I went back to IAWLT tour, I reminded them I was the pregnant one.. The boys halted the meet and greet photo and asked me how everything went.. I have never felt so special and cared for and then being able to tell Nick that my baby's name is Nicholas just was so much fun..
I then went to Vegas in March of this year and dragged in my oversized flag of Australia for the all important photo... My memory of this is the smell of Nicks leather jacket... their over pouring of love and feeling like my world was the most perfect one to be in..
I have made a friend thanks to BSB who is literally my soul mate.. We are coming back to Vegas in February..
I have so many incredible memories of BSB....but to be honest my life has just been one continued happy memory as every step, every milestone has included these beautiful men.