Why are boy bands so popular these days

A. It's not so much these days - if you check back, you can see that the concept of 'boy bands' has been around in almost the same format, since modern pop began.

Q. How far back can we go with this

A. Right back to The Beatles, who were the original 'boy band' in the true sense of the description.

Q. So what's the definition of a 'boy band'

A. The 'boy band' concept appeals to pre-teen girls, say 8 - 14 year olds who are exploring the nature of crushes, and starting to enjoy music. Because not everyone wants to fancy the same boy as her friends, there are specific character traits to which boy bands adhere. There's a 'sexy hunk', a 'rebel', a 'young cute one', a 'nice guy', and the 'older brother you never had' type, and apart from subtle variations, you can find most, if not all of these in boy bands from The Fab Four onwards.

Q. But The Beatles weren't a manufactured group

A. The group no, but the image, yes. Brian Epstein's vision of 'the boys' as they were still called into their mid-twenties, unwittingly conformed to the unconscious desires of the embryonic teen audience. There was John, the rebel, Paul the gorgeous one, George, the young cute one, and Ringo, the goofy safe one - something for everyone, and it's a format that has been continued ever since, because it succeeds every time.

Q. So who are the best of the boy bands

A. Again, back to the early days, and The Monkees. A group of actors who could sing, rather than singers who could act, were chosen to form a cast of a TV show, which included musical numbers. Because the scenario was the four members sharing a house, definitive characters were established, once again to form, there was Davey the gorgeous one, Mickey the goofy cute one, Peter the thoughtful safe one, and Mike, the sensible one, so again appeal could be assured for the maximum audience.

Q. What about the modern incarnation of the boy band phenomenon

A. You need to go back to the mid 1970's and New Kids On The Block, who made the mold for the current crop of boy bands, until they imploded in a morass of internal wranglings, and an audience who finally tired of their prima donna antics off stage. No one remembers most of the New Kids now, but they still have all that money, so they're probably not too bothered.

Q. Isn't there a modern svenagli figure behind some of the new boy bands

A. There is - his name is Louis Pearlman, and he made his fortune is a transport company owner, and once ran a troupe of Chippendales male dancers - two aspects of management that he turned to good use.

Pearlman is responsible for the formation of two of the biggest of the modern boy bands, Backstreet Boys, who are coming up for their tenth year together, and the giants of American pop 'N' Sync. Pearlman freely admits to creating a formula act in each case - he reckons that one goatee per band is ok, but all must be young and clean cut, with no personal history, and the ability to say the right things to camera, as well as a modicum of singing and dancing ability, the second being more important than the first.

Q. What sort of things do the boys have to say

A. The usual stuff that appeals to pre-teen girls, anything that makes them appear sensitive and safe - that they cry in sad movies, they're too shy to make the first move with girls, that kind of thing. The fact that the 'boys' are often out of their teens, and experiencing as much of the rock and roll lifestyle as they can get their hands on, is as carefully hidden from their fans these days as was the fact that Beatle John was married way back then. Image is everything.

Q. But the formula works

A. You only have to look at the history of major selling pop acts to see how successful this boy band formula is, and continues to be. The most unashamed 'formula' band is the Latin boy band Menudo, more of a curiosity in the UK, but hugely popular is Spanish speaking pop audiences. The band is unique because it replaces any member who reaches his 16^th birthday - the line-up has included 33 different members so far, and continues to roll on a perfect assembly-line of formula boy pop, slightly sinister in its calculation, but hugely popular. One former member who has gone on to bigger and better things is Latin solo sensation Ricky Martin.

Right now, at the top of the album and singles charts are the epitome of boy-band success - Westlife who have created an image and sound that is utterly devoid of any edge or excitement what so ever. With their Irish accents, and cod-Celtic ballads, Westlife are safe, smooth, and unthreatening, the pop marketeer's dream - and simply the next in a long and apparently never-ending line of boy bands.

If you need an answer to your music question, please, click here

Andy Hughes