About other boy bands

The Backstreet Boys are soaring into new highs as music artists but fans of the most popular boy band today are in deep mourning. This is because two members of the group have revealed marriage plans and the sound of hearts cracking up still echoes from everywhere in the world. Kevin Richardson got engaged last Valen-tine's day to dancer Kristin Willits, while his cousin Brian Littrell also admitted that he is going to marry actress Leig-hann Wallace within the year. The news left three BSB members available for the fantasies of their pubescent followers but as the most casual pop music observer knows, not even the Beatles managed to survive such a "catastrophe."

Truth to tell though, the Back-street Boys have reached the sort of enviable stature and income bracket that makes "retirement" logical. The album Millennium is a huge seller. The boys have transcended their toothy pop idol image and have become serious artists with their own worthwhile contribution to pop music. If you caught the Grammy Awards rites on TV last Thursday, you were doubtless impressed with the fact that the BSB was the only act assigned to do two numbers and special ones at that. They performed a medley of Grammy winning songs by groups and another one with Legend awardee Elton John. They are now in the kind of position wherein they can have their pick of what to do next. They can begin work on another album, act in the movies, write songs, produce, go into business or like Kevin and Brian plan to do, get married.

It is a fact that teen idols grow up and become husbands and fathers. Eventually grandpas too. So take heart all you BSB fans out there. If it is a must that the boy band of your dreams should have single members, then you can switch your allegiance to others. Obvious choices are N'Sync and 98 Degrees. But if you are not keen on either of them, here are other boy bands to choose from.

Westlife: This is the bestlooking one among the recent batch. It is made up of Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Mark Patrick Feehily, Bryan Ni-cholas McFadden and Kian Egan. Like Boyzone, these lads hail from Ireland. Their first gig ever was as curtain-raiser for the Dublin concert of the Backstreet Boys. Audience reaction was so enthusiastic that Westlife became the object of a heated bidding war among several record labels who wanted to put the boys under contract. Winner was RCA and the first album also titled Westlife was released last year. This one contains Forever, one of the most romantic tunes in the airlanes these days.

Lyte Funkie Ones or LFO: This one is made up of Rich Cronin, Brad Fis-chetti and Devin Lima and like the BSB, hails from Orlando, Florida. Musically speaking, LFO is light years ahead of the competition with its unique sound that blends hip hop and boy band harmonies. The lyrics of their songs also say more than the entire albums of other groups put together. It is no wonder then that LFO easily impressed the critics with its very first single release, the surprisingly intelligent Summer Girls. How surprised everybody was to find out that the other contents of the first self-titled album are as engaging and at times even original. And take note, despite these qualities, fans who prefer poster boy looks on their idols will not be disappointed with LFO. Rich, Brad and Devin are tall, lanky and sexy.

BBMAK: This British trio is made up of Christian Burns, Mark Barry and Ste McNally and just in case you are wondering the name BBMAK comes from the initials of Burns and Barry, while MAK is how Mc of McNally is pronounced. Think Boyzone for the looks which is young and sensitive and 98 Degrees for the sweet harmonies. The style blends the intense stance of the Corrs and the youthful charm of Savage Garden. They do a nice version of More Than Words, the big seller by Extreme in their first album titled Sooner or Later, but they are quite capable of writing their own material which is the case with the carrier single Back Here. BBMAK was formed four years ago and they intend to keep singing together for a long, long time.