Tragedy Hits Millions

From a very young age, I learned what it meant to be head over heels in love. To be so smitten that you start planning your wedding and future life. How, you ask, did my six year old self know this type of love? Girllll, I was a child of the 90’s boy band revolution and I had my heart set on Justin Timberlake. And Joey Fatone, Lance Bass and JC Chasez. I didn’t bother with Chris Kirkpatrick though, because his pineapple head braids freaked me out (and rightfully so!).

Image source Buzzfeed

This experience of love is exactly why I’ve always had a soft spot for One Direction. Besides their songs being catchy as hell (and pretty cute), I see my younger cousins and friends’ little sisters go nuts for those fellas and I get it! I understand what it’s like to be hopelessly devoted to the members of a boy band. That’s why when I heard the news that Zayn Malik quit 1D, I felt the devastation of millions.

However, I also find enjoyment in laughing at the personal misfortune of tweens, so seeing the Internet buzz with their dramatic reactions was pure gold. Even better was seeing Mayor Marty Walsh express his sympathies while doing a Twitter chat around the same time that Zayn made his announcement:

Image source Twitter

So in the words of our fearless leader, it’s time to solider on. May Zayn’s memory (and man bun) live eternally.

Image source Tumblr

Posted by Tracy

Backstreet Will Always Be Back.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was seven years old in the 2^nd grade as I sat in the elementary school cafeteria sipping on a Hi-C fruit punch box. I took a break from sucking down the sweet juice and gabbing with my friends to examine the box (side note: calorie counting was a term I knew, but would not understood the meaning of until after puberty). Upon turning the box over, I found not the calorie table of hell, but a picture of five guys standing against a brick wall looking fly as f*&k with the title “Backstreet Boys” above. In that moment, I knew that life would never be the same.

Image source Wikipedia

I was what they called a “Nick girl,” naturally attracted to his cute white-blond bowl cut, soft features, and wailing of “am I sexual” during Backstreet’s Back.

He was the ideal man and member of the group, as Howie was too mature, Brian looked like a monkey, AJ was too freaky, and Kevin was too mysterious for my seven year old liking. To this day, I feel the same.

During my time as a Backstreet Boys fan, I acquired six albums and attended three concerts (full disclosure: two after the age of 16). When faced with *NSYNC lovers, I was always ready to fight knowing that my “boys” were better than the bubble gum, pop-loving, macaroni-haired rival. And it’s the God’s honest truth.

Now that you know my not-so-secret childhood obsession, you’ll imagine my excitement when I found out that they released a documentary last week. I repeat, A DOCUMENTARY. It’s called “Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of” and it is sure to please both seven year old AND 23 year old Emily. Let me know what you think. And those Backstreet Boys?  They’re > *NSYNC, now and always.

Posted by Emily