Day 2 Cont'd - SS Backstreet Concert

Once back on board, Charlene and I got our hands on some of the seasick pills Carnival had to offer. For $3 there were 4 tablets. We were suppose to take one a half hour before the ship set sail, and each tablet was suppose to last 12 hours. Since we only had one more day at sea, we saved our 2 tablets each for the next morning.

After dinner, we threw on our prom dresses on. We decided since half the ship would be seeing the concert while the other half had extra time to get ready for the deck party that we should head to concert prepared. That way we could go from the concert straight to the deck party. The lounge in which the concert was held was an interesting choice. There were giant silver poles in front of the stage. Because we had booked a suite we had been guaranteed seats in the first six rows. We ended up in the third row in seats one, two and three. We had to compete with the silver pole and pile of amps to see the stage, but it could have been worse. We booked in mid-July, so without a suite our seats would have been much, much worse. During the concert everyone stood up and shuffled over, so it was easier to dodge the silver pole and amps.

I am always thrilled by the thought of a Backstreet Boys concert. Going into this concert, however, we had no idea what to expect. It certainly wouldn't be your typical Backstreet concert. There were no extravagant props, lighting or giant screens. There was just their band and a few Christmas lights. We knew that each of us had voted on our favorite songs or the songs we wanted to see the boys perform, but how had everyone else voted? Would it be a slew of regulars? Or would we see a few songs we don't hear at every concert? Would the boys perform tracks from their solo projects? Only time would tell..

Promptly on time, the Backstreet Boys took to the stage. The introduction was a combination of Kayne West's Power and a remix of Incomplete.  I am torn on this specific performance. Personally, I am a HUGE fan of Incomplete when it is performed live. It gives me chills, and this version didn't do that for me. Still a fantastic way to open the show though!

 

Next up - another remix. The boys did a very high energy version of Larger Than Life. This remix included a dash of LMFAO's Party Rock. It was an interesting take on a classic, but it is refreshing.

During the This Is Us tour, we heard the intro to the next song. My sister and I nearly lost our minds! But alas, it was only a teaser. This song was the most requested song, and like Howie said we like ourselves a bad, bad boy. Hearing the boys' perform If You Want It To Be Good Girl was a monumental moment for me. It was a first, and it was probably the last time I'd ever hear this song live. The boys only sang the first minute or so, and then went down into the crowd for Get Down.

Inconsolable was next. It's such a beautiful song, so I was glad it was left as is. Afterwards, Howie asked AJ when they were going to hear some of his solo stuff. That lead into a discussion about how we were going to get some alone time with each of the boys. I think there was one giant shriek as we realized each boy would be singing a solo song. First up, AJ. AJ's solo album is my favorite. My three favorite songs would be I Hate It When You're Gone, Sincerely Yours and London. I believe I voted for all three, but when I heard London I melted.

AJ's voice is by far my favorite. That boy makes me weak in the knees! When the magic was over, the rest of the boys joined AJ on stage. Nick, the ranter that he is, went on one of his rants about the song. Turns out he is quite the fan! When the boys first heard London, they had begged AJ for it. Clearly AJ won, but it would have been interesting to hear London as a Backstreet track.

AJ suggested each boy bring up one lucky lady to serenade during the next song. While making their selection, the boys sang a bit of Everything I Do by Bryan Adams. Just like the boys made their selection during INBYH on the NKOTBSB tour, every soul in the room was praying to which ever God they currently believed in that they would be chosen - myself included! I wasn't one of the lucky ones, however the song was one of my favorites. The boys sang Helpless When She Smiles and it was extraordinary.

Nick, of course, had to take a minute to check the setlist that they had taped to the floor. Next up was Brian's personal favorite. The boys took a seat on the steps, and without screens it was a tad bit difficult to see each of them. Siberia is such a beautiful song that all I needed was to hear those four angelic voices.

Nick had a censored wardrobe malfunction that evening. Turns out that jacket he was wearing wasn't part of his personal wardrobe. A tag was pointed out to him during Siberia, and AJ pointed out that since the tag been removed it was now part of Nick's personal wardrobe.

 

After Nick's embarrassing moment, the boys gave Brian his alone time. Brian had done his solo project a few years ago, so he opted for a different approach. His family had been working on a Christmas album, so he wanted to sing Mary, Did You Know? for us. Before he sang, he had some fun with his guitar player. The video above makes me giggle every time! 

After a little fun, Brian got down to business. His version of Mary, Did You Know? was beautiful in every sense of the word. He was passionate about what he was singing, and the whole room could feel that. In the middle of the song, Brian got choked up and wiped a few tears away. The room was silent. It felt like every girl was holding her breathe, I know I was! It was very emotional, and incredibly beautiful.

All four boys were back on stage, and began talking about the next cruise. I was clearly in no financial position to be thinking about the next cruise, but it was still exciting! Brian mentioned a summer cruise, which excited most of us. Brian also poked fun at a fan while mentioning how empty our pockets were. After the chitchat, the boys sang Bigger. Another one of my favorites, so no complaints here!

The next songs were a few of their classics. Classics with a twist of Nick's humor. This concert wasn't as rehearsed as their normal concerts seem to be. During As Long As You Love Me there was a bit of confusion and laughter followed by an "I'm sorry!" by Nick. Leave it to Nikolas to drop the ball on whatever the boys had planned. For All I Have to Give the boys ventured out into the crowd and up to the top level. Awful sweet of them, if you ask me! Once back on stage, another mess up. The boys realize that they are singing the wrong version which prompted more laughter. When the boys laugh, we laugh - so it's all enjoyable!

The next classic was perhaps my favorite classic. The boys were all over the map! AJ helplessly trying to introduce the song, Brian wanting to do the "boy band thing" and all the while Nick had no idea what was going on. So many moments I could quote, but the video speaks for itself!

 

Nick: "But which version? We've got like three versions."

Howie: "And we probably don't remember any of them!"

After the chaos of the classics, it was Howie's turn. The man can sing. I would label him the underrated superstar of the Backstreet Boys. His voice is flawless! And I love the song Lie to Me off of his solo record. What a treat!

 

The next song, for me, was up there with IYWITBGG. Another one of AJ's favorites - he and I have the same preferences when it comes to their music. Nick and AJ joked about TRL and Carson Daley before I heard the wonderful beat of Don't Want You Back. The only thing more exciting than the actual song was how delighted AJ was performing it.

Another one of my favorites was next. This concert was perfect for me! I would guess that an artist forgetting the lyrics to their own song might bother some people, but not me. It was the best part of the song - Nick forgot his lyrics, Brian rescued him, and then Nick proceeded like it had all come back to him only to forget once again. It was cute! In only a way Nick Carter could make it cute.

AJ, the comedian, introduced Nick's solo performance. "Ladies, ladies. I don't know about you ladies, but I am burning up! I'm on fire.." That was enough for Nick, a cheese-ball himself, who just started the song. The performance was great! I had been anticipating this performance since it was clear each boy would be doing a solo song. Nick is always a ball of energy, and it really showed in his solo performance. The room was electric! And Nick's moves were.. entertaining, to say the least.

And ladies, Nick Carter doused himself in water at the end.

After Nick's burnin' performance came another classic in the form of Shape of My Heart. Always a crowd pleaser, and like always the boys did it justice. It just wouldn't be a Backstreet Boys concert without a few hearts in the air.

Yet another classic followed. Regardless of the number of times I've heard or seen this song performed, I still adore it. Nothing gets a Backstreet fan riled up like Everybody. The boys had fun with this song, doing a bit of old choreography.

After Everybody, the boys took their bows and exited the stage. I know what I was thinking - which was probably similar to what every other girl was thinking - Kevin Richardson was on the boat. He knew that we knew he was on the boat. It would severely hurt our feelings if he was on the boat and didn't give us at least one song.. The chants began, and eventually all FIVE Backstreet Boys were back on stage for a long overdue version of Drowning.

As far as memories go, the concert on the cruise was one of my top three. It was unlike any Backstreet Boys concert I had seen before. All of my favorites were done, and they done in an unplugged fashion that I liked. The boys were themselves, and they were having fun. Overall, it was an outstanding performance.

More photos!