Backstreet Boys Returned to India after 13 years with a Larger Than Life Performance

Before the BTS era, it was the Backstreet Boys who were the biggest boy bands ever, keeping fans enthralled with their music, boyish charm, and power-packed performances. When they came to India after thirteen long years little did we know they would take us back in memories, some of us to our childhood, some to our good ol’ teenage lives.

After their gig at Jio Gardens, Mumbai on the 4th of May, the OG boys (nope, still cannot imagine them as grownup men alright), made their final stop at Delhi the very next day to conclude their India leg of the tour. We could hear about 12000 people waiting with bated breath as the lights went off at 7.35 pm.

The band comprising Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough made a dazzling entrance and the crowd erupted with joy. They began with I wanna be with You and The Call and performed all their iconic songs including Shape of My Heart, As Long As You Love Me, Quit Playing Games, and Get Down. Phone torches switched on, waving arms in union, the energy the crowd had was admirable.

Thirty-three songs in two hours! Never missing a note or a beat, with impeccable choreography, the camaraderie amongst them all, and the interaction with the crowd, they knew what they were doing. When the whole of 12000 people swayed and sang in union, I Want It That Way, we could understand how much the OG boys still lived in each of our hearts.

When Nick said “Someone needed to warn us, and tell us how hot it was gonna be here” and removed his jacket, the fans went frenzy. Oh, but we wonder who among the ladies got the undies that AJ McLean threw at the crowd. Ha, that was one quirky moment when the crowd erupted with laughter.

It warmed our hearts to hear Kevin say Namaste and Dhanyavaad and assure us that they will be back for more. The boys journeyed back to the past and talked about the time when they started the band, how thirty years have gone by, and how literally we, the band and the audience, have grown together, most of us, starting their families, with husbands, wives, and babies. “How about thirty more years?” they asked and you can imagine how we shouted “Yes” at the top of our lungs.

With nostalgia hitting an all-time high, it was not just the chartbusters like Everybody and I Want it That Way that the crowd sang to. But hits from their recent album ‘DNA’ including ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘Chances’ and ‘No Place’ were sung unanimously by the entire crowd. Donning a variety of outfits, from sleek leather jackets to glittering suites and all whites, the boys were mesmerizing. Complete with pyrotechnics, fireworks, and confetti cannons, the show concluded with an explosive performance of their latest hit ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ followed by the OG ‘Larger Than Life’.

While they were showered with immense love by almost 25000 people (Mumbai and Delhi combined), we went back to our homes realizing we needed this badly. Of simpler times, of love, music, hope, and promises.

Yes, we wanted it that way and All we have to give is a truckload of fondness and hoarse voices from all the singing!