Black & Blue (Backstreet Boys album)

Black & Blue is the fourth studio album (third in the US) by American boy band Backstreet Boys. It was released on November 21, 2000, by Jive Records. This album was a follow-up to Millennium (1999). The album recorded the best international sales in a week for an album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales globally.[4][5] In the United States, Black & Blue sold 1.5 million copies in its first week of release,[6] making the Backstreet Boys the first group in Soundscan history to have million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums. It sold over 15 million copies worldwide.[7][8]

Black & Blue
A version of the cover art, which includes a dark shade of blue and the band name. Another version contains a brighter blue palette and a silhouette of the band (not pictured).
Studio album by Backstreet Boys
Released	November 21, 2000
Recorded	July 1[1] – September 2000[2]
Studio	Cheiron, Stockholm, Sweden Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden Darkchild, Pleasantville, New Jersey Parc, Orlando, Florida Brandon's Way, Hollywood, Los Angeles
Genre	Pop dance-pop teen pop R&B[3]
Length	47:53
Label	Jive
Producer	Timmy Allen Babyface Larry "Rock" Campbell Franciz & LePont Rodney Jerkins David Kreuger Kristian Lundin Per Magnusson Max Martin Rami Yacoub
Backstreet Boys chronology
For the Fans (2000) Black & Blue (2000) The Hits – Chapter One (2001)
Singles from Black & Blue
"Shape of My Heart" Released: October 3, 2000 "The Call" Released: February 6, 2001 "More than That" Released: May 29, 2001

The first single from the album was "Shape of My Heart", followed by "The Call", and "More than That". The band members wrote two songs and co-wrote five songs on this album, a departure from previous albums, which showcased less of their own song-writing. To promote the album, the band embarked on the Black & Blue World Tour in 2001.

Background

The album was recorded from July 1, 2000 to September 2000.[1][2] In August 2000, the band gave fans their first glimpse of the album, including the track "It's True" on a series of CDs made available through Burger King.[9] Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean stated that it would incorporate genres of rock, R&B, hip-hop, and country.[3] He also revealed that Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson would be playing on the drums and piano respectively.[3]

Title and lyrical content

According to Entertainment Weekly editor David Browne, the album title is a nod to their two musical sides: Black (as in the R&B inflections of their upbeat tracks) and Blue (their inclination toward mushy crooning).[10] It also represented the abuse and bruises given by Lou Pearlman.[11] Browne wrote that "The Call" (a dance-pop song) "tells how to cheat on your mate by telling her your cell phone battery's low!, but it also has the blowsy feel of a rejected show tune".[10] Rolling Stone's Barry Walters called it "the album's most frenzied cut".[12] The second track "Shape of My Heart" was described by Browne as a "predictable ballad",[10] while AllMusic's editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "the song flows as gracefully as 'I Want It That Way', prove that the Backstreet Boys do teen pop ballads better than anyone."[13] The third track "Get Another Boyfriend" uses "drama-crazed harmonies" and was described by Walters as "the album's most frenzied cut".[12] Erlewine wrote that the track is a "dead ringer for 'It's Gonna Be Me' crossed with 'Baby One More Time'".[13] Walters wrote that "not even R&B kingpin Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins can erase the Scandinavian sparkle from the fourth track "Shining Star".[12]

Walters wrote that the sixth track "The Answer to Our Life", "bounces along on a perky melody obviously inspired by their Swedish mentors."[12] The seventh track "Everyone" celebrate themselves and the power of their audience. Browne wrote that the song is "a clunky foot stomper, which continues the self congratulatory tradition of their earlier 'We've Got It Goin' On' and 'Larger than Life'."[10] The eighth track, the ballad "More than That", was praised by critics. Entertainment Weekly praised "the graceful way their voices blend on the chorus",[10] while Rolling Stone praised "the symphonic splendor of the track".[12] The ninth track "Time" was written by the band members. Browne called it "piffle",[10] while Walters said that "could've sprung from any substandard Nashville jinglemeister".[12] The tenth track "Not for Me" received positive reviews. Browne praised "the spunky way they vault into the track".[10] Browne wrote that the 11th track "Yes I Will" "appears to be vying in a contest for Next Big Wedding Song",[10] while Walters praised "the suave manner in which they engage in their trademark vocal swapping track".[12] The 12th track, "It's True", is another ballad in the same vein of the others, while the last track "How Did I Fall in Love with You" is sung by Howie D and Brian Littrell while the rest of the group does background.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	61/100[14]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[13]
Entertainment Weekly	C[10]
Los Angeles Times	[15]
Q	[14]
Robert Christgau	[16]
Rolling Stone	[12]
Wall of Sound	6.3/10[17]
Yahoo! Music UK	5/10[18]

Upon its release, the album received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 61/100 from Metacritic.[14]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated it 3 out of 5 stars and wrote a favorable review, stating that "what gives Black & Blue character is that it's clear that the Backstreets want to remain kings of their world. So, the ballads are smoother than ever, and their dance numbers hit harder, all in an attempt to keep their throne."[13] Billboard staff wrote that "Beyond ballads, Black & Blue crackles with funk-inflected uptempo ditties that are notable for their rough edges."[14] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone stated that "the Boys still harmonize as well as the faceless background singers who prop up lesser pop puppets."[12] Q wrote that "The sound has changed little, and the level of emoting none. Still, thunderous grooves such as 'Everyone' and 'Shining Star' continue to be virtually irresistible, while the quieter moments, including the hit single 'Shape of My Heart' will wow the ladies and the more sensitive gents for a while yet."[14] CDNow labeled it "unquestionably the most seamless boy band release of the year."[14]

David Browne wrote for Entertainment Weekly that "Black & Blue merely maintains a holding pattern, recycling their past and doing little to establish a firm future."[10] Rebecca Dien-Johns of Yahoo! Music wrote that "Unfortunately, over a third of the songs on this album are ballads, and most of them are fillers at that."[18] Natalie Nichols of Los Angeles Times compared the album to a pinball machine and said that "listening to these 13 songs is a bit like pinging around inside one of those old-fashioned amusement devices. Giant grinding beats slam you from pole to pole, there are lots of flashy effects, the environment is completely artificial, and once the ball is launched, you can see exactly where it's going."[15] Robert Christgau gave the album a "dud" rating in his Consumer Guide.[16]

Commercial performance

Black & Blue debuted at number-one on the US Billboard 200 after selling 1.6 million copies in its first week at retail in the US. The feat made them the first act in history to achieve sales more than a million copies in the first week with back-to-back releases. In its second week, the album held the number-one spot, selling an additional 689,000 copies.[19] On December 18, 2000, the album was certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over eight million copies in the United States.[20] As of March 2015, the album sold 5,936,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen Music.[21] It also sold 992,000 units at the BMG Music Club as of February 2003.[22]

Internationally, the album recorded the best sales in a week for an album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales.[4][5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Call"	Max Martin Rami Yacoub	Martin Yacoub	3:24
2.	"Shape of My Heart"	Martin Yacoub Lisa Miskovsky	Martin Yacoub	3:50
3.	"Get Another Boyfriend"	Martin Yacoub	Martin Yacoub	3:05
4.	"Shining Star"	Franciz & LePont Nick Carter Howie Dorough	Rodney Jerkins	3:22
5.	"I Promise You (with Everything I Am)"	Dan Hill	Timmy Allen	4:23
6.	"The Answer to Our Life"	Carter Dorough Brian Littrell AJ McLean Kevin Richardson	Per Magnusson David Kreuger	3:18
7.	"Everyone"	Kristian Lundin Andreas Carlsson	Lundin	3:30
8.	"More than That"	Franciz & LePont Adam Anders	Franciz & LePont	3:44
9.	"Time"	Carter Dorough Littrell McLean Richardson	Babyface	3:55
10.	"Not for Me"	Lundin Jake Schulze Carlsson	Lundin	3:15
11.	"Yes I Will"	McLean Brian Kierulf Josh Schwartz	Allen Larry "Rock" Campbell	3:50
12.	"It's True"	Martin Carlsson Richardson	Magnusson Kreuger	4:13
13.	"How Did I Fall in Love with You"	Dorough Calum MacColl Andrew Fromm	Allen	4:04
Total length:				47:53

UK / Japan / Australian bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)"	Dorough Steve Diamond Carlsson	Allen Renn	3:33
14.	"How Did I Fall in Love with You"	Dorough Calum MacColl Andrew Fromm	Allen Renn	4:04
15.	"All I Have to Give" (a cappella)	Full Force	David Thomas Mark Kibble	3:48
Total length:				55:14

European limited edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"All I Have to Give" (a cappella)	Full Force	Thomas Kibble	3:48
15.	"Shape of My Heart" (Soul Solution Radio Mix)	Martin Rami Miskovsky	Martin Rami Bobby Guy^[a] Ernie Lake^[a] Dorough^[b] Giuseppe D.^[b]	2:51
16.	"The Call" (Neptunes Remix) (featuring Clipse)	Martin Rami	Martin Rami Ken Duro Ifill^[a]	3:53
Total length:				54:21

Asian Secret Diary tour edition bonus DVD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Opening Sequence"
2.	"Band Introductions"
3.	"MTV Fanatic Segment"
4.	"MTV Cribs with AJ"
5.	"Around the World Tour Documentary"
6.	"Shape of My Heart" (Live at the MTV Music Video Awards)
7.	"Shape of My Heart" (Live in Times Square)

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a remixer
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits for Black & Blue adapted from AllMusic.[23]

Backstreet Boys Nick Carter – vocals Howie Dorough – arranger, composer, vocal arrangement, vocals Brian Littrell – composer, vocals AJ McLean – composer, vocals Kevin Richardson – composer, vocals Additional musicians Tony Battaglia – guitar (acoustic) Randy Bowland – guitar Nathan East – bass Dona Kay Flint – string contractor Henrik Janson – guitar, string arrangements, string conductor Uli Janson – conductor, string arrangements Thomas Lindberg – bass Gustave Lund – percussion Esbjörn Öhrwall – guitar (acoustic), guitar (electric) Stockholm Session Strings – strings Peter Svensson – guitar Mike Thomson – guitar Production Timmy Allen – arranger, producer Babyface – drum programming, guest artist, guitar, keyboards, producer, vocals (background) Larry Campbell – musician, producer Fraciz – arranger, producer Rodney Jerkins – musician, producer David Krueger – arranger, engineer, keyboards, producer, programming LePont – arranger, producer Kristian Lundin – composer, engineer, producer Per Magnusson – arranger, engineer, keyboards, producer, programming Max Martin – composer, engineer, guitar, mixing, musician, producer Rami – engineer, mixing, musician, producer Composers Adam Anders – composer Andreas Carlsson – composer Mick Carter – composer Andrew Fromm – composer Dan Hill – composer Brian Kierulf – composer Calum MacColl – composer Lisa Miskovsky – composer Josh Schwartz – composer

Technical Jamie Allen – assistant engineer John Amatiello – assistant engineer, pro-tools, vocal engineer Alan Armitage – engineer Keith B. Armstrong – assistant engineer Adam Barber – engineer Kyle Bess – mixing assistant Stefan Boman – vocal engineer Paul Boutin – engineer Jimmy Bralower – drum programming Bob Brown – engineer Tom Coyne – mastering Toby Dearborn – assistant engineer, assistant vocal engineer Paul Foley – engineer Jon Gass – mixing engineer Johan Gunnarsson – engineer, mixing assistant, string engineer Mick Guzauski – mixing engineer Chris Haggerty – digital editing Bernard Löhr – mixing engineer Charles McCrorey – assistant engineer Björn Norén – string engineer Flip Osman – editing, mixing assistant Veit Renn – string arrangements Kyle Scholler – assistant engineer Dexter Simmons – mixing engineer George Spatta – engineer Shane Stoneback – assistant engineer Chris Trevett – mixing Michael Tucker – vocal engineer Dirk Woodruff – engineer Marcelo Zolessi – assistant engineer Other Nick Gamma – art direction Scott McMahon – hair stylist, make-up Jackie Murphy – art direction Resig – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2000) Peak position Argentine Albums (CAPIF)[24] 4 Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 2 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] 3 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[27] 11 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 24 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[29] 1 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[30] 2 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] 2 European Top 100 Albums Chart[32] 2 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[33] 2 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] 1 Greek Albums (IFPI)[32] 2 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[35] 11 Icelandic Albums (Tonlist)[36] 7 Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] 11 Italian Albums (FIMI)[38] 6 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[39] 3 Malaysian Albums (IFPI)[32] 1 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[40] 10 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[41] 5 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[42] 4 Scottish Albums (OCC)[43] 12 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[44] 1 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 3 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 1 UK Albums (OCC)[47] 13 US Billboard 200[48] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[49] 25 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[50] 52 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[51] 62 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[52] 40 Chart (2001) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[53] 63 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[54] 73 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 60 US Billboard 200[56] 3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[57]	Platinum	100,000^^
Australia (ARIA)[58]	Platinum	70,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[59]	Gold	25,000^*
Belgium (BEA)[60]	Gold	25,000^*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[61]	Platinum	250,000^*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[62]	Platinum	50,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[63]	Gold	26,601[64]
Germany (BVMI)[65]	3× Gold	450,000^^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[66]	2× Platinum	300,000^^
Netherlands (NVPI)[67]	Platinum	80,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[68]	Platinum	15,000^^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[69]	Gold	25,000^*
Portugal (AFP)[70]	Platinum	40,000^^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[71]	2× Platinum	200,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[72]	Platinum	80,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[73]	Platinum	50,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[74]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[75]	8× Platinum	6,928,000[upper-alpha 1]
Uruguay (CUD)[76]	2× Platinum	12,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of best-selling albums
• List of fastest-selling albums

References

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Notes

1. As of March 2015, the album has sold 5,936,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan, which does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Club, where it sold 992,000 units as of February 2003.[21][22] Combined, it has sold over 6,928,000 copies in the United States.