Thursday, November 11, 1999

Toronto Welcomes Backstreet Back

TORONTO- Toronto, are you ready to party?

The answer from the sold-out crowd at the Skydome, to Backstreet Boy member Kevin's question, was an enthusiastic YES!!

The Millennium concert was a dazzling event. Every light, dance move, smoke machine and special effect was put to use during the two hour performance.

As soon as the opening acts finished (Mandy Moore and EYC), the crowd started to roar. The lights dimmed, the smoke started spewing and suddenly, the five beloved band members, Howie, A.J., Nick, Kevin and Brian, soared above the crowd to the tune of Star Wars.

The boys were suspended with cables and air-surfed on boogie-boards onto the stage. The extravagant opening of "Larger Than Life" set the already electrified audience into hysterics.

The boys were full of energy. A.J. was doing ballet moves to "The Perfect Fan", Kevin was looking suave, Brian was singing his heart out, Howie was being cute and Nick was giving all the ladies a loving look.

Everyone seemed more than satisfied with the performance. Brian and Nick were the crowd's favourite. Every time their faces appeared on the large video screens, the screaming was almost unbearable.

A.J. and Brian gave impressive performances. The two had the strongest voices and magnetic personalities. They also seemed to be the two most comfortable with performing in front of such a large crowd.

All the old favourites were sung. The biggest crowd pleasers of the night were "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and the encore, "I Want It That Way".

Brian's song "The Perfect Fan," brought down the house and was made extra-special for five female fans and their mothers who got to join the boys on-stage for the song.

The Backstreet Boys didn't let their fans get bored for one minute. As soon as they'd slow things down, they'd pump it right back up again with a new costume change and another hit.

Speaking of costumes, the boys looked best in regular clothes, (the mauve three-pieced suites they wore to sing the ballads looked just a little funny.)

The only downside to the concert was Nick's failing health. The blondest Backstreet Boy sounded horse throughout the show and by the end couldn't even speak well enough to introduce the band members.

The concert dragged a bit towards the end. Introducing the boys' back-up band and dancers took about fifteen minutes and the crowd started to get restless. Young children were laying their heads down on their parents shoulders and looking sleepy.

But the band revived their audience with their encore "I Want It That Way".

After the concert, thousands of fans milled outside the Skydome and screamed "I love them soooo much!"

At the beginning of the concert Nick had asked "Everybody, Backstreet's Back, is that ok?"

The answer is, of course, yes!

- Review by Toronto Sun
- Backstreet Boys Toronto press conference

Set List Larger Than Life Get Down(You're The One For Me) The One As Long As You Love Me Don't Wanna Lose You Now Quit Playing Games With My Heart Don't Want You Back Perfect Fan Back To Your Heart Everybody (Backstreet's Back) We've Got It Goin' On That's The Way I Like It Spanish Eyes I'll Never Break You're Heart No One Else Comes Close All I Have To Give Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely It's Gotta Be You I Want It That Way		Concert rating