13 Boy Band Hits That Made Music History

13 Boy Band Hits That Made Music History

Boy bands have shaped pop music for decades, creating unforgettable songs that fans still sing along to today. From catchy choruses to synchronized dance moves, these groups knew how to capture hearts and dominate the charts.

Their biggest hits didn’t just top the Billboard rankings—they changed the entire music landscape and inspired countless artists who came after them. Get ready to relive the magic of thirteen legendary songs that made boy band history.

1. I Want It That Way — Backstreet Boys

Nothing quite captures late-90s pop perfection like this Backstreet Boys masterpiece that became an instant classic.

Released in 1999, the song soared to number one in over twenty-five countries and earned a Grammy nomination.

Its mysterious lyrics sparked endless debates about what the words actually meant, but fans didn’t care—they just kept singing along.

The music video featured the band performing against a backdrop of flames and an airport setting that became iconic.

Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson wrote this unforgettable melody that showcased the group’s incredible harmonies.

Even today, crowds erupt when those opening chords play at parties and weddings everywhere.

2. Bye Bye Bye — NSYNC

With its unforgettable puppet-themed music video and razor-sharp choreography, this NSYNC anthem kicked off the new millennium with serious attitude.

The song dropped in January 2000 and immediately dominated MTV’s Total Request Live for weeks.

Its driving beat and sassy lyrics about breaking free from a toxic relationship resonated with millions of fans worldwide.

Director Wayne Isham created a video featuring the guys as marionettes controlled by a mysterious woman, symbolizing the song’s theme perfectly.

The dance moves became so famous that people still try to recreate them at karaoke nights.

This track proved NSYNC could deliver edgier pop without losing their signature charm.

3. Tearin’ Up My Heart — NSYNC

Before NSYNC became global superstars, this breakthrough single introduced the world to their incredible vocal blend and irresistible energy.

Released in 1997, the track showcased their ability to mix emotional lyrics with an upbeat tempo that made everyone want to dance.

The song climbed the charts steadily, eventually reaching the top five and establishing the group as serious Backstreet Boys competition.

Its music video featured the classic late-90s aesthetic with shiny outfits and carefully coordinated moves.

Young fans memorized every word and gesture, making the song a staple at school dances across America.

This hit laid the foundation for their massive success that followed.

4. I Want You Back — The Jackson 5

Well ahead of the modern boy band era, five brothers from Gary, Indiana crafted the blueprint with this classic Motown tune.

When eleven-year-old Michael Jackson’s voice burst through speakers in 1969, the music world changed forever.

The song rocketed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making The Jackson 5 the first group to debut at the top spot with their first single.

Its infectious bassline and youthful exuberance captured something magical that producers still try to recreate today.

The track sold over six million copies worldwide and proved that young performers could deliver sophisticated soul music.

Every boy band since owes something to this groundbreaking hit.

5. What Makes You Beautiful — One Direction

A new generation discovered boy band magic when these five British teenagers released their debut single that became an instant phenomenon.

Formed on The X Factor in 2010, One Direction launched their career with this irresistibly catchy tune in 2011.

The song’s uplifting message about natural beauty struck a chord with fans worldwide, sending it to number one in multiple countries.

Its sunny beach video perfectly captured the group’s fun-loving personalities and boy-next-door charm.

The track broke records by becoming the most pre-ordered single in Sony Music history at that time.

This song introduced millions to the British boy band invasion and launched one of the decade’s biggest musical acts.

6. Step by Step — New Kids on the Block

Before the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC dominated, these Boston natives proved boy bands could sell out stadiums with this infectious dance track.

Released in 1990, the song became New Kids on the Block’s biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Producer Maurice Starr crafted a new jack swing sound that had kids everywhere practicing the choreography in their bedrooms.

The accompanying album sold seventeen million copies worldwide, cementing the group’s status as pop royalty.

Their success paved the way for every boy band that followed by proving the formula could generate massive commercial success.

This track remains a time capsule of early 90s pop culture at its finest.

7. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) — Backstreet Boys

Sometimes a comeback anthem becomes even bigger than the original breakthrough, and this spooky spectacular proved exactly that.

The 1997 release featured one of the most memorable music videos in pop history, with the guys transforming into classic movie monsters in a haunted mansion.

Its Halloween theme and theatrical production made it stand out from typical boy band fare.

The song’s chant-along chorus became a stadium singalong favorite that still gets crowds pumped today.

It reached the top ten in over fifteen countries and solidified the Backstreet Boys as global superstars.

The track showed that boy bands could be creative and theatrical while maintaining mass appeal.

8. MMMBop — Hanson

Three brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma created one of the catchiest and most debated songs of the entire decade with this seemingly simple tune.

When Hanson released this track in 1997, radio programmers initially dismissed it until listener demand became impossible to ignore.

The song shot to number one in twenty-seven countries, making fourteen-year-old Taylor and his younger brothers international sensations overnight.

Despite its nonsensical-sounding title, the lyrics actually contained surprisingly deep messages about fleeting relationships and appreciating what matters.

The brothers played their own instruments, setting them apart from typical manufactured pop groups.

This earworm proved that authenticity and infectious melodies could create pure pop magic.

9. I Swear — All-4-One

Romance reached its peak with this tender ballad that became the wedding song for an entire generation of couples.

Originally recorded by country singer John Michael Montgomery, All-4-One’s 1994 R&B version transformed it into something even more special.

The song spent eleven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the decade’s longest-running chart-toppers.

Its heartfelt promises and four-part harmonies made it the perfect soundtrack for slow dances and marriage proposals everywhere.

The track earned a Grammy nomination and sold over eight million copies globally.

This beautiful cover showed that boy bands could deliver emotional depth alongside their upbeat dance tracks successfully.

10. Back for Good — Take That

Britain’s biggest boy band delivered their most powerful ballad with this emotional farewell that became their signature song.

Released in 1995, the track showcased lead singer Gary Barlow’s songwriting genius and the group’s mature sound.

It topped charts across Europe and became their only US hit, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

The rain-soaked music video featured stunning visual effects that were groundbreaking for the time.

Sadly, the song arrived just before member Robbie Williams left the group, adding extra poignancy to its lyrics about lost love.

This masterpiece proved British boy bands could compete with their American counterparts on the global stage.

11. It’s Gonna Be Me — NSYNC

Every April, the internet celebrates when this NSYNC banger becomes relevant again thanks to a hilarious meme about Justin Timberlake’s pronunciation.

The song dropped in 2000 as part of their massively successful No Strings Attached album, which sold 2.4 million copies in its first week.

Its futuristic music video featured the guys as action figures coming to life in a toy store, complete with impressive special effects.

The track reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the group their first chart-topping single.

Its confident lyrics and polished production represented boy band music at its absolute peak.

This hit remains a nostalgic favorite that defined the sound of Y2K pop culture.

12. Candy Girl — New Edition

Five kids from Boston launched the modern boy band era with this sweet debut that combined bubblegum pop with New Jack Swing grooves.

Producer Maurice Starr discovered the group at a talent show and crafted this 1983 hit specifically for their youthful voices.

The song climbed to number one on the R&B charts and introduced the world to a young Bobby Brown.

Its innocent lyrics and infectious rhythm made it a junior high dance favorite across America.

The track’s success proved that teenage vocal groups could achieve mainstream commercial success beyond Motown’s classic sound.

This pioneering single created the template that New Kids on the Block and countless others would follow throughout the coming decades.

13. You Got It (The Right Stuff) — New Kids on the Block

Raw energy exploded through speakers when these Boston boys released the track that transformed them from regional act to national phenomenon.

Released in 1988, the song marked their breakthrough moment, climbing to number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

Its hip-hop influenced beat and confident swagger showed that boy bands could be cool and street-smart, not just squeaky-clean.

The accompanying video featured the guys performing in an urban warehouse setting with serious attitude.

This hit opened the floodgates for their massive success, leading to sold-out tours and unprecedented merchandise sales.

The track proved that combining pop sensibilities with hip-hop flavor could create something truly special and commercially unstoppable.