Although Brian Littrell is best-known for being a member of the Backstreet Boys, he is also a highly-regarded contemporary Christian recording artist. And while Brian’s secular journey with “the Boys” never clouded his spiritual faith, his openness about his faith made him stand out from his fellow band mates. Together, however, the Backstreet Boys would define (and in many ways, reshape) the contemporary musical landscape.
Over the past two decades, the Backstreet Boys have sold more than 100 million records. And within the annals of history, they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best-selling artists of all-time. Beyond all shadow of doubt, as far as vocal groups are concerned, the Backstreet Boys paved viable, commercial paths for N*SYNC, 98 Degrees and Westlife.
Upon the release of This Is Us, the band’s seventh studio album, Brian Littrell managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry—reflecting on his faith in God, the Backstreet Boys’ legacy, and the group’s successful blending of pop and R&B.
From the very beginning, God has shown tremendous favor over your life. Do you ever wonder why you were chosen to lead the life that you lead?
You know, we tend to forget how good God is in our lives. It’s a wonderful, wonderful opportunity. The funny thing is that I am human and I ask myself that every day. It’s a lot to take on, I’ll tell you that. It’s a lot to take on. But at the same time, I do Christian music as a solo artist on the side, so I can make people think about other things as well. You know, I’m not a preacher. I’m not an evangelist. I don’t go around, wanting to tell everybody that they’re going to die and burn in hell [laughing].
Right! [laughing]
So, I know why God has put me in this situation. I get to go to work and do something that I still love and that I’m still passionate about and affecting people’s lives in a positive way through pop music with the Backstreet Boys. My job is to use my gift that has been given to me and I’m going to use it as long as I can. But yeah, I mean, I’m blessed. I’m blessed. I’m fortunate. I’m happy to be able to articulate thoughts and feelings through music. I’m fortunate to be able to have experiences in my life that I can share with fans through music and be able to translate that. I mean, that’s what music is about: tying into an emotion where you remember a song of the girl that you were dating at the time in 1988, listening to whoever you were listening to, sitting on the side of the curb, thinking, “Man, I just broke up with my girl and that’s the song that I heard.” We share a lot of memories like that with people. We share a lot of first concerts with people. I get every day somebody at the supermarket or somebody on tour like, “You know, you were the first concert that I ever saw when I was nine,” and now they’re like 20.
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Article comments
1 - Dana
They're awesome
2 - Karol
Amazing interview!
3 - R.P.M.
Great interview. I too thought the question about their contribution to the music industry was savvy as heck.
I do not believe that we will ever see a band sell 100 Million albums again. Not with torrents, limewire, etc...not with iTunes and Amazon downloads and people being able to pick and choose songs they like. Crazy to think that the BBoys will be looked at in history as one of the last of that kind of music industry.
Not to poke fun, b/c the interview was great despite me not being a fan, I learned a lot by the questions you asked as much as the answers, but was he the one with swine flu? I read on the wires that one had the swine flu, it was actually a press release that merely stated one of them had it.
I found that press release funny mainly because it was just like "a backstreet boy has swine flu ###"
Great interview again!
4 - sarah
gorgeous interview!
BSB will be unforgottable!
5 - ronnie
des guys hav sold more den 100 million + records making dem d highest selling boyband of all time .... & i thnk dis is really a gr album .. & i know der's still more 2 com ..
6 - rohan
BSB albums >> (1996)Backstreet boys, (1997)Backstreets bac, (1999)millinnium, (2000)Black & Blue, (2001)Greatest hits chp-1, (2005)Never gone, (2007)Unbreakable, (2009)This is us
Solo projects >> (2002)Now or never-Nick carter, (2006)Welcom home-Brian littrell .. & Aj's album gonna release next yr ... while Howie has almost completed his album ... Also der will b a followup of "This is us" som wer in 2012... so haters don't worry der's lotz 2 com
1 more thing dey wer on hiatus from 2002 - 2004, aftr dat dey wer working non-stop >> d Never Gone Tour (2005â€"2006), d highly successfull Unbreakable Tour (2008â€"2009) & now This Is Us Tour (which is gonna last till feb 2011)
BSB hav sold more den 100 million + record making dem d highest selling boyband of all time ...
KTBSPA
7 - Erica
Very good interview! I like it a lot, specially that someone took the time to talk about their music, their influence and the unmistakeable talent that they have.
And I´ll even say it now: WoW! u did it guys!! keep up the excelent work!!
kisses
8 - argentina_club
thanks for the article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gaby
from Argentina
9 - Mia
Great interview! You've clearly done your research :D
The thing I respect the most about the BSB is that they're singers first before anything. They have arguably the best harmonies in the business today. You just don't hear real singing anymore in pop music today and in that respect the backstreet boys are a breath of fresh air.
10 - emokia
wad! the this is us tour is goin to be until 2011?! so wad ab their nxt album?
i hav to wait like 2 to 3 more yrs?
crap! i am always anticipating for them to hav new album...
brian is the best.. though i am not a christian, his welcome home songs are great..
his voice is rly vry gd..
i love the backstreet boys.. i listen to their songs since 5.
i cant stand ppl calling them old men acting young.. come on music is not separate into ages.. u dun see michael jackson stop making music when he is 50, he even died for his career.
madonna is 51 too.. she is still making music and not stopping. moreover the bsb are like average 32 only.. how old can dat be? they shud even be credited for being in the industry together for so lng..
rarely anymore bands rly use their voices anymore.. other bands are like screaming.. and using autotune..
bsb though they use autotune too.. but minimum.. well ppl make mistakes.. all of them have unique and strong voice.. howie hav the super high voice and aj and nick hav the rough voice. but diff and they dun sound irritating.. brian can sing all the high notes too and strong.. bringing up the overall note of the song.. they hav their own role in the band perfect match..
11 - Erin Maralutifa
hello backstreetboys!!
My name's erin maralutifa
I from Indonesia......
I have heard so much about you since my age of five years
and I really liked your song, and I think it's really cool and can make people who listen to more cheerful,,
I hope your next album will be better again
I love you forever
go ahead ^ ^
12 - [v]
Best part about dem is they believe in quality music - a meaningful music.
Everything else is already mentioned by u guys and dey are da best; way far ahead of any other boy bands.
If I may suggest something, I would say dem to work on their music videos. This is only to change perception of ppl who say negative abt dem.. For me, I luv dem da way dey are..
Cheers!
Long live bSb.