TV Article The ultimate boy-band playlist It may not have become a popular term until the Britney 'n' Backstreet-mad '90s, but boy bands have been around for decades. Below, a highly subjective list of the most delicious dozen — plus one very meta bonus track By Leah Greenblatt Leah Greenblatt Leah Greenblatt is the former critic at large for movies, books, music, and theater at Entertainment Weekly. She left EW in 2023. EW's editorial guidelines Published on March 30, 2012 04:00AM EDT 1. ”I Want It That Way” (1999)Backstreet BoysWhich way? That way! The swoony überballad that made BSB the fire, the one desire of countless girls (and some giddy boys, too). 2. ”I Want You Back” (1969)The Jackson 5Our first introduction to a tiny wonder named Michael — and a song so classic, it totally transcends the genre. 3. ”Bye Bye Bye” (2001)*NSYNCParting is such sweet sorrow! (Said young Timberlake, to his Shirley Temple curls.) 4. ”Daydream Believer” (1967)The MonkeesOh, what can it mean, to be the patron saint of sleepy Jeans and homecoming queens? Only the very first boy band knows for sure. 5. ”Hangin’ Tough” (1989)New Kids on the BlockTough like a basket of puppies — except maybe Donnie Wahlberg; he was pretty much born with a full beard and a Starter jacket. 6. ”If It Isn’t Love” (1988)New EditionAfter Bobby Brown went solo but before Bell Biv’d away with DeVoe, they gifted us this perfect soul-pop sugar rush. 7. ”Mmmbop” (1997)HansonDo bop/Dooba dop ba do bop/Dooba dop ba do bop/Do ba do. Yeah! 8. ”Summer Girls” (1999)LFOThey were Lyte, they were Funky, they loved the girls who wear Abercrombie & Fitch in the summer (…in the summer). 9. ”Back for Good” (1995)Take ThatAs close to stately as a boy band ever got, with swirling strings and pretty falsetto and the (possibly mimed) playing of their own instruments. 10. ”Burnin’ Up” (2008)Jonas BrothersThey are so hot for you, girl, they are burning! They are lava! Actually, they might want to go see a doctor. 11. ”Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)” (2000)98 DegreesSlinky tribute to a love so overwhelming and internacional, it must be sung in Spanglish — by four nice guys from Ohio. 12. ”All or Nothing” (2001)O-TownThe highest-charting hit of the original Diddy-overlorded Making the Band crew, though sadly, the public soon chose ”nothing” over ”all.” BONUS! ”you + me = Us (Calculus)” (2000)2getherMind-bending heart math from the Stephen Hawkings of fake boy-banddom. (See their self-titled MTV movie satire.) Also? This song might be amazing.