Richardson permanently rejoined the group in 2012. In the following year, they celebrated their 20th anniversary and released their first independent album, In a World Like This. Their follow-up album DNA (2019) debuted at number one, more than two decades after the group formed and 19 years after they last topped in 2000. They also became the first boy band to top the U.S. album charts in three different decades.
The Backstreet Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling boy band of all time, and one of the world's best-selling music artists. They are the first group since Led Zeppelin to have their first ten albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200, and the only boy band to do so. The albums Backstreet Boys and Millennium were both certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making them one of the few bands to have multiple diamond albums.
The group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 22, 2013.[ They also released their first documentary movie, titled Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of in January 2015. In March 2017, the group began a residency in Las Vegas that lasted two years, titled Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life. They released their first Christmas album, A Very Backstreet Christmas in 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstreet_Boys
Studio albums
Backstreet Boys (1996)
Backstreet's Back (1997)
Millennium (1999)
Black & Blue (2000)
Never Gone (2005)
Unbreakable (2007)
This Is Us (2009)
In a World Like This (2013)
DNA (2019)
A Very Backstreet Christmas (2022)
The Call
Backstreet Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Hi, it's me, what's up, baby?
I'm sorry, listen, I'm gonna be late tonight
So don't stay up and wait for me, okay?"
"Where are you?"
"Say that again?"
"Hello?"
"You're really dropping out
Listen, if you can hear me
We're going to a place nearby, alright?
Gotta go!"
Let me tell you the story 'bout the call that changed my destiny
Me and my boys went out just to end up in misery
Was about to go home when there she was, standing in front of me
And said, "Hi, I got a little place nearby, wanna go?"
I should've said, "No, someone's waiting for me"
But I called my girl up and said
"Listen, baby, I'm sorry
Just wanna tell ya, don't worry
I will be late, don't stay up and wait for me"
"Say again? You're dropping out, my battery is low
Just so you know, we're going to a place nearby
Gotta go!"
Now two years gone, nothing's been won
I can't take it back, what's done is done
One of her friends found out that she wasn't my only one
And it eats me from inside that she's not by my side
Just because I made that call and lied
"Listen, baby, I'm sorry
Just wanna tell ya, don't worry
I will be late, don't stay up and wait for me"
"Say again? You're dropping out, my battery is low
Just so you know, we're going to a place nearby
Gotta go!"
Listen, baby, I'm sorry (hello?)
Listen, baby, I'm sorry (hello?)
Gotta go
Let me tell you the story 'bout the call that changed my destiny
Me and my boys went out just to end up in misery
Was about to go home when there she was, standing in front of me
And said, "Hi, I got a little place nearby"
Gotta go
"Listen, baby, I'm sorry
Just wanna tell ya, don't worry
I will be late, don't stay up and wait for me"
"Say again? You're dropping out, my battery is low
Just so you know, we're going to a place nearby
Gotta go!"
"Listen, baby, I'm sorry
Just wanna tell ya, don't worry
I will be late, don't stay up and wait for me"
"Say again? You're dropping out, my battery is low
Just so you know, we're going to a place nearby
We're going to a place nearby
Gotta go!"
The Backstreet Boys' song "The Call" is a narrative about making poor decisions, lying to a loved one, and the consequences that come with it. The song starts with a phone conversation where the caller is apologizing for being late and tells their partner not to wait up for them. However, there are connectivity issues, which lead to misunderstandings about where the caller is going. The caller is going with their friends to a place nearby, which turns out to be the mistake that started everything.
The chorus sets up the context for the rest of the song, as the caller reflects on a "call that changed [their] destiny." They narrate that they went out with their friends and ended up in a bad situation. It was time for them to head back home, but they met someone on the way who invited them to go to a place nearby. The caller regrets not rejecting the invitation and instead calling their significant other to lie about staying out late. The second verse reveals that two years have gone, but nothing was won. The caller's lie has been discovered, and they're not forgiven, and the guilt is eating them from the inside.
The song's lyrics depict the overwhelming weight of guilt and regret that comes with the bad decision. The chorus repeats the same dialogue as the beginning, with the caller telling their partner not to wait up for them as they're going to a place nearby. It's a sad ending for the story of the call that changed their destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello
The start of a phone call.
Hi, it's me, what's up, baby?
The caller identifies himself and greets the person on the other end of the phone.
I'm sorry, listen, I'm gonna be late tonight
The caller apologizes and informs the person that they will be arriving late.
So don't stay up and wait for me, okay?
The caller requests the person to not wait for them to arrive.
Where are you?
The person on the other end of the phone asks the caller's location.
Say that again?
The person on the other end of the phone asks the caller to repeat what they said.
Hello?
The end of the phone call.
You're really dropping out
The person on the other end of the phone informs the caller that they are having difficulty hearing them.
I think my battery must be low
The person on the other end of the phone explains the reason for the call being dropped.
Listen, if you can hear me
The caller attempts to communicate the location they will be going to.
We're going to a place nearby, alright?
The caller confirms that they will be going to a nearby location.
Gotta go!
The end of the phone call.
Let me tell you the story 'bout the call that changed my destiny
The lead singer introduces the story about a call that changed his life.
Me and my boys went out just to end up in misery
The lead singer and his group of friends went out together but had a miserable time.
Was about to go home when there she was, standing in front of me
The lead singer was about to leave but encountered a woman standing in front of him.
And said, "Hi, I got a little place nearby, wanna go?"
The woman invited the lead singer to a nearby location.
I should've said, "No, someone's waiting for me"
The lead singer had a prior commitment but did not decline the woman's invitation.
But I called my girl up and said
The lead singer called his girlfriend to inform her of his plans.
"Listen, baby, I'm sorry
The lead singer apologizes to his girlfriend for being late.
Just wanna tell ya, don't worry
The lead singer tells his girlfriend not to worry about him.
I will be late, don't stay up and wait for me"
The lead singer informs his girlfriend that he will be arriving late and asks her to not wait up for him.
"Say again? You're dropping out, my battery is low
The lead singer is having difficulty hearing his girlfriend on the phone due to a low battery or poor reception.
Just so you know, we're going to a place nearby
The lead singer informs his girlfriend of his plans to go to a nearby location.
Now two years gone, nothing's been won
Some time has passed since the event described previously and the lead singer has not achieved anything significant.
I can't take it back, what's done is done
The lead singer regrets his past actions, but he cannot change them.
One of her friends found out that she wasn't my only one
The lead singer cheated on his girlfriend and one of her friends found out about it.
And it eats me from inside that she's not by my side
The lead singer is tormented by the fact that his girlfriend has left him due to his infidelity.
"Listen, baby, I'm sorry (hello?)
The lead singer attempts to apologize to his girlfriend again over the phone.
Gotta go
The end of the phone call.
"We're going to a place nearby
The lead singer informs his girlfriend of his plans to go to a nearby location.
We're going to a place nearby
The lead singer reiterates his plans to go to a nearby location.
"Gotta go!"
The end of the phone call.
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Martin Max, Rami Yacoub
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@malenagimenez2892
Wow, this video powerfully represents the psychological chaos that can come after cheating. I interpreted the car as a metaphor for the protagonist's life and path.
0:47 When they kiss, the yellow line indicates he should have turned left, but he keeps following his impulse instead by staying in the same direction. The woman stays in the car/life only during that brief moment and then she leaves.
He finds himself alone in the world desperately seeking for help but nobody is there for him.
2:10 He looks for his friend next to whom he feels like the world is back to normal (people are back again). So he can keep going with his life (goes back to the car).
2:48 His friend is also on his girlfriend's side, leaving him alone again and with his life out of control so he crashes.
3:36 The room filled with the words 'liar', ‘fraud’ and 'scam' represents his mental state of guilt and desperation.
3:51 He finds himself face to face with his girlfriend and he realizes that he has not only lost his girlfriend but also all the people in his life.
@alvindavin253
2024 here! One of the best Songs
@Kimberly_97
Same!
@littlemissmuffettuffet1922
What year did this song came out? 2002?
@karaallinson9363
Agreed
@Otfinozaur
Yep! I'm with you!
@MCAP887
Best songs and best music video
@UserNameOculto
The Matrix style video is just awesome!
@KingofNeutrality
Kevin closing his eyes before the jump is one of the great subtle pieces of acting BSB will never get credit for.
@timothyfloogle
The fact that they're still together and performing is a testament to their talent and longevity
@raphaellapaixao2042
Siiim