Backstreet Boys Confirm They Wanted Nonsensical Song Lyrics That Way

The Backstreet Boys sold nearly 9.5 million copies of their album Millennium in 1999, making it the best-selling American album that year.

The lead single on the album was 'I Want It That Way'. The song famously features nonsensical lyrics, with the lines in the verses and the chorus repeatedly contradicting each other.

Fans have always assumed that the reason for this was because the Swedish songwriter who was responsible for the song, Max Martin, couldn't speak English very well at the time and that reflected in the words.

The band performing the song in 2010. Video credit: Oprah Winfrey Show

However, when asked in a recent interview with the Huffington Post, Backstreet Boys members Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and A.J. McLean revealed that the song lyrics could have been changed, but that they were alright with it.

"Well it's funny, we actually were OK with the lyrics when we heard it first," Carter told HuffPost. "And then the president of JIVE records at that time - I mean he's a genius - but he and some of the A&R people wanted to change the lyrics."

"To make the song make more sense," Richardson added.

The Backstreet Boys were releasing the album with JIVE and them taking issue with the single could have jeopardised its release.

"We hired some really well known producers at the time to redo the song," Carter continued. "So, there was another version of the song out there and then we listened to it back. Then, we as a group voted on it and said, 'No'."

So it turns out the Backstreet Boys actually chose the version of the song with the confusing lyrics. And that was that.

And for those of you that have forgotten it all, here you go...

Yeah-eh-heah
You are, my fire,
The one, desire,
Believe, when I say
I want it that way

But we, are two worlds apart,
Can't reach to your heart,
When you say,
That I want it that way

Tell me why,
Ain't nothin' but a heartache,
Tell me why,
Ain't nothin' but a mistake,
Tell me why,
I never want to hear you say,
I want it that way

Am I, your fire?
Your one, desire,
Yes I know, it's too late,
But I want it that way

Tell me why,
Ain't nothin' but a heartache,
Tell me why,
Ain't nothin' but a mistake,
Tell me why,
I never want to hear you say,
I want it that way

Now I can see that we've fallen apart,
From the way that it used to be, Yeah,
No matter the distance,
I want you to know,
That deep down inside of me

You are, my fire,
The one, desire,
You are
You are, you are, you are

Don't wanna hear you say
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake (don't wanna hear you say)
I never wanna hear you say (oh, yeah)
I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say (don't wanna hear you say)
I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say (never wanna hear you say)
I want it that way

'Cause I want it that way.

Sing it! Sing it right now.

Featured image credit: PA

Featured Image Credit:

James Dawson

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

@thejaytoday