Black & Blue

For articles with similar titles, see Black and Blue (disambiguation).

Black & Blue
Studio album by Backstreet Boys
Released	November 21, 2000
Recorded	July 1—September 2000; Polar Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) Darkchild Studios (Pleasantville, New Jersey) Parc Studios (Orlando, Florida) Cheiron Studios (Stockholm, Sweden), Brandon's Way Recording (Hollywood, Los Angeles)
Genre	Pop, R&B, power pop, dance
Length	45:55
Label	Jive
Producer	Max Martin, Kristian Lundin, Darkchild, Rami, Babyface, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Kevin Richardson, A.J. Mclean
Backstreet Boys chronology
For the Fans (2000) Black & Blue (2000) The Hits: Chapter One (2001)
Singles from Black & Blue
"Shape of My Heart" Released: October 31, 2000 "The Call" Released: February 6, 2001 "More than That" Released: September 4, 2001

Black & Blue is the follow-up album to the Backstreet Boys' 1999 studio release Millennium. It is their fourth album and their third American release. In the United States, Black & Blue sold 1.6 million discs in its first week of release, making them the first group in Soundscan history to have million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums. Despite the excellent sales, Black and Blue never matched up to the hype that their first two albums made. The first single off the album was "Shape of My Heart," followed by "The Call" and "More than That." The band members co-wrote five of the songs and wrote two songs on this album, a departure from previous albums, which showcased less of their own song-writing.

Background

The album is the Backstreet Boys's fourth album and was recorded between July - September 2000. The album finds the band once again teaming with pop producer Max Martin, who produced the group's first two albums. On August 2000, the band gave fans their first glimpse of the album, including the track "It's True" on a series of CDs made available through Burger King. While talking to MTV, member AJ McLean told that the album will incorporate rock, R&B, hip-hop, and even some country. McLean also revealed that Backstreet's Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson will be displaying their talents on drums and piano, respectively, on the album.

Title and songs

According to Entertainment Weekly editor David Browne, the album title is a nod to their two musical sides: black (as in the R&B inflections of their upbeat tracks) and blue (their inclination toward mushy crooning). Browne wrote that The Call (a dance-pop song) tells how to cheat on your mate by telling her your cell phone battery's low!, but it also has the blowsy feel of a rejected show tune. Rolling Stone's Barry Walters called it "the album's most frenzied cut." The second track "Shape of My Heart" was described by Browne as a "predictable ballad", while Allmusic's editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "the song flows as gracefully as "I Want It That Way," prove that the Backstreet Boys do teen pop ballads better than anyone." The third track "Get Another Boyfriend" uses "drama-crazed harmonies" and was described by Walters as "the album's most frenzied cut", while Amazon's Helen Marquis called it a "catchy advice dished out." Erlewine wrote that the track is a "dead ringer for "It's Gonna Be Me" crossed with "Baby One More Time." The fourth track "Shining Star" is a "slinky beat-riddled R&B track". Walters wrote that "not even R&B kingpin Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins can erase the Scandinavian sparkle from "Shining Star." Marquis wrote that the fifth track "I Promise You (With Everything I Am)", is a smooth ballad- that you can almost hear the lighters sparking up as the Spanish guitar gently plucks away on it." Walters wrote that the sixth track "The Answer To Our Life", "bounces along on a perky melody obviously inspired by their Swedish mentors." Marquis called it "the album's most strong track." The seventh track "Everyone" celebrate themselves and the power of their audience. Browne wrote that the song is "a clunky foot stomper, which continues the self congratulatory tradition of their earlier We've Got It Goin' On and Larger than Life. The eighth track, the ballad "More than That", was praised by critics. Entertainment Weekly praised "the graceful way their voices blend on the chorus", while Rolling Stone praised "the symphonic splendor of the track." The ninth track "Time" was written by the band members. Browne called it "piffle", while Walters said that "could've sprung from any substandard Nashville jinglemeister." The tenth track "Not For Me" received positive reviews. Browne praised "the spunky way they vault into the track", while Marquis considered it "the album's most strongest track." Browne wrote that the 11th track "Yes I Will" "appears to be vying in a contest for Next Big Wedding Song", while Walters praised "the suave manner in which they engage in their trademark vocal swapping track." The 12th track, "It's True," is another ballad in the same vein of the others, while the last track "How Did I Fall In Love With You" is sung by Howie D.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	(61/100)
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Amazon
Billboard	(positive)
"CD Now"	(favorable)
"Dot Music"	(mixed)
Entertainment Weekly	C
Q Magazine	(favorable)
Rolling Stone

Upon its release, the album received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 61/100 from Metacritic. Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated it 3 out of 5 stars and wrote a favorable review, stating that "what gives Black & Blue character is that it's clear that the Backstreets want to remain kings of their world. So, the ballads are smoother than ever, and their dance numbers hit harder, all in an attempt to keep their throne." Another positive review came from Amazon's editor Helen Marquis, who wrote that "Black & Blue is a worthy successor, if a slightly more mature sound for the boys. There's plenty of uptempo pop, such as the catchy advice dished out on "Get Another Boyfriend" and the slinky beat-riddled R&B of "Shining Star," nicely balanced with some smooth ballads." Billboard was also positive, writing that "Beyond ballads, "Black & Blue" crackles with funk-inflected uptempo ditties that are notable for their rough edges." Barry Walters wrote for Rolling Stone a favorable review, stating that "the Boys still harmonize as well as the faceless background singers who prop up lesser pop puppets." Q Magazine wrote that "The sound has changed little, and the level of emoting none. Still, thunderous grooves such as "Everyone" and "Shining Star" continue to be virtually irresistible, while the quieter moments, including the hit single Shape of My Heart will wow the ladies and the more sensitive gents for a while yet." "CD Now" labeled it "unquestionably the most seamless boy band release of the year."

There was also more mixed reviews. David Browne wrote for "Entertainment Weekly that "Black & Blue merely maintains a holding pattern, recycling their past and doing little to establish a firm future." Dot Music wrote that "Unfortunately, over a third of the songs on this album are ballads, and most of them are fillers at that."

Commercial perfomance

"Black And Blue" debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200 after selling 1.6 copies in its first week at retail. The feat made the act the first in history to achieve sell more than 1 million copies in the first week with back-to-back releases. The set has moved more than 4.8 million copies in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Call"	Max Martin, Rami Yacoub	Martin; Yacoub	3:24
2.	"Shape of My Heart"	Martin, Lisa Miskovsky, Yacoub	Martin; Yacoub	3:50
3.	"Get Another Boyfriend"	Martin, Yacoub	Martin; Yacoub	3:05
4.	"Shining Star"	Carter, Dorough, Jernberg, Winnberg	Rodney Jerkins	3:22
5.	"I Promise You (With Everything I Am)"	Dan Hill	Timmy Allen; Veit Renn	4:23
6.	"The Answer to Our Life"	Carter, Dorough, Littrell, McLean, Richardson	Per Magnusson; David Kreuger	3:18
7.	"Everyone"	Kristian Lundin, Andreas Carlsson	Kristian Lundin	3:30
8.	"More than That"	Anders, Jernberg, Winnberg	Francis & LePont	3:44
9.	"Time"	Carter, Dorough, Littrell, McLean, Richardson	Babyface	3:55
10.	"Not For Me"	Lundin, Carlsson, Jake Schulze	Lundin	3:15
11.	"Yes I Will"	Brian Kierulf, McLean, Josh M. Schwartz	Timmy Allen	3:50
12.	"It's True"	Richardson, Martin, Carlsson	Magnusson; Kreuger	4:13
13.	"How Did I Fall in Love With You"	Howie Dorough, Fromm, MacColl	Allen	4:04

UK / Japan / Australian Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)"	Dorough, Diamond, Carlsson	Carlsson	3:35
15.	"All I Have To Give" (Acapella)	Full Force		3:48

European Limited Edition Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Shape Of My Heart" (Soul Solution Radio Mix)	Martin, Rami, Miskovsky	Martin	2:51
15.	"All I Have To Give" (Acapella)	Full Force		3:48
16.	"The Call" (Neptunes Remix)	Max Martin, Rami Yacoub		3:53

Asian 'Secret Diary' Tour Edition Bonus DVD
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Opening Sequence"
2.	"Band Introductions"
3.	"MTV Fanatic Segment"
4.	"MTV Cribs With AJ"
5.	"Around The World Tour Documentary"
6.	"Shape Of My Heart" (Live At The MTV Music Video Awards)
7.	"Shape Of My Heart" (Live In Times Square)

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart	2
Austrian Albums Chart	3
Belgian Flemish Albums Chart	11
Belgian Walloon Albums Chart	11
Canadian Albums Chart	1
Danish Albums Chart	2
Dutch Albums Chart	2
European Top 100 Albums Chart	1
French SNEP Albums Chart	13
Finnish Albums Chart	2
German Albums Chart	1
Hungarian Albums Chart	11
Irish Albums Chart	11
Japanese Albums Chart	3
Mexican Albums Chart	1
New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart	10
Norwegian Albums Chart	5
Swedish Albums Chart	3
Swiss Albums Chart	1
UK Albums Chart	13
U.S. Billboard 200	1

Certifications

Country	Providers	Certification	Sales or shipments
Argentina	CAPIF	Platinum	60,000+
Australia	ARIA	Platinum	70,000+
Austria	IFPI	Gold	25,000+
Belgium	IFPI	Gold	25,000+
Brazil	ABPD	Platinum	250,000+
Denmark	IFPI	Platinum	50,000+
Finland	IFPI	Gold	26,601
Germany	BVMI	3× Gold	450,000+
Mexico	AMPF	2× Platinum	300,000+
Netherlands	NVPI	Platinum	80,000+
New Zealand	RIANZ	Platinum	15,000+
Norway	IFPI	Gold	25,000+
Portugal	IFPI	Platinum	40,000+
Sweden	IFPI	Platinum	80,000+
Switzerland	IFPI	Platinum	50,000+
United Kingdom	BPI	Gold	100,000+
United States	RIAA	8x Platinum	8,000,000+

See also

• List of best-selling albums worldwide

External links

• Official Backstreet Boys website
• The other Official Backstreet Boys website

Preceded by 1 by The Beatles

Billboard 200 number-one album December 9–22, 2000

Succeeded by 1 by The Beatles