I Want It That Way

"I Want It That Way" is Backstreet Boys' most popular song and a showcase for the group, with each member getting a turn on lead vocals. That despite a lyric that doesn't make much sense. It seems to be about a guy trying to rekindle the fire with his partner, but he keeps telling telling that person "I want it that way" without explaining what "that" means. Not surprisingly, the song was written by guys whose first language isn't English: Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson, Swedish producers who have also written hits for 'N Sync, Britney Spears, and Celine Dion. The lyrics do sing really well, which was their primary concern.

This was the first single from the third Backstreet Boys album, Millennium. Released in 1999 just before the internet started cutting into sales, it was the fastest selling album in history until 'N Sync released No Strings Attached later that year. The song was a #1 hit in the UK but wasn't a huge hit in America, where it peaked at #6. They played it live at every concert, though, often as the last song in the encore, and over time it became their signature song.

The group didn't think "I Want It That Way" should be the first single from the album because it sounded too much like some of their earlier hits, songs like "All I Have To Give" and "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)." Their record company convinced them otherwise. The next singles from the album were "Larger Than Life" and "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely," both co-written and co-produced by Max Martin.