It’s been an exciting week in BSB land! Brian and AJ both have new songs out, Nick gave us a sneak peek of the setlist for his solo tour, and we may have another Backstreet Boy on The Masked Singer! Don’t believe it? Watch the clue package.
- “Gather round, campers.” Kevin lived at a church camp run by his dad. It looks a lot like the forest background at the beginning of the video.
- “I started out on a rocket to fame.” The rocket could be a reference to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the state where Kevin launched his music career.
- “A journey from obscurity to major heartthrob status.” Kevin was just a normal kid from Kentucky before becoming a Backstreet Boy.
- “Step by step.” This is a New Kids on the Block song. BSB toured with NKOTB.
- The tip jar could be a reference to Kevin’s jobs before becoming a Backstreet Boy. He worked at Pizza Hut and as a tour guide at Disney World, which are both jobs where he may have earned tips.
- The ship could be a reference to the BSB cruises.
- “I traveled the land near and far, making headlines with fellow adventurers and idols.” The Backstreet Boys were teen idols who have been on many world tours.
- The beach could be a reference to the upcoming Backstreet’s Back at the Beach event.
- The deep dish pizza is a reference to Chicago. Kevin played Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago.
- “And when I finished with my travels, I hung up my cape.” Kevin left BSB after the Never Gone tour.
- The Christmas tree could be a reference to BSB’s latest album.
- The angel on top could be the angel Nick gave Jenny McCarthy as a Secret Santa gift when he was on the show. It could also refer to Los Angeles, where Kevin lives, or the Blue Angels, whom Kevin flew with once.
- “I thought it was the end of the road.” BSB used to sing “End of the Road” by Boys II Men.
- “But I was still hungry for a new journey.” Kevin came back to BSB.
There may be even more clues I didn’t catch, but there are certainly a lot of connections to Kevin there! I can’t wait to see S’more take the stage again!
I’m also very excited to see Nick’s “Who I Am” tour next weekend in Nashville! Looks like he’s going to sing my favorite BSB song, “Don’t Wanna Lose You Now,” and some great covers! I had a major “aww” moment watching the clip of him singing “Lovesong” by The Cure on his Instagram live this afternoon. That song was definitely on one of the Nick and Claire playlists I created for inspiration when I was writing By My Side. “Whenever I’m alone with you… you make me feel like I am whole again…” I can’t wait for this concert!
I will not be updating next Saturday because I’ll be in Nashville, but I do have an update for you today! Chapter 46 of The World Will Be Waiting is up! This is a cute, fluffy Halloween chapter that also gave me major BMS vibes. I’ve talked before about how I tend to recycle ideas from old stories, and I’ve definitely found myself unintentionally doing that lately with this story. The football scene in the last chapter, while inspired by a deleted scene from the documentary, also reminded me of a similar scene from Chapter 52 of BMS where the guys play football together. Likewise, this chapter made me think of the two Halloween chapters I remember writing for BMS, one of which was particularly memorable. With TWWBW on its way to becoming my second-longest novel after BMS, I guess that tracks!