This is the moment that I'm sure many of us have been waiting for-for years! NKOTB is finally getting back together. In spite of all the naysayers, I think this will be great for Joe, Donnie, Jordan, Jon, Danny and their fans.
I've been a fan since their "Hangin' Tough" days in 1989. A friend introduced me to their music when I was in third grade. I just loved their music style right away and was equally impressed by their live music video. Soon, I was in possession of every New Kids poster, button, teeshirt, doll, and book I could get my hands on. All five of the Kids are very talented, but Joe has always been my favorite.
All of their music was great, including Face the Music, which was slammed by a lot of critics. NKOTB offered some of the best concerts I've ever watched, and their music videos were always fun to watch.
I recall being devastated when the group broke up when I was 14. The one time I had gotten a chance to go to a concert (during their Magic Summer Tour), I came down with a stomach virus, so I'd never gotten a chance to see them live. The media's miserable treatment of them after they broke up was saddening. Why was a special hatred reserved for NKOTB that wasn't for other groups who had broken up? It made no sense.
Looking back, I think people had grown so accustomed to their original image that they weren't willing to give them a fair break when they went for a more mature image and sound. Everyone aside from Jon eventually decided to do solo work, and it seems that they finally got some of the credit they deserved with their solo works.
After getting online in 1998, I did find a few groups of loyal Blockheads. There were the usual trolls who'd post solely to express their contempt, but us NKOTB fans are a stubborn bunch. A truly good group is appreciated regardless of whether they're 'in" or not.
I was positively thrilled when I learned of New Kids' reunion. While I may have missed my chance to see them live the first time around, I'm sure another opportunity will come along this time. Hopefully, a new generation will come to appreciate these five great guys.