doing as I'm bid.

misspamela asked me to post about this, as apparently there is some confusion on this point and it was causing her pain.

A hopefully non-wanky PSA for bandom: The bands which comprise bandom are not boybands.

Boybands are a specific musical phenomenon with several distinct characteristics. Naturally there are boybands which do not display one or more of these traits, but a preponderance one way or the other should be sufficient to distinguish a boyband from a band, whose members are male and (by some definition) young.

A boyband:

First and foremost is exhaustively managed and produced. Image and fashion are tightly controlled by people other than the band members themselves. Shows will feature members of the band wearing coordinated costumes - not just occasionally, or for the duration of a particular tour or in relation to a particular album, but throughout the life of the band. Multiple changes of coordinated costumes throughout a show are not uncommon.

Is primarily a singing group. Band members rarely, if ever, play instruments either live or in the studio. Performances will feature highly choreographed dancing, usually synchronized, frequently with additional backup dancers. Complex vocal harmony is typical.

Performs songs whose music and lyrics are almost never written or otherwise controlled by the members of the band. (ETA for merryish: Unless and until the band makes a strenuous effort to take control of their music, a la later-years NSYNC.)

Are frequently formed by producers/managers who audition individual boys for singing/dancing ability and marketability and then assemble them into a band. Band members normally have pre-defined roles ("the baby," "the bad boy," etc.) which will be re-inforced through heavily image-controlled marketing.

If there are members of the band who can be identified as the songwriters;
If the band plays instruments while they sing, and dance only in their own spastic and individual fashions onstage;
If there are any band members who do not sing at all;
If the band's clothing choices are entirely at their individual whims or a decision by the band to have a thematic look in relation to a particular tour or album (or include any item of clothing that visibly has not been washed since the beginning of tour);
If the band formed, and performed, significantly before it had a manager;
(ETA, from lovelypoet): If a member of the band is acting as the primary producer for other artists' albums...

...Then I am pretty sure you are not talking about a boyband.


And for whatever it's worth, Wikipedia agrees with me.

If you see anyone being misguided on this point, feel free to link them here, for what good it might do. *g*


ETA: To see the distinction in action, check out Kasha's Sessions, in which Pete Wentz is in a boyband ("the sullen one") and Patrick Stump is a session musician helping to manufacture their sound. Or watch Pete's version: Fall Out Boyz.