Unfortunately for "One Direction" fans across the world, the British pop stars are currently on an extended hiatus, and there is evidence that suggests this split is permanent. Despite their breakup, they still have millions of fans and managed to impact many lives while they were active. This is true for all successful boy bands. People love to hate on boy bands and their fans, often describing them as childish, devoid of talent, fake and manufactured. While in many ways boy bands are manufactured to appeal to a targeted demographic, the amount of backlash they receive is unnecessary and not always warranted. Even though I am not personally a boy band fanatic, I still admire their successes and respect their fans. Fans should be able to express their love for these bands without others judging them so harshly for it. Below are a few reasons why it is alright to still like your favorite boy band.
1. Your grandmother loved boy bands
The older generation seems to be the most vocal about their disapproving attitudes toward modern pop music. Their views are hypocritical because they liked the same type of music when they were younger. Groups such as "Jackson 5" and "The Monkees" were insanely popular in the 1960s and they were classified as boy bands. Although they are not a pure boy band, even the Beatles share many characteristics with modern boy bands. Most of their earlier works were short pop songs about love and girls, which describes the catalogs of bands such as "5 Seconds of Summer" and "One Direction." If it was okay for your grandmother to love it then, it is alright for you to love it now.
2. They create solidarity among fans
Boy bands are responsible for the solidarity developed among millions of fans. There are many fans that have never actually met each other in person, but are nevertheless united by their shared interest in a specific boy band. This resulted in the creation of large communities of boy band fanatics. People have surely developed friendships at concerts and through fan pages on social media.
3. Their success is inevitable
Boy bands routinely sit near the top of the sales charts. From "Jonas Brothers" to "One Direction," the record and concert sales of boy bands usually surpass most other acts. In the future, every few years a new boy band is sure to arise and capture the hearts of millions. This formula is proven and shows no signs of slowing down. No matter how much hate they receive, boy bands appeal to a large audience and are here to stay.
4. The songs are catchy and fun
Try denying that this is true. No matter the location, it is impossible for any person born in the 1990s to resist singing along to "Backstreet Boys'" "I Want It That Way" whenever it plays.
