Backstreet Boys: 'Helpless When She Smiles'

Released on Monday, May 19 2008

Published Wednesday, May 7 2008, 18:42 BST | By Nick Levine | 3 comments

Backstreet Boys: 'Helpless When She Smiles'

Though we still think of them as a "boy" band, the Backstreet Boys are to all intents and purposes a veteran act these days: they don't light up the charts the way they used to - their last single, 'Inconsolable', stalled at number 24 in October - but they can still fill an arena from Tallinn to Tokyo. In fact, Nick Carter and co. are gallivanting round the UK's enormodromes as you read.

'Helpless When She Smiles', the tour's tie-in single, is an utterly faceless soft rock ballad: guitars without teeth, technically proficient but anonymous vocals and a chorus that sounds good at the time but leaves no trace that it ever existed. Honestly, it's going to take a lot of arena show stagecraft to breathe some life into this one.

> Click here to read our recent interview with A.J. from the Backstreet Boys

More: Backstreet Boys, Music

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Liam, Newcastle, on May 18th, 2008
This single is alot better than some of the rubbish you get in the charts these days. It may not go to number one but it definitely should do. I am a fan of good music, and when it comes to pop or now rock/pop the Backstreet Boys are the best around.

Ruby, Newcastle, on May 12th, 2008
The single isn't that great but don't let it put you off the album which is fantastic. This along with 'inconsolable' were not the best choices for single release. The producers must be pretty bad. If you wanna hear one of their great songs listen to 'unmistakable' or 'unsuspecting sunday afternoon'.

X, Portsmouth, on May 8th, 2008
don't be too harsh! its the worst song on the album but its not that terrible... also, it's aj & co. NOT NICK!!! the album itself is great though so the show should be fantastic...