The Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way"

My friend Malinda blogged about the Backstreet boys the other day:

"Am I the only person who always had a sneaking suspicion that the song, “I want it that way,” by the Backstreet Boys, was about anal sex? I mean, come on; what else could it have been she wanted that he was so nervous about? Where in the living room she wanted the sofa? I think not."


So I read the Lyrics and discovered that there is an original alternate version. It's a simple and unimaginative love song:


I'm yours completely,
I feel so deeply,
You're my first thought everyday,
And I want it that way,

My life is for you,
And I adore you,
And I love you more, everyday,
And I want it that way,

No goodbyes,
Ain't nothin' but a heartache,
No more lies,
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
That is why,
I love it when I hear you say,
I want it that way

My heart is on fire,
Such a strong desire,
Yes I know it's too late
But I want it that way

I gave you my heart,
Baby right from the start,
And that's the way it will always be, yeah
No matter the distance,
I want you to know,
That deep down inside of me,

You are my fire,
The one desire,

You are, you are, you are, you are,
Don't wanna hear you say,

Ain't nothin' but a heartache,
Ain't nothin' but a mistake,
I love it when I hear you say,
I want it that way,
'Cos I want it that way.

Apparently the studio people got their grubby little paws on it and were successful in turning this thing into an epic meditation on intangibility. The new words are completely meaningless, and turned the song into the groups undisputed masterpiece. Here is the current radio edit:

You are my fire
The one desire
Believe when I say
I want it that way

But we are two worlds apart
Can't reach to your heart
When you say
That I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way

Am I your fire
Your one desire
Yes I know it's too late
But I want it that way

Now I can see that we're falling apart
From the way that it used to be, yeah
No matter the distance
I want you to know
That deep down inside of me...

You are my fire
The one desire
You are
You are, you are, you are

Don't wanna hear you say
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain't nothin' but a mistake
(Don't wanna hear you say)
I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way

Tell me why
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Tell me why
Ain't nothin but a mistake
Tell me why
I never wanna hear you say
(Don't wanna hear you say it)
I want it that way
I want it that way

So if we could only look at the backstreet boys and listen to the radio edit, we can easily conclude that they are talking to each other about how they want it that way. From each other. If, on the other hand, we read the original lyrics, we easily conclude otherwise; it is the studio executives who wish to keep us in the dark about the true meaning of the song, to keep us listlessly wandering in an emotional vacuum. What is the world coming to?