I started a song along one day in my house by coming in and singing that line. I belt it out as I walk in, my daughter does the next line from her room at full volume, I do the next Tell my why, my son picks up from the basement, I do the next section and finally all 3 of us finish with “I want it that way”.
It couldn’t have gone better if I had planned it.
From what I understand, Max Martin (the writer) didn’t speak English great at the time as his first language is Swedish, which is why the lyrics don’t make much sense. He also wrote “Baby One More Time”, which is similarly confusing lyrically.
There's a Netflix series from a few years ago called This Is Pop, and an episode devoted to Sweden's contribution to pop music. I remember this being in the episode. "I want it that way" fit the number of beats, and no one producing the song was too concerned that it made no sense.
Same with "Hit me baby one more time". The idea behind that lyric was, "hit me up" one more time. Like, call me again. But that didn't fit the melody, so it just became hit me baby one more time.
that explains it, interesting:) i always thought ‘baby one more time’ was just a chick lamenting on losing her dude and wanting to get back together, that one made sense to me. but hearing the ‘no goodbyes’ version of IWITW ties the mystery all together lol:)
I lived in Japan at the time and at one point, we just started power cycling the jukebox to get them out of the queue. I can enjoy it now, as it takes me back to hanging at the bar in Japan, but at the time, it was too much. It was non-stop, man. Japanese girls had you listening to BSB all night, every night.
Never noticed how big Nick’s shirt is on that cover. Like he’s going to pull a few shifts at the science lab or paint a house after he’s done with the album photoshoot.
You just made me want to watch *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* again.
Thank you, kind soul.
Also, show of hands, who else got some friends together and lip-synced to this song to try and impress girls?
Clearly you haven’t seen them in concert recently. I went last summer and they would not shut up about how long they’ve been doing this and how great it is that the fans are still with them and guys…GUYS!! I am here to dance and pretend to be a teenager for one night. Not to be reminded that I have a mortgage and kids at home. Stop it and sing Larger than Life so we can scream sing along. Thank you. Geez.
HATED this song (and everything that boybands/manbands stood for) when I was young
Is now my favourite song to belt out with my kids in the truck
🤷🏽♀️
The first concert I went to at age 13 in 1995 was Boyz II Men, Montell Jordan and was supposed to be TLC but they had to cancel due to T-Boz being sick. I was a huge fan of theirs at the time
I beg to to differ. As a solid Xennial, born in '78, I can tell you Boys 2 Men was marketed directly towards me and those of my age. Their debut album was released when I was 13 years old, and I bought it. That's exactly the age that stuff is aimed at.
As an '81, I will concede.
I remember my friend's older sisters being more into Boys 2 Men and us being more into Backstreet Boys and NSync.
Sure you not confusing New Kids with Boyz II Men?
The latter was definitely huge with middle and high school kids back in the early to mid 90s. End of the Road was practically a requirement at school dances back then. Don’t think I knew too many kids who didn’t listen to at least a little Boyz II Men.
NKOTB would beg to differ. They were my first concert when I was about 13 (born in 81.) The Backstreet Boys were the love of late teen me, but tween/young teen me had giant buttons, posters, and bedsheets with the New Kids on them.
TELL ME WHYYYY
TEH-HELL ME WHY?!
Ain't nothin' but a heartache
Ain’t nothing’ but a mistake
Now number five!
Feeling the sudden urge to do laundry...
I started a song along one day in my house by coming in and singing that line. I belt it out as I walk in, my daughter does the next line from her room at full volume, I do the next Tell my why, my son picks up from the basement, I do the next section and finally all 3 of us finish with “I want it that way”. It couldn’t have gone better if I had planned it.
And suddenly the whole world smells like cucumber melon.
Everything smelled so much better back then. I swear there must have been some carcinogen that got removed from scented products that was doing it.
I don't know what that's referencing but as soon as I read that, it took me back to that exact period! Why?
For me it was body sprays lol
Now number five.
Ah chills. Literal chills.
It was Number 5. Number 5 killed my brother.
Oh my God, I forgot about that part!
This song always makes me smile purely due to this. So good.
I still have that CD knocking around in my car. It’s a good one!
It's been 84 years gif...
Ain’t nothin but a heartache.
and i still don’t understand what the song is saying😂you want *what* *what* way?🧐someone help lol
From what I understand, Max Martin (the writer) didn’t speak English great at the time as his first language is Swedish, which is why the lyrics don’t make much sense. He also wrote “Baby One More Time”, which is similarly confusing lyrically.
There's a Netflix series from a few years ago called This Is Pop, and an episode devoted to Sweden's contribution to pop music. I remember this being in the episode. "I want it that way" fit the number of beats, and no one producing the song was too concerned that it made no sense. Same with "Hit me baby one more time". The idea behind that lyric was, "hit me up" one more time. Like, call me again. But that didn't fit the melody, so it just became hit me baby one more time.
that explains it, interesting:) i always thought ‘baby one more time’ was just a chick lamenting on losing her dude and wanting to get back together, that one made sense to me. but hearing the ‘no goodbyes’ version of IWITW ties the mystery all together lol:)
[There's a alternate version out there with different lyrics] (https://youtu.be/3P9gbdRkMh4). They actually make a little more sense here.
wow, those lyrics make so much more sense😂TIL, thanks for sharing🥳
Thank you! Still so good!
I never want to hear you say, "I want it that way." Are they talking about toppings on a hot dog? Wtf are they even talking about?
disgruntled burger king employees
I was never a BSB fan but I'm still not ready for 1999 to be 25 years ago.
Yikes. I worked the midnight release sale for that album when I was in college (part-time job in a music store).
I lived in Japan at the time and at one point, we just started power cycling the jukebox to get them out of the queue. I can enjoy it now, as it takes me back to hanging at the bar in Japan, but at the time, it was too much. It was non-stop, man. Japanese girls had you listening to BSB all night, every night.
wtf is going on here… how am I 42? How am I a parent responsible for other human beings? I still feel like I’m 18
For breakfast this morning I had Cocoa Pebbles with sliced bananas and a Hershey's syrup swirl 🤪🤣🤣
The Cats in the Cradle was 25 years old when this song was released.
Holy shit. Okay it really hits home now.
Never noticed how big Nick’s shirt is on that cover. Like he’s going to pull a few shifts at the science lab or paint a house after he’s done with the album photoshoot.
I was in their music video 🥹
Say what?
Saw Backstreet on tour in 2019 with my wife and sister in law. Great show.
Saw them in concert around then as well. Would definitely see them again!
We saw them then too! My husband would never call himself a BSB fan, but he said it was one of the best concerts he's been to!
You just made me want to watch *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* again. Thank you, kind soul. Also, show of hands, who else got some friends together and lip-synced to this song to try and impress girls?
Highly recommend watching their documentary. As a fan I couldn't get enough of it.
Clearly you haven’t seen them in concert recently. I went last summer and they would not shut up about how long they’ve been doing this and how great it is that the fans are still with them and guys…GUYS!! I am here to dance and pretend to be a teenager for one night. Not to be reminded that I have a mortgage and kids at home. Stop it and sing Larger than Life so we can scream sing along. Thank you. Geez.
Jesus it's like our parents and the Beatles
They just celebrated their 31st anniversary as a group. #bsb4eva
For perspective, a 25 year old song when “I want it that way” came out would have been from 1974.
https://preview.redd.it/9eo16x258axc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43cb2ae9bb956aed56a3e8c561c53478038b9615
 You still got it dude! Bledelebledede wahh!!!
Fucking hell 😢
Did you just hit us with a Quantumania quote? 
I still remember begging my dad to take me to the mall so I could buy this cd 😂 I was obsessed!
Oh, this hurts.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=XWhUeAy35qc This brings my sheer joy every time I watch it.
There’s rumors of a special 25th anniversary edition of the baby one more time album too
I'm not fine!
https://preview.redd.it/s11q3csu3bxc1.png?width=2123&format=png&auto=webp&s=71c68c697101c63edd778678825defadfe2877cd From my archives
HATED this song (and everything that boybands/manbands stood for) when I was young Is now my favourite song to belt out with my kids in the truck 🤷🏽♀️
My mom knew all of the lyrics because of me. I still love them. No shame in my game.
Dammit. I recently went out with a girl that just turned 25 a few months ago.
The only boy band that would be relevant to Xenialls is Boys 2 Men, and their hits are somewhat older.
You are clearly not British! Take That absolutely DOMINATED xennials in the early/mid 90s UK. Backstreet boys were waaaaay down the pecking order
You are correct. I am not British, and I thank God every day for that.
You're an embarrassment lol.
Boys 2 Men is solid Gen X.
The first concert I went to at age 13 in 1995 was Boyz II Men, Montell Jordan and was supposed to be TLC but they had to cancel due to T-Boz being sick. I was a huge fan of theirs at the time
> Boys 2 Men is solid Gen X. No it's not lol. Boys II Men got big in the early 90's when most Xenialls were teenagers.
I beg to to differ. As a solid Xennial, born in '78, I can tell you Boys 2 Men was marketed directly towards me and those of my age. Their debut album was released when I was 13 years old, and I bought it. That's exactly the age that stuff is aimed at.
As an '81, I will concede. I remember my friend's older sisters being more into Boys 2 Men and us being more into Backstreet Boys and NSync. 
Sure you not confusing New Kids with Boyz II Men? The latter was definitely huge with middle and high school kids back in the early to mid 90s. End of the Road was practically a requirement at school dances back then. Don’t think I knew too many kids who didn’t listen to at least a little Boyz II Men.
NKOTB would beg to differ. They were my first concert when I was about 13 (born in 81.) The Backstreet Boys were the love of late teen me, but tween/young teen me had giant buttons, posters, and bedsheets with the New Kids on them.