Yep, I’m one of those people..one of those girls-turned-30ish-women that is secretly excited about the return of NKOTB. I can’t help it. As far as I can remember, they were my first (and probably one of few) tween band crushes.
My first memory of them? 5th grade, 10 years old, picking out a song with my small group of friends (which included my second boyfriend which lasted a whole year) to sing in the talent show. I remember looking at the cassette for the first time in the grass behind the school near our class window during recess. The song we chose? The Right Stuff. I recall the talent show clearly. When we sang “You’ve got the right stuff…baaby”, we stuck our thumbs in the air. The two guys in the group ran from the back of the stage to the front, falling on their knees for a big ending.
Heather and I were just talking about this and she clearly recalls us kissing the TV while they were on TV. I remember that but wasn’t sure it was them. And I’m pretty sure we had posters on the wall and I sort of recall some wearable items like maybe socks or pajamas that had their stuff on it. Twenty years ago is kind of fuzzy.
I also have been questioning which guy I really liked. I knew I didn’t like Joey although he was the most popular. I knew it was between Donnie and Jordan. Heather insists it was Jordan and I do remember liking him but I found the button in the picture above in an old button collection I had in a jewelry box I recently gave to the girls. So, I guess at one point it was Donnie. I think it was foreshadowing my future, ahem, crush, on his brother.
In any case, I honestly can’t help but be excited about their return. I’ve been enjoying this Heather’s fascination with them as well and will stand tall and be a dork with her.