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"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" is a song by the Backstreet Boys, taken from their third studio album, Millennium. It is a significant hit, second only to the first single I Want It That Way from the same album, becoming one of the most successful singles of the group. It was written by Max Martin and Herbie Crichlow, with production by Martin and Kristian Lundin.

Jive Records selected the track to be released as the third single from the album, on December 21, 1999. It received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who commended the lush orchestration, its melody, and the group's vocal performance. The song was one of 3 tracks to be previewed at the end of Britney Spears' debut album, ...Baby One More Time. It has also experienced success on the charts, reaching the top 10 in most countries it charted #2 in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and New Zealand, and #3 in Finland and Norway, also peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The music video for the track was released on 1999's New Year's Eve and was directed by Stuart Gosling. It follows each of the band members in a separate dramatic history, with the band uniting for the video's end. The song also earned a Grammy Award nomination during the 43rd Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The song was also featured on the album, The Hits: Chapter One.

Background[]

"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" was written by Max Martin and Herbie Crichlow, while Martin also produced it. On the November 27, 1999, issue of Billboard Magazine, it was reported that Jive Records selected "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" as Millennium's third single. The song received a CD Single on December 3, 1999.

Composition[]

"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" is a pop and R&B ballad, with Latin pop influences. Lyrically, the song deals with heartbreak and how the protagonist is dealing with loneliness. "Show me the meaning of being lonely/Is this the feeling I need to walk with/Tell me why I can't be there where you are/There's something missing in my heart," they sing in the chorus.

Critical reception[]

The song received acclaim from most music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic picked the song as a standout track on the album. While reviewing their compilation, The Hits: Chapter One (2001), Erlewine wrote that "the rest of the singles that fill out the compilation aren't quite as good as "I Want It That Way", "As Long As You Love Me", "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)", "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "Larger Than Life" (although "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" is)." Arion Berger of Rolling Stone commented that the song "digs its melodic claws into your skull on the first listen—it's the swooniest blending of the five vocalists' timbres to date, and mighty pretty besides."

Chuck Taylor of Billboard named it a "keepsake ballad that will have the quintet's loyal legions panting over their loss and loneliness." Taylor also called it "a beautifully produced anthem," and praised its melody, writing that, "it will instantly lock itself into the pop-culture consciousness." Taylor finished his review, writing that the single is "the best ballad of the season and a sure-fire way to return the Boys to full glory."

Commercial performance[]

"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" was a success on the charts, reaching the top-ten in most countries it charted. In the United States, the song debuted at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while on the issue of March 18, 2000, the song peaked at number six, remaining at the peak position for two further weeks. In other Billboard component charts, the song also succeeded, topping the Top 40 Mainstream chart and reaching number two on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. In Canada, the song topped the RPM Top Singles chart for two weeks.

In the United Kingdom, "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" peaked at number three, becoming their last single to reach the top-three and seventeenth top-ten single. The song became a success in countries like the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland, reaching number two. It also reached the top-ten in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Norway. It only performed moderately in Australia, where it reached number 19, becoming their lowest charting-single since "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" in 1997.

Accolades[]

"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" was nominated for a Grammy award on the 43rd ceremony for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, but lost it to Steely Dan's "Cousin Dupree". Emily Exton of VH1 placed the song at number seven on their "20 Backstreet Boys Songs" list, writing that the song is "a more mature sound that showcased Kevin’s vocals instead of mostly his dark and mysterious looks. Here the Boys tackle grief surprisingly well, without pouring on too much schmaltz or over-complicating things." Danielle Sweeney of The Celebrity Cafe also placed it at number seven on her "Top 10 Backstreet Boys Songs", writing that, "it's their most emotional song, containing the lyrics, 'how can it be you’re asking me to feel the things you never show?'. Deep, guys."

Music video[]

Background[]

The music video for "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" was directed by Stuart Gosling in Los Angeles from December 11 to 12, 1999, following the 1999 Billboard Music Awards. It follows each of the band members separately in a sad story until they unite during the instrumental break and final choruses.

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The video, somewhat darker in tone than any of the band's previous releases, touches on several of the band's real-life issues. Brian had undergone open-heart surgery the previous year for a defect he has had since birth. A.J. holds a picture of a girlfriend who dedicates a dear friend of his who died in a car accident. The video used footage that represents Kevin and his deceased father. The lady is with Howie sees represents his sister, who died a year earlier of the disease Lupus. Additionally, the bus with A.J. rides is marked for "Denniz Street", and is driven by an actor who resembles Denniz PoP (who died in 1998 and produced some Backstreet Boys tracks, besides being the mentor of the song's producer Max Martin). An alternate version of the video was dedicated in his honor.

Synopsis[]

The video begins at a hospital, in which Brian Littrell watches doctors try to save a patient, also portrayed by Brian, alluding to the open heart surgery he had. A.J. McLean's scenes take place on a coach bus, which is driven by an actor who looks like Denniz Pop while mourning the loss of a girlfriend whose photo he carries. He sees her appear on the bus, but she fades away. Kevin Richardson watches an old-age film of himself and his father in an apartment. Nick Carter walks down a city street in the rain and saves a lady from almost being hit by the bus that A.J. is on. Howie Dorough drinks from a teacup at an old-style bar as a lady in red runs towards him but fades away before she reaches him. Kevin arrives to meet Howie leave the building together. A.J.'s bus arrives, and Brian exits the hospital. While the lady lights the memorial candles for the deceased, the five band members congregate and begin walking down the street together. Most of the video is shot in a desaturated scheme in which only certain red elements were brightly colored, until the very end of the video when the band walks out of the city into a brightly colored field.

Lyrics[]

BSB: Show me the meaning of being lonely

Brian: So many words for the broken heart
It is hard to see in a crimson love
So hard to breathe
Walk with me, and maybe
AJ: Nights of light so soon become
Wild and free I could feel the sun
Your every wish will be done
They tell me

BSB: Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I cannot be there where you are?
There is something missing in my heart

Kevin: Life goes on as it never ends
Eyes of stone observe the trends
They never say forever gaze, if only
Nick: Guilty roads to an endless love (endless love)
There is no control, are you with me now?
Your every wish will be done
They tell me

BSB: Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with (AJ: Tell me why)
Tell me why I cannot be there where you are?
There is something missing in my heart (Brian: Heart!)

Howie: There is nowhere to run
I have no place to go
Surrender my heart, body, and soul
BSB: How can it be you are asking me
To feel the things you never show?
AJ: Show-oh-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh!
Brian: You are missing in my heart
Brian: Tell me why can't I be there where you are?

BSB: Show me the meaning of being lonely (AJ: Being lonely)
Is this the feeling I need to walk with (Brian: Tell me why)
Tell me why I cannot be there where you are? (AJ: Where you are)
There is something missing in my heart
(Brian: You are missing from my heart)
Show me the meaning of being lonely (Nick: Being lonely)
Is this the feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I cannot be there where you are? (AJ: Where you are)
There is something missing in my heart

Trivia[]

  • The song also earned a Grammy Award nomination during the 43rd Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
  • This song was featured on the 2000 compilation album, "Now That's What I Call Music! 5 (U.S. Series)"
  • In some other versions of the song, the second last chorus is omitted, leaving only one after the bridge (Howie's part).

Music Video[]

Backstreet_Boys_-_Show_Me_The_Meaning_Of_Being_Lonely

Backstreet Boys - Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely

Backstreet_Boys_-_Show_Me_The_Meaning_Of_Being_Lonely_(Millennium_20_Edition)

Backstreet Boys - Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely (Millennium 20 Edition)

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