What Backstreet Boy Kevin loves most about Manila
Minutes before the airing of Making a Model, Kevin Richardson talked to Conversations, recalling what he and the other Backstreet Boys loved most about Manila.
“I remember how during our shows the fans sang along with us,” Kevin’s eyes lit up, touching his mustache. “I love how they knew every word of our songs. I also like the Filipinos’ sense of family, and their love for music and the arts.”
Since 1997, the Boys (including Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrel and Brian Dorough) have performed in the Philippines many times that Kevin has lost count. In 2012, they did a show with the New Kids on the Block at the MOA Arena where the Backstreet Boys also performed in 2015.
“Yes,” smiled Kevin, “I remember. I think that was after Pacquiao’s fight (Could be in Macau. — RFL). We rooted for him.”
Like the four other Boys, Kevin (now 46 but doesn’t look his age) is who takes our pictures,” shared Jessica). “In the meantime,” added Kevin, “she’s just being a mom.” Nick has one baby boy, AJ has two baby girls, Brian has one son and Howie has two boys.
“We haven’t stopped performing,” said Kevin. “We have a Las Vegas residency through 2019. Next year, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary and we are now in the studio recording an album for it. We are also preparing for a world tour and we’re excited to be back in Manila by then.”
All these years, the Boys have stuck together even after Kevin quit in 2006, although he has rejoined the band for shows.
“We just did a New Year’s Eve show in Mexico. Even if we are always working together, we continue to see each other; we are always bonding. We go skiing…snow bonding in the mountains. But every now
then, we do have individual time with our families.”
Asked what he thought that kept the Boys together after all these years, Kevin turned nostalgic.
“It has been too fast, very fast! The struggle is what makes us strong, proving ourselves. Once you have proven yourselves, you have to keep proving yourselves. It’s not easy. You have to challenge yourself, you have to take risks, you have to find a balance once you have a family and children.”
For sure, when the Backstreet Boys return to Manila for another show, they will regale their fans one more time with their well-loved hits, including two of Kevin’s personal favorites,
Siberia and Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely.