Additional information
Backstreet Boys: Kevin Richardson, Howard "Howie D" Dorough, Alexander James "AJ" McLean, Brian "B-Rok" Littrell, Nick Carter. Additional personnel includes: Rodney Jerkins (various instruments); Tony Battaglia (acoustic guitar); Henrik Janson, Esbjorn Ohrwall, Peter Svensson, Max Martin, Michael Thompson (guitar); Per Magnusson (keyboards, programming); Nathan East, Thomas Lindberg (bass); Gustave Lund (percussion); Babyface (background vocals); Stockholm Session Strings. Producers include: Max Martin, Rami, Kristian Lundin, Rodney Jerkins, Babyface. Engineers include: Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, George Spatta. "Shape Of My Heart" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. The title of this album by the mega-platinum boy band might conceivably refer to the emotional state conveyed in some of the songs. While there are the requisite pledges of undying love ("Shining Star," "I Promise You"), several of the tunes on BLACK & BLUE deal with romantic turbulence, such as the opening track "The Call" and the vengeful "Get Another Boyfriend." While some of the songs are unsurprisingly provided by teen pop maestro Max Martin, several selections here were written by the Backstreet Boys themselves, proving conclusively that they have more creative input into their music than their naysayers might suggest. The production on BLACK & BLUE is a mix of pop, R&B, and mainstream hip-hop elements; the building blocks of any successful 2000 teen pop affair. And of course, its all topped off with the Boys' trademark sugar-sweet vocal harmonies.
