Can any music buffs answer this?

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2003-10-25 06:31pm

I'm writing a screenplay that spoofs current music trends, and I was wondering if anyone knew the formula for making a boy band.

Basically, this is how the producers pick each member; they have to have a "cute one", a "bad boy," etc. As much as it sounds like a joke, there is an honest to god extremely precise way of doing it that producers knowingly adhere to.

Does anyone know what it is?

The script will also have zombies, a World War II scene, demons, and samurai swords that can change into guitars.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-10-25 06:35pm

I think the formula is "cute playful one", "bad boy/pirate", "clean cut, fashionable one". "the boy next door", and "cool player one". Also, one of them will be the "token minority one".

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2003-10-25 06:45pm

do they even have different personalities? They all seem the same to me. Maybe that could be an aspect to satire--the fact that they're all essentially clones taken from the same mold.

As far as i can tell, the variation in boy band depends on its genre. Here's something to consider developing:

The punk-pop boyband: alternates between "yeah, im a rebel look at how rebellious i am" and "somebody feel sorry for me, nobody understand me and i want to commit suicide" and "im so in love and love hurts".

The dance-pop boyband: fairly easy targets, stuff like N Sync and Backstreet boys. I think everyone has an understanding of these types.

The hiphop-pop boyband: Not reall a band, but guys like Seanpaul and Nelly with their "girl your da bomb" love songs...i dont know, i dont listen to that type so i cant really give examples but i think you know where im going.

Also consider the middle-aged southern rock boyband that all emulate Bon Jovi (who i believe was emulating Bruce Springsteen). The whole glamrock boyband you might want to touch upon as well.

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2003-10-25 06:48pm

zombie84 wrote:do they even have different personalities? They all seem the same to me. Maybe that could be an aspect to satire--the fact that they're all essentially clones taken from the same mold.

In my script, an evil music producer creates them in his lab. He grows dozens of "blank slates" (shambling, zombie-like creatures which all have minimal physical features). He upgrades a few of them to make his pop stars.

So yeah, the satire is that in my script they literally ARE clones.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-10-25 08:32pm

There's usually five of them, and usually, none of them write the music, play the instruments, or make up the dance steps. And, it should appeal mainly to teenage girls.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2003-10-26 09:51am

There's also a gay one that will come out to increase sal- publicity.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-10-26 12:00pm

Bug-Eyed Earl wrote:
zombie84 wrote:do they even have different personalities? They all seem the same to me. Maybe that could be an aspect to satire--the fact that they're all essentially clones taken from the same mold.

In my script, an evil music producer creates them in his lab. He grows dozens of "blank slates" (shambling, zombie-like creatures which all have minimal physical features). He upgrades a few of them to make his pop stars.

So yeah, the satire is that in my script they literally ARE clones.

Clones, huh?? Hehe - this almost begs for a "Send In The Clones" musical number sung to the tune of "Send In The Clowns".

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:There's usually five of them, and usually, none of them write the music, play the instruments, or make up the dance steps. And, it should appeal mainly to teenage girls.

Basically, this trend started with the Monkees. Heck, it's probably older than the Monkees.

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2003-10-26 12:10pm

The Monkees were a rip off of the Beatles, the way that N Sync is a rip of the Backstreet Boys. I think the Beatles' whole thing was based off 50's rock and barbershop quartet style bands.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-10-27 07:14am

Boy Bands and music in the same sentence?! BURN THE HEATHEN!

Boy bands are to music as herpes is to sex

salm · Post by **salm** » 2003-10-27 07:52am

non of them may admit that they´re in a sexual relationship or even have to pretend that they´re virgins. at least until you´ve got sufficient success.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-10-27 10:01am

zombie84 wrote:The Monkees were a rip off of the Beatles, the way that N Sync is a rip of the Backstreet Boys.

That doesn't change the fact that The Monkees pioneered the prefabrication of pop music.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-10-27 04:40pm

Simon H.Johansen wrote:
zombie84 wrote:The Monkees were a rip off of the Beatles, the way that N Sync is a rip of the Backstreet Boys.
That doesn't change the fact that The Monkees pioneered the prefabrication of pop music.

Weren't they nicknamed the "Pre-Fab Four" at one point as a joke?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-10-28 12:02am

Well, the fact that NBC pretty much slapped them together in response to the Beatles should say something...

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-10-28 10:16am

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:
Simon H.Johansen wrote:The Monkees pioneered the prefabrication of pop music.
Weren't they nicknamed the "Pre-Fab Four" at one point as a joke?

Comes at no surprise to me at all.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-10-28 04:05pm

A good boy band will have 4/5 members

1. Clean Cut
2. Rough
3. Ethinc Minority
4. Song Writter (Though he never will actually witre a note)
5. Closted

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2003-10-30 05:08am

Well davey jones and co. could probably write the book as The Monkeys were one of the most obvious boy bands.... (although before that we did have some "girlbands" who just sang and had others writing lyrics & performing music for them.

note just because you are a boy/girl band doesn't mean all is lost. Look at what became of the fake punk girl band "The Runaways" Drummer went with the Bangels, & Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, & Patti Smyth can still rock in Solo, not to mention Smyth had that whole marriage for rent control, & inurance purposes, but still love him in a platonic way, going with Robert Maplethorpe.