Backstreet Boys Explains Meaning of Hit Song 'I Want It That Way'; Reveals the Song's 2nd Version

By C. Pontejos

Oct 01, 2016 05:24 AM EDT

One of the well-loved boy bands in the 90s who definitely made ladies go crazy, Backstreet Boys, recently revealed the meaning behind the somehow "nonsense" and contradicting lyrics of their hit single "I Want It That Way."

Back in 1999, before the world embraced another era, BSB-singing group composed of Kevin Richardson, A. J. McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and Nick Carter sold almost 9.5 million copies of their album "Millenium."

That album was hailed the best-selling American album of the year and was certified 13 times platinum. Despite the album's gargantuan success, the lead single of that album "I Want It That Way" puzzled many fans for its seemingly contradicting lyrics about keeping or ending the relationship.

In an interview with Huffington Post for their new commercial, the highly-adored members of the band clarified the song's history. Aside from the fact that the Swedish songwriter behind the pop song, Max Martin, wasn't that fluent in English back then wherein he didn't realize the lyrics were quite contradicting, the likable song apparently has another version.

"Well it's funny, we actually were okay with the lyrics when we heard it first," Carter shared to Huffington Post. However, the president of their records back in the days, JIVE, felt the urge to tweak the lyrics.

"To make the song make more sense," Richardson added. The group was in collaboration with the music label JIVE and releasing a song with nonsensical lyrics would stray from the label's image. With this, Carter confessed, "We hired some really well-known producers at the time to re-do the song." Apparently, there was indeed a second version of "I Want It That Way" and they called it "No Goodbyes."

But because of the group's status at that time, according to Carter, they had the chance to vote which version to be released, and the original one that we know by heart even to this day won. "No Goodbyes" was just buried and became the group's forgotten song.

However, with the dedication of some fans who couldn't let the song be forgotten, numerous aficionado-made videos with "No Goodbyes" in the background were posted on YouTube.