Research on 'Incomplete' by the Backstreet Boys (song)

BACKSTREET BOYS LYRICS






"Incomplete"

Empty spaces fill me up with holes
Distant faces with no place left to go
Without you within me I can't find no rest
Where I’m going is anybody’s guess

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I’m awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete

Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It’s written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake

I'd try to go on like I never knew you
I’m awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete

I don’t mean to drag it on, but I can’t seem to let you go
I don’t wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you go (alone)

I'd try to go on like I never knew you
I’m awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I’m going to be is incomplete

Incomplete

'Incomplete' Backstreet Boys song
Research

                                          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incomplete_(Backstreet_Boys_song)

The single was released worldwide on April 1^st 2005.The format of the disc was a single CD, and it was and is currently available on digital downloads, like u-torrent and media monkey and other digital downloading software’s, that can download music. The music track was recorded during 2004, in the premises of ‘Westlake Recording Studios’ located in Hollywood, California.

Many famous singers worked with ‘Westlake Recording Studios’ like ‘Michael Jackson, Men at Work, Josh Groban, Quincy Jones, Alanis Morissete, Dave Mathews, Madonna, Rihanna, Aaliyah, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Nine Inch Nails, and Justin Bieber also Ryan Beatty.’ Also, a number of films and television shows have been recorded at Westlake Recording Studios.’

‘Incomplete’ was branded by Jive records which is the ‘record label based in New York City. Jive is predominantly known for a line of successes with ‘hip hop artists in the 1980s and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 90s’ Moreover, the word jive was ‘inspired’ by ‘Township Jive’ which is a form of South African music and dance.’  Jive functioned as a ‘independent managed label until 2002’ when ‘Bertelsmann Music Group acquired the remainder of Zomba for US $2.74 billion’ which was at the time most substantial acquisition/attainment of a self-governed independent label distribution, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive is primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African music and dance.

By the late 1990s, despite its reputation for dealing heavily in hip-hop, Jive signed pop acts Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, and Britney Spears—all of whom achieved massive success as the 2000s dawned, and would become the three best-selling acts in the label's history. In 1991, Barry Weiss became CEO and president of Jive Records.
Backstreet Boys single chronology:  Drowning (2001) incomplete (2005) Just Want You To Know (2005).

  

"Incomplete" is a song made by the American vocal group ‘Boys. ‘The single was also included which was popular contained within their comeback album, Never Gone. The power ballad was released in April 2005, as the group's foremost single since they decided to reunite after a three year hiatus. The song was written by Dan Muckala, Lindy Robbins and Jess Cates.

 Dan Muckala ‘is an award winning songwriter, and producer.’ He also produced the song ‘Incomplete as well as having contributed to writing the song. The conclusive awards that he has won include, ‘ASCAP Songwriter of the year 2011,’ and ‘Belmont’s prestigious Curtain Call Award’.

Lindy Robbins ‘has contributed many recognizable songs to popular culture.’ ‘She started singing with her late, gifted musician father Walter Wissman when she was three-years-old, and was an acclaimed performer in NYC and LA before becoming a full-time songwriter in 1997.’

Jess Cates, was born on July the 27^th 1976, In Nashville,Tenessee, is a los angeles based songwriter ‘who has co-written multi-platinum selling such as Nick lachey’s ‘What’s left of me’ and the Backstreet Boys hit of 2006 ‘Incomplete’

The song became one of their most successful singles, peaking at number thirteen on the US Billboard Hot 100, and charting within the top 10 of thirteen countries. It debuted at number one in Australia, becoming their first number-one hit in the country. The song has sold 250,000 units worldwide, which earned it gold certification. In the US, it was their final successful single of the 2000s, as the song still receives airplay on fewer adult contemporary radio stations in the United States and Canada. To many, this was the Backstreet Boys' final mainstream hit.

Track listing

UK CD single #1

1. "Incomplete the Album Version lasted 3:59 minutes.
2. Additionally, "Incomplete" the instrumental version also had a duration of 3 mins and 59 seconds.

UK CD single #2

1. "Incomplete" (Album Version) – 3:59
2. "My Beautiful Woman" (Paul Wiltshire, Victoria Wu) – 3:36
3. "Movin' On" (Howie Dorough, Wade Robson, Nate Butler) – 3:30

4. "Incomplete" (Music Video) – 3:59

The video was directed by Joseph Kahn used each element to represent the different personality of the singers. He decided that A.J. McLean embodies the band's rock and roll sensibilities, with his "fiery light and Hollywood cool", so he framed McLean by the sun as he drives a classic car down the highway. "The elements are sort of embracing their performance, so it feels like emotions." Nick Carter is "very volatile at times, beautiful to look at, but dangerous if you get too close", so he is represented by fire. In the video, Carter torches McLean's '68 GTO. Howie Dorough, the "slick guy in the group," according to Kahn, became rain. He sits under an old Joshua tree as a gust of wind picks up and the downpour starts. Kevin Richardson, "the most mature and reserved" Backstreet Boy, is "colder," so he became snow. He plays a white piano in the midst of a smoldering forest as a flurry starts and smoke rises from the ground. Brian Littrell, who Kahn describes as "this big ball of energy, you can't stop him" became the crashing waves of the ocean. He stands with his feet in the water as thunderclouds assemble above him.


ANALYSIS

The commencement of the video starts with a tilting shot of initiating by facing the sky then quickly tilting the camera downwards.  It has a vibe of a perspective shot as it seems like someone is looking at the sky and quickly looking downwards towards the road on ground-level, obviously quite a low set shot, which could be symbolic of the sad, low emotional overtone of the song, and the feeling of searching. Subsequently after the tilt, the camera rests at an establishing shot facing the road that, the A.J Mclean is driving on towards the camera. Set in the sky towards the left, is then sun, a symbolic signifier of hope.

In between the transition of the shot where the car is coming towards, the camera, and the shot of the car fleeing away from the camera, there is a pause, of a few seconds, which gives the impression of the shots representing an onlooker’s view and glances. Resembling a moment, which most have had in their life where they are watching a person leave and cannot bear to look properly until their presence, is either gone or amidst leaving.

Afterwards, when car is filmed going past, in a long shot and establishing shot of the road, the low angle of the shot makes it seem visually like were again viewing this from person’s perspective watching this car go by. This brings a feeling of isolation to the audience. Also giving the impression, that we as the audience are observing a person’s life from the outside, represented in this journey –symbolism of this car fleeing imitating, and exhibiting, a feeling that all can relate to of being in self-discovery. (The car goes by in a hurried fashion, which makes it appear as if A.J Mclean is in search, of something missing from life, or fleeing from emptiness, and feeling ‘incomplete’.)

Subsequently, there is a perspective shot of a wood-electric pylon, standing against a golden and orange sky, allowing us to feel that we are experiencing the simple, beauty’s and intricacies of life and the world, from the eyes of Mclean. During these shots there’s piano music playing, then there’s a close up shot of Kevin Richardson’s, hands playing on a classical piano, with a silver wedding ring placed on his left hand on the second  finger (the finger on which it is traditional to wear the engagement and wedding ring). This being present in this shot, also embodies another stage of life’s journey, which signifies the differential journey’s and stages of life that the band members are at.

Moreover on his right hand Richardson wears a brown leather cuff, which symbolises him being down-to-earth, and having an edgy style. In fact, this shot is an excellent example, of how small, differences, and symbolic intricacies can communicate volumes of messages and meanings, without speech.

Another shot that holds great significance, in symbolically revealing what a band member character and stage in life, is the tattoo star on Mclean’s hand which, is open to interpretation, but I perceived this star figure, as him always aiming high, as in ‘reaching for the stars.’  Then there’s shots of different members isolated, physically, first theres a shot of Kevin then a long shot of  first of Kevin than long shot of Nick Carter, and then a series of other shots of the rest of the band members Howie Dorough and  Brian Littrell. Capturing them in a series of close ups focusing on the singer’s facial expressions, which highlights the anguish and distress portrayed. Hand gestures and movement of the arms are used repeatedly to indicate the frustration and heart ache that is being expressed. There are also long shots integrated, that focus on their loneliness by centrally positioning them in the middle of long shots, in distant secluded places to make it even more impactful. There sad stances are also exaggerated when they are located alone, in terms of being more hard-hitting.

The lonely figures of the various members of the groups are centrally positioned in the middle of long shots and close ups emphasizes their loneliness.
 In a few shots towards the end of the video we see the group members in one frame and this is a moment of rejoicing for the fans as it seems to imply unity and suggest that although each storyline is separate and although each man’s pain is individual there is a sturdy common ground.
The video thus reaches out to a vast target audience of existing fans, now adults and the new young teenagers. The emotions portrayed make the audience sympathise with the plight of the heart throbs – the members of the band.

 The setting is a desert environment and shows each of the band members in turmoil and disarray in a differential element of nature. The video shows a number of wide-ranging levels of daylight, and times of day. The video is shot in Lancaster and Zuma Beach, California, and apparently the crew raced from one location to another to take advantage of the fading sunlight. The effect of the natural sunlight in the video adds realism and authenticity to the storyline presented.

It is a heart touching ballad with a fusion of piano-and-strings backings in the background. The connotations of these instruments is romance and love as piano and strings are associated with these genres.The genre of the song can be classed as pop rock, and piano rock… ‘Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its typically guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music.’ Piano rock, which is also sometimes referred to as piano pop, is a style of popular music that is based around the piano. The song includes both these genres effectively.

 Personnel

·         Songwriting – Dan Muckala, Lindy Robbins, Jess Cates

·         Production, acoustic piano, strings arrangement and additional keyboards – Dan Muckala

·         Recording – Dan Muckala, David Dillbeck

·         Additional engineering – F. Reid Shippen, Skye McCaskey

·         Additional engineering assistant - Lee Bridges, Aaron Fessel

·         Mixing – Chris Lord-Alge

·         Drums – Joe Porter

·         Bass – Brent Milligan

·         Electric guitar – Alex Nifong, Chris McMurtry

·         Acoustic guitar – Brandon Heath

·         Mastering – Tom Coyne

Charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Australia ARIA Singles Chart	1
Austrian Singles Chart	6
Belgium (Flanders) Singles Chart	14
Belgium (Walonia) Singles Chart	13
Canadian Singles Chart	1
Danish Singles Chart	3
Dutch Singles Chart	4
European Hot 100 Singles[2]	6
Finnish Singles Chart	14
French Singles Chart	19
German Singles Chart	3
Hungarian Singles Chart[3]	1
Irish Singles Chart	5
Italian Singles Chart	2
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	12
Norwegian Singles Chart	8
Spanish Singles Chart	2
Swedish Singles Chart	9
Swiss Singles Chart	3
UK Singles Chart	8
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	13
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	4
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks	21
U.S. Top 40 Mainstream	8