I’ve been thinking a lot about boy bands lately — questioning their intentions, praising their ingenuity — and it dawned on me that I don’t know how to define what a boy band is. If the members play their own instruments, are they exempt from boy band status? What about R&B groups? Is perfectly coiffed hair a requisite? It’s confusing. So I came up with a liberal definition: a boy band is formed when a man-centric vocal group gives a choreographed performance while wearing matching outfits, maybe. And then I made a playlist.

Ten songs I really enjoyed listening to via this process:

1. “Giddy Up” by ‘N Sync (I mean…)

2. “Speechless” by Hanson

3. “The Rose” by Westlife

4. “We Got It” by Immature

5. “Can I Get Your Number” by No Authority

6. “Back For Good” by Take That

7. “Anything” by 3T

8. “Shorty You Keep Playing With My Mind” by Imajin

9. “Cool It Now” by New Edition

10. “All I Have To Give” by the Backstreet Boys

I had the misfortune of growing up in one country, in a rather small time-window, and so this playlist might not reflect your personal boy band preferences. If you feel I’ve done your boy band wrong, feel free to comment a band name and song title and I’ll add that joint.

Update: the playlist in its entirety, below.

Jonas Brothers – S.O.S.
The Monkees – I’m A Believer
Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday
Boyz II Men – In The Still Of The Nite (I’ll Remember)
Jackson 5 – ABC
The Monkees – Daydream Believer
Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
Jackson 5 – Never Can Say Goodbye
Jackson 5 – The Love You Save
Boyz II Men – Yesterday
N Sync – It’s Gonna Be Me
One Direction – Up All Night
Az Yet – Hard To Say I’m Sorry featuring Peter Cetera
One Direction – One Thing
2gether – The Hardest Part About Breaking Up (Is Getting Back Your Stuff)
The Wanted – Glad You Came
One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
N Sync – Bye Bye Bye
Boyz II Men – Water Runs Dry
Evan And Jaron – Crazy For This Girl
N Sync – I Thought She Knew
N Sync – I Want You Back – Radio Edit
98º – Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)
Backstreet Boys – The Call
N Sync – It Makes Me Ill
SoulDecision – Faded
N Sync – Tearin’ Up My Heart – Original Radio Edit
Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way
Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me
Take That – Promises – 7″ Radio Mix
Lifehouse – Hanging By A Moment
N Sync – Here We Go – Radio Cut
Crazy Town – Butterfly
BBMak – Back Here
N Sync – Up Against The Wall
Westlife – The Rose
Backstreet Boys – We’ve Got It Goin’ On – Radio Edit
Youngstown – I’ll Be Your Everything
Take That – How Deep Is Your Love
Immature – We Got It
New Edition – If It Isn’t Love – Single Version
N Sync – For The Girl Who Has Everything – Club Mix
112 – Peaches & Cream
98º – I Do (Cherish You)
Hanson – Where’s The Love – Radio Edit
Foxy Brown – Get Me Home
N Sync – No Strings Attached
New Edition – I’m Still In Love With You – Single Version
Backstreet Boys – Shape Of My Heart
Savage Garden – I Want You
98º – My Everything
Immature – Watch Me Do My Thing
Backstreet Boys – Larger Than Life
Westlife – My Love – Radio Edit
Backstreet Boys – Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
N Sync – I’ll Be Good For You
Boyz II Men – Motownphilly
Backstreet Boys – Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
Hanson – A Minute Without You
Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There
Boyz II Men – I’ll Make Love To You
No Authority – Can I Get Your Number – A Girl Like You LP Version
*NSYNC – Pop
Hanson – This Time Around – Radio Edit
N Sync – Thinking Of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)
Jackson 5 – Who’s Loving You
Take That – Back For Good – Radio Mix
Dru Hill – How Deep Is Your Love
N Sync – I Just Wanna Be With You
LFO – Every Other Time – Radio Edit & Album Version
Westlife – Swear It Again – Radio Edit
Lyte Funkie Ones – Girl On TV
O-Town – All Or Nothing
N Sync – Giddy Up
Take That – Relight My Fire Featuring Lulu – UK Radio Version
New Kids On The Block – You Got It (The Right Stuff)
Dru Hill – These Are The Times
Five – When The Lights Go Out – Radio Edit
New Edition – Cool It Now – Single Version
Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You
Hanson – I Will Come To You
112 – Cupid
Immature – Never Lie
N Sync – Girlfriend
Dru Hill – Tell Me
New Kids On The Block – Hangin’ Tough
Lyte Funkie Ones – Summer Girls
All-4-One – I Can Love You Like That
Mariah Carey – Thank God I Found You
Soul For Real – Every Little Thing I Do
Hanson – Speechless
N Sync – Digital Get Down
Juvenile – Back That Azz Up
New Kids On The Block – Step By Step
Az Yet – Last Night
Hanson – MMMBop
Voices of Theory – Say It
Take That – When We Were Young
Immature – Please Don’t Go
98º – The Hardest Thing
Soul For Real – Candy Rain
Backstreet Boys – All I Have To Give
B2K and P. Diddy – Bump, Bump, Bump (B2K and P. Diddy)
Mariah Carey – One Sweet Day – w / Mariah Carey
Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply
Savage Garden – Crash And Burn
N Sync – (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You
98º – Invisible Man
112 – Only You-Bad Boy Remix
N Sync – This I Promise You
Backstreet Boys – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Extended Version
Dru Hill – In My Bed
Backstreet Boys – I’ll Never Break Your Heart
BBMak – Ghost Of You And Me
Backstreet Boys – If You Want To Be A Good Girl (Get Yourself A Bad Boy)
Boyz II Men – 4 Seasons Of Loneliness
N Sync – Gone
N Sync – That’s When I’ll Stop Loving You
New Edition – Popcorn Love
Jodeci – Come And Talk To Me Remix
Imajin – Shorty (You Keep Playin’ With My Mind) feat. Keith Murray – Main Pass
Blackstreet – Before I Let You Go
Jodeci – Cry For You
All 4 One – I Swear
Blackstreet – No Diggity
Blackstreet – Don’t Leave Me
3T – Anything
Dru Hill – Never Make A Promise
Boyz II Men – On Bended Knee
Boyz II Men – End Of The Road
Jodeci – Lately
Jodeci – Freek’n You Here’s the playlist.