MOG

Bear with me through the nostalgia, I will get to the music part.

One of my initial music memories I possess was somewhat of a root too (if you don’t know, in fag speech, a "root" refers to the earliest indication that one may be of the gay; made popular by the film But I’m a Cheerleader.)  My sister, aunt and I were dancing around to a New Kids on the Block CD.  The track was "Right Stuff."  At the time, my Auntie Sonny was approximately 15; my sister, 10; and I was a whopping 5.  After an intense aerobic/manic dance-along, we huddled around the jewel-case and admired the album art.  The case was scratched, worn and cracked.  It had been loved and handled across the great Pacific to make it to my living room that morning.  Sonny pointed to Donnie on the cover and said, "He’s my favorite."  My sister pointed to Joey soon afterwards.  Unable to contain my young but still very homosexual finger, the digit gravitated toward Jordan Knight, at which pointed I said, "I like this one."  They adopted a look onto their faces that immediately caused me to retract my statement, not quite knowing why.  Since then, I’ve learned to accept my crush on Jordan Knight, flaunt the crush—even—around my family members, and love each and every one of my gay little fingers.  Every once and a while however, when I hear NKOTB, I can feel the fibers from the cheap shag-carpet creep up and in between my toes, the film of smoggy LA summer sweat on my skin, and a tinge of that bittersweet shame from an un-welcomed confession.

Today, I’m shameful for a new reason.  A new New Kids on the Block reason.  I am ashamed that I’ve heralded Jordan Knight as my first and biggest all-time crush for so long.  Why be shameful, Robert?  Because in my obsession, one that was probably instigated by the damned media that coerces impressionable minds to fixate on lead singers, I overlooked the fragile and pure face of Jonathan Knight, the brother in the background.  I am also ashamed that I like "Click Click Click," the new (relatively unknown) Nasri produced song that will supposedly be on the upcoming album this fall.  It has the coolness of Danja track without the ominous overtones.  Think of it as the full-length song Danity Kane’s "Come Over Interlude" should have been.  Again, the youtube box says the video isn't available, but if you click it, it will come.  Click "Click Click Click," get it?  Anyways, one of these days, I'm gonna get the HTML right.  Just not today.

Furthermore, the part of this comeback that relieves me is the fact that they sound current.  Jesse McCartney could easily be singing these songs; instead, it’s a cool group of friends who have had full lives outside of pop-stardom that just wanted to come together again and re-live their glory days.  Joey and Jordan still have their vocal chops.  I’ll admit, their reunion teeters slightly on the line of pathetic midlife crisis, but you have to admit that they’re pretty damn cool for their age.  Once again, Jonathan never looked better.