Top 10 Best Boy Bands of All Time

Picture this: a group of mega-talented guys who not only belt out tunes that become the soundtrack to our lives but also execute flawless dance routines as if they were born doing it. And let's not forget their good looks that make us swoon. While the 'official' definition of what constitutes a boy band may have changed over the years, the essence remains constant: a team of irresistibly charming young men creating music that emotionally resonates with fans.

These groups of heartthrobs have been making us scream, sing, and dance our hearts out for years. From the original legends like the The Jackson 5 to modern-day phenomena like One Direction, boy bands are the gift that keeps on giving.
The Top Ten
1 Backstreet Boys The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The group consists of AJ McLean, Howie D., Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell.

Make sure you keep the Backstreet Boys in first place. No group can outsell them, sing and harmonize better than them, and maintain their level of longevity.

I am currently fifteen years old and Backstreet Boys just released a new single, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," and have an upcoming album, whereas NSYNC split up even before I was born.

And don't even start about One Direction - bunch of talentless hacks who harmonize like a bunch of schoolboys and are so short-lived you can forget they even existed.

Westlife, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees, and even The Wanted can make it into the top ten but not higher than Backstreet Boys. I don't think any group will. The Beatles? Overrated, only singing for about a decade, and then wiped from existence. Long story short, Backstreet Boys will forever be the gods of pop music, and they deserved their position entirely.

2 One Direction One Direction (commonly abbreviated as 1D) were a British-Irish pop boy band based in London, composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously, Zayn Malik until his departure from the band on 25 March 2015. The group signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records... read more

One Direction, I believe, may be the best boy band. They all have unique qualities to their voices that make songs sound very good. They have also really contributed plenty of time to songs.

One Direction does really well at showing they aren't part of the 'Music Industry Machine,' like in their music video 'Best Song Ever'. They have come far to where they are today, and I'm very proud of them.

I would also like to express how much I dislike people who 'hate' on them. I don't know why, but people literally go out of their way to hate on someone successful such as One Direction or other great bands or singers. I don't understand people who make hate pages or make a whole list of why they dislike them, especially if they don't know them quite well. If they don't like it, then they don't have to waste their time thinking about it.

I love One Direction, and I hope they continue on for a long time.

3 Westlife Westlife were an Irish boy band, formed in July 1998 and disbanded in June 2012. Originally signed by Simon Cowell and managed by Louis Walsh, the group's final line-up consisted of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan.

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The Beatles are the best, and they're the only group that surpassed Westlife on their number ones. In chart history, the acts that have the most #1s are: Elvis (18), The Beatles (17), Cliff Richard and Westlife (14).

BUT technically, The Beatles aren't a boy band but a band, which makes Westlife the best boy band. Westlife even got #1s in the shortest time in history, more than three months quicker than The Beatles. Even though Westlife haven't cracked America, the biggest music market in the world, and they haven't sold 130 million like the Backstreet Boys, they have five Awards for Best International Group and eight Awards for Best International Act. Backstreet Boys only have four awards for Best International Group.

They are the only act to have seven consecutive #1s, which put them in the Guinness Book of Records. Westlife have performed for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert twice, President Obama, Queen Elizabeth II, the Sultan of Brunei, and Pope John Paul II. UNTIL NOW, Westlife remains the best-selling foreign artist in the Philippines and Indonesia. Their last-ever concerts on June 22 and 23, 2012, at Croke Park were attended by 160,000 people overall and were screened live in cinemas all over the world! There is no argument here. Westlife is the best boy band ever!

4 The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5, or Jackson Five, also known as The Jacksons in later years, is an American popular music group. Formed in 1963 under the name the Jackson Brothers, the founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon.

Why these guys are great:

One of its members was a young boy by the name of Michael Jackson (before he pursued a solo career). One of the only few boy bands who were more famous for their music than their looks. All members have talent. They can actually play an instrument.

They are a "Male Vocal Group," not a "Boy Band" (if you know what I mean). They are the second highest-selling Male Vocal Group, with sales over 100 million. The best Male Vocal Group of the 60s, in my opinion. Their songs are great. One of the bands that actually lasted quite a while (trust me, 1D isn't going to last).

Whoever thinks One Direction is the best boy band probably only likes them for their "looks" (as usual).

5 N Sync NSYNC is an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida in 1996 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich. NSYNC consists of Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass.

This should be at number 2. It's way better than One Direction. Don't you realize that this band was from the '90s, way before One Direction became a band?

Best choreography, best outfits (even though the '90s style was weird), best voices, best routines, best videos, most talented members (Justin Timberlake, I mean, come on), and best songs. No boy band these days even comes close to that. I honestly don't understand how One Direction is 2nd and NSYNC is 6th.

"No Strings Attached" sold 2.42 million copies in its first week, while the most albums One Direction has sold is 546,000 in its first week. Also, NSYNC is rated the 8th best-selling boy band ever (which is quite impressive considering they've only released three albums), while One Direction didn't even make the top 10, and they've released five albums and didn't have any competition, whereas NSYNC was rivaled with Backstreet Boys and other boy bands during the '90s.

All One Direction does is run around the stage, pointing, singing, and looking like they came out of a Gap commercial. NSYNC is dancing, running around the stage, adding dialogue to their songs, involving the audience, AND singing. Also, NSYNC songs are 10 times better than One Direction songs. Their songs are so generic and kiddish.

6 Five Five are an English boy band from London consisting of members Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, and Scott Robinson. They were formed in 1997 by the same team that managed the Spice Girls before they launched their career.

Coolest bad boys in the world. Most of their songs inspire me to never give up on life, to stay positive always, and to keep up with the challenges that life has to offer.

I miss them so much. I hope someday they'll reunite and continue inspiring not just me but other people's lives as well. FIVE rocks always and forever. Bear hugs.

Five are a band that will never be forgotten. We want them back together for a Five reunion because they deserve their second chance so much more than other bands. So, if you agree and are a Five fan for life, come and join our Twitter trend or follow the Five fan page on Facebook. Like Five once said, we will rock you.

7 5 Seconds of Summer 5 Seconds of Summer are an Australian pop-rock band from Sydney, Australia, that formed in 2011. The group were originally YouTube celebrities, posting videos of themselves covering songs from various artists during 2011 and early 2012. They rose to international fame while touring with One Direction... read more

They are most definitely the best. They can play their own instruments and sing their own songs. All of the members are talented.

Ashton can play the drums, guitar, piano, and sax, and is also a state-level swimmer. Calum plays the bass and played soccer for Australia. They aren't manufactured and fake. They are truly inspirational and true.

Number 12? Seriously? They should be number 1 because they've done more than produce great, catchy music. They've also made millions of fans happy.

They've done Twitcams, Keek, and things similar to that to connect with their fans, and replaying those videos makes my day!

8 Super Junior Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of S.M. Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak.

Super Junior is a strange case. They can't dance in sync, only half of them can sing, and they don't give a damn about their idol image. There are so many of them you can't remember, their songs are mediocre at best, they hardly get any attention from SM, and they seem to enjoy dressing up as girls whenever they find a chance. They are so extremely ridiculous and unbelievable.

Any other band that could pull off that kind of stuff would be called gay and talentless, but for some reason, SJ turns it into a positive thing. Therefore, why do ELFs love SJ so much? The answer is simple. Big Bang may be artists rather than idols, but Super Junior are only human, and we as ELFs have fallen in love.

9 Take That Take That are an English pop group from Manchester, formed in 1989. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen.

Take That have been part of my whole life. Their lyrics helped me manage my teenage problems, and their music became my very own soundtrack. Most fans of other boy bands may say the same, but Take That are still here. Their music has survived, and they are still massive stars today.

They have grown up. Their lyrics fit the lives of their also grown-up fans, and they are still amazing. They give huge concerts on worldwide tours, always putting on gorgeous shows. Even people who are not into their music that much must admit that their shows are unique and simply astonishing.

No other boy band can compare with them. By the way, they are a man band now.

10 Boyz II Men Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies.

You are put at number 12 because the new generation missed the opportunity to listen to the greatest voices of this band. I salute you. We salute you.

These guys sing better than all the other boy bands combined and with perfect harmony.

They harmonize like no other. Pure music, pure passion, pure talent.

The Contenders
11 Big Time Rush

Haters Gonna Hate, Rushers Gonna Elevate!

You gotta love them. They are just amazing. Seriously, they started with a TV show and music, but look where they are now. They have elevated even more.

Their music and TV show! BTR rules the world. You've got to love them. Listen to their music and look at their photos at the same time. Trust me, you will fall in love with them.

So, what are you waiting for? VOTE NOW!

I think this is a very underrated group and should be higher on the list, at least over some of the others before it. I feel that this band isn't necessarily taken so seriously because of their television show for kids. However, they're extremely talented and deserve more attention.

12 New Kids on the Block New Kids on the Block is an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.

They should definitely be #1. They've been overshadowed these days because of bands like Backstreet Boys and One Direction. I don't hate Backstreet Boys or 1D, but NKOTB gave them credit and paved the way. NKOTB doesn't get as much recognition, which is sad.

Their music had so much meaning and spirit in it, unlike the manufactured garbage that's out now. They are also very tight-knit and treat each other as brothers rather than just friends or band members. They really do love each other that way and always help each other out as much as they can.

Heck, they even covered Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" to show their love and support for each other. They did another version in tribute to Michael Jackson after his death. There will never be a group quite like NKOTB.

13 Jonas Brothers The Jonas Brothers are an American pop rock band. Formed in 2005, they gained popularity from their appearances on the Disney Channel television network.

Such an amazing band! Not only are their voices amazing, their lyrics deep, their looks gorgeous, and their personalities so kind, but they write all of their own songs, and the music too. They all have big hearts and make some of the deepest, most beautiful music.

They are so talented. They can all play the piano and guitar. And little Nick, who wrote most of their hits when he was only fourteen, can also play the drums!

The Jonas Brothers are not really a boy band. They play multiple instruments (guitar, piano, drums, keyboards, bass, etc.), they write ALL of their songs, and always sing live and never use auto-tune.

All of these other boy bands are irrelevant. Just listen to "Turn Right" or "Black Keys," and it will prove they are not only the best "boy band" but also one of the best bands of all time.

14 SM*SH

Smash is my idol, my inspiration, my support. They make me happy because their songs have changed me into someone happier.

No matter what, SMASH is always on my mind! They are the only boy band from Indonesia that can be like this! Smashblast will always support SMASH. We love you, SMASH!

Smash taught me the meaning of peace. Since I became a fan, I've been spirited, smiling, and at peace with other fandoms. SMASH is the encouragement in my life.

15 Why Don't We Why Don't We is an American pop boy band, that was assembled on September 27, 2016, consisting of Jonah Marais Roth Frantzich from Stillwater, Minnesota, Corbyn Matthew Besson from Fairfax, Virginia, Daniel James Seavey from Portland, Oregon, Jack Robert Avery from Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, and Zachary... read more

Why Don't We is actually quality music compared to other stuff nowadays. Stream Cold in LA on Apple Music and Spotify.

They are amazing. I love their songs and their style.

16 The Vamps The Vamps are a British pop rock band consisting of Brad Simpson, James McVey, Connor Ball and Tristan Evans.

I want to come to their concert here in the Philippines. They are my number one boy band in my life! They are good-looking and have good messages in the songs they've composed and written.

I love them, and they are officially my best boy band ever!

They are amazing, and so are their songs, but I don't think One Direction are bad influences. I am a huge Directioner, and their songs are really amazing.

Their songs make us so happy. It's my opinion, but I think The Vamps are also superb.

The Vamps are my all-time favorite. Their songs always seem to brighten up my mood and keep me alive. They are amazing and have a great sense of humor.

I am totally in love with them and their awesome tunes. VampetteForLife

17 Monkees The Monkees were an American rock and pop band originally active between 1966 and 1971, with reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed.

Amazing and one of the most important bands of all history, with incredible comedy and wonderful music. Sure, they used studio musicians on the first two LPs, but hey, Headquarters is one of the top five greatest albums ever, still making an impact today. The only band I would ever dare to compare with the Beatles.

Beautiful band, great harmonies. They're just a bit like the Beatles, but they are still fantastic.

They could all sing, write, play, compose, and do it all live - a truly talented, genuine band.

18 Blue Blue is an English boyband consisting of members Antony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe.

This is the best boy band ever! Better than One Direction. They will just make you fall in love with their fantastic voices.

They are far better than all the other bands listed above. They should be ranked number one, as they really deserve to be on top. Thank God they are back, finally!

I just found them on YouTube, and once I listened to their songs, I fell in love with the hot Blue band! I'm relieved they got back together. My life just got better.

I can literally listen to the hot, talented, and handsome singers all day! Blue is the best!

19 The Osmonds

The Osmonds are the best boy band ever, of all time, bar none. Compared to the Osmonds, all other boy bands fall woefully short. The others are certainly good, but they can never match the talent of the Osmonds' vocals, harmonies, expert playing of so many instruments, dancing, songwriting, and so many other gifts and talents.

Nor can the other boy bands match the endurance of the Osmonds, who have over 54 years in the business and are still filling auditoriums with fans. They are also multiplying themselves, as seen through the talent of their children. In all of these years, they have maintained their good name and good reputations. That speaks volumes about the best boy band ever!

20 Exo Exo is a South Korean-Chinese boy group based in Seoul. Formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2011, the group debuted in 2012 with twelve members separated into two subgroups, EXO-K and EXO-M, performing music in Korean and Mandarin, respectively.

Exo M, Exo K! They're awesome. The stage almost explodes with their powerful performance filled with great voices, dances, and raps. "We're One!" No other words could replace this.

When SuHo, Kris, XiuMin, ChanYeol, LuHan, Chen, D.O., BaekHyun, Kai, Lay, Tao, and Sehun show up on stage, they receive screams from crazy fans. Love the leaders Kris and SuHo, vocalists D.O., BaekHyun, Chen, and LuHan, as well as the dancers and rappers Lay, XiuMin, Kris, Kai, ChanYeol, SeHun, and Tao. Love them all forever, EXOTICS!

21 Bangtan Boys (BTS) BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band formed in Seoul in 2013. RM is the leader and the other members are V, Jimin, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, and Jungkook

Look at them - really look at them. Each member, in his own right, can stand alone. They are unique individuals who create their own music in an arena where many simply repeat the same dance moves over and over. They go against the grain and dare to address issues that are often ignored or unacknowledged.

The support they offer each other is notable. While they are very much individuals, they are not just a group. They are a family that has genuinely bonded. They have withstood numerous obstacles, stones, and thorns thrown at them and have emerged victorious, all while maintaining love and humility in their hearts.

22 Big Bang Big Bang is a South Korean boy band formed by YG Entertainment. The group consists of 4 members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, and Daesung.

Maturity, talent, experience - that's what I appreciate most about them. They've been in the game for ten years, and it shows. Their music has variation. It's not just the same style in every song.

The guys are charismatic, intelligent, humble, extremely gifted, not just in music, and hard-working to boot. They should be higher up, but then again, they don't cater to a lot of people's tastes. Utmost respect for this band, and here's to another ten more years, hopefully.

They ARE the best. YG has the best bands and real singers, and even though other K-pop bands like Shinee and 2AM are good, they don't even compare to GD's charisma and style, and T.O.P.'s sexiness.

Who dances better than Taeyang, and who sings better than Daesung? No one. And we can never forget the very cute, adorable Seungri. Big Bang is amazing times ten.

23 Il Volo Il Volo is an Italian pop trio, consisting of singers: the baritone Gianluca Ginoble, and two tenors, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto.They describe their music as "popera".

I hate myself for even voting for them as a boy band, because I hold them in the highest regard in all of music, and for me, a boy band is not precisely cool. But I will support everything in which they are included.

Well, about Il Volo, I have only good things to say. They represent not just Italy and really good music. They represent culture, cinema, art, everything, because every song they sing is full of history.

They have it all: they are young, humble, adorable, handsome, classy, elegant, fun, and most of all, they are so incredibly talented. In a few words, Il Volo is the best thing that has happened to music nowadays. Perfect.

24 Forever In Your Mind Forever in Your Mind is an American pop boy band formed in 2013, consisting of lead singers Emery Kelly, Ricky Garcia and Liam Attridge. Their debut EP, FIYM, was released on Hollywood Records on July 1, 2016.
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