Some songs don’t just belong to an era; they belong to an entire generation. “I Want It That Way” was the soundtrack of adolescence—first crushes, summer nights with portable CD players, and bedroom walls plastered with posters. And now, 26 years after its original release, the Backstreet Boys are back to remind us why this song still moves hearts, brings people together, and stands the test of time.
The iconic boy band has unveiled a new 2025 rendition of “I Want It That Way,” accompanied by a brand-new music video released on YouTube. The clip nods lovingly to the original 1999 video—the unforgettable airplane hangar and those all-white outfits etched into pop culture history. This time around, however, the visuals are stripped back, more atmospheric, and infused with the quiet weight of time.
The Backstreet Boys face the camera not as teen idols, but as artists carrying three decades of musical legacy—and that’s precisely what makes the result so deeply affecting.
In a joint statement on Instagram, the band shared how the idea came together: “To celebrate, we are releasing a very special 2025 vertical music video for “I Want It That Way!” We were on the set of our tour promo production and started to really really feel that 1999 nostalgia being in front of this plane in an airplane hanger in our all white wardrobe and decided to try and capture this performance in one take at the end of a very long 2 days of shooting. Think it came out pretty magical!”
Fans wasted no time flooding social media with emotional reactions. Thousands of comments speak of tears, goosebumps, and a profound sense of gratitude. “I actually cried. We made it. We’re here and alive to witness this iconic revival of the best song of the ’90s,” wrote one user. Another added, “’90s kids have every reason to celebrate. This is a beautiful gift.”
The video’s release also coincides with a major announcement about the band’s future: Into The Millennium Homecoming Live in Germany, the Backstreet Boys’ first-ever residency in the country. Set to take place at Düsseldorf’s Merkur Spiel Arena in September and October 2026, the shows promise fans a chance to relive—this time live—the magic of the Millennium era that defined a generation.
